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HomeSPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - CONTINUOUS WRITINGSPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS DIRECTED WRITING
SPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - DIRECTED WRITING
DIRECTED WRITING: 35 MARKS
DIRECTED: ARTICLE: Factual
You are concerned over the implications and long-term health effects of the haze.
Write an article to the local newspaper expressing your concern based on all the
notes below.
the reasons behind the haze
role of government and society
steps that can be taken
give relevant examples of:
health complications
measures
roles of government and individuals
When writing the article you should remember:
to lay out the letter carefully
to use paragraphs
that you letter is to the press
Haze: A Danger to Health
The haze is a constant phenomenon faced by Malaysia and her
neighbouring countries. The haze is basically pollution of atmosphere, which is
clogged with pollutants and other substances from forest fires.
The haze is a direct effect of forest fire in Kalimantan and other parts of
Indonesia due to slash and burn method of farming. The Indonesian authorities
appear to have no power to control farmers from practising such methods. The
haze is further worsened by open burning practised by most Malaysians. Openfield burning of rice straw by the rice planters and open burning of dried leaves
and garbage done by the public are a few examples that done by Malaysian.
Many are ignorant of the health effects of open burning.
During the haze, hospitals and clinic often report a dramatic increase in
respiratory problems, lung infections and asthma attack. The Air Pollution Index
(API) usually indicates the hazardous and dangerous levels of pollution during this
period. The haze has long-term side effects. Prolonged inhalation of polluted air
will result in serious lung infection which particularly affects the elderly.
The government must play its role to reduce the haze treat. It has to
cooperate with the Indonesian authorities to stamp out forest fires. The culprits
must be brought to justice, either through healthy fine or prison sentence.
Constant vigilance would ensure the perpetrators do not repeat their offence.
The government should also raise the public awareness of the dangers of forest
fire. Continuous campaign of the cause, solutions and steps-need-to-be-taken to
reduce the haze need to be promoted through all types of social media like
television, radio, newspaper and even via internet. The authorities should also

provide assistance to farmers and introduce more sophisticated forest clearing

methods.
In Malaysia, strict laws must be imposed to penalise those who practise
open burning. On-going campaigns on the dangers of open burning should be
intensified. Individuals too have a role to play. They must participate in every
campaign and stop burning. Students can advise their parents not to practice
open burning.
Every individual has to remember that we do not own the world, but
instead we lent it from our future generations. We must protect our world so that
our grandchildren woulh have a healthy earth to live.
Ahmad Harun bin Hashim
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
375 words
From: Penilaian Topik Vista SPM/Sasbadi/2009
ARTICLE: Article for School Magazine / Newsletter
In spite of governments clear call to students to study English well, many
students still show very little interest in studying the language. As Chairperson of
the English Language Society, you are going to try to persuade the students to
study the language by writing an article in the school newsletter. In the article
you have to tell the students the importance of studying the language. Your
article is given in the point form below:
will help you to further your studies
will help you to get a job
will help you in your job
will help you in your travels
will help you to enjoy many interesting programmes in television
will help you to appreciate many of the worlds most beautiful literary works
The Importance of Studying English
It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of the
importance of English language as they tend to ignore to learn the language.
Students attitude towards the language is also crucial to make sure that these
teenagers can face the future world better by learning English language as it is
an international language.
Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of
English, many students are still not bothered about studying it seriously. There is
also a campaign that still on to make all the Malaysian becomes a better English
learner, which is Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthen the
English. English is the most important and the most useful language in the world
today. There are many reasons why you should study the language properly.
First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you want to
further studies. Almost all books at university are written in English in all
subjects. Plus, it is a compulsory for any candidate to pass English with credit
before entering any universities. So, if you are poor in English, you will blow you
chance for better education or worse, you are going to have a big problem
studying at university.
The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will help
you to get a job. When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk

to you in English. The first impression you should give in order to success and
have the job is, to respond in English fluently. Your chances of getting the job are
very slim if you stutter while interviewing.
A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job. If the
company you work is actively involved in international trade, you have to speak
to prospective customers in English. Miscommunication might occur if your
English is bad. And this will put your company at risk and you will likely be
dismissed if this happen.
Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country in the
world studies English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak fairly good
English! At least some of the people you meet on your travels in other countries
can understand English. The language is certainly practical when you are lost in
your trip. Communication problem will not happen if you can converse well in
English. Inevitably, English is one of the languages used in any airport in the
world in making announcement. Knowing English well, therefore, make travelling
overseas easier.
Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will
experience if you good in English. You will enjoy televisions best programmes.
We must admit that many of the best programmes are produced by the
Americans and British companies. High self confidence influenced by the
programmes will indirect inculcate in yourself when you are fluent in the
language. Quality time is worthily spent if you understand and enjoy the
programmes.
Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see the
importance and realise how importance the language is for their own future.
Although it is a second language in our country, it is now a main language all
over the world.
544 words
DIRECTED: ARTICLE / REPORT: Newspaper Article / Report
There has been an attempted robbery in your area. As a newspaper reporter, you
have been assigned to write a report of the incident for publication in a local
newspaper. Using the notes below, write out your report.
couple taking a walk
two men approached them
ordered couple to give jewellery
a struggle husband injured
one neighbour taking a dog for a walk
heard shouts went to investigate
robbers saw dog fled
couple made police report
Couple Foils Robbery Attempt
PULAU PINANG, Thu An elderly businessman and his wife foiled a robbery
attempt by two men armed with a screwdriver and a knife. The victims were
reported safe from any bad injury.
Tan Ah Wok, 60 and his wife were taking a morning walk near their home
in Helen Heights yesterday when two men on a motorcycle stopped them under
the pretext of asking for directions. As Mr. Tan was giving directions, one of the
robbers pointed a knife at him and ordered them to keep quiet. He then relieved
Mrs. Tan of her jewellery and instructed Mr. Tan to hand over his ring and watch.
When he refused, a struggle ensued. Meanwhile, his accomplice grabbed a

helmet and hit Mr. Tan on the head with it. On seeing this, his wife started
screaming.
One of their neighbours, R. Subramaniam, who was taking his dog for a
walk, heard the screams and when to investigate. On seeing Subramaniam and
his dog, the robbers fled. I was taking my dog for a walk when I heard someone
shouting for help. Knowing that something was wrong, I ran there as fast as I
could. Before I reached the scene, the robbers fled on a motorbike. They were
probably afraid of my Rottweiler.
Mr. Tan, who suffered a small cut on his head, was given outpatient
treatment at a private clinic. He said that it was a horrified experience as he
never expected the two men would attack his wife and him. He thought that they
were lost and needed help. He also mentioned that the guard who in charge
nowadays easily allowed the strangers to enter their residents. State CID Chief
Supt Harun Din advised him and the people to be more careful in giving help to
strangers. The guard also must be stricter in letting people from entering any
residents without proper permission.
He added that the suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were believed to
be illegal immigrants. He said there had been similar incident last week when two
men approached a factory worker who was on her way home after work. The duo
then relieved her gold chain and cash. He advised the residents to be alert and
reports to police any suspicious-looking characters lurking in their area.
380 words
From: Spot on Model Compositions and Summary/Oxford Fajar/2007
DIRECTED: REPORT Police Report
You witnessed an accident. The police officer has asked you to make a report. Use
the points given below:
-

when the event happened

where the event took place
how it happened
description of the vehicles
step taken

To:
Sergeant Razali Kamrin
From: Julia Selamat
Date: 7th September 2011
Report of the accident on Jalan 2/14
On 7th September 2011 at 10.30 a.m., I was walking alone Jalan 2/14
which is next to the childrens playground. As I was about to cross the road to
enter the park, I saw a car driving swiftly down Jalan 4/14. It was a Honda Civic
with the number plate BEH 9110. Another car, a Toyota Vios 1.5 with plate
number WHM 4657 came out of Jalan 4/14 as well. The Honda Civic was driving
too fast that make it did not have time to avoid collision.
The accident caused a loud crash. The Honda Civic hit the Toyota Vios on
the drivers door. The door could not be opened and the driver had to get out
from the passengers door. The driver of the Toyota Vios was lucky as he survived
with no physical injuries. Both air bags popped up when they collided to each
other. They both were fortunate as their car was not badly damaged and dented.

The Toyota Vioss windscreen was shattered to pieces. The Honda Civics
headlight and signal light were smashed. There was plenty of glass on the road.
The two drivers startled to argue. The driver of the Honda City was a woman.
They blamed each other and the argument stopped when her mobile phone rang.
Most of the passerby slowed down their vehicle to watch the accident. Some
pedestrian came by and offered help.
As it happened, I ran into my house which is close by. I called the nearest police
station and in ten minutes, a police car drove up. I told the police officer I had
witnessed the accident and offered to come out to the station to give a
statement. The cars were towed to the side of the road first, and then were
brought to the police station before to workshop. Pictures were taken for
insurance claim.
In my opinion, the driver of the Honda City is to blame for the accident. She was
driving too fast and did not pay any attention to vehicles coming out from the
side road. The driver of the Toyota Vios should have stopped at the junction.
Julia Selamat
Julia Selamat
355 words
Write Better Compositions and Summaries for SPM 1119 English/Oxford
Fajar/2006
DIRECTED: REPORT Book Report
As a class project, you have been asked to write a book report. You decide to
write a report of a book you have just read.
Use
-

the following notes in your report:

author
title
setting
synopsis
main characters
themes
response

The Story of My Life is an autobiography written by Helen Keller. It tells us how

Helen Keller, who was deaf, blind and mute, defied the odds to become one of
the most celebrated personalities in the world. The story was set in Alabama in
1997.
In the first half of the book, Helen Keller writes about how she was
afflicted with scarlet fever while she was still a baby and how illness left her deaf,
blind and mute. The story outlines the frustration Helen Keller experienced as a
child alone in a dark and silent world unable to communicate with anybody.
The author then goes on to say how her life changed with the arrival of her newemployed teacher and nanny, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.
The second part of the book relates how Helen Keller studied the deaf and
dumb language and learnt how to write using Braille and then went to college
and graduated. The story goes on to say how she spent the rest of her life
helping the deaf and dumb all over the world.
I enjoyed reading every page of the book. I found some sections of the
book, especially those that deal with the early part of her life, poignant and

touching. It made me realize how difficult life must be for the handicapped. It also
made me realize how fortunate I was. It has made me more sympathetic towards
the plight of those who are less fortunate than I am, especially the handicapped
who has given up hope in the face of misfortune, and the severely handicapped
who have lost the will to live.
The story is very touching and informative. It arouses the feelings of the
readers. I admire Helen Keller for her determination and diligence. I appreciate
the painstaking efforts taken by the teacher. The book has a good moral lesson
for all. It shows the triumph of the human spirit in the face of indomitable
obstacles. It makes us wonder whether Helen Keller was just another victim of
fate or whether her birth has a special significance. Was Helen Keller fortunate or
unfortunate? Helen Keller was unfortunate to have suffered the cruel twist of fate
but the world is fortunate to have had a person like her. Her life shining example
to prove the adage, where there is a will, there is a way.
393 words
__________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________
DIRECTED: REPORT Report to Principal
You are very disappointed by the conditions and services provided by your school
canteen. You decide to write a report to inform your school principal about the
poor conditions and services of the canteen. These would include:
insufficient table and benches
food and drinks not covered
too little food counters
dirty and clogged drains smelly
food expensive and lacks variety
inadequate food late comers have nothing to buy, to eat
cold food not fresh
rude canteen workers
To

Mr. Hasnan bin Jalal,

The Principal,
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata

From :

Malik bin Abdul

Date

24 March 2011

Report about the School Canteen

I am writing this report is to draw your attention regarding the school
canteen. Many of the students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata are
unhappy about the conditions at the school canteen. There were lots of
complaints regarding this issue.
In the first place, there are insufficient tables and benches. Our
school has a student population of over 1 000. There is only one period of recess
time for all forms. More than 80 per cent of the students go to the canteen during
recess to buy food and drinks. Unfortunately, there are only about twenty-five
tables and fifty benches which can accommodate less than half the number of
students. As a result, many students have to stand while eating.

The food sold at the canteen not only expensive but lacks of variety. The
menu is the same every day. For the past five years, ever since the present
canteen management took over, students go back to the same food.
The hygiene and preparation of food leave a lot to be desired. The food
and drinks are not covered. They way canteen attendants dress speak volume
about hygiene. With their lackadaisical attitude, the food they sell would one way
or the other become contaminated.
My fourth complaint about the canteen pertains to the etiquette of the
canteen workers. They are rude and arrogant. They often shout at students. The
students are always on the receiving end of their bad moods.
We hope that conditions at the canteen will improve. The canteen should
provide better amenities. There should also be a different menu everyday so that
students will not have to taste the same food day in and day out. Cleanliness
should be given top priority.
We hope that you will look into our complaints and take steps to remedy
the situation. The students are prepared to boycott the canteen if their
complaints go unheeded.
Reported by:
Malik
Malik bin. Mohd Jalil
314 words
DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Complaint
Raju a/l Lingam,
123 A, Lorong Bahagia,
Taman Sentosa,
07231 Bandar Baru Sentol,
Kelantan
_________________________________________________________________________
The President,
Bandar Baru Sentol Council,
Kompleks Utama,
07200 Bandar Baru Sentol
JUNE 2011

16

Dear Sir,
Uncollected Rubbish and Clogged Drains
I am writing this letter is to attract your attention to the above title. As the
representative of the community, I am calling to tell you that the 300 odd
residents living in Taman Sentosa are extremely unhappy about the lackadaisical
attitude of the local town council towards the uncollected rubbish and clogged
drains in our area.
2.
The rubbish in our area has not been collected for more than a week. The
rubbish is supposed to be collected on alternate days but this has not been the
case. The town council workers collect the rubbish according to their own whims
and fancies. The uncollected garbage has attracted not only flies and mosquitoes
but also wild dogs which had attacked the residents on several occasions. These
stray animals also scatter the rubbish and make the roads dirty and smelly. As a

result, residents have to bear the discomfort of stench from the garbage and risk
their health.
3.
We are also disappointed with the town council workers for not clearing
the clogged drains which are filled with rubbish. The drains would usually
overflow when there is heavy rain and the rubbish would then flow into the
compounds of our houses. Besides, putting up with the unbearable stench
emitted from them, the residents have to spend hours cleaning their compounds
of rotten vegetables, food leftovers and other rubbish.
4.
Due to dengue outbreak recently, we are really concerned about the
residents health especially the children. Fogging service also was not done
accordingly to the schedule. The fogging authority only did their job whenever a
case of dengue aroused. They even fogging the neighbourhood late at night that
caused us to leave the residents. They need to consider the residents who have
babies and also to those who need to wake up early in the morning for work. The
fogging also caused the people to have breathing problem when we were not told
the exact time of fogging.
5.
We have made numerous appeals to the Municipal Council to look into our
complaints but to no avail. We have been putting up with this predicament for
more than a week. We hope the health authorities would do something to check
these health hazards.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Raju
(RAJU a/l MANIAM)
380 words
DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Application
You came across the following advertisement for the post Accounts Assistant
Clerk.
Text Box: Lim and Sons Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.
requires
Accounts Assistant / Accounts Clerk
Requirements

Female aged 24 30

LCCI Higher

Preferably with more than two years experience in manufacturing field

Able to handle fullsets of accounts

Interested applicants are required to write in with complete resume together with
a recent passport-sized photograph to:
The Manager,
Lim and Sons Manufactoring Sdn. Bhd.,

Lot 123, Interstate Industrial Area,

76 001 Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan

Write a letter of application together with curriculum vitae to the manager.

In your letter, include the following:
your curriculum vitae
the reasons for your interest in the job
your ability to work independently
pursuing a degree in Accountancy
Do remember to:
use the formal letter
use all the points given
elaborate each points given

Chong Mei Lin,

40, Jalan Templer,
Taman Hati Bersih,
76 000 Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan
_________________________________________________________________________
The Manager,
Lim and Sons Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.,
Lot 123, Interstate Industrial Area,
76 001 Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan
JULY 2010

18

Dear Sir / Madam,

Application for the Post of Accounts Assistant
I wish to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant as advertised in The New Strait
Times dated 15th July 2011.
2.
I have the necessary qualifications as stated in my curriculum vitae which
is attached to this letter. I have experience working in both food manufacturing
and also auto manufacturing fields. I am currently working in Lazat Ice Cream
Sdn. Bhd. in capacity of an Accounts Assistant and have been here since January
2008. Before this, I was working in TFR Auto Enterprise as an Accounts clerk.
Since my present position offers little prospect for career advancement, I would
like to be attached to a fairly large organisation such as yours.
3.
I would like to work in Nilai as I intend to further my studies and get
professional qualification. I have registered with a college in Nilai to do ACCA on
part-time basis. With this high additional education level and knowledge, I can
perform better in applying the accounts knowledge in the future job.
4.
I can assure you that I am capable person who can work independently. I
am able to handle full sets of accounts, up to three sets at a time. I am interested
in working with a company like yours as I feel I can grow well with the company. I
am a team player, adapt easily to any working environments and can work with
people from all works of life.
5.
I was active in extra-curricular activities and was considered as
responsible and dedicated worker. I led and organised many activities for the
school clubs so I am confident that I can be an asset to your company in this
capacity. Furthermore, i have a good command of English.
6.
In view of my qualification and experience, I would expect a salary more
than RM 2 000. And since I have my own car, I would have no problems travelling
outstation should the job require.
7.
I look forward to hearing from you and I am fully prepared to attend an
interview at any time convenient to you.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Raju
(RAJU a/l MANIAM)
358 words

DIRECTED: INFORMAL LETTER

Your friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in
Penang was down with dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in

Malaysia as he plans to bring his family over for the holidays in June. Write a
letter to brief him about the current situation.
In your letter, include the following:
express concern over the health of your friends cousin
news about the situation
steps taken authorities
present situation
Do remember to:
use the informal letter format
use all the points given
expand each of the points given
write in paragraph
No. 34, Street of Fame,
Taman Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
67500 Ipoh,
Perak
14 January 2011
Dear John,
How are you? Im sorry to hear that your cousin had dengue fever. This
problem seems to have become very serious all of sudden. We always feel that
the problem is not our concern until someone close to us is affected.
My neighbours daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for
UPSR examination because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the
exam. Fortunately, the authorities gave her an exemption so she is now in Form
One. There were also a few students taking the examination in the hospital.
According to the news, students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1 500
suspected cases over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621
confirmed cases last year comprised children and youth under the age of 24.
These statistics are quite worrying. This has prompted the health ministry to
increase checks on aedes breeding grounds in school and public areas. The
construction sites are largely to blamed. The problem is made worse by the rainy
season. The stagnating water attract the mosquitoes to lay egg and breeding on
the areas.
The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging
has been carried out in many public areas and most of the housing estates.
Contractors at the construction sites have been instructed to take appropriate
actions and warned to clean up. They could be fined up to RM 3 000 for breeding
aedes mosquitoes. Lot of campaigns through the television, radio and
newspapers were taken to make people aware of the issue and take precaution
rather than cure them.
Before the long holidays for the Chinese New Year, schools all over
Malaysia carried out a clean-up campaign of the school compound. The residents
association in my housing are also organised a family day clean-up of the housing
estate. There were huge piles of rubbish especially old tyres and containers
littered by the hawkers near the might market site.

The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There
have been no reports of new cases of dengue. So, dont worry. You can bring your
family for a holiday here in June. Im looking forward to seeing them again.
Send my regard to your mom and dad. Do take care.
Yours sincerely,
Harun Din
387 words
DIRECTED: SPEECH
Your school is having a month-long A Healthy Body Campaign. As President of
the Health Club of your school, you decide to give a speech on the Tak nak
Campaign recently launched by the government.
Tak Nak Campaign
A very good morning to our dear Principal, Mr. Hasnan bin Jaafar, teachers
and students.
Recently, our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
launched an anti-smoking campaign called Tak Nak. You can now see this short
and rhyming catch phrase Tak Nak everywhere on billboards, posters, TV ads,
and sometimes I even hear it on the radio. Though some people have criticised
our government for setting aside a staggering sum of RM100 million over 6 years
for the campaign, it is nothing compared to the huge amounts that tobacco
companies spend to promote smoking.
But in this war against smoking, money definitely talks; it is necessary for
the Tak Nak Campaign to constanly remind us of the hazard of smoking because
about 50 Malaysian teenagers light up for the first time every day. In fact, some
of these youth progress steadily from this to regular use, with addiction raking
hold within a few years. And this is despite the warning on every pack of
cigarettes that states unequivocally Smoking is dangerous to your health.
What can the Tak Nak Campaign do to combat this? Their aggressive
advertising creates media awareness among the public, especially among the
fashionable young crowd, that smokers have yellowed teeth and suffer from
shortness of breath and tells them that it is not cool to smoke. It is also not
responsible of them to affect non-smokers with second-hand smoke.
Also, there is a succession of infomercials on TV and in the papers
showing the debilitating effects of tobacco addiction on the body and gruesome
statistics of smoke-related deaths. We are now familiar with the graphic pictures
of damaged lungs on billboards which should scare people into not smoking. This
works, as I know some of my friends are quitting now, or trying to reduce the
number of cigarettes they smoke per week.
However, I feel any anti-smoking campaign is more effective if other
people and organisations are actively involved too. Yes, the first step has been
taken by the top, but sad to say, many of our politicians smoke themselves.
Nearer to home, so do some of our parents and teachers.
These adults have to be good role models by not smoking themselves. If
they do smoke, they should tell their children and students that they regret that
they ever started, and then take steps to quit smoking as soon as possible. They
must practise what they preach.

On a more positive note, I commend the Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union for its
zero-tolerance of smoking because they know that smoking and health just do
not mix. How can our sportsmen excel if they cannot stop smoking.
Dear teachers and students, thank you for your attention. Let me end my speech
by reiterating that smoking is a bad habit, so make Tak Nak your mantra. If you
have started smoking, say Tak Nak and quit! And if you havent started smoking,
say know that smoking not only damages your health but you are also literally
burning your money.
502 words
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