English Composition Writing Workshop

Chongfu SchoolEnglish Department

Miss Joyce Tang

Objectives

• Have a better knowledge of the writing

assessment rubrics

• Gain a better understanding how to

improve the child’s composition writing

Content

• 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?

PSLE English

• Paper 1 – Situational Writing &

Continuous Writing

• Paper 2 – Language Use & Comprehension

• Paper 3 – Listening Comprehension

• Paper 4 – Oral Communication

Paper 1Writing

Components of WritingSituational WritingContinuous Writing

Components of WritingWeighting: 27.5% for merged stream

Content Marks

Language Marks

Total

Marks

Situational Writing

6m 9m 15m

Continuous Writing

20m 20m 40m

Continuous Writing Content – 20 marks

Language – 20 marks

Continuous Writing

1. Picture Composition

2. Situational Composition

A minimum of 150 words is required.

Continuous Writing

Example of a Picture Composition

Continuous Writing

Example of a Situational Composition

Requirements of Continuous Writing

Type of Writing – Narrative Writing

- Formal Writing (no contraction is allowed.)

Purpose of Narrative Writing

- Tells a STORY

Narrative Writing

introduction rising action/conflict/problem

climax falling action

resolution/conclusion

Plot Structure

Narrative Writing

Introduction

Plot Structure

resolution/conclusion

rising action/conflict/problem climax

falling action

1/5

1/5

3/5

Continuous Writing

Assessment Criteria for Content (20m)

•Adequate ideas

•Relevant/Logical ideas

•Developed story line

No missing links in the story

Continuous Writing

Adequate Ideas

• Must cover all the points given in the

question and elaborate from there

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

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?

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.

How to write better?

1. Weather

2. Dialogue/Monologue

3. Action/Sound

4. Flashback

5. End at Beginning

Examples of Introduction

How to write better?

• It is required, necessary.

• It gives the story a closure.

• It ‘closes the loop’. (link it to the introduction)

Conclusion

How to write better?

• 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)

Examples of Conclusion

How to write better?

• Both are required, necessary.

• Both must be connected to the ‘body’

of the story.

• They should not be written in isolation.

Introduction & Conclusion

Introduction & Conclusion must be thought through and not hastily written.

Continuous Writing

Introduction

Conclusion

Body

Continuous Writing

Assessment Criteria for Language (20m)

•Grammar – minor error

•Spelling – minor error

•Punctuation – minor error

Continuous Writing

Assessment Criteria for Language (20m)

•Sentence Structure – major error

•Expression – major error

Continuous Writing

Assessment Criteria for Language (20m)

•Wide range of vocabulary

•Adequate use of vocabulary

•Appropriate use of vocabulary

Continuous Writing

Assessment Criteria for Language (20m)

•Sequencing, paragraphing & linking of

ideas and facts

Continuous WritingHow to use wide range of vocabulary?Have a word web for common verbs/ adjectives

EatLookWalkSay

AngrySad

ShockedHappyGoodBad

Continuous Writing

Have a word web for common verbs/adjectives

Angry bellowed, growled, barked, hollered, commanded

Happy chirped, cheered

Sad whined, sobbed,

Say

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

How to write better?

Requirements

•Mindmap – Plan the story

•Checklist

Continuous Writing

Things to avoid1. Overly long introduction

2. Irrelevant introduction

3. Abrupt/cliche conclusion

Continuous Writing

Things to avoid4. 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

Continuous Writing

Things to avoid7. Contractions – eg. couldn’t

8. Abbreviations – eg. PA System, tv

Budding Writer

• Writing is the most demanding language skill.

• Start small – eg describing a picture/scenario

• Write frequently

Budding Writer

A Good Reader

A Better Writer

The Best Learner

Q & A

Thank You