English Composition Writing Workshop Chongfu School English Department Miss Joyce Tang

Objectives assessment rubrics improve the child’s composition writing Have a better knowledge of the writing assessment rubrics Gain a better understanding how to improve the child’s composition writing

Content Writing (Paper 1) Examination? What are the components of PSLE English and Writing (Paper 1) Examination? What are the assessment criteria for Writing? How can we better prepare the pupils? 3

PSLE English Paper 1 – Situational Writing & Continuous Writing Paper 2 – Language Use & Comprehension Paper 3 – Listening Comprehension Paper 4 – Oral Communication 4

Paper 1 Writing 5

Situational Writing Continuous Writing Components of Writing Situational Writing Continuous Writing 6

Weighting: 27.5% for merged stream Components of Writing Content Marks Language Marks Total Marks Situational Writing 6m 9m 15m Continuous Writing 20m 40m 7

Content – 20 marks Language – 20 marks Continuous Writing Content – 20 marks Language – 20 marks 8

Continuous Writing 2. Situational Composition 1. Picture Composition 2. Situational Composition A minimum of 150 words is required. 9

Continuous Writing Example of a Picture Composition 10

Continuous Writing Example of a Situational Composition 11

Requirements of Continuous Writing Type of Writing – Narrative Writing - Formal Writing (no contraction is allowed.) Purpose of Narrative Writing - Tells a STORY 12

rising action/conflict/problem resolution/conclusion Narrative Writing Plot Structure introduction rising action/conflict/problem climax falling action resolution/conclusion 13

rising action/conflict/problem climax resolution/conclusion Narrative Writing Plot Structure Introduction 1/5 rising action/conflict/problem climax falling action 3/5 resolution/conclusion 1/5 14

Continuous Writing Assessment Criteria for Content (20m) Adequate ideas Relevant/Logical ideas Developed story line No missing links in the story 15

Continuous Writing Adequate Ideas Must cover all the points given in the question and elaborate from there 16

Continuous Writing Relevant Ideas know what to elaborate grasp what the main happening is the introduction and conclusion must be linked to the main happening for a ‘tight’ story plot 17

How to write better? 5Ws 1H What happened? When did it take place? (Setting) Where did it take place? (Setting) Who was/were involved? (Characters) Why did it happen? How did it happen? (Manner) How do you feel about what had happened? 18

How to write better? Introduction It is not meant to fill the pages and meet the length requirement. It must be based on the given situation and most importantly, it must serve a purpose – introduce the main character and give readers some background to the composition/story. Appropriately used, it creates the setting and mood of the story. 19

How to write better? Examples of Introduction Weather Dialogue/Monologue Action/Sound Flashback End at Beginning 20

How to write better? Conclusion It is required, necessary. It gives the story a closure. It ‘closes the loop’. (link it to the introduction) 21

How to write better? Examples of Conclusion Emotional State – how you felt after the incident Returns to the introduction Ends with a rhetorical question Ends with more questions Moral/Proverb/Idiom (Avoid this! Usually it doesn’t turn out well unlike your Chinese composition) 22

How to write better? Introduction & Conclusion Both are required, necessary. Both must be connected to the ‘body’ of the story. They should not be written in isolation. Introduction & Conclusion must be thought through and not hastily written. 23

Continuous Writing Introduction Conclusion Body 24

Continuous Writing Assessment Criteria for Language (20m) Grammar – minor error Spelling – minor error Punctuation – minor error 25

Continuous Writing Assessment Criteria for Language (20m) Sentence Structure – major error Expression – major error 26

Continuous Writing Assessment Criteria for Language (20m) Wide range of vocabulary Adequate use of vocabulary Appropriate use of vocabulary 27

Continuous Writing Assessment Criteria for Language (20m) Sequencing, paragraphing & linking of ideas and facts 28

Continuous Writing How to use wide range of vocabulary? Have a word web for common verbs/ adjectives Eat Look Walk Say Angry Sad Shocked Happy Good Bad 29

Continuous Writing Have a word web for common verbs/adjectives Say Angry bellowed, growled, barked, hollered, commanded Happy chirped, cheered Sad whined, sobbed, 30

Continuous Writing Have a word web for common verbs/adjectives Happy Ecstatic, jubilant, exuberant In high spirits, on cloud nine As happy as a lark, grinning like a Cheshire cat 31

How to write better? Requirements Mindmap – Plan the story Checklist 32

Continuous Writing Things to avoid Overly long introduction Irrelevant introduction Abrupt/cliche conclusion 33

Continuous Writing Things to avoid 4. Supernatural themes eg. ghost, monster, fantasy, aliens or dreams 5. Informal language eg Dad, Mum( can only be used in direct speech) 6. SMS language eg C u later 34

Continuous Writing Things to avoid 7. Contractions – eg. couldn’t 8. Abbreviations – eg. PA System, tv 35

Budding Writer Writing is the most demanding language skill. Start small – eg describing a picture/scenario Write frequently 36

Budding Writer A Good Reader A Better Writer The Best Learner 37

Q & A 38

Thank You 39