ENGLISH HUB - IPSI86UM96

Continuous Writing: Descriptive - Sample Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:27:00 +0000

DESCRIBE YOUR TEACHERS

Teachers play an important part in the lives of students like me because we usually meet them five days a week. Some of my teachers fill my soul with fear, the very thought of them even makes my heart drop. There are others, however, who are not so frightening at all, and may in act brighten our days.

One teacher who is liked by almost every pupil in my school is Mrs Jenny Lee, who teaches us English. Tall and slim, with a heart-shaped face, Mrs Lee is known as the prettiest teacher in our of school. The boys of my school often look out their classrooms to admire this lovely teacher as she passes by their classrooms, gliding on her high heels, with her long silky hair flowing behind her.

Mrs Lee has a personality to match her looks. You will nearly always see her face wreathed in a sunny smile. She almost never gets angry and even when she scolds us, she still sounds sweet and gentle. I clearly remember the last time she chided me for not doing my composition homework.

“How will you ever improve if you don’t make the effort, Brian,” she murmured kindly, looking at me with warm eyes. I felt so sorry!

Another teacher who has made me feel really sorry for neglecting my work is Mr Joginder Singh, my teacher for Accounts. However, his method for doing so is completely different!

Mr Singh is a huge mountain of a man. He is over six feet in height and over 200 pounds in weight, all of it muscle. He looks the typical Punjabi warrior, with his turban, bushy beard, hooked nose, and piercing eyes.

As in the case of Mrs Lee, Mr Singh's looks also match his personality, especially his voice, which is always very loud. He is about the only teacher I know who can deliver an hour-long lesson at full volume without getting a sore throat! No one falls asleep during his lessons. Actually, no one would dare to, as this fierce teacher would take quick action with his long cane. No one ever dares to neglect the homework that he sets either — the piles and piles of it! Mr Singh’s motto is “No pain, no gain”. I am not sure whether he is referring to the pain from the cane or the pain from doing the homework.

Yet, however much we students may complain, there is no doubt that many students have gained tremendously from being under Mr Singh’s care. Our school’s performance in Accounts for SPM is exceptionally high! Clearly, Mr Singh’s motto is a sound one. However, it can also be noted that our performance in English Language is also considered excellent. Perhaps, Mrs Lee’s motto is also valid, and it is “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”.

Continuous Writing: Narrative - Sample Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:24:00 +0000

A FRIEND

“What happened?” I could hear myself asking this question over and over again. As I slowly regained consciousness, I found myself in hospital. The past flashed through my mind. I realized with horror what must have happened.

Ismail and I are the best of friends who have lived in the same neighbourhood for umpteen years. In school, we have always joined the same sport – cross-country. The two of us never failed to jog every morning in the park. We especially liked jogging along the path by the big river.

One fine morning, we went jogging by the river as usual. We were jogging slowly as we talked about the coming inter-school cross-country competition. I said, “Peter is bound to be one of the two to be chosen to represent our school. I wonder which one of us will be the other lucky person”.

Ismail suddenly stopped jogging and looked uncomfortable. His voice faltered as he spoke, “Karim, I don’t want to keep it from you any longer. Mr. Lim has already told me that Peter and I were chosen.”

My face dropped. All my wild dreams of being the inter-school cross-country champion were shattered. If only I had practised more often, if only … if only Ismail were not such a good runner.

I was so overwhelmed with disappointment that when Ismail came over to comfort me, I pushed him away roughly. He lost his balance and grabbed at me for support. We screamed as we both fell into the river. The next thing I remember was being in hospital. Friends and relatives who came visit me later told me that they knew. Ismail had saved, risking his own life as he was not strong swimmer. His knees were injured while trying to save me.

I felt exceedingly ashamed of myself. I had put Ismail’s life in danger through my unreasonable, childish behavior. Yet, he had saved me. As a result of his knee injury, Ismail would not be able to represent the cross-country race. This made me feel worse than ever. I have, since that incident, resolved to make it all up to him in whatever way I can. I will try my best to be true friend to him as he has been to me.

Continuous Writing: Narrative - Sample Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:05:00 +0000

A BROKEN PROMISE

Why is this mathematics exercise tougher than usual? It is taking me forever to finish it even though I started at eight o’clock. Now it is already 10 o’clock and I am not even halfway through. I kept glancing at my computer at the corner of my room. It looked so inviting, making me unsure whether to continue my homework or to just stop and go online. It look me exactly two seconds to make up my mind. I am going online!

Obviously from my decision, you know that I am an internet freak. I am willing to do anything (including procrastinating my mathematics homework, even though I know very well my teacher is Mr. Fitzgerald, or more popularly known as Mr. Fitz the Bald. May God help those who dare to mess up with him!). O.K., so I am a self-confessed internet addict but at least I am computer literate! I absolutely adore computers but my greatest love has got to be the Internet Relay Chat (IRC). This is because it gave me a sense of freedom and exhilaration, unlike anything I have experienced before. You can be a supermodel, an astronaut or the local zoo keeper and no one would even know the difference.

When I sat in front of the monitor and clicked on the IRC programme, a short but unique name caught my eye. ‘Neo’. I said ‘hi’ and introduced myself. I was ecstatic when Neo answered and turned out to be a great conversationalist and we hit it off immediately. We chatted about everything and I felt as though I had known him since the dawn of time. It never occurred to me to get back to my homework and by the time I did, it was already too late. Realizing this, I dreaded the next day because that was when I had to brace myself for the impact of Mr. Fitz the Bald’s blashing. I could picture him now, nostrils flared, sweat trickling down his forehead, the gestures of his hand animating his words, eyes that shine with a wild black fire and a head shinier than usual (sometimes you can even see his veins becoming visible and that makes his complexion become a weird shade of red). God, please help me!

The next day was a living hell. Everybody was mad at me and I was mad at myself. I just wanted to shout it out to the world, “ I am a victim of modern civilization!”. Then, to relieve my stress, I went out online and Neo was there. He asked me about my day and I told him how I overslept and missed the bus to school, how Mr. Fitz the Bald punished me in front of the whole class and how the class shunned and threw a cold glaring look at me because they had to complete ten exercises which were due the following day just because I failed to complete my work. He just listened to me and was very understanding and supportive. He even sent me a bouquet of virtual flowers to cheer me up and I was touched. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

We continued to be friend for a whole month without even knowing how the other looked like but this teeny-weeny fact did not bother me at all. But then, one day Neo told me he would really like to meet me because he felt as if were friends faceless voices. I tried every trick in the book but I could not dodge his request. He noticed my effort and he demanded why I was acting that way. I could not explain why and so I finally gave in. our meeting was set, he was supposed to wear a navy blue shirt, khakis and brown leather shoes. When he described what he was going to wear, I ealized that he must be quite rich to dress so elegantly. As for me, I was just going to settle on a red blouse and my faded blue jeans. We agreed to meet in front of Starbuck’s coffee house at two o’clock, two days from now.

Surely you must be wondering why did I not want to meet him. I was afraid that if he knew how I looked like, he would not have interest in being my friend anymore because I was not like other normal teenagers, so vibrant and full of life. When others ran, I lagged behind because my artificial leg could not stand much pressure. The truth is, I was not born handicapped but lost my leg on a mountain expedition last year. I was helping my friend up the ravine but I slipped and fell. I was alive but my right leg was severely injured and had to be amputated. That is why I now have a prosthetic leg. I have felt wonderful it was to be normal and it makes the pain much harder to bear. My old life which full of physical activities, seemed like a passing wind, never to come again. I was not fit anymore to join my friends and that threw my confidence out of the window. I was afraid Neo would not accept me.

The next day, my mind was occupied with thoughts of him and his reaction. So, to ease my mind, I made him promise not to judge me by my appearance but by my inside me. I did not tell him the truth because I wanted to know if he was sincere in his friendship.

When the moment finally came, I was ready for anything. When I arrived, I noticed a fine looking young man that fits Neo’s description. When I said ‘fine looking’, I was not kidding. He came with his friend, so before I approached him, I studied him first. He was athletically built and tall with mocha coloured skin. His hair was neat and it looked as though it was woven from the hues of midnight sky. His eyes, brown and alert but with certain mysterious glint. It made him looked arrogant and egoistical. I could see that he was so anxious and restless that even his friend’s comforting words could not help to soothe him.

Slowly, I walked up to him and introduced myself. I smiled at him but I could see that he was shocked to see my condition and he failed to hide it. He babbled something indecipherable. He asked how I was and we chatted a little but he seemed restless, I looked at him knowingly and then he glanced at his wristwatch. He excused himself and said that he had to go. Neo’s friend looked at him in disbelief but Neo ignored his glance. Neo promised to call me later then he hurriedly left. It happened so fast and before I realized it, he was gone.

Neo had failed the test. He could not handle the truth, so it was better to let him go. There was no sense in postponing the inevitable. I knew he would never call me again. I knew that our first meeting was also our last. There would be no next time. He had broken his promise and maybe it was true that broken promise lead to broken hearts. Even though I have been through similar situations before, it still hurts. But I will still keep trying because I believe that even when the darkest moments dawns, it comes with the promise of a new day. I just have to move and live with the fact that sometimes, people are not what they seem to be. Thanks to Neo, I know it now.

So, as I sat at the corner of the table at Starbuck’s, looking out the window, I saw a group of teenage girls giggling as if laughing at a secret joke. How I envy them! I looked at them as they passed by and then I reflected on what had happened. I looked down at my coffee and saw my reflection. Then suddenly a tear trickled down my cheek and fell into the coffee, obscuring my reflection.

Critical Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:51:00 +0000

The word "critical" has positive as well as negative meanings. You can write a critical essay that agrees entirely with the reading. The word "critical" describes your attitude when you read the article. This attitude is best described as "detached evaluation," meaning that you weigh the coherence of the reading, the completeness of its data, and so on, before you
It involves three steps
An analytical task
In doing thesis for critical essay, you state the view u wish to defend in contrast to other views. Critical analysis involves taking apart a whole topic/subject, and then to reassemble it in your own terms. its better to state the clearly the argument or position of the author or school of thought in question. the point is not to summarize the authors thoughts only highlighting the main points but interrelating them and finding appreciation in them judging and selecting them accordingly. You need to show how the major points are interlinked to try to form the logical structure of an argument, supporting a particular thesis.
An evaluative task
As a critical reader, you must determine the importance of an author's argument or point of view as well as its soundness.

An evaluation of the author's work, including

An assessment of the "facts" presented on the basis of correctness, relevance, and whether or not pertinent facts were omitted
An evaluation or judgment of the logical consistency of the author's argument
An appraisal of the author's values in terms of how you feel or by an accepted standard

A constructive task
You should suggest alternative ways of looking at the issue(s) of concern and the advantages or importance of the alternatives, or you can show better and correct ways tow rite certain things pointing out the mistakes in reasoning, evidence and coverage. provide lacking evidence and highlight new and important conclusions.
Finally, a good conclusion is part summary and part drawing things together for the reader so she is reminded of the point of the essay, the major steps in getting to that point, and why that point is an important one. No one writes an excellent critical essay in a first draft. An essay that performs the analytical, evaluative, and constructive tasks well takes several drafts, as you critically evaluate your own work. Also, while writing is in part a solitary activity, it is intrinsically social in that it is normally meant to be read by others. Thus, you may want to share drafts with your peers, involving other readers in the process of critically evaluating drafts.

See - Sample essay

15-most-butchered-phrases-in-the-english-language

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:58:00 +0000

Compared to other languages, English isn't particularly complex. But do other languages have nearly as many similar sounding words and phrases? We've all made the mistake of consistently butchering a phrase or two, not realizing it until someone had the nerve to correct us. Unless you couldn't care less about sounding silly, it's wise to double check the ones about which you're unsure. Listed below are a few of the most commonly misheard and misunderstood phrases -- those pesky eggcorns and malapropisms that have multiplied through the years. Avoid these at all costs.

"I couldn't care less" -- not "I could care less:" It should be noted that phrases do evolve, and the new way of saying them can become the accepted colloquialism. There is some debate as to whether or not that should be the case with "could care less," which is recognized by the Oxford Dictionary. Even still, the phrase doesn't make sense, as it means that you care at least a little bit. If you couldn't care less, then you couldn't care at all. There's a clear difference.
"A moot point" -- not "A mute point:" According to Merriam-Webster moot means obsolete, essentially meaning when someone makes "a moot point," it's completely worthless to debate. The words sound alike and the incorrect phrase somewhat makes sense -- if you can't hear a point, then what's it worth? -- but it would be wise to mute the "mute" completely if you tend to use the phrase.
"For all intents and purposes" -- not "For all intensive purposes:" This phrase originated in 16th century England when King Henry issued the Statute of Proclamations, which was "to all intents and purposes," allowing him to modify it at his discretion. Eventually it morphed into "for all intents and purposes," meaning "in effect." The use of "for all intensive purposes" has increased in the Internet era, though documented use of it occurred during the 19th century.
"Nip it in the bud"-- not "Nip it in the butt:" There's quite a difference between stopping something before it flowers and biting someone's bum. One refers to ending a problem before it grows into something bigger; the other is an action that would cause problems.
"Without further ado" -- not "Without further adieu:" Ado means "fuss." Adieu means "farewell." From those definitions, you can probably deduct which makes more sense. Think Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. It was much ado about nothing when you stayed up all night worrying about the results of the exam you eventually found out you aced.
"Pique one's interest" -- not "Peak one's interest:" Some may assume "peaking one's interest" is correct because you've reached the highest point of their interest. However, "pique" is the correct verb in the phrase, as it means to excite or arouse. In this case, your curiosity has been stimulated.
"Deep-seated belief" -- not "Deep-seeded belief:" Something that's "deep-seated" is situated far below the surface, according to Merriam-Webster. Of course, a deep seed would also be situated far below the surface. Grammarist.com states the correct phrase comes from horseback riding; not gardening or farming.
"Champing at the bit" -- not "Chomping at the bit:" When you're "champing at the bit," you're showing impatience. But it seems that the authorities of the English language -- such asMerriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary -- have shown patience with the use of "chomping at the bit," which is now more common than the correct phrase, despite the fact that the substitution is inexplicable.
"Never ceases to amaze me" -- not "Never seizes to amaze me:" "Seize" means "to take possession of," "to attack or overwhelm physically," or "to bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff," according to Merriam-Webster, so it obviously doesn't belong in this phrase. Nor should it replace "cease" in "cease and desist" or "cease fire."
"Reap what you sow" -- not "Reap what you sew:" To "sow" is "to plant a seed for growth especially by scattering, " according to Merriam-Webster. To "reap what you sow" is to get what you deserve -- whatever grows is the outcome of sowing. A shirt or sweater would be the outcome of sewing.
"Once in a while" -- not "Once and a while:" "Once and a while" yields 6,320,000 results on Google and a handful of results on Google News. It's a common error, but most people seem to recognize the correct phrase from the incorrect phrase, as "once in a while" yields a hefty 58,000,000 results.
"In layman's terms" -- not "In lame man's terms:" A layman is someone who lacks specialized knowledge on a topic. If you're discussing football, and a layman enters the conversation with useless opinions, then it would be totally lame, man. But it wouldn't be correct, or nice, to label him a "lame man."
"In the midst of" -- not "In the mist of:" The distorted version of "in the midst of" is a mondegreen, a term for when someone mishears or misinterprets a word. "Midst" and "mist" sound very much alike, but obviously shouldn't be substituted for one another. "In the midst of" means "in the middle of" or "in the process of," and has nothing to do with getting wet unless water or mist is inserted after the phrase.
"Off the beaten path" -- not "Off the beat and path:" Venturing away from the path most taken can be an offbeat move, but you're not venturing "off the beat and path." That little bed and breakfast 20 miles south of the interstate is "off the beaten path."
"Out-of-body experience" -- not "Outer body experience:" You can go into "outer space" or have an "out-of-body experience," a sensation in which you float outside of your body, but you can't have an "outer body experience." Keep that in mind if you ever choose to retell the tale of your traveling soul.

The Curse - Character : Write on a character that show responsibility in her or his actions

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:17:00 +0000

Based on the Novel “The Curse” by Lee Sue Ann, a character that shows responsibility is Mohd Asraf because he is being shown as a filial grandson and cares about her grandmother.

Firstly, he takes care of Nek, especially when she is sick. Mohd Asraf is concerned about his grandmother deteriorating health. He is willing to take leave from work to take car of his grandmother. In addition, Mohd Asraf’s effort to look for cure for his grandmother further exemplify that he is a responsible person.

Secondly, Mohd Asraf wants to take Nek to the mainland which she will get better medical care and when is offered teaching course in Kuala Lumpur, he plans to take Nek with him as she will get better medical care then if she stays in Langkawi.

As a conclusion, based on the evidence given above I would say Mohd Asraf is truly a responsible person. He is willing to do anything for her grandmother.

The Curse - Character : Write on a character that show responsibility in her or his actions

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Based on the Novel “The Curse” by Lee Sue Ann, the character that shows responsibility in her actions is Azreen Saleh. Azreen is not only a responsible sister and daughter but also a responsible student and friend .

Firstly, Azreen as a responsible sister comes back immediately when she hears of her sister’s death although at that time she is about to sit for an examination that is important for her. She postpones her examination in order of giving her sister her last respect.

Secondly, as a daughter she shows her responsibility firstly, when she spends the whole night repairing her mother’s favourite rattan basket that was broken by the heavy durians that she and Madhuri has brought in. Subsequently, with Madhuri’s help she makes a new rattan basket that looks like the one that she and Madhuri have broken. In addition to that, Azreen accepts the offer to further her studies in London for the sake of upbringing her family social status and thus could then save a lot of money to get a better treatment for her mother that is paralyzed by the bull escape incidents that she .

Thirdly, as a friend and a student, Azreen shows her responsibility when she accepts to join the school hockey team as a substitution to Hock Seng that is injured. She does that even though she knows that she will be the only girl in the team and this will tarnish her image as a girl. In fact she plays very well and almost scores a goal. In addition to that, Azreen shows that she is a responsible friend, when she brings a full basket of fresh vegetables and tomatoes to The Old Lady of the forest to replace the one that she tramples earlier when she comes to The Old Lady’s house for the first time.

In conclusion, throughout the story, Azreen shows that she is a very responsible towards her actions. In fact, I would like to have her as a friend as a friend as such is hard to come by.

The Curse - Character : Write on a character that is exemplary.

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:15:00 +0000

In the Curse by Lee Sue Ann, the character whom I think is exemplary is The Old Lady of the forest. Throughout the novel, she shows strength of character and wisdom.

When she first moves to the village as a newlywed, she is popular among the villagers and she enjoys a blissful marital life with her husband. Everything changes as her husband who becomes an alcoholic starts to abuse her and finally she retaliates and kills him. From then on, the villagers treat her like an outcast. She is forced to move out of the village and makes an abandoned house her home. She lives alone for years until she befriends Azreen and becomes her mentor and will console her whenever she has a fight with her parents.

When Asraf approaches The Old Lady for help, she is hesitant about going back to the village. Yet she agrees and doing so, she puts her life at risk. When she is trapped in the burning house, she tells Azreen to save herself and she perishes in the fire. Even at death’s door, she reminds Azreen about the importance of forgiveness and tells her to heed all the advice she has given her. The Old Lady is therefore an exemplary character as she is strong, wise and honourable.

The Curse - Character : Write on a character that is exemplary.

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:14:00 +0000

Based on the novel The Curse by Lee Sue Ann, the character that I consider exemplary is Azreen because she is courageous and brave. She shows resilience and she always fight for what she believes in.

Firstly, Azreen who does not believe the villagers tales about The Old Lady is being brave by accepting her friend’s challenge to firstly knocking on the door of The Old lady and then meet her in person. . Subsequently, she befriends The Old Lady and makes her, her precious confidante and counselor.

In addition, Azreen is courageous by confronting Puan Normala’s mob outside Mohd Asraf’s house when Nek once again has fallen ill and died in order to stop her from entering Nek’s house. Although she is outnumbered, she dares to face Puan Normala’s horde to protect Nek’s house from them. Moreover, she confronts a group of men led by Asraf who goes to the Old lady’s house to seek revenge after Nek dies as they believe the Old lady has poisoned Nek.

It is a dog-eat-dog world out there and we must be brave and courageous to overcome our daily obstacles and stand for our own rights. We should not be intimidated by our fear and we must be like Azreen in order to survive the world.

The second exemplary qualities of Azreen is that she portrays resilience throughout the story and she constantly fights for what she believes in. This can be seen when Azreen does not give up and is determine and resilience to seek the truth of Madhuri’s death even though others do not want to tell her the truth. She asks Asraf and The Old Lady about Madhuri’s death and slowly gather evidences and finally she knows the truth about Madhuri’s killing.

In her village, a woman should be conservative and well mannered but Azreen is a contrast to that and thus she is hated but she ignores the villagers’ perception of her, as she believes that women have their own rights. This can be seen as she befriends Asraf and joins the boys’ hockey team and similarly makes The Old Lady her best friend.

In this cruel world, we must stand for our own right and fight for what we believe in. We must follow Azreen’s resilience to make this world a better place.

The Curse - Value:Write on the value of ‘Mother’s Love’

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:13:00 +0000

The novel ‘The Curse’ by Lee Su Ann touches on many values that are useful in our daily lives. As for me, I am touched with the value of mother’s love in this novel.

Azreen’s mother is forever seen talking nonsense since her Alzheimer’s disease was becoming worse. She was not given a name in this novel but always referred to as ‘Mak’. Azreen felt guilty because she was the one who was responsible for her mother to loose one of her leg. Even though, we know that Azreen admitted leaving the gate of the farm open but actually she was only helping Mohd Asraf from being blamed. Due to her act, her parents met with an accident when her father’s motorcycle hit the bull. Azreen’s mother never hated Azreen for what had happened and she always loved Azreen. She even told Azreen that it was not her fault that she lost her leg in the accident. This proves that ‘Mak’ was never angry towards Azreen and she accepts what happened to her as faith. This shows the true love that a mother has for her child even though she is in pain.

Another incident that showed how true a mother’s love is when Madhuri’s mother, the mad lady who strolled in the village and always watched over her daughter. Even though Madhuri was raised by Encik Saleh and his wife from a baby, the mad lady always kept herself close to Madhuri. She used to watch Madhuri and Azreen when they come back from school. This shows that she still loved her daughter even though she gave in when her baby was lost. She knew she could not raise Madhuri in a proper way so she just kept quite when Encik Saleh took the baby and decided to raise the child. But as a mother, she still loved Madhuri and always sees how her daughter is living with her foster parents from far. This is what we call mother’s love. Even if the child is not with the real mother but she always pray for her child to lead a happy life and that is why she took revenge against Encik Saleh who killed Madhuri.

From these two mothers, the readers are shown the value of love that a mother has for a child. Both mothers in this novel are not normal in certain ways but their love for their children did not fade but they loved their daughters very much in their own different ways.

The Curse - Character - Based on the novel, do you think Azreen’s father portrayed good/positive character traits ?

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:18:00 +0000

In the novel ‘The Curse’, the main character is Azreen. She has a father and his name is Encik Saleh. As for me, throughout the novel, Encik Saleh portrayed negative traits even though the positive ones were hidden within him.

Firstly, Encik Saleh is very hot-tempered. As a poor farmer in a remote village in Pulau Langkawi, Encik Saleh is a strong man as he had hard physique, huge fists and of course he is very hard-working man. He worked all the time on the farm to earn a living and his daughters always know him as a very hot-tempered man. We can see this when he ordered Azreen to take her mother home when she took her mother to the cemetery to visit Madhuri’s graveyard. Encik Saleh was very angry because Azreen took her sickly mother there

I think he should have understood the situation and face the fact that both of the ladies came to pay respect to Madhuri. He should not shout at them because they are also sad about Madhuri’s death even though his wife doesn’t know or realize the fact that Madhuri was dead. Here, I would strongly say that Encik Saleh portrayed the negative quality to the readers.

Secondly, I see Encik Saleh as a very judgmental and biased person. He loves Madhuri as his eldest daughter because she is full of good qualities whereas he is always stern and angry towards Azreen. Actually, Encik Saleh often misjudges Azreen because he sees himself in her. This is because Azreen reminds him of himself who also used to be outspoken and hot-tempered when he was young and he still is the same until now. I always see that Encik Saleh punishes Azreen wrongly or too severely until he used to cane her even when she was small. All these prove that Encik Saleh is a very judgmental and biased person and of course I would not be like him.

Finally, I also find Encik Saleh is too mean in his traditional ways by being strict to his children. The incident where he grabbed Azreen and led her out of Madhuri’s room in anger proves how strict he was towards Azreen. He even raised his fist to punch Azreen when she argued with him. But, to avoid punching her, he ordered Azreen to go to the dining room and attend to her mother. There was even a situation where Azreen and Encik Saleh ate their dinner in complete silence. All these proves that Encik Saleh is too traditional and strict towards his children and I think this is not at all appropriate. Parents and children should discuss whatever problems that occur in their everyday lives.

Based on all the evidences above, it is surely proven that Encik Saleh is all covered with negative values. I do believe he has some love and cares for his children but he was not able to show them .

The Curse - Lesson - Write about a life lesson that you learnt from the novel...

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:17:00 +0000

‘The Curse’ is the novel written by Lee Su Ann which has many lessons that can be used in our lives. Today, I am going to write on one lesson which really captured my attention in the novel that is ‘courage’.

The value of ‘courage’ can be seen clearly in Azreen’s character. Azreen was a good friend with the Old Lady who became a precious confidante and counsellor despite ignoring the warnings and prejudices of the villagers. Azreen was determined to friends with the Old Lady till the last minute of the Old Lady’s life.As a child, she was not allowed to visit the Old Lady by her parents. Even the villagers warned Azreen that the Old Lady is a witch. This shows that Azreen is very courageous for accepting the Old Lady for what she is. From this, I learnt to be courageous in order to speak and act according to what I think is right. I also learnt not to judge others by listening to rumors and to think practically.

Azreen also showed courage when she took the blame for the bull’s escape in order to save Mohd Asraf. At first, she wanted to help Asraf out from the wicked farm owner, Mr. Mohan and his sons who were accusing Asraf for letting the bull out. But to her dismay, she had to accept the faith of her mother loosing a leg when her father hit into the bull and met with an accident. Even though Azreen was only helping Asraf at first, but she took the blame and had to carry it for the rest of her life. I saw Azreen as a very courageous person in this situation and agree to what she had done. She taught me to stand up for my believes in my life and this will really help me a lot in the future.

Last but not least, I also find Azreen as a courageous person when she challenged her father to reveal the truth behind Madhuri’s death. Azreen was very sure that Madhuri was killed by her father because she found the stain of the rubber tree sap on the ‘parang’. When she put all the details together, she came to a conclusion and told her father straight that he was the one who killed Madhuri. Here, we can see that Azreen was too bold and had the courage to speak the truth even to her father when she was sure that her sister was killed. This scene opened my mind that I should be honest and bold to say what I think is right in my life.

From all the evidences above, Azreen had portrayed the value of courage very clearly, in this novel. As a student who will face many challenges in my life, I learnt to be courageous and bold like Azreen from this novel. This aspect will help me to be a better person in my life.

He Had Such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo: Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:06:00 +0000

He had such quiet eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo

He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those wuiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise
If only she’d been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
She’d be free from ‘the hows and whys’
Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you lose your heart once or twice

1. The eyes have a lot of functions other than seeing. Explain one function of the eyes
that you know and give an example when that function is being used.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Do you believe in ‘seeing is believing’? Give a reason for your answer and relate it
to the poem “He had such quiet eyes”.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Why do you think the persona in the poem fell for the guy’s quiet eyes? Give a
reason why she likes his ‘quiet eyes’.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. How can you help a friend who fell for a person who you know is a pleasure
seeking person? Give a suggestion on how to help this friend.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. In the poem there is a phrase “how’s and why’s”. Form a question for each of the
question in the phrase with close relation to the situation of the persona in the
poem.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. Which one is easier to do, giving advice or listening to advice? Give a reason for
your answer with close reference to the poem.

.........................................................................................................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. What had been described as two pools of lies?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Why did the girl believe that the man cared for her?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. What does the line Layered with the thinnest ice tell us about the man?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. What did the man’s quiet eyes as of the girl?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

11. Do you think this is the girl first love? Why do you say so?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. Falling in love is part of growing up.

i) What advice does the poet give concerning falling love?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) Do you think it is a good advice? Why?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

In The Midst of Hardship: Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:04:00 +0000

In the Midst of Hardship by Latiff Mohidin

At dawn they returned home
their soaky clothes torn
and approached the stove
their limbs marked by scratches
their legs full of wounds
but on their brows
there was not a sign of despair
The whole day and night just passed
they had to brave the horrendous flood
in the water all the time
between bloated carcasses
and tiny chips of tree barks
desperately looking for their son’s
albino buffalo that was never found

They were born amidst hardship
and grew up without a sigh or a complaint
now they are in the kitchen, making
jokes while rolling their ciggarete leaves

1. When did the people in the poem return home?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. Describe the conditions of the people in this poem.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Where do they go to in the kitchen?

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Despite the conditions of the people in the above poem, did they give up?
Which line tells you this?

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. What do you understand by ‘ but on their brows, there was not a sign of despair’?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. What natural disaster had occurred to the place?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Name the animal that had gone missing in this poem.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Do you think the people in the poem are rich? Justify your answer with evidence
from the poem?

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. Why do you think the people are desperately looking for the lost animal?

………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. Which expression suggests that the animals did not survive?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. Do you think the people here are hopeful and optimistic? Justify your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

12. What can you learn from this poem?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. What is different about the animal?

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

14. If you were born in family which has to face hardship, how do you feel? What
would you do to make your life better?

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Essay Writing Guide: The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:59:00 +0000

Introduction: Introduces the increasing use of Internet in the modern society.

Body: Three paragraphs on the advantages and two paragraphs on the disadvantages of the Internet.

Conclusion: Concludes the pros and cons of the Internet depend on the users and their use of the Internet.

Proceed to the next step... - Writing Introduction, Body and Conclusion

Introduction
A good introduction will surely give the reader a good impression. There are several types of introduction to start your essay:

Definition - According to the English dictionary, Internet is a computer system that allows millions of computer users around the world to exchange information…

Question - Do you know that the invention of the Internet has revolutionized the business world? What are the pros and cons of the Internet? …

Fact - A recent survey on the Internet suggested that more than 60 per cent of the users receive spam emails daily…

Dialogue - “Son, can you please help me to pay the bills online?” The use of the Internet benefits not only the Internet-literates but also the illiterate ones…

Quotation - No man is an island. Everyone needs friends in his life…

Body

Now you need not worry about running out of points, so you can focus on paragraphing. A good paragraphing is essential for a good essay.

Include only one topic sentence which contains one main idea in one paragraph. Support the topic sentence with some elaborations, examples and further details or information. You should write your essay until you have nothing to write anymore.

Be specific in your essay and avoid generalization. A too general sentence is hard to support your topic sentence. Maintain the right tone and coherence in your essay. If a piece of writing is coherent, it is easy to understand because it is clear and reasonable.

Use logical connectors to join sentences and maintain coherence. Here is a list of useful logical connectors:

To add another related point: and, also, too, besides, as well, in addition (to), furthermore

To add a similar point: similarly

To connect two statements or phrases when the second one adds something different or seems surprising after the first one: but, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, yet, whereas, while, except

To show connection between actions and consequences: so, therefore, so that, as a result, consequently, then, thus

When a particular fact does not prevent something from happening: although, though, in spite of, despite

Conclusion

End your conclusion carefully and clearly. Do not give the reader a vague idea about the essay topic you have just written. Do not end your essay like this: There are some advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. Your can include your point of view or your thoughts on the essay topic in the conclusion of your essay. Try to start your conclusion with one of these words: In conclusion, In a nut shell, So, Personally

Proceed to the last step...- Proof reading and Final Editing Your Essay

After you have written your essay, you should proofread the essay in order to correct any mistakes in it. Read through your well-written essay and check for gross errors and first draft slips.

Edit your essay where necessary. Replace some of the poor words with vocabulary. Poor words include non-specific words which convey a too general idea to the readers. For instance, the word ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘say’, ‘walk’ …

Specific Words

The more specific words for ‘happy’ - cheerful, content, pleased, be tickled, gloat, gleeful…
The more specific words for ‘sad’ - upset, miserable, dejected, wistful, mournful…
The more specific words for ‘say’ - recommend, urge, blame, accuse, compliment, whisper, mumble…
The more specific words for ‘walk’ - stroll, hike, trek, wander, roam, prowl…

The Curse - setting: Describe the physical setting of the novel...

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:04:00 +0000

The novel that I learnt in Form Five is ‘The Curse’ written by Lee Su Ann. There are many places or settings involved in this novel but today I am going to write about the physical setting of the novel.

There are two main physical settings in this novel. The story started with the setting in London when we were introduced to the main character, Azreen Saleh. Basically, the readers are introduced to the university college where Azreen was pursuing an undergraduate course. The readers are given more information that Azreen was going to sit for her exams soon but she had to fly back to Malaysia due to her sister, Madhuri’s death.

Next, we are brought to experience the life of the university college when Azreen had to walk through the college’s residential hall. Here, Azreen’s thoughts flew back when she recalled her two years of student experiences. She had many sweet experiences in her life as a student. She also met many new friends of various races here and she was reluctant to go back to Malaysia even for a while.

The second physical setting is when we are taken to KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport). Here, Azreen had to wait for two hours before she could board a connecting flight to Pulau Langkawi, her hometown. When Azreen was recalling her old times with her sister, Madhuri, the readers are brought to Langkawi International Airport. Azreen meets her foster parents, Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli who came to receive her at the airport.

Last but not least, we are brought together with Azreen to Pulau Langkawi and a little village. In this beautiful, small village, we are introduced to Azreen’s home where she had bitter sweet memories for Azreen when she remembers about her sister. Next, the village itself was the place where all the drama takes place, both in the past and present.

From my explanation above, it is proven that the physical setting of the novel varies and creates an enthusiastic feeling when we read the novel. From London to Pulau Langkawi is what the whole novel is about.

The Curse - theme: Write on the theme of love....

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:02:00 +0000

‘The Curse’ written by Lee Su Ann touches on many aspects of life. Basically, all the aspects revolve around our own community and can be used as guidance in our life.

In this essay, I am going to write about the theme of ‘love’ which is actually the main conflict in this whole novel. Firstly, we can see this aspect between mother and child when we read how loving was Azreen towards her mother when she came back from London. She realized her mother still does not know about the death of her sister, Madhuri. Azreen took over the duty to take care of her mother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease which was getting worse. Azreen cooked porridge for her mother like Madhuri used to do and fed her. This shows that Azreen loves her mother very much and feels responsible to take care of her after her sister’s death.

The concept of ‘love’ can also be seen through Encik Saleh who loves his daughters very much but does not know how to show it. He kept his love within him and was always looking fierce and angry towards his daughters and wife. He loved his family very much and that is why he worked hard on the farm.He also repairs chicken coop, repairs fencse and roofs and chops wood in order to earn a living for his family. As a hard-working man, he wanted to give his family the best out of him due to his love towards them which he does not show openly. Here, I admit that I admire Encik Saleh as a loving father towards his family but he should have shown his love in a more appropriate way.

Lastly, the concept of love can be seen in the characters of the Old Lady and Azreen. Azreen was very lucky to find a meaningful and comfortable relationship with the Old Lady of the forest. She was very close to the Old Lady until she told her all her secrets. She always goes and visits the Old Lady whenever she felt bored, angry or happy. This shows that Azreen really loves the Old Lady and does not give a single thought to what the villagers say about the Old Lady. Azreen’s love towards the Old Lady was very strong until she was willing to go into the burning house in order to save the Old Lady. But, faith wins. The Old Lady died in the fire while Azreen was saved by her father due to his love towards his daughter.

As we can see, the concept of ‘love’ is very strong throughout the novel. Each and every character in this novel has the desire to love and to be loved.

The Curse - theme: Write on the theme of forgiveness....

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:01:00 +0000

Lee Su Ann, the writer of the novel ‘The Curse’ had brought up many themes in her writing. One of the themes that I liked very much in this novel is ‘forgiveness’ which was clearly portrayed in Azreen’s character.

As we know from the beginning, Azreen is a very outspoken, aggressive and stubborn character but towards the ending of the story she had learnt to forgive others. Azreen was very much influenced by the Old Lady who begged Azreen to learn to forgive others at the time of her death. We can see very much that Azreen kept her promise when she forgave Mohd Asraf who had deliberately played with her emotions. All the while Azreen thought Asraf liked her but, Asraf was actually falling for Madhuri and when he admitted that to Azreen, she was speechless at first. Azreen hid herself from Asraf by running away until she reached the cliff of the hills when Asraf confessed his love towards Madhuri. But as time passed, her anger melted away slowly and she forgave Asraf as the Old Lady had told to her just before she died.

Azreen too learnt to forgive her father who murdered Madhuri. Even though she felt sad at first but she did not feel angry or resentment at him but she realized that she had lost her only father that she used to know as a very hot-tempered man. Slowly Azreen forgave her father but she could not see him eye to eye so she left him alone and that was the time when Encik Saleh had a heart attack and collapsed. But if at all Azreen had not promised the Old Lady to forgive others, I do not think that she would forgive her father for murdering Madhuri.

Azreen too forgave Madhuri for all the hurt and resentment she caused in Azreen’s life. Azreen was jealous of Madhuri’s beauty and genteel behavior. She was the favorite daughter. She also resented Madhuri as Madhuri was able to captivate Asraf who eventually fell in love with her. But, when Azreen discovers that Madhuri was adopted and the truth about Madhuri’s murder at the hands of her own father, she feels nothing but pity for poor Madhuri . Finally she forgives her sister, Madhuri.

Last but not least, Azreen also forgave Asraf and wished him luck from the bottom of her heart when he left Langkawi to take a teaching course in KL. When she read a note from him, she did not feel angry but she smiled after reading the note and also questioned herself whether she had learnt to forgive others. From Azreen’s character, I too learnt to forgive others in my life if they hurt my feelings. Being revengeful will not give us anything in life except the negative value.

From all the evidences above, the theme of ‘forgiveness’ had been portrayed very well in this novel through the protagonist, Azreen. I hope each and every human will learn to forgive others in their life.

The Curse - event: Write on an important event...

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:59:00 +0000

In the novel ‘The Curse’ by Lee Su Ann, an important event is the outbreak of the fire which results in the Old Lady’s death.

Firstly, it is an important event because after this event, it creates a domino effect on a number of other events which in turn helps Azreen to finally solve the mystery behind her sister’s murder. The fire enrages Azreen and ‘like a wildcat’, she confronts Mohd Asraf. He apologises and admits that he had been too grief-stricken to be rational when he has lost two important people in his life – his secret lover, Madhuri and his grandmother, Nek. After the fire which kills the Old Lady who is trapped in the fire, Awang, the bomoh informs Azreen that Madhuri is not her biological sister. The secret about Madhuri’s identity is finally disclosed by Azreen’s father who reveals that Madhuri is actually an abandoned baby whom Saleh pick up from the paddy field. Moreover, the village Pontianak is actually Madhuri’s biological mother who returns to the village to seek revenge over her daughter’s death. According to Awang, the ‘ghostly figure’ is also the “vengeful spirit” that has killed Azreen’s chicken.

Secondly, it is an important event because we are finally shown the reason for Madhuri’s murder and the culprit. When Azreen confronts her father, Encik Saleh defiantly confesses that he had accidentally murdered Madhuri after learning that Madhuri, a married woman, commits an adultery when she secretly sees another man. It is probably out of shame, the angry father who is embarrassed of Madhuri’s unethical behaviour which he thinks has brought shame to the family, confronts Madhuri and during the struggle, Madhuri falls to the ground and her head knocks over the latex cup which stains her clothes. A distraught Azreen flees after hearing the shocking news while Encik Saleh comes face-to-face with the shadowy woman – Madhuri’s mother who nears him with a parang in her hand. Saleh collapses and dies of a heart attack. With this, peace is restored in the village when the spirit of Madhuri’s mother disappears after bidding farewell to Azreen who leaves Langkawi to return to London.

Thirdly, the fire at the Old Lady’s house is the climax of the novel. From that point onwards, events dramatically unfold and Azreen gets to the bottom of the mystery. Azreen puts the pieces of facts here and there together and begins to understand the reasons behind the cover-up of Madhuri’s murder by her husband, Haji Ghani. Most importantly, we are also exposed to the crime of the villagers who are willing to do anything including planning an attack on the innocent and harmless Old Lady just because of superstition. Under the instigation of Puan Normala, the villagers are convinced to believe that the Old Lady possesses a special power to turn people into rats and squirrels, so the latter is accused to be an evil witch who brings all the misfortunes and bad omen to the village. In fact, when the rain continues to pour for more than four days, causing the town to be flooded, the Old Lady is blamed to have put the curse on the village. From this event, we can see how gullible the villagers are to believe the vicious rumours spread by the village gossiper, Puan Normala. She does not seem to care about the destruction she causes. Her irrational behaviour thus destroys the reputations of victims such as the Old Lady even in the eyes of children. At the same time, through this event too that we see the purity of the Old Lady’s heart. Despite being ostracised by the villagers, the Old Lady bears no grudges and is still willing to help people like Asraf’s Nek. More importantly, the Old Lady at the point of her death before the burning house collapses on her, she reminds Azreen to forgive all the villagers who have wronged her.

The Curse - event: Write on an unforgettable event...

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:57:00 +0000

In the novel ‘The Curse’ by Lee Su Ann, an unforgettable event is when Puan Fatihah fainted out of shock when she sees a silhouette of a Pontianak that looks like Madhuri appearing from behind a pile of tree trunks.

Firstly, this is an unforgettable event because it makes me sympathise Puan Fatihah. I find it sad that Puan Fatihah is a victim of her own belief in the supernatural. Prior to the encounter with the Pontianak, she has gone to seek out the bomoh to get a charm to win back her husband’s affections. She is superstitious enough to resort to such a desperate act. It is her superstition that makes her believe what she sees as a ‘ghost’ and that is why she faints from utter shock. What is so ironic is that she has thrown away the first charm which is a small piece of paper with written incantation into the river. The result is her husband has taken the younger woman, Madhuri as his second wife and she has only herself to blame. Now that his younger wife is dead, she must win back her husband’s affections with the help of Awang, the bomoh.

Secondly, I feel sorry for Puan Fatihah because she is so pathetic. She cannot bear her husband a child and always feels insecure as she has no power to keep him all to herself. I can understand her pain of insecurity as she looks at the mirror each day and sees her aging face. She is haunted by “the deepening lines, the crow's feet, the sagging skin and double chin.” Which man can still stay in love with a face like that? Her insensitive husband has spurned her and laughs at her insecurities. Her declining beauty has caused her to feel envy towards Madhuri and to be angry at her husband. This is really pathetic.

Thirdly, I find this incident memorable / unforgettable because it reminds me of how fragile a woman can be. Puan Fatihah has tried to be strong and put up a great pretence of liking the second wife, Madhuri. She has actually succeeded in deceiving everyone in the village and even Madhuri herself. Madhuri, in her last letter to Azreen has told her sister that Puan Fatihah is such a kind and understanding lady whom she looks up to as an elder sister. Madhuri sees her as “such a dear sweet woman” and is not sure whether she can emulate her goodness as a person and a wife. Poor Fatihah! She has suppressed her emotions and has to endure the fights she and her husband have been having lately over trivial matters. She cannot get his attention when Madhuri was alive and she still cannot get his attention after she was dead. She was so emotionally fragile that it was not surprising she fainted when she came face to face with a ‘ghostly figure’ who has reached out her hands to touch her. I would not forget this incident as it has taught me not to believe in superstitions nor resort to solving problems by using supernatural methods. All of us have problems and we must not let them overwhelm us.

The Curse - Character : Which character do you like the most?

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:52:00 +0000

The novel I have studied is 'The Curse' by Lee Su Ann. The novel is about the main character, Azreen, who returns from England after she finds out about her sister's death. Upon her return, she is surrounded by many secrets. She discovers the circumstances of Madhuri's death later in the story. At the end of the story she finds out the truth and leaves for London an orphan but more resilient and wise.

The character I like most is Azreen Salleh. She is a 20-year-old student who is studying in a university college in London on an exchange programme. She is short, bespectacled, rather bookish and outspoken.

I like Azreen because she is outspoken and she is not afraid to spoke her mind. She is vocal and says her opinions although sometimes she says the wrong things at the wrong time. She also hates her father's treatment of her foster parents and Madhuri's burial ceremony that is conducted without her presence. In handling the village gossip, Pn Normala, Azreen tells her off that the rain has started even before the Old Lady comes into town.

The second quality she has is she is courageous. As a child, she plays hockey and football with the boys. In the bull's incident, she is brave enough to accept the blame for the bull's escape instead of blaming someone else. Azreen also shows her courage by taking up the dare to knock on the Old Lady's door when none wants to do it. In another instance, Azreen confronts her father about Madhuri's murder despite her young age.

Azreen also has strength of character. When she returns to her village, she hears a lot of gossip surrounding her sister's death such as as Madhuri having white blood and her death signals a curse to the villagers. Azreen feels upset but she never retaliates. Sheshows patience and strengh because she knows that whatever she does, she cannot stop the villagers from gossiping about her family. In another instance, Azreen is told that her sister is murdered. She should have been very upset about this news but she takes it calmly and does not become hysterical. Later, when she finds out that her father is the culprit who kills Madhuri, she feels no anger but regrets that it has to happen. She understands her father's anger and shame because Madhuri has been having an illicit affair with Ashraf although she is already married to Hj Ghani. Azreen also shows a lot of strength because after all that has happened to her family, she stays composed and strong and returns to England for her examinations.

Clearly/In conclusion, there are many qualities in Azreen that I admire and she is the character that I like most in the story.

The Curse - Character : Which character do you like the most?

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:49:00 +0000

‘The Curse’ is a novel with many mysterious events. Even the characters in this novel portray many kinds of traits in order to capture the attention of the readers. As for me, the character that I admire most is of course, the pretty and charming Madhuri.

Madhuri is Azreen’s elder sister and she is about 24 years old. Madhuri is liked by everyone in the village and also by her parents because she was very filial and obedient. As a good and obedient daughter, she helped her parents in household chores. Madhuri used to cook chicken porridge for her mother and feed her. Besides, she had never gone against her father’s wish when she married the man that her father chose for her. She was married to Haji Ghani who was the village headman and he took her as his second wife. Even though she knew that Haji Ghani was married but just to obey her father’s wishes, she was ready to be the headman’s second wife. The sense of obedience in Madhuri’s character really attracted me and I learnt to love my parents more after reading this novel.

The second reason why I admire Madhuri is because she was very pretty and charming. She was introduced to the readers when Azreen recalled about her sister’s beauty during her journey back to Malaysia from London. Madhuri was featured in many photos and in school concerts when she took the role of the beautiful Puteri Gunung Ledang. Madhuri was very graceful and elegant in her costume during the concert. Azreen herself admired her sister’s beauty when she took part in the concert. All these prove Madhuri as a very beautiful and elegant daughter and I too admire her for that.

The third and final reason why I admire Madhuri’s character is because she was a kind and thoughtful person. She was very kind to Fatihah, Haji Ghani’s first wife when she wrote about her to Azreen. She even praised Fatihah and took her as ‘Kak’ because she looked up to her as an elder sister. Each time when her father, Encik Saleh scolded or caned Azreen, Madhuri took it in a positive way that is, her father trying to educate her younger sister. I feel that Madhuri is always thinking positive to each and every incident that happens around her. This is what inspires me that is to think positively in my life in order to achieve success.

Mentioned above are all the character traits why I admire Madhuri, the most beautiful lady in this novel. I wish I could be like her and be an obedient daughter to my parents.

The Curse - More Practice (Chapter 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:14:00 +0000

Practice 1:

Put T for the statements which are true and F for the statements which are false.

1. Azreen was looking forward to return to her hometown. ______

2. Julian agreed to accompany Azreen on the flight back home. ______

3. Azreen volunteers at the front desk during her spare time. ______

4. Azreen was eager to speak to Julian before leaving London. ______

5. Azreen had to postpone taking her exams. ______

6. Azreen had to leave London suddenly because there was a death in her family. _______

7. Julian was popular among students in college _______

8. Both Julian and Azreen was from Malaysia. _______

Practice 2

Complete the sentences below by matching them with the following phrases.

• the matron’s office

• the door did not jam as usual and made her way to the nearest station.

• why she was leaving.

• I’ll help you with your bag.”

• In his place was a tall amicable-looking young man.

• I won’t be able to help out at the desk tonight?”

• she could never get used to the changing daylight saving time

1. Azreen Saleh stepped out blindly from ____________________________________________

2. “Can you please tell Mr. Goldman that ____________________________________________

3. She did not want to have to explain _______________________________________________

4. She heaved a sigh of relief that ___________________________________________________

5. No matter how much time she spent in London ______________________________________

6. “You’re taking a tube to Heathrow ________________________________________________

7. The fatherly Filipino had apparently gone down to the cafeteria for breakfast and
_______________________________________________________________________

Practice 3:

Read the statements below. Then identify the characters who made the statements.

1. “Have a nice trip then, Love”

______________________________________________________

2. “Oh, no, not Julian”

______________________________________________________

3. “I didn’t expect you’d finish your exams so soon”

______________________________________________________

4. “You’re taking the tube to Heathrow? I’ll help you with your bag....”

______________________________________________________

5. “You’d better return to you desk. Old Goldman might realise you’re missing.”

______________________________________________________

6. “I have to go home earlier. I’ve spoken to the principal”

______________________________________________________

Qwertyuiop: Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:28:00 +0000

Practice 1

1. Who are the people involved in the story?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

2. Where did the events in the story take place?
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3. Why didn’t Lucy and her uncle Bert get along?
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4. How did Lucy’s mother react to her daughter getting a job?
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5. What strange thing happened to Lucy on her first day of work?
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6. How did Lucy handle the situation?
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7. Why was Ms. Broome unhappy?
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8. How did Lucy persuade Ms. Broome to ‘leave her job’?
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Practice 2:

1. Describe the life of Lucy Beck. Focus on:

a) Her relationship with her family
b) Her work
c) Her ‘relationship’ with Ms. Broome

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2. In your opinion, why do Lucy and her mother have a strained relationship with Lucy’s Uncle Bert?
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3. “Beggars can’t be choosers.” How does this expression apply to Lucy with regards to her job?
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4. Why was Ms. Broome reluctant to let go of her job?
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5. In your opinion, did Lucy do an amicable job at persuading Mrs. Broome to move on? Justify your answer
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Practice 3

Read the following questions and provide short answers.

1. Describe Lucy's two feelings when the letters 'QWERTYUIOP' kept popping up on the typing paper?
(a) _________________________________________________
(b)_________________________________________________

2. The typewriter 'took over' from Lucy. How did this happen?
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3. What was the change in Lucy towards Uncle Bert? What did she do?
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4. Lucy handled Miss Broome's spirit skillfully. How did she do it?
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___________________________________________________
5. What lesson have you learnt from this short story?
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Qwertyuiop: Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Toraipsi86um96) — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:28:00 +0000

SECTION A

Charactererisation:

Read the following statements. Write (T) for statements that are True and (F) for statements that are False.

Lucy is persuaded to stay on and fight against Miss Broome's spirit. [ ]
The ghost of Miss Broome is angry with Mr Ross. [ ]
Harry Darke admires and respects Lucy for her unyielding spirit. [ ]
Lucy regrets that she is unkind to her Uncle Bert. [ ]
Lucy is able to accept her Uncle Bert as a result of her sympathy for Miss Broome. [ ]
The principal of the Belmont Secretarial College has high expectations of Lucy. [ ]
Miss Broome was asked to retire because of her inefficiency as a secretary. [ ]
The existence of Miss Broome's spirit does not set back Lucy's intent to stay the course. [ ]
Harry Darke hints to Lucy what awaits her at the office. [ ]
Lucy's mother believes in her daughter that she will get a job easily. [ ]

SECTION B

Understanding the plot:

Reaarrange the sentences below according to the sequence of events in the story.

Lucy is apprehensive about finding a job with her low qualifications. [ ]
Lucy finds out from Harry Darke who Miss Broome was. [ ]
She is offered a job as a secretary at Ross and Bannister's. [ ]
She makes Miss Broome's spirit undertstand why she should not remain in the office any longer. [ ]
She types her first letter and is shocked to find unsual words all over the letter. [ ]
She continues to type and correct the letter but is constantly challenged by the typewriter. [ ]
Harry Darke shows her the typewriter she is to use. [ ]
Lucy finally understands her Uncle Bert. [ ]
Miss Broome takes leave of the office. [ ]
She resolves to find out the cause of the extraordinary behaviour of the typewriter. [ ]