FREE WRITING ACTIVITY

 

This is a free-writing exercise. Write a paragraph (not exceeding 200 words) on any topic you like. Please be serious about this writing activity as I need to know exactly your personal style of writing. Do not cut and paste - I need to read a genuine piece of your own writing. You can start writing below.

 

Font : Arial (Black), Size :Small

 

My previous English teacher left a mark on me when she left the school. People usually take things for granted and only once it is gone, they realised how much they had lost.

 

One thing I will never forget is her favourite phrase, "The ships that I captain will always sail to the harbour of success."

 

Though many of my classmates find it pretty amusing and unbelievable that each and every one of her students will pass English, I, on the other hand, find that I am able to trust and depend on her to direct my ship to the harbour of success.

 

She is with the school for barely a year, less than six months. When she announced to the class that she will not be with us after the June holidays, my heart sank. I could not believe what I had just heard. That piece of bad news was too abrupt that my mind was full of questions. I wanted to know badly what was the reason behind her sudden departure.

 

Comments :

 

Some minor errors but that's a nice piece of writing. Glad you like your teacher so much - I'm sure she'll miss you too. No "pretty" though, please.

 

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Two Paragraphs From The Book Of An Appreciated Author

 

Reaching the end of the elm-tree-lined promenade leading up to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Nate Archibald tossed the nub end of the joint he'd been smoking to the ground and walked straight past his Frisbee-playing friends. Not ten feet away, Blair sat cross-legged at the base of the fountain, talking into a camera. She looked nervous and sort of innocent. Her delicate hands fluttered around her small, foxlike face, and her short gray uniform barely covered her muscular thighs. He shook the golden brown locks out of his emerald green eyes and shoved his hands into his khaki pants pockets. She was sexy alright.

 

Nate recognized the odd, shaven-headed girl behind the camera only vaguely. Normally Blair would have nothing to do with her, but she was always up for anything that involved talking about herself. Blair liked attention, and even after breaking up with her and cheating on her for the umpteenth time, Nate still liked giving it to her. He dipped his hand into the fountain walked up behind her, and flicked a few drops of water on her bare arm.

 

 

You're The One That I Want;

A Gossip Girl novel

by,

Cecily von Ziegesar.

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Note that for the exam, your plan can be in any form that you are comfortable with - outline, diagram, mindmap, list etc

 

For the purpose of our activity, please follow the following format to make reading easy on the eyes of your poor teacher.

 

Topic: 5 (a) Running Away.

 

Introduction :

- Kylie is an avid dancer.

- Examples on how enthusiastic she is.

 

Para 1

- Kylie had a fall.

- I took her to the doctor's.

 

Para 2

- Doctor told Kylie that she could no longer dance or her injuries would be worsened.

- Being devastated, Kylie ran away from the fact that she could no longer dance.

- Continued dancing as she thinks she still can manage her health on her own.

- Kylie also skipped regular check-ups.

 

Para 3

- Kylie's condition worsened.

- Fell down again.

- She experienced an excruciating pain on her injuries.

 

Para 4

- Was sent to the hospital.

- Kylie is paralysed from the hip downwards.

 

Conclusion

- Kylie felt remorseful.

- Regretted not heeding the doctor's advice.

 

Comments :

 

Sounds like a mini-story from a soap opera. Not much that you can write about too, judging from the points above. You may want to consider something closer to your heart ... and experience. Would be authentic that way.

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November 2003 summary

- coins made up of cheap metals

- emergence of new money caused flourish of coins

- usage of banknote. more convenient, lighter

- European countries made precious metal coins

- made of gold and silver.

- significant quantities of gold and silver mined lead to flourishing of European countries

- buying power by government authorities with official mark stamped

- foundations of modern money system laid

- imitations of coins

- people scraped off valuable metals from coins

- coins made of less precious metals

- modern coins made of cheap metals, same as China

- banknotes stamped with government mark, followed China

 

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Index No: 14

Name: Rebecca Quek

 

3 Good sentences/starters:

- Standing at...

- Unlike novices or amateurs...

- A sly smile takes over her face..

 

3 Good phrases to "borrow":

- Lean mean fighting machine

- Punctuates every sentence with a nervous giggle

- Clad in an oversized top

 

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November 2004 Paper One

 

5. Describe one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore. Why does it attract so many customers?

 

Vivo City, located near Harbourfront, is one of the largest shopping mall in Singapore. Officially opened in October 2006, it has attracted many Singaporeans as well as tourists since. With advanced transport system in Singapore, Vivo City is accessible. One can get to Vivo City by taking the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) train, cars and motorcycles, taxis and buses.

 

Vivo City may be a shopping paradise for shopperholics. It has almost everything one could ever ask for; food and beverages, clothes, IT gadgets, toys, boookstores, footwear, optical shops, hair salons etc. Unlike Orchard where one could have walked from Wisma Atria to Takashimaya or The Heeren for a shopping spree, one can spend a whole day at Vivo City as it has a variety of stores cater to people of different ages for the convenience of its customers.

 

There are Toys 'R' Us for children and Topshop, Forever 21, Mango, Gap, Aldo, etc for youths and adults. In other words, Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City, Plaza Singapura, etc, are consolidated into one shopping mall; Vivo City, in one way or another.

 

One of the features which makes Vivo City attractive to everyone is its movie theatre. The movie theatre in Vivo City is the largest islandwide! It has the largest screen and comfortable seats which enable people to sit back and enjoy their show.

 

Also, surprisingly but true, there is a supermarket, Vivo Mart, located on the first level of Vivo City. This enables families to do groceries shopping at the end of the day. For candies and chocolates lovers, you will fall in love with Candy Empire, also located on the first level. Candy Empire is filled with all types of chocolates; white, milk, dark and alcoholic, and delicious sweets and gummies imported from Belgium, Switzerland and other countries. You will never leave Candy Empire without bags of chocolates or sweets in your hands.

 

It is never sufficient to explore Vivo City in just one day. It is so big that one might lost their way. The convenience brought by Vivo City also makes it attractive to many.

 

Another feature which many are attracted to Vivo City is its unique architecture designs and decorations. The spectacular Sky Garden is the main attraction of Vivo City. It features wide open spaces for waterfront relaxation for all. Children often enjoy playing at the waterfront area and some even treat it for a swimming pool!

 

I can say going to the Sky Garden in the evening is most scenic. As the sun sets, as night arrives, Sky Garden turns to a romantic place for couples and a relaxing chillout place for teenagers and families. If one has a chance, I guess he or she would not want to leave the Sky Garden.

 

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Xin Min

 

1a) The word 'strain' tells me that the rowers tried very hard to overcome the opponent. (OK)

 

1b) The villagers need 'to squint' because light reflects off the water giving the villagers difficulty of having a clear view (?). (Answer is correct, structure is not.)

The villagers need 'to squint' because they do not have a clear view of the race due to the light's reflection off the water.

 

1c) It reveals that the villagers are very enthusiastic about the race. (OK)

 

2) There will be favouritism as the judge will naturally side his villagers. (under what circumstances?)

The judges will be biased towards his village when there is a tie or a close finish.

 

3) The first consequence will be disagreements on who is the winner and the second consequence will be fights will occur. (The Q asks what had happened not what will.)

Firstly, they started to quarrel and secondly, they started to fight when they could not settle their differences.

 

4a) The word is 'altercation".

 

4b) The gentleman used the eku to create a circular motion on the sand. (No)

He picked up the scoop and started flicking rapidly at the villagers.

 

4c) The gentleman is able to move with relative ease because no one notices his movement of moving away from the crowd. (No)

It was his superb martial art training which enabled him to move in such a mannner.

 

4d) He distracted the crowd when his eku tripped unto a rower (??) which cause him and serveral rowers to fall.

He caused the others to trip over the hunch figure.

 

4e) He managed to cease the fight without injuring anyone. (OK)

Managed to stop the fight without any casualites.

 

5)The practitioners of the martial arts should follow the example of this gentleman without causing permanent injuries or taking lives.

 

6) Martial sport is a game with no advantages whereas martial art allows artises to train for self-defence or fighting. (OK)

(Martial sport for recreational purposes)

 

7a) One way which martial artises practice to limit targets and the other way adding precautionary movements. (Correct answer, wrong SS)

They pull techniques stopping them before contact and add precautionary movements.

 

7b)The author is referring to the serious injury or even death when the martial artiste uses his full strength.

 

8) It means one can hardly have a clear mind when he is frighten or faces danger. (No)

When you faces your own death, you began to realise who you really are.

 

9. It is to develop techniques, knowledge and character for the practitioners.

 

10. Simultaneously - at the same time

 

vast

 

ineffective

 

corrupt

****

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CHIJ TP

 

1. People used to paint on walls of caves and on mulberry bark.

 

2. Eyptian parchment was less popular than real paper because paper is cheap and it can be produced in large quantities.

 

3. The first papermaker is a Chinese.

 

4. 'Set the stage' means

 

5. The word is 'reached'.

 

6. Materials printed during the Gutenberg era could survive for hundreds of years due to its purity and strength which ensured the survival of great works for a hundreds of years.

 

7. The writer was amazed by Bach's writing while Munn noticed the condition and quality of the paper.

 

8. The word is 'annonyed'.

 

9. Julie Lewis' shoe was so remarkable because it was made from textile scraps.

 

10. The words tell us that Julie is beautiful, strong and prepared for any challenges.

 

11. Julie went ahead to start her company because she wants to show people the importance of recycling and to increase the demand for recycled products.

 

12. The writer means to ask for.

 

13. Aluminium cans are most commonly recycled in the US.

 

14. The writer is implying that majority of the products imported to the US are made from recycled materials.

 

15. brittle - easily torn

 

fraction - portion

 

ingenuity - purpose of doing something

 

squandering -

 

integral - important

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