Kq's O-Level English Language Notes - Course 1123-Yr 2021

CIE O-Level
English Language
(1123) Notes
Compiled by:
Kamran Qureshi
English Language Teacher
AS/A/O Levels
GACS, SCIL, SI, LLC, Crescent,
ZSA, KIMS, MGS and Aitchison
https://www.facebook.com/OALevelsEnglish
+92-303-4128652
TaughtWare Academy
DHA, Lahore
https://www.facebook.com/taughtware/
+92-300-1000979
The
Formal
Letter
Notes compiled by Kamran Qureshi, for the benefit of O-Level students
A Soft copy can be obtained from https://www.facebook.com/OALevelsEnglish

THE FORMAL LETTER
FORMAT
Sender’s Address
Date
Recipient’s Name (Title/ Designation/ Address)
Salutation (e.g. Dear Editor,) (usually given)
Subject:
(Body of the letter)
o P1: Introduction (Reason for writing)
P2: Content Point 1
P3: Content Point 2
P4: Content Point 3
o P5: Conclusion
Yours faithfully,
Signature
Full Name
TYPES
Letter of Application
Letter of Complaint
Letter to Report/ Inform
Letter to the Editor... and others!
Letter of Application is a popular type of formal letter…
Salutation
• Dear Mr/Ms (surname),
• Dear Sir/Madam/Sir or Madam,
Introduction
“It should clearly state the purpose of writing the letter.” Examples:
• I am writing to apply for the post/position of Office Assistant as advertised in The News, on May 11th…
• I am writing with reference to your advertisement, which I saw in The News, on May 11th…
• I am writing in response to your advertisement, which I saw in The News, on May 11th…
• I am writing in connection with your advertisement in The News on May 11th…
• With reference to your advertisement in The News, May 11th edition, I wish to express my interest in the
position…
Experience / Qualifications / CV
• I gained some experience while …
• I am currently working as …
• I have been working for … for the last four years.
• I worked part-time for three years as …
• At the moment I am employed by …
• My qualifications include …
• I have a diploma in …
• I graduated from Barcelona University last year with a degree in …
• Please find attached my CV
• As you can see from the attached CV …
Endings
• Please do not hesitate to contact me if/should you require further information.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• I am available for interview at your convenience.
• I shall be available for interview any day apart from Wednesdays.
Yours faithfully/ Yours truly,

Signature
First name + surname
Letter of Complaint is another popular type of Formal letter.
Salutation
• Dear Mr/Ms (surname),
• Dear Sir/Madam/Sir or Madam,
Introduction
“Reason for writing (Complaining / expressing dissatisfaction)
Open with a sentence that immediately draws the reader's attention to the matter. Examples:
• I am writing to complain about... (the faulty installation of my air conditioner.)

• I wish to express my dissatisfaction with... (my stay at your hotel.)
• I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
• I am writing to express my annoyance with...
• I am not happy about...
• ...was very disappointing.
Endings
In the final body paragraph of your letter, you should state your expectations of how the company should
resolve the matter, including specific actions and deadlines, e.g.:
• I would appreciate it if you could replace... (the missing part by next week.)
• Please let me know as soon as possible what action you propose to take.
• I look forward to hearing from you within the next ten days.
• Please do not hesitate to contact me if/should you require further information.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully OR Yours truly,

Signature
First name + surname
SEE SAMPLE LETTERS ON NEXT PAGES
1. See a letter of complaint about a faulty product.

2. See a letter of complaint about unsatisfactory workmanship.
3. See a letter of complaint about a disappointing holiday.
SAMPLE 1
Mr. Shaukat Siddique

House 81, Q Block, DHA
Lahore
54792
11 November, 2019
Customer Services Manager

National Electrical Products
Regency Plaza, Shop 7-b,
Hall Road, Lahore
Subject: Electric Iron (Model No. 2279)
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-..
Dear Sir or Madam,
I wish to express my dissatisfaction with the above iron, which I purchased from The Electrical Store in
Regency Plaza on 25 October, 2019. On using it for the first time, I found that the temperature control was
faulty; it was not possible to set it for any temperature apart from the highest, for cotton.
When I attempted to return the iron to the store, the cashier said that the store was unable to replace it or
offer me a refund but advised me that it could be sent away for repair. As I need an iron on a daily basis,
and it was not clear how long a repair would take, this option was unsatisfactory. As the iron clearly does
not function as it should and therefore does not comply with the legal standards of product quality, I am
writing to you to ask for a full refund of the Rs4, 500 retail price.
I look forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks.
Yours truly,
Shaukat Siddique
Shaukat Siddique
SAMPLE 2
Mr. Irfan Siddique

House 81, Q Block, DHA
Lahore
54792
11 November, 2019
Mr Awais Najam
Proprietor
Sunshine Blinds
Shop 43, Shah Alam
Lahore
FAULTY INSTALLATION OF WINDOW SHADE
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-..
Dear Mr Najam,
I am writing to complain about the faulty installation of the above blackout shade to my bedroom window.
A technician from your company came to my house to fit the shade on Monday, 29 October. That same
evening, I discovered the mechanism was not working and that it was impossible either to raise or to lower
the shade.
I phoned your company the following morning, and the same returned three days later to repair the shade.
However, although the shade worked for the first few days after his visit, it then jammed once more. When I
phoned again on 6 April to report this fault, I was told that no one would be available to visit me for two
weeks.
As I regularly work nights, and this shade is the only means of blocking out daylight, it is vital that it is
functioning properly so that I can sleep during the day. I therefore would appreciate it if you would ensure
that someone returns to replace the shade by the end of the week.
Yours faithfully,
Irfan Siddique
Irfan Siddique
SAMPLE 3
22 August, 2020
Dear Mr Chishti,
Following our telephone conversation earlier today, I am writing to give details of my dissatisfaction with my
stay at the Avalon Hotel, Gulberg II, Lahore, on 10–18 August 2020, which I booked with your company for
me and my family.
My central complaint is that the hotel fell far short of the description in the brochure. We had booked two
double suites, in rooms 213 and 214. Although the rooms were billed as four-star accommodation, they
were very cramped, and the furnishings were worn and dirty. In addition, the shower in room 213 did not
work. The hotel’s grounds, described in the brochure as “pleasant, tranquil, and spacious,” were in fact
bordered on two sides by a very busy main road. The swimming pool was closed the entire week for
repairs.
When we spoke to your representative, Ms Maryam Adeel, she promised to try to get the shower fixed, but
this took an unacceptably long time to happen—three days from when we first complained. I asked her to
fill out an accommodation report form detailing these issues and I enclose a copy for your information,
together with photos of the bedrooms and the hotel grounds.
As I stated in my telephone call, I feel that we are due a full refund for this hotel stay as it failed to meet the
description in the brochure, and it ruined our holiday.
I look forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks.
Yours truly,
Mahad Khan
Mahad Khan
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS:
2019 May (11) LETTER to the Editor
You are walking along a busy road and you see a car drive very close to someone on a bicycle. The car almost knocks
the cyclist off the bicycle. You are very concerned about the way that car drivers behave towards cyclists. You decide
to write a letter to the Editor of the local newspaper to complain about the problem. Write your letter. You must
include the following:
1. when and where the incident took place

2. what exactly happened, including how the car driver was to blame
3. what you think should happen to improve the situation for cyclists on the roads.
Cover all three points above in detail.

You should make your letter polite and informative.
Start your letter ‘Dear Editor’
Remember to supply an appropriate ending.
2019 May (12) LETTER to the Editor
There have been many problems with the public transport in your area. These problems have made travelling
difficult. You decide to write a letter to the Editor of the local newspaper to explain how unhappy you are with the
present situation. Write your letter. You must include the following:
1. details of the problems with the public transport in your area

2. an example of when and how you were affected
3. what you think should be done to improve the situation.

You should make your letter polite and informative.
Start your letter ‘Dear Editor’
Remember to supply a suitable ending.
2014 May (12) LETTER of Complaint (Restaurant Manager)
You and your family recently visited a restaurant for a celebration. Unfortunately, you received very poor service
which made the occasion unhappy and unsuccessful. You decide to write a letter to the manager complaining about
what happened.
1. The date and the reason for the celebration

2. Details of what went wrong
3. What you would like the manager to do.
Tone/Register: polite but persuasive.

Start: ‘Dear Sir,’
Remember to add an appropriate ending.

Soft copy can be obtained from https://www.facebook.com/OALevelsEnglish
2013 Nov (11) LETTER of Application (Hotel Manager)
The manager of a large hotel wants to employ full-time members of staff such as receptionists or chefs. The manager
wishes to hire and train students who are about to leave school. You decide to write a letter to the manager to apply
for one of the jobs.
1. Which job you are applying for and why you would like to do this work
2. Details of your achievements in and out of school and why they make you suitable for the post
3. How you would like to develop your career in the hotel business.
Tone/Register: You should make your letter polite and informative.

Start: ‘Dear Sir / Madam,’
Remember to provide a suitable ending.
The
Informal
Letter

THE INFORMAL LETTER
FORMAT
1. OPENING
• Salutation [Example: Dear Sam]
• Introductory paragraph
2. BODY
• Content point 1
• Content point 2
• Content point 3
3. ENDING
• Closing paragraph
• Valediction [Warm regards, Best, Yours lovingly]
• First name [ First name: Zain]

1. OPENING
a) SALUTATION
Usually given in the exam question…Examples:
• Dear (first name),
• Dear Sammy
b) INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
“Contrary to the Formal letter, the opening of an Informal letter should not begin with its ‘purpose’. Rather
an informal letter should open with polite greetings to be followed by a few comments/references of
personal nature that affirm the relationship between the writer and his/her audience.
• Hi! / How are you? / How are things at your end? I hope you're well. How is your family?
• Thank you/ many thanks for your (recent/last) letter/email/postcard.
• It was good/ nice to hear from you recently.
• It’s been ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re/you and your family are well.
• I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while / I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch for such a long time.
Once finished with the greeting and opening comments, the opening paragraph should next move onto the
‘purpose’ of the letter.
• Anyway, the reason I'm writing ...
• I thought I'd write to tell/ask you
• I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
• I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.
• Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
• Thank you for asking/inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …
• I’m/ having a party on Friday 19th and I was wondering /hoping you’ll be able to come.
• Would you like to come/go to see ‘Maula Jatt’ with me at the weekend?
• I’m writing to ask for your help/you (if you could do me) a favour.
• Hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?
• I’d be very/really/terribly grateful if you could …
• I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality/the wonderful present.

2. BODY
THREE CONTENT POINTS
(Provided in the exam question)
a) STYLE
Your style should reflect the warmth, closeness and openness that are usually expected where the writer
has a close and personal relationship with the reader.
b) VOCABULARY
Informal vocabulary, including phrasal verbs e.g.: ‘go on’ instead of ‘continue'
INFORMAL FORMAL
I have got I have received
We went in the apartment We entered the apartment
The receptionist told us The receptionist informed us
straight away immediately
I am very unhappy I am very dissatisfied
I would like you to give me all my money back I would like a full refund
c) SIMPLER SENTENCE STRUCTURE

I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.
d) CONTRACTIONS
One way of making your letter informal is to use contractions. Example: I've just heard you've been to...
e) EXCLAMATION MARK
Another way to create an informal style is to use exclamation mark. It is used at the end of a short
'exclamations' to show strong feelings or surprise, and are written in the same way we would speak. For
example:
If you’d been at the wedding, you’d have loved the food!
Brilliant news!
Congratulations!
DO NOT overuse exclamation mark. Perhaps use only once or twice in a letter.
3. ENDING
a) CLOSING PARAGRAPH
• Well, that's all for now…

• Give my love/regards to … Say hello to …
• I hope to hear from you soon… I look forward to hearing from you again…
• See you soon! Write back soon! I hope to see you soon!
• Once again, thank you for all your help…
• All the best/ Best wishes/ Love, Lots of love…
b) VALEDICTION
Since an informal letter is always written to someone with whom you are on a first-name basis, it provides
you the leverage to coin any suitable phrase as a complimentary close; however, the following may also be
used:
• Best/ kindest/ warm regards,

• Best, Best wishes,
• Love, Yours lovingly,
c) FIRST NAME
Sample:
I suppose that’s all for now Uncle Dave. I’ll try and visit you and aunt on
Eid, probably on its second day. Give her my respects, will you?
Hope to see you soon!
Love,
Qasim

Previous Exam Questions:
• 2019 Oct (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)
• 2019 Oct (12) LETTER to Inform (Friend)
• 2012 Nov (11) LETTER of Apology (Friend)
• 2011 May (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)
• 2010 May (12) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)
• 2007 Nov LETTER of Invitation (Friend)
• 2005 Nov LETTER of Invitation (Friend)
• 2001 Nov LETTER of Concern (Relative)
NOTE: You are advised to write between 200 and 300 words. Total marks for this part: 30.
• You will be awarded up to 15 marks for following the task instructions.
• You will be awarded up to 15 marks for the language you use.
2019 Oct (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)

Recently, two of your relatives who live abroad came to stay with your family for a week. This was a very
happy event for everyone. You decide to write to your aunt, who lives in another city, to tell her about this
visit. Write your letter. You must include the following:
1. who the relatives are and when they came to visit

2. details about what you and your relatives did together during the visit
3. what your relatives enjoyed most about their visit and why.

Tone/Register: make your letter interesting and informative.
Start your letter ‘Dear Aunt...’,
2019 Oct (12) LETTER to Inform (Friend)

Last year, your best friend at school moved away to live in another town. Recently, a very important
person came to visit your school. You decide to write a letter to your friend with all the details of the visit.
Write your letter. You must include the following:
1. who the important person was and when the visit took place
2. details of what happened during the visit
3. why the visit was important for you and your school.

Tone/Register: make your letter interesting and informative.
Start your letter ‘Dear (name)’,
2012 Nov (11) LETTER of Apology (Friend)
Your friend recently asked you to deliver an item of value to a relative. Unfortunately this item was lost during the
journey. You need to explain this in a letter to your friend.
1. when and how the item was lost

2. your attempt to find it
3. An offer to replace or pay for the item.

Tone/Register: make your letter polite and apologetic.
Start your letter ‘Dear (name)’,
2011 May (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)
Your aunt has written to you asking how you are getting on at school. You reply, telling her about a recent incident
which upset you very much.
1. what happened
2. why you were so upset
3. How the situation was resolved.

You should make sure your Aunt will understand your feelings and sympathise with you.
Start your letter ‘Dear Aunt…’
2010 May (12) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)
You recently attended a wedding. Unfortunately, your aunt missed the occasion and she wants you to
write her a letter to tell her about everything that happened.
1. the names of both of the people getting married

2. a description of where the wedding took place
3. an account of the ceremony
4. what you thought was the most interesting moment
5. What else you think your aunt would have liked.
You must cover all five points in detail.

You should add further details if you wish
Make your letter friendly and informative.
Start your letter ‘Dear Aunt,’
2007 Nov LETTER of Invitation (Friend)
You recently saw a photograph of an important school occasion. In the photograph you saw something
which surprised or worried you. You decide to write a letter to your friend about this.
1. Which occasion it was

2. Where the photograph was taken
3. What you saw in the photograph which surprised or worried you
4. Why you are so concerned about this
5. What you think should be done about it.
Tone/Register: expresses your feelings clearly.

Start: ‘Dear …,’
Remember to end your letter appropriately.
2005 Nov LETTER of Invitation (Friend)
You have been chosen to represent your school in a general knowledge competition. You must choose one friend to
be in your team. Write a letter to your friend inviting him or her to be in your team.
1. When and where the competition will take place

2. A request to your friend to join you in the team
3. Why you think your friend is the best choice for your team
4. What preparation you should both do
5. Details of the prizes in the competition.
You must cover all five points in detail.

You may also add further details if you wish.
Tone/Register: friendly and enthusiastic
Start: ‘Dear …’
2001 Nov LETTER of Concern (Relative)

You have just heard that a relative of yours is in hospital for a minor operation. You have decided to write a letter
intended to express your concern.
1. say how sorry you are/

2. ask about the patient’s well-being
3. give some light-hearted news from home
4. suggest a home-coming party
5. Promise a visit.
You may add details of your own (if you wish).

Make sure that your English is correct.
Tone/Register: The letter should be cheerful.

The Report

The Report
FORMAT
STEP 1
To: Recipient’s Name or Position

To: the Principal
OR
To: The Investigating Officer
Gulberg Police Station
STEP 2
From: Writer’s Name (additional info)
From Huzaifa Naveed,
School Student Council President
STEP 3
Date
STEP 4
Title/ Subject (should be underlined)
Subject: Report on the Accident at Hyde Park
STEP 5
Body
P1: Introduction
P2: Content Point 1
P3: Content Point 2
P4: Content Point 3
P5: Conclusion
STEP 6
Signature
As a general rule, reports should be written in a formal register, using plain English, as the primary purpose
of a report is to convey essential details as clearly and effectively as possible. Reports should be logically
structured and, as with other genres, it is sensible to use the bullets in the question to provide your basic
structure.
Exam Question
Here is an example of a typical Directed Writing examination question:
During the lunch-time recess, one of your friends fell over while taking lunch in the school canteen and
suffered an injury. It was necessary to summon paramedics and although there were no serious injuries,
your friend was taken to the Outpatients’ Department at the local hospital to be checked over.
You witnessed the accident and the head teacher/principal of your school/ college has asked you to write
a report of the incident giving details of what happened.
You should include the following details in your report:
● When and where the accident took place
● How the accident occurred and the injuries suffered by your friend
● SuggesBons as to how similar accidents can be avoided in future.
You should cover all the points above in detail and ensure that your report is clear and informative. You
should write between 250 and 300 words.
The comments below refer to the underlined details in the wording of the question:
● The first paragraph of the quesFon sets the situaFon or scenario of the incident. It is important to note
key details – you are told when the incident happened; that one of your friends was involved and that your
friend was not seriously injured – be careful here; it’s very easy in the heat of the moment to write an
account involving seriously broken limbs which does not fulfil the requirements of the question!
● You witnessed the accident but you do not have to be involved in it; all that maJers is that you saw
events at close hand so that you are able to provide a reliable report.
● You are given the genre of what you should write (a report) and the audience to whom it is to be
addressed (headteacher/principal of your school/college). Ensure that you use an appropriate format for
your response – a report and not a letter.
● You should cover all the points above in detail. For the report to be helpful, it is important that you add
some convincing details to the basic facts that the question provides. For example, it is important to give
the precise date and time (not just ‘last Wednesday during the lunch hour’) and also some added detail
about exactly where your friend was in the canteen when the accident happened and so on. Note also that
the third bullet requires some expansion over and above the information given in the question – a
successful response to this question is likely to provide information in response to the second bullet (for
example, ‘My friend slipped on some food which had been spilled by another student’) which can be used
when answering the final bullet (for example, ‘I suggest that the canteen staff ensure that any spillages are
dealt with immediately and that students are directed away from areas where a spillage has occurred’).
● It is also important that you stay within the scenario as set out in the quesFon. You may find it helpful to
take a few moments to visualise yourself in the canteen and work out what you could have seen or not
seen. For example, you could not have seen that the canteen staff failed to clean up the spillage earlier in
the morning, even if the failure contributed to the accident.
● Remember the purpose of your answer – this is a report that should focus clearly on the facts; it should
be written in a tone that is appropriate to a report and should make its points clearly. In this case your
reaction to the events would not be relevant. In a real-life situation it is quite possible that your report
could be used as evidence if the school was considered liable for the injuries your friend incurred.
DON’T FORGET TO READ THE CANDIDATE RESPONSE AND EXAMINER’S COMMENTS ON

THE NEXT PAGE
Task Fulfilment: 13 out of 15
Language: 12 out of 15
Total mark awarded = 25 out of 30
Examiner comments
For Task Fulfilment, the candidate adds more information than is required by the question to
ensure that the format looks authentic. In particular, a topic heading is supplied.
The candidate can use vocabulary which is precise enough to convey shades of meaning.
For Task Fulfilment, the candidate includes personal as well as general experience, as required by
the question.
The candidate uses images to convey the situation.
For bullet point 1 of Task Fulfilment, the candidate has indicated realistic difficulties.
The spelling is nearly always accurate, even when the word is a difficult one. Later examples include
the word ‘beneficial’; ‘minimal’ is another example of the candidate using good vocabulary.
For bullet point 2 of Task Fulfilment, the candidate gives several appropriate suggestions.
The candidate uses some variation in sentence structures to create some natural fluency.
Sentence separation is accurate and the punctuation generally helpful.
For Task Fulfilment, the candidate has addressed bullet point 3.
The paragraphs show some evidence of planning, usually according to the separate bullet points.
For Task Fulfilment, the candidate at the end includes an appropriate signature to enhance the
format.
Overall, the writing is increasingly accurate with some slips caused by ambition.
SOME DOS AND DONTS

1. It is important not to confuse a report with a formal letter; a report should not contain a salutation (‘Dear
Headteacher’, for example) nor a valediction (‘Yours faithfully’).
2. There should be a heading that states the report’s purpose (‘Report on Accident in the School Canteen’).
3. A report should contain only the specific details required; you should adopt an objective tone and avoid
falling into narrative or adding unnecessary descriptive details or personal reactions to or speculations about
what is being reported.
4. It is acceptable, however, to include recommendations as to further actions to be taken in your concluding
remarks – the final bullet in the exam question often indicates the need for this.
Tips for writing reports

Be concise: Your introduction and conclusion should be concise. It is important that you convey key
information relating to the subject of your writing as clearly and concisely as possible. Your readers will
want to gain a swift overview of the main points and may not have time (or inclination) to wade through
lengthy paragraphs of introductory comments.
Give a balanced view: You may have strong opinions about the subject of your writing and you should
certainly express them, as long as they are justified by reference to events or examples.
NOW ATTEMPT THE PRACTICE QUESTION ON NEXT PAGE

PRACTICE QUESTION
Your head teacher has asked for ideas for a new sport to be added to your co-curricular activities at your
school. It so happens that several of your friends and you have recently attended a ‘taster’ day at the local
sports club and tried out several different sports that you had not played before, including one sport that
you all found very enjoyable.
Write a report for your head teacher stating why you would like this sport to be added at school.
Your report must include the following details:
● what the sport is and why you enjoyed playing it
● what the school needs to provide, (for example, a playing field, equipment, qualified instructors)
● what benefit would come to you and the students and the school if you played this sport.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should ensure that your report is clear and informative. You
should write between 200 and 300 words.
TIPS
You may use the following while writing:
The Introduction
The aim/purpose of this report is to consider/suggest/...

This report is intended to...
Below is a summary of the most important relevant points as well as some recommendations.
While Reporting results
Most people seem to feel that...

Several people said/told me/suggested/thought that…
Making recommendations
I would therefore recommend that we expand the library/installing a new coffee machine...
It would seem that banning mobile phones is the best idea.
Having considered the options, …
I would like to suggest/recommend …
I therefore suggest/recommend …
You may wish to consider …

The Article

FORMAT OF AN ARTICLE
H E A D L I N E
By Mohsin Ali Khan Niazi
INTRODUCTION
An Article should always begin with an Introduction as it is considered to be the most important
paragraph of the text. Its purpose is to provide a well-informed overview or synopsis of the central
event. The information is usually provided with the help of 5 Ws and 1 H: when, who, what, where,
why and how.
CONTENT POINT 1
CONTENT POINT 2
CONTENT POINT 3
The three content points should make use of short sentences, illustrations, and quotes of other
people that add value, are useful and offer relevant information. The quotes should be properly
punctuated with the help of quotation marks.
Some Differences
Newspaper Article Magazine Article
1. Purely based on FACTS. 1. Based on FACTS; however...
2. An OBJECTIVE presentation, without 2. It can be SUBJECTIVE and has room for

opinion or emotion. opinion and emotion.
3. Simple and straightforward re-telling 3. More in-depth, with more detail and
of FACTS, with NO CREATIVE questioning. It can be creative
WRITING. /discursive.
4. It is not DISCURSIVE it just gives facts. 4. The writing should be more FLUENT.
5. STYLE: The writing is very FORMAL, 5. STYLE: The writing here must be
there are NO CONTRACTIONS and NO FORMAL because it is an exam, but it
SLANG is used. Grammar and can be more INFORMAL than a
punctuation are formal. newspaper article. It can be
CONVERSATIONAL and engage the
reader; it can USE CONTRACTIONS.
INTRODUCTION
SAMPLE 1
ON THE OCTOBER 1st, 2019, SENIOR STUDENTS of SCIL and SI set up a

medical camp near Jinnah Road, Township, Lahore. The purpose of the camp was
to help the local community in their struggle against the recent dengue outbreak.
Armed with banners and brochures to raise awareness about the epidemic, the
enthused students were welcomed by an equally charged crowd of people, including
doctors from nearby hospitals...
ANALYSIS
WHEN
ON THE OCTOBER 1st, 2019,
WHO
… SENIOR STUDENTS of SCIL and SI
WHAT
…set up a medical camp
WHERE
…near Jinnah Road, Township, Lahore.
WHY
…The purpose of the camp was to help the local community in their
struggle against the recent dengue outbreak.
HOW
Armed with banners and brochures to raise awareness about the
epidemic, the enthused students were welcomed by an equally charged
crowd of people, including doctors from nearby hospitals...
SAMPLE 2
It was late, about 11:45 p.m., when Mansur Khan landed at Allama Iqbal
International Airport, Lahore. Eager to surprise his family, he signalled the first taxi
in sight and began his 15-minute ride home. A lot had changed, he noticed; and yet
every road – rather every nook and corner, seemed familiar. Exhilarated, he
constantly chattered with the driver in an animated manner, and suddenly—wham!
Out of nowhere on that quiet night of November 25, 2017, a car T-boned the taxi,
propelling it sideways, at least 50 feet from the road... Stunned by the impact of the
collision, Mansur let out a grunt and a cry from behind the vehicle’s airbags. All he
could think of was home. And then he passed out.
ANALYSIS
WHEN
It was late, about 11:45 p.m. …
… November 25, 2017…
WHO
… when Mansur Khan …
WHERE
… Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore …
WHAT
...and suddenly—wham! Out of nowhere ...a car T-boned the taxi,
propelling it sideways, at least 50 feet from the road...
THE MAMA BEAR INSTINCT
By Andy Simmons
In September 2017, Angela McQueen, then 40, had finished only one lap when a 14-
year-old freshman standing not far from her – pulled out a gun. As was her routine,
McQueen routine was on lunch-monitoring duty at the time. The longtime physical
training teacher at Mattoon High School in Mattoon, Illinois, was keeping an eye on the
hundreds of students in her charge by walking laps around the school cafeteria.
“Oh, my God!” she recalls saying to herself. “He’s going to start shooting.”
School employees had been trained on how to handle active shooters: Attack their
ability to aim. So with the shooter’s finger on the trigger, McQueen lunged at him.
Grabbing at his arm, she forced the gun barrel into the air, but not before he got off a
couple of rounds, striking one student in the hand and chest and grazing another. As
students ran for the exits, McQueen subdued the shooter with help from the school
resource officer, who disarmed the student and took him into custody until police
arrived minutes later. Afterward, McQueen went outside to dole out hugs and support to
her shaken students.
“It’s the mama-bear instinct,” she told the local paper, the Pantagraph. “I don’t have
kids of my own, but these are still ‘my’ kids. You’re not going to do this to my
kids.”
And so, thanks to McQueen, a story that has played out tragically at far too many
schools across the country had a relatively happy ending. “If it hadn’t been for her,
the situation would have been a lot different,” Police Chief Jeff Branson said at a
news conference.
As one impressed student told CBS News, “Ms. McQueen is Chuck Norris,
basically.” (282 words)
FIREWOOD FOR FREE
By Janet Jones and Hillary Swanson
Shane McDaniel and his sons cut 80 truckloads of wood for those in need.
It is late November and the winter bite is at its severest. Washington is known for being
home to lots of trees, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves too. But what if you couldn’t
chop wood or couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it? Luckily, Shane McDaniel and his
twin sons, Harrison and Henry McDaniel, 21, are happy to lend an axe. The three men
chop truckloads of wood—then donate it to those in need. “I want to help people who are
freezing out here and have no way of keeping their families warm,” Shane explained
to heraldnet.com.
“The idea started as a father-son bonding project,” he told msn.com. “I had to cut
wood with my dad. He just loved doing it,” says Shane, 48, a divorced father of six. He
wanted to pass along that feeling, so he and the twins spent the summer of 2018 together,
and the result was a great wall of wood piled up around their house in Lake Stevens, 35
miles outside of Seattle. Technically, it was 40 cords—a cord measures four feet high, four
feet wide, and eight feet deep. To buy that much would cost about $10,000.
When the weather turned cold that November, Shane started thinking of people who might
have no other option but to freeze. He posted on Facebook: “IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF
FIREWOOD AND CANNOT AFFORD IT, CONTACT US!”
The response was immediate. Requests started pouring in. Single mom Katelyn Ticer, 29,
and her four-year-old daughter rely on a wood-burning stove as their sole source of heat,
so it was a relief to receive a truckload of firewood from the McDaniels before the holidays.
“To get that much wood brought me to tears,” she told msn.com. “So much stress
and anxiety is off my shoulders. I couldn’t be more thankful.”
“Giving is the reward,” he says. “It has nothing to do with how well it’s received; it’s
about how much it’s needed.”
ASSIGNMENT
Previous Exam Questions:
• 2015 Nov (11) school magazine article about the success of the team
• 2015 Nov (12) school magazine article about a festival
• 2013 May (11) school magazine article about a community welfare project
• 2013 May (12) school magazine article about the visit of a foreign student
• 2004 Nov school magazine article about a person you would like to change places with for a day
2015 Nov (11)
You are a member of a school team which recently won an important competition. Your Principal is very
pleased with the team’s improvement and asks you to write an article for your school magazine about the
success of the team.
(You can choose any kind of team: for example, debating, quiz, sports etc.)
Write your magazine article. You must include the following:
• Some details about the team and the competition it won

• Why the team was so successful this year
• How team members and the whole school have benefited from this success.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make sure your article is lively and informative. Start your
article with a suitable headline.
2015 Nov (12)
Recently, you and some other members of your class were chosen to take part in a festival. Your Principal
is very pleased that you took part. He has asked you to write an article for your school magazine about
what you did at the festival.
• details of the festival and where it was held

• what you and the other students did at the festival
• why you feel taking part was a benefit to you and the other students and to your school.
2013 May (11)
Your class is organising a project to help some people in your community. You decide to write an article for
your school magazine to encourage other students to join in this project.
• Details of the people you are helping and why you are helping them
• Details of the project you are organising
• What other students can do to help.
Cover all three points above in detail. You should make sure your article is informative and persuasive.
Start your article with a suitable headline.
2013 May (12)
Recently, a foreign student spent one month as a member of your class in order to learn about your
country. You decide to write an article for your school magazine about the visit.
• The student’s name and other details about the student

• What the student did during the visit both in and out of school
• Why you feel the visit was of benefit to the student and to your school.
2004 Nov
Your school is holding a writing competition. You are asked to write an article about a person you would
like to change places with for a day. It could be a famous person or someone you know.
Write your article which will appear in your school magazine.
You must include the following:
• a suitable headline for your article

• which person you would like to change places with
• what you admire about that person
• what you would do on that day
• What you think you would learn from changing places with the person.
You must cover all five points in detail. You should also add further details if you wish and make your
article lively and interesting for your fellow students

The Speech

FORMAT OF A SPEECH
BODY OF THE SPEECH
P1: Introduction
Direct address e.g. Respected Principal and honourable guests,
Greeting/ Welcome note e.g.: good morning etc.
Introduce yourself
Introduce the topic of your speech
P2: Content Point 1

While elaborating on your point you may use:
Direct address
Triad
Rhetorical question
P3: Content Point 2

Direct address
Triad
Rhetorical question
P4: Content Point 3

Direct address
Triad
Rhetorical question
P5: Conclusion
thank the audience
You may reiterate or reemphasize on the purpose…
PRACTICE QUESTION
You are advised to write between 200 and 300 words. Total marks for this part: 30.
Your friend has decided to run for the post of Student Council President. Write a speech that you have to present to
the whole school during assembly, to support your friend.
Write your speech. You must include the following.
PARAGRAPH POINTS:
• His achievements and contributions to the school

• What your friend can achieve for the students if he is elected.
• What your friend can achieve for the school if he is elected.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cover all three points above in detail.

2. You should make sure your speech is enthusiastic and informative.
3. Start your speech, ‘Respected Principal, teachers and fellow students...’
FEW TIPS ON ATTEMPTING THE ABOVE QUESTION
• Thank the person/group/organization for giving you the opportunity to speak.

• State the purpose of your speech (you can refer to the situation given in the introductory paragraph)
• Elaborate content points
• Thank the audience for their time. Example:
I wish all of you a very good morning. My name is Adeel Khan. I am a student of grade 11, and also the secretary of the
Student Council. Today, I stand here before you, to extend my support to my good friend and fellow student, Qasim Omar,
in his bid for the council elections.
In case you have invited the audience then

• Thank the audience for accepting your invitation.
• Explain why they had to be/ or have been invited
• Elaborate the content points
• Ask for their cooperation, or ask them to take some action
• Thank them again
OR
• Refer to the situation first which prompted you to invite your guests
• Thank them for taking time out.
• Explain your purpose/Elaborate the content points.
• Urge for action
• Thank them again
Subsequent paragraphs
• Highlight the points that are given in the question. The question may force you to maintain a
persuasive tone throughout the speech; if so, use the techniques of persuasion and rhetorical
devices. Using non-sentences & rhetorical questions at times:
Should we worry about the cost? No, not at all!
• using short forms: I'm, I'll, We'll, don't
• It is customary to mention the audience every once in a while (direct address):
And so you see, my friends, that this is not the only way to solve the problem.
Ending
• Sum up at the end of your speech, or tell your audience what you want them to do e.g. vote for
whomever. End with a personal or general comment e.g.
I hope I have convinced you that Qasim Omar is indeed an ideal candidate and should be elected to the Student
Council.
Thank you.
IMPORTANT POINTS
ORAL REGISTER
If a Directed Writing task asks you to write a speech or talk then it is important that you establish an oral register
from the start.
HOW TO MAINTAIN ORAL REGISTER

You should maintain the oral register by including such things as rhetorical questions and direct addresses to your
audience.
You can do this quite simply by beginning with a statement such as ‘Good morning, everyone; I’m here today to
speak to you about ...’ and then continue with the points that you wish to make, using the bullet points in the
question to help you to structure your speech.
APPROPRIATE REGISTER
It is important that you are aware of the purpose of your speech or talk and that you adapt the register in which it is
given to convince your audience of that purpose. For example, if you are required to persuade your audience to a
particular viewpoint, you might well wish to use some emotively toned language to sway their opinions.
On the other hand, if your speech is intended to provide information (for example, informing parents of what is
needed for students taking part in a school trip), then your language should be more balanced and could well
contain examples to illustrate the details that you are providing.
EXAMINER COMMENTS
Those who score more highly are able to give the appearance of a speech.
Many candidates recognise that thanking members of the audience and/or individuals is a good
opportunity to make their responses sound like a speech... suitable ending such as ‘Thank you for your
attention.’
Direct address
Examples: ‘Honourable /venerable/dear/ respected // members of the audience/ guests...
Most successful responses employ rhetorical devices (usually questions) to engage with the audience, thus
giving the writing the genuine feel of a speech - to indicate a relationship between speaker and audience.
The best speeches made use of rhetorical devices, direct appeal to the audience, even a touch of humour:
the appropriate use of humour can help greatly to give life to the writing...
The use of devices such as rallying calls such as ‘plant a tree today for a better tomorrow’ or ‘more trees
for more oxygen’...
PRACTICE QUESTIONS ALONG WITH EXAMINER COMMENTS
The Principal wants more parents to be involved in the life of your school. You have been asked to make a
speech at a meeting for parents, inviting people to take part in all sorts of school activities.
Write your SPEECH.
CORE POINTS
• the request for parents to help & some of the ways in which they could be involved
• how the students would benefit & how the parents would benefit
• how the parents should let the school know they are interested
DIRECTIONS
• You must cover all points in detail.

• You should add further details, if you wish, and make your speech informative, polite and
persuasive.
• Start your speech ‘Ladies and Gentlemen,’
School activities:
Joining the Parent-Teacher association
providing financial or practical help with building new facilities at the school
seeing that they arrived at school punctually and appropriately dressed
checking the students’ homework
helping with concerts, sports and field trips to fundraising for the school itself or for charity
Students’ Benefit:
The candidates would feel valued and loved
It would inspire them to strive for better results
If parents contributed practically to the school, providing computers, air conditioners or a
new gymnasium, the students’ education would benefit accordingly.

Parents’ Benefits:
Parents’ pride in their children’s achievements
friendship and contacts with other parents
new interests or hobbies to brighten up dull lives
a ‘prize’ for helpful parents
Show Interest:
Parents were urged to ‘fill a form’
contact the school by e-mail or telephone or
simply to turn up at the school
A WORD OF CAUTION BY THE EXAMINER
The best speeches made use of rhetorical devices, direct appeal to the audience, even a touch of humour,
but most relied purely on force of argument to encourage participation and sometimes this could become
aggressive, rather than persuasive, suggesting ‘You must come to school...’, ‘You have to attend’, or even
‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves that you do so little?’
Others were too casual and colloquial: ’You guys could help your kids, if you people were really interested.’;
‘If you wanna help that’d be good, cause, like, we’re gonna need the aircon in the heat.’

June 2012 (12) *
To celebrate the start of a special environmental project, a tree is being planted in your school grounds. As
secretary of the project committee, you are to make a speech to mark the occasion in front of the
Principal, guests, staff and students of the school.
Write your SPEECH.
CONTENT POINTS
• details of what the environmental project hopes to achieve

(A strong, clear indication of what the speaker hoped the project would achieve. This might
be on a local level or might be much more national or even global in its concerns)
• why you think this project is important
(Precise details of the importance of the project, whether it would be to provide something
visual or something to do with immediate or long-term health benefits)
• how your audience could support the project
(An indication of how the audience could support the project, possibly financial, possibly
practical.)
DIRECTIONS
• Cover all three points above in detail.

• You should make sure your speech is enthusiastic and informative.
• Start your speech, ‘Principal, guests, teachers and fellow students...’
POINTS FROM THE EXAMINER REPORT
Aims of the project:
• Improvement of the school grounds or neighbourhood areas

• wider concerns of saving the planet from global warming, deforestation
Why this project was important:
• adding beauty to the surroundings

• saving of the planet for future generations
Audience was asked to help:
• By donating funds
• Subscribing to the scheme
• by planting a tree themselves at home
• moral support
Many candidates recognised that thanking members of the audience and/or individuals was a good
opportunity to make their responses sound like a speech.
Most successful responses employed rhetorical devices (usually questions) to engage with the audience,
thus giving the writing the genuine feel of a speech.
The use of rallying calls such as ‘plant a tree today for a better tomorrow’ or ‘more trees for more oxygen’
was a nice touch.
The
Narrative
Essay

Remember, a well-written narrative essay tells a story and makes a point!
In a narrative essay, the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. Everyone enjoys a good story—
especially one that captures the imagination. However, the narrative essay goes further. In it, the writer
places a personal experience within the context of a larger theme, such as a lesson learned. When writing a
narrative essay, the writer wants not only to tell a good story, but also convey why the story has meaning.
To Make a Narrative Essay IMPACTFUL
To maximize its impact, the essay should:
• Be written to have an emotional impact on the reader

• Include a lot of references to sensory perceptions and emotions
• A narrative essay is supposed to be descriptive; use vivid details and imagery for the purpose of
describing. A good start might be to brain storm your setting and characters in the beginning:
You need to have a setting: a place where your story starts or takes place at the beginning. You need to
describe the setting- its physical appearance, either with the help of descriptive words or even with
metaphor and imagery.
You need to have characters:
PHYSICAL TRAITS hair color, eye-color, face shape, body shape, etc.
First, you may choose to describe the person plain and simple. For example, if you come up with a list for a
character name, Emma, let's say, that list could contain:
Dark skin, brown eyes, brown hair, heart face, curly, and long hair.
• I saw the little girl smiling by herself in the hallway. She was dark skinned, with long, curly brown
hair, and had a heart-shaped face with brown eyes.
• Joshua Gates, age 13, 5ft 8”, tightly cropped brown hair, wears glasses, medium height with a
narrow freckled face.
Describe all the scenarios and characters' actions in such a way that the reader can visualize them. Use
sensory words relating to all five senses. Particularly if you're working on a short story or essay, conveying
a lot of sensory information using very evocative language can help the reader feel transplanted into the
setting.
• You may use dialogue in the essay.
• Vary the structure of your sentences.
• Make the words lively, descriptive, exciting, active, emotional, and precise.
Narrative Opening Options
1. Setting the scene
The conventional way of starting a narrative is to provide the context (by referring to the country,
place, season or weather, time of day) and to introduce the main character by giving some detail
about his/her name, age, job and problem.
For example: It was pouring with rain, which was unusual for summer in Cyprus. Armov, a middle-
aged bank clerk, was trying to make his way on foot through the flooded streets of the city to get
home to his sick mother when....
2. Starting in the middle
The narrative starts in the middle of either a sequence of actions,

e.g. ‘The pursuers were catching up on him’...
Or in the middle of a dialogue,

e.g. ‘‘I can’t believe you just said that,’ said Mary’.
In both cases the reader is forced to try to imagine what has gone before and to quickly get
involved in what is happening or being said now.
3. Shocking or Intriguing Statement
A shocking statement provokes the reader

e.g. ‘I had always hated my mother and was glad that she was dead’.
An intriguing one arouses curiosity

e.g. ‘The clocks were striking thirteen.’
Both narrative openings make the reader want to read on because they are surprised.
4. Flashback or Flash-forward
Instead of starting in chronological sequence, a narrative can begin with a reference to a previous
event or jump to the future outcome of the story about to be told.
EXAMINER’S COMMENT
Planning is a sensible idea, especially when it helps to determine

the proper sequence of events and tenses. It is important not to
spend too much time doing this, especially if it stops the candidate
checking afterwards.
EXAMINER’S COMMENTS ON PAGE 1
1. This is a slightly awkward sentence but it is short and dramatic and sets the tone for a spy narrative
of this sort.
2. It is clear from the whole of this paragraph that, although the sentence structure is not very varied at
this stage, the writing is accurate.
3. Another short sentence helps to set the correct atmosphere.
4. The correct use of tenses is helping to suggest the correct sequence of events.
5. The inclusion of speech by the candidate helps to vary the sentence structure so that it reads fluently
and naturally.
6. Appropriate images are used.
7. Effective choice of vocabulary and detail (‘annoyed’) helps to create character.
8. The candidate continues to write in a way which is accurate and also manages to include some
sophisticated expression (‘keen on completing…’). Three lines later the word ‘housing’ is precise
enough to convey shades of meaning.
9. Paragraphing is effective throughout.
10. The very occasional slips in verb forms only serve to highlight that the sequence overall is consistent
and clear.
11. Again, the precise use of vocabulary such as ‘instantly’ conveys the meaning well and the use of tense (‘had
happened’) adds sophistication.
12. The candidate cleverly uses the punctuation of ‘couple’ to convey meaning. The same is true of the word
‘wife’ later on this page. Overall in this essay the punctuation is accurate and helpful.
13. Excellent vocabulary here in ‘lunged’. This also demonstrates how good the spelling is throughout the essay.
14. The punctuation and the short dramatic sentence combine to contribute to the atmosphere.
15. The effective use of a modern idiom is sophisticated as it is typical of the genre.
16. This is a long, sustained essay and the final paragraph provides a sensible summing up of the action.
A sense of unity is achieved.
Common mistakes candidates made in this question
• Adding variety to a Narrative essay is essential and one of the best ways is to include convincing
dialogue. However, for this to work properly, it must be punctuated correctly, including setting out
different speakers on different lines. Many candidates found it difficult to do this.
• Another common mistake made in writing direct speech was when candidates confused it with
reported speech so that it became a mixture of the two – She said that ‘I am going out.’
• Prepared opening paragraphs were used in Narrative essays, usually involving the candidate waking
up on a bright, sunny morning and going through the whole routine of washing and having breakfast
when in fact it all had very little to do with the story which tended to start in paragraph 2.
REF: Example Candidate Responses, Cambridge O Level, English Language 1123, For examination from 2018
FEATURES OF NARRATIVE ESSAY
• Character/s
• Main Event
• Complication/s
• Resolution
• Ending
• Reflection
Question1: Write a story in which a text message plays an important role.

DEVELOP THE FOLLOWING MIND MAP INTO A NARRATIVE ESSAY
• Character/s
Ali, grade 10 student
• Main Event
Ali’s father has setup a meeting between Ali and an experienced teacher. He hands Ali the teacher’s address
on a piece of paper.
• Complication/s
1 – Ali forgets the address home
2 – no credit in Ali’s mobile, trouble contacting home
3 – flat tyre
• Resolution
1 – Ali’s mother finds the slip and texts him the address (towards the end of the narrative).
2 – Ali has to look for a shop to buy some credit for his phone/ Ali calls home and talks to his mother.
3 – spare tyre or tyre fixed from a shop
• Ending
He made it on time, since his mother texted him the address / OR he was late, but the teacher was generous
and accommodated him / or else
• Reflection
Reflection is part of a narrative; it comes as a natural reaction to the complications that arise and the
process of resolution.
Example: Ali couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing his father. “How could I’ve been so
irresponsible? I need to get my act together,” Ali castigated himself on his way back home. He knew
he had to organize himself and he made a firm resolve to do so.
Question 2: Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘Don’t ever touch my things again!
Get out of my room! Leave!’
DEVELOP THE FOLLOWING MIND MAP INTO A NARRATIVE ESSAY
• Character/s
1. Ali, grade 8 student, 14 years
2. Aleena, Ali’s younger sister, 2.5 years
3. Ali and Aleena’s mother
• Main Event
Ali has to submit a school project (science model) the following day…he has been working very hard…is very
excited and proud of it….
• Complication/s
1. Aleena sneaks into Ali’s room behind his back, wrecks the project mistakenly
2. Ali throws a fit, when his mother asks him to behave, he is rude towards her as well, is almost in
tears
• Ending
Positive
• Solution
1. Ali’s parents are able to help Ali fix the science model…focus on how his father helped him…how his
mother helped him.
2. His father pacifies him, Ali realises his mistake, apologizes to his mother and sister
• Reflection
1. How could Ali have prevented the complications from happening? What should he do to avoid them
in future?
2. Keep fragile/ breakable/ expensive etc. items inside a cupboard, out of his little sister’s sight…he
should resolve never to lose his temper in times of stress, not to misbehave with his mother again at
any cost? NOTE: the entire point of a reflection is “self-improvement”.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
May/June 2019 (12)
Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘He spoke in such a nervous way, she thought he was
going to change their plan.’
Write a story in which a map plays an important part.
May/June 2019 (11)

Write a story which includes the words: ‘Two years after they last saw each other, she was amazed
at how confident he seemed.’
Write a story in which a promise plays an important part.
October/November 2018 (12)

Write a story which includes the words: ‘The house they lived in as children now looked very
different.’
Write a story about a time when you wanted to do something adventurous but you had to change
your plans.

Write a story which includes the words: ‘They both read their letters and then walked away in
opposite directions.’
Write a story about someone who became successful because of their determination and hard
work.
May/June 2018 (12)

Write a story which includes the words: ‘When they entered the room, we were impressed by what
they were wearing.’
Write a story about someone who lost all his possessions while he was helping other people.
May/June 2018 (11)

Write a story which includes the words: ‘When they did not agree with her solution, she felt angry.’
Write a story in which two people unexpectedly agreed to help each other.

Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘Because the space was so small, it did not seem possible
to get the vehicle through it.’
Write a story in which a text message plays an important part.

Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘When the announcement was made, two people got up
and left the room.’
Write a story in which a diary plays an important part.

May/June 2017 (12)
Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘I don’t want any argument about this; we are going to
see him now and that’s final.’
Write a story in which an unexpected guest arrives at a wedding.
May/June 2017 (11)

Write a story which includes the sentence: ‘It suddenly became clear that they were not as lazy as
everyone said they were.’
Write a story in which a locked door plays an important part.

DESCRIPTIVE
WRITING

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
Purpose
The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe someone or something in such a way that a
picture is formed in the reader's mind.
It must be understood that:
“ARGUMENT” has the interest of other people’s views, and
“NARRATIVE” has curiosity as a driving force, but
“DESCRIPTION” must rely on colorful, expressive vocabulary and imagery to engage the
reader’s interest by providing visuals and images. Hence – in addition to other Linguistic Techniques
– the use of Adjectives and Adverbs is an absolute must.
Note: Unless the reader can see the picture they will not be able to relate to the experience.
Must
• vivid, colourful and impressive vocabulary
• diversity and range of sentence structures
• Use of five senses to express and create an environment, visuals, atmosphere
• Adjectives and Adjectival Phrases
Details of size, shape and colour are important. Make colour precise, e.g. ‘scarlet’, ‘azure’, ‘off-
white’, ‘bluish-grey’.
• Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases
To explain actions
Must Not
• All forms of repetition should be avoided.
• Avoid Clichés
• Vocabulary must be meaningful and concrete not abstract.
The Hot Fudge Sundae
In front of me on the table sat a beautiful pure white bowl, simplistic in design, hiding a
decadent surprise inside. In the bowl was hidden something that was not so pure, however, the
irresistible indulgence was worth every calorie that I knew it contained. As I looked inside I saw
on the bottom of the bowl a hot, tender brownie loaded with macadamia nuts. I knew from
past experience that the nuts had a creamy and smooth texture, almost like white chocolate.
On top of the brownie were two firmly packed scoops of ice cream, laying side by side, each
one a different flavour. The scoop on the right was a rich vanilla, flecked with dark specks of
vanilla bean. The scoop on the left was a dark, smooth, bittersweet chocolate. The scoops were
just starting to melt tiny rivers of melted cream down the sides of the hot brownie, pooling on
the bottom of the pure white bowl. These scoops of ice cream were draped with a sumptuous,
rich, hot fudge sauce. Topping the luscious sauce was an ample dollop of whipped cream that
was in perfect contrast to the dense, almost too rich dessert below. The whipped cream was
topped with a shower of chocolate sprinkles and finely chopped walnuts. What finally
completed this wonderful creation was a perfect maraschino cherry, its red juice sending tiny
streams down the whole mountain of dessert delight. The contrast of colors, textures and
flavors in this dessert appealed to every part of my senses. I could not wait to eat it.
i. Decadent (excessive indulgence of one's own appetites and desires. self –indulgence)
ii. Flecked (Mark or dot with small patches of color or particles of something: "the minarets are
flecked with gold leaf)
iii. sumptuous (splendid and expensive-looking)
iv. dollop (A shapeless mass or blob of something, esp. soft food: "great dollops of cream)
The Andalucían Stallion
Standing on his hind legs, this rare Andalucían stallion is fearless. His ears are turned back while
his noble looking head is held high. His all black coat glistens in the late afternoon sun. His face
displays a strong confidence with his nostrils flared, his veins bulging from his cheek bones, and
his fiery black eyes burning holes into the souls of those who stare into them. His neck muscles
are tensed and thickened with adrenalin. His black main is thrown into the wind like a flag
rippling in the winds of a tornado. His muscular front legs are brought up to his chest displaying
his flashing gray hooves that could crush a man's scull with one blow. His backbone and
underbelly are held almost straight up and his hind quarters are tensed. His back legs are
spread apart for balance. His back hooves are pressed into the earth; therefore, his hooves
cause deep gouges from the weight of his body on the soil. His black tail is held straight down
and every once in a while a burst of wind catches it and then it floats down back into place like
an elegant piece of silk falling from the sky. His bravery and strength are what made his breed
prized as a warhorse.
i. rippling (Form or flow with small waves on the surface)

ii. gouges (grooves)
A Friendly Clown
On one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last
Christmas from a close friend. The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is
parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from
the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide,
white ruffle around its neck. The clown wears a fluffy, two-tone nylon costume. The left side of
the outfit is light blue, and the right side is red. The two colors merge in a dark line that runs
down the center of the small outfit. Surrounding its ankles and disguising its long black shoes
are big pink bows. The white spokes on the wheels of the unicycle gather in the center and
expand to the black tire so that the wheel somewhat resembles the inner half of a grapefruit.
The clown and unicycle together stand about a foot high. As a cherished gift from my good
friend Tran, this colorful figure greets me with a smile every time I enter my room.
How should you write your description?
SHOW - DON’T TELL
If there's one thing you should remember as you write your descriptive essay, it's the famous
saying: show, don't tell. But what's the difference between showing and telling?
Consider these two simple examples:
•I grew tired after dinner.
•As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair, my eyelids began to
feel heavy, and the edges of the empty plate in front of me blurred with the white
tablecloth.
The most effective descriptive essays are loaded with such showing because they enable
readers to imagine or experience something for themselves.
The first sentence tells readers that you grew tired after dinner. The second sentence shows
readers that you grew tired.
Telling: The pancake tasted bitter, and he couldn’t stand it.
Showing: He took a bite and quickly spit out the pancake. “Susan! Why’d you put too much baking
powder in the pancakes again?”
Telling: The job applicant is nervous about his job interview
Showing: Try as he might, he could do nothing but think about the questions he might be asked,
the answers he would need to give, the way he would have to walk and talk and sit, the times he
would need to speak or listen and nod, the things he would have to say or not say, the response he
would need to give if asked about his legal status in the country.
His throat went dry. His palms moistened. Unable to reach for his handkerchief in the packed
downtown subway, he wiped both palms on his pants.
Now to try SHOW the following:
• A thief is feeling very scared before appearing in front of the judge.

• A boy weeps, thinks he’s lost.
• He couldn’t hide his excitement upon seeing his result.
• A dog is overjoyed to see / misses its master.
• An old man, waits in anticipation, for his test results, inside a hospital.
• A kid felt sick after eating a leftover sandwich gone bad.
• A parent feels mad at his/her son for skipping school.
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING EXERCISE
TOPIC: A MORNING WALK
TASK: Write a descriptive essay, of 200 words, on the above mentioned topic
INSTRUCTIONS:
a) Use "IMAGERY" as a technique, and;
b) Try to engage all 5 senses + your 6th sense (e.g. feelings) in your description.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----NOTE: It is difficult to write interesting descriptions, so this type of composition should not be attempted unless
you have had practice and success at this type of writing. Description must rely on range of vocabulary and use of
imagery to engage reader interest. Unless the reader can see the picture they will not be able to relate to
the experience.
GRAND DAD
Fatigued and at peace, he sits. Asleep.
I take the opportunity to guiltily stare at the skin on his hands. Translucent and waxy, it no longer
clings firmly to his bones but sits idly, hanging on by just the weakest of invisible threads. Across
his hands the veins maraud chaotically: a rush-hour motorway of criss crossed purple roads. Thick
cobalt ropes pattern his skin, silently pushing blood to and from the heart that is weary now,
exhausted from a life of challenge.
He mumbles, inarticulate thoughts escaping from his dream world. His mouth is dry, and the white
salt rim of dehydration sits upon his lower lip. He is unshaven. A multi-cultural population of
different coloured hairs tuft from his sallow skin: ginger, the occasional flash of black, but mostly
grey...and white. The signs of old age are everywhere.
It has not always been this way. As a child of six, we visited granddad in his garden. He didn’t then
seem to fit the archaic title ‘granddad’ as he now does – he was young, wiry and strong. Firm
pectoral muscles rose and fell under his white shirt as he drank cold lemonade. His skin was
browned and hardened from the sun, like a hazelnut. Following my gaze to his muscular physique,
he smiled and ruffled my hair. “Want some of this yourself?” he asked. Although I had opened my
mouth to protest, he gave me no time to answer. His tree trunk arms embraced me, and for a split
second I knew that I was loved. Knowing that his actions were too emotional, too expressive for
the family we belonged to, he quickly hoisted me into the air and threw me so high that I felt I
would land on the white fluffy clouds above me. I giggled – the only encouragement he needed to
continue – as he threw me higher and higher. Each aerial assault I was sure would be the last, but
his strength never left him. How long it lasted I don’t know. In some ways it has lasted to this day,
thirty years on.
Age has come to him without invitation, without warning. It has taken a strong, proud man and
reduced him to skin and bone.
He opens his eyes. For a split second there is no focus. He blinks. There! The cloudy pools of green
stare at me. Their sclera, in the rest of us so white, is yellowed like the aged and stinking pillows
that lurk embarrassed beneath our pillow covers at home. He clears his throat to speak, grasping
onto the arm of his sofa to will himself the strength which this simple action requires. “Are you
OK?” he asks. I want to tell him ‘no’. I want to tell him that I am not OK, that I want my granddad
back. That I want again to be tossed into the air, to sit on the harbour wall eating fish and chips, to
laugh at the seagulls and to take the role of passenger in his pristine Vauxhall. But before I can
begin to mouth the words he is smiling. His grin causes water to fill his failing eyes – two pools sit
across the boundaries of his lower lids. He speaks again. “Must have dropped off for a bit”.
As I drive home that evening I gaze down at my own hands on the steering wheel. No cobalt ropes
patter them, although one sole vein does bulge ominously to the surface, foreshadowing the
future which inevitably will come to us all.
The
Argumentative
Essay

THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY – AN INTRODUCTION
The main aim of an argumentative essay is to build a case for one's opinion or stand on a particular issue.
Students often think that argumentative essay questions are best left to be tackled by highly intelligent
peers. This is not necessarily so. In Cambridge O level exams, students are generally provided topics they
are already familiar with. Hence, with the correct and reasonable approach, a student can generally do
quite well.
You may be asked to provide your perspective of an issue.

Example: 'Superstars today make lousy role models.' What is your view? / Discuss / Comment.
OR
You may be asked to support or criticise an issue.

Example: 'The modern world has no place for compassion.' Do you agree or disagree?
HOW TO APPROACH AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
There are two main ways to approach an essay effectively. You could:
a) The Argumentative Approach:

Establish your stand on the issue before proceeding onto a discussion of your argument. Here, you
have to provide evidences to support your opinion to make your argument convincing. This
approach can be used for questions like, "Do you agree or disagree?" or "What is your opinion or
thesis?"
b) The Discursive Approach:

Divide your essay into two parts; one in support and the other criticising the issue, and concluding
with a negotiation of both stands e.g. Though I believe that most superstars today fail to make
positive role models, there are some who do make good role models because of their humanitarian
efforts. This approach is best for questions asking you to "Comment" or "Discuss."
STRUCTURE
Whichever approach you choose, an Argumentative Essay has the following STRUCTURE:
i. Introduction: It consists of the Topic Statement + one’s Thesis (Thesis Statement)

ii. Middle: multiple paragraphs to prove one’s Thesis
iii. Conclusion: a summation of your main argument + a reiteration of your stand (thesis).
INTRODUCTION
Writing an Introduction
When you begin an essay, it is important to explain the title and meaning of the issue to be
discussed, and briefly introduce the layout of your argument.
Example (1)
The global village phenomenon is more detrimental than beneficial for the human race." What is
your view?
To begin, you have to explain the term, 'Global village,' especially, its relevance to the world today;
state what you think about the issue and how you intend to approach the essay. Such a clear
introduction will enable any reader to follow your flow of thought or argument in the essay based
on your understanding of the question.
You may begin in this manner:

The term 'global village' originates from the idea that the world is now becoming smaller by the day
due to advancements in technology and transportation. Humans are now more connected than ever
to everywhere else in the world. This can be both beneficial and detrimental for the human race.
NOTE: If a question asks for your opinion, it is better to state whether you agree or disagree with
the proposition in the introduction itself so that the examiner is clear about your stand and how
you intend to approach the essay.
Example (2)
'Studying History is a waste of time.' Do you agree or disagree?
You may begin in this manner:

The world is moving at such a rapid pace today that many people often regard the humanities and
the arts as mere wastes of time. Prominence is given to subjects like science and engineering while
subjects like history are relegated to a lower position. History, however, can be a useful source of
information. It not only teaches us lessons about the past but can also teach us lessons about our
future. As such, a study of history is not only useful but to a large extent necessary as well.
CONCLUSION
Writing a Conclusion
It is important not to rush through your conclusion. Your conclusion serves two main purposes:
(a) a summation of your main argument;
(b) a reiteration of your stand(thesis).
An effective conclusion is one that ties up your essay succinctly. Thus, an abrupt or ill-written one
can undermine your argument and stand.
Example: 'Studying History is a waste of time.' Do you agree?

As seen from the above discussion, history is extremely useful to anyone who is interested in the
wellbeing of his nation, himself and his fellow citizens. History can thus be applied to our everyday
lives and as long as it continues to be relevant to us, studying history will never and should never be
considered a waste of time.
ERRESTED – Techniques used to Argue, Persuade, Advice
TECHNIQUES EFFECTS ON THE READER

Examples (illustrative) Based on personal observation, circle of friends, family, neighbours
etc.
Rhetorical question Engages the reader to read on as they feel that, by being addressed
directly, the text is relevant to them.
Repetition Emphasises important points.
Emotive language Makes the topic of the text seem overly good or bad, depending on
the purpose of the text.
Statistics (FACT making) Make the text seem authoritative, accurate and therefore
believable.
(rule of) Three Makes the text catchy – it sticks in the reader’s head.
Exaggeration Dramatically emphasises an important point.
Direct address Engages the reader to read on as they feel that, by being addressed
directly, the text is specifically for them.

ERRESTED – Techniques used to Argue, Persuade, Advice
ESSAY TOPIC – SMOKING IS HARMFUL AND SHOULD BE DICSOURAGED
TECHNIQUES DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Examples (illustrative) Based on personal observation, circle An uncle of mine who used to
of friends, family, neighbours etc. chain smoke, passed away last year
due to a massive heart attack,
leaving behind five children, all
school going and a house loan
worth Rs 1.2 million…
Rhetorical question Any question in a piece of writing ‘Do you want to die young?’
which does not require an answer.
Repetition Writing a word or phrase more than ‘Smoking is senseless. Smoking is

once. pointless’
Emotive language Words which elicit a powerful ‘Smoking is deadly and self-
emotional response. torturous’
Statistics (FACT making) Numerical facts and data. ‘8/10 smokers want to quit’
(rule of) Three Lists of three things in a sentence. ‘Smoking is expensive, harmful and
anti-social’.
Exaggeration Overstating a point. ‘one puff could kill us all’
Direct address Referring to the reader directly using ‘You need to give up smoking’
the pronouns ‘we’, ‘you’ ‘our’ or ‘us’.
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
Attempt the following:
1. What are the most important qualities a friend should have? Give reasons and May/June
examples to support your view. 2019 (12)
2. Is being a brave person always about using physical strength or are there other ways
of being brave? Give reasons and examples to support your view.
3. Some people say that we learn more outside the classroom than inside it. Do you May/June
agree? Give reasons and examples to support your point of view. 2019 (11)
4. What are the best and worst things about being a teenager? Give reasons and examples
to support your point of view.
The
Summary

HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY
Step 1) Read the passage closely:
PASSAGE
Juanita Garcia is a coffee farmer living high in the Nicaraguan hills. We met at the end of her long,
back-breaking day. Her house, miles from her small farm, is simple. Outside are a few bananas and
orange trees, inside a bed, chairs, an open fire, a few months’ corn supplies. No decoration, no
ornaments, no frills.
Juanita summed up her aspirations. What she wanted for herself, her family and community she
said, was just ‘a life of dignity’. Until recently there was little chance of that. The world market that
bought her small crop was always precarious and unstable. The coffee went through the hands of
dozens of middlemen all taking their cuts. The price yo-yoed around but mostly was near the
basement. Life for her and the others in her community was uncertain, poverty-stricken and with
little hope.
Several years ago, the Fairtrade Foundation in London helped put her co-operative in touch with a
British chocolate maker who wanted to offer a new quality bar. It now buys directly from the co-
operative farmers on the alternative European ‘Fairtrade’ market at a price guaranteed at or above
the world price. The few pennies more that the consumer pays in Britain go directly to the farmers
to help themselves develop. ‘We didn’t make enough money to live on before Fairtrade’, said
Juanita. ‘Now we get a better price and the money comes directly to us. Now we have hope’.
Talk to small farmers around the world about their aspirations and few mention money. Words
like ‘dignity’, ‘pride’, ‘hope’, and ‘decency’ keep coming up instead.
In the Dominican Republic, Jose Rodriguez, a small cocoa farmer, said: ‘I am not in search of
money. I just want everybody to have the means to a decent life. ‘Fairtrade has given him and the
8,000 other small farmers who make up the Conacado association and sell to British chocolate
makers that hope, he says.
In Costa Rica, Arturo Jimeneza Gumez came to a co-operative selling Fairtrade bananas after
laboring on one of the giant US-owned banana estates. Now he is a small farmer in his own right,
and believes Fairtrade had changed his life: ‘Maybe we are only farmers but we have the right to
dream and to plan for our children. Our dream is that we should be looked upon as human beings.
I thank God for the Fairtrade system.’
In St. Vincent, one of the four Windward islands that supply Britain with many of its bananas,
Renwick Rose works with a group trying to persuade British supermarkets to offer Fairtrade
bananas. ‘When you buy a cheap banana (one sold on the conventional market) you are
unwittingly participating in the exploitation of labour. There are children, mothers, fathers and
blood sweat and toil behind that banana. Fairtrade is not just asking you to pay more- but just
what it costs.’
Phil Wells of the Fairtrade Foundation says at least 500,000 farmers around the world are probably
now benefiting from Fairtrade. ‘The point, though, is that very many millions, the bulk of small
farmers around the world, are suffering terribly.’ He says. The House of Commons, now sells
Fairtrade coffee, as does the European parliament, and with help it should be possible to get for
more people with a professed social conscience to follow suit.
Julie Christie, a Fairtrade supporter, said: ‘The world has reached a stage where consumerism
triumphs over all. Conversely, our role as consumers is one of the powers left to us. Fairtrade
makes our decision easier- we know that Fairtrade-marked products are produced without
exploitation.’
Step 2) Write the content points on:
a) ‘The Problems’ faced by the small farmers in the developing countries
b) The ‘Ways they are being helped’ to overcome the problems.
The candidate should first of all mark the points in the text and then write them in his own words .
Example: instead of ‘long, back-breaking day’ the candidate may write 'hard and tiring’. Similarly in
place of ‘world market’ being ‘precarious and unstable’ it is changed to ‘uncertain and volatile’ so
on and so forth.
The candidate can copy the phrases as they are from the text. No marks will be deducted if the
points are picked /lifted as it is from the text, however, changing the points into substitute words
would allow the candidate to write the summary in a better manner.
Step 3) Make use of the content points to write a summary
• Remember, a summary has to be written in your own words and in simple language.
• The content points should be rearranged in a paragraph form i.e. it is not necessary to
write them in the same sequence as jotted above.
• In the summary the sentences are kept short and simple.
• When summarizing a text, no quotes or examples should be included from the original
text.
• Summary is written entirely in own words and no sentence is lifted from the text.
• Link all the points with transition words (because, however, but, and) giving continuity to
thoughts.
A Candidate's Response
The Problems
1. The work is hard and tiring
2. The farmers have to sell their produce in a volatile and uncertain world market
3. They have to sell through middle men
4. Which means that the farmer’s profit is negligible
5. This leads to the farmers living in near poverty
6. Their lives are lacking in hope and dignity
7. The farmers and their families are exploited for the labour
8. They cannot make secure plans for their children.

Ways in which they are being helped
1. Fair trade arranges for (European) food manufacturers to buy direct from small-farmer co-
operatives
2. This gives the farmers an alternative outlet, they can sell at a price guaranteed similar to or
higher than the market price
3. The extra cost paid by the consumer goes direct to the farmers
4. This gives the farmers hope and restores their independence
5. British supermarkets are being encouraged to stock Fairtrade goods
6. Fairtrade wants to put an end to exploitation
7. It is working hard to get support from a range of people with social consciences.
A Candidate's Response (in 155 words)
Small farmers in the developing world work long hours. They make very little profit
from their crops because they have to sell through middle men who take a large share of
the profit. The world market is uncertain and because the farmers are unable to store
their crops, they are not able to wait to get the best price. They live very poor lives and
their futures are uncertain. Some international organizations, however, are doing
what they can to help the small farmers.
An organization called Fairtrade is trying to end this abuse by spreading awareness of

the issue, and arranging for food companies in Europe to buy direct from groups of
small farmers at a price guaranteed to be the same or above the world price. The
consumers in Europe pay a little more for goods sold in this way, but small amount of
money to them makes a great difference as the profit goes directly to them; this gives
the farmers hope and helps to make them independent.
Assessment
This summary got an A. Let's see why!
1. Once the candidate has jotted down all the points, he now rearranges them in a paragraph
form. He/she has added all the content points in his/her summary but it is not necessary to
write them in the same sequence as jotted above.
2. The candidate should mark the problems and the ways to help the small farmers in a
different manner. This will help avoid confusion while the candidate jots the content points.
3. In the summary the sentences are kept short, simple and changed accordingly keeping in mind
that the purpose of a summary here is to inform.
4. When summarizing a text, no quotes or examples ( Phil Wells , 500,000 farmers are benefiting,
House of Commons, four Windward islands etc.), are included from the original text therefore,
the candidate has omitted all the illustrations cited in the text and focused only on the core
points.
5. The information provided here is complete and concisely written in approximately 155 words.
That means the candidate does not exceed the word limit of 160 words as required in the
question.
6. Summary is written entirely in own words and no sentence is lifted from the text. Remember,
no marks will be given if the summary is copied because the examiner wants to know how
you have interpreted the text which he will assess through the summary you have written.
7. You can shuffle your content points but keep in mind whatever manner you write the
points in, the sentences should be linked.
8. In the first example, instead of repeating ‘and(s)’ and ‘but(s)’, see how the candidate has linked
all the points with transition words (because, however, but, and) giving continuity to thoughts.
9. It would have been better if the summary had been divided into two paragraphs because
this would have proportionate ideas divided in the two parts of the content points i.e.
‘problems faced by the small farmers’ and ‘the help provided to them’. However, it is still
written in a coherent manner, therefore marks will not be deducted.
TURN TO NEXT PAGE FOR EXAMPLE CANDIDATE RESPONSE
Ref: Example Candidate Responses, Cambridge O Level, English Language 1123, For examination from
2018 (Version 1.0, Paper 2)
Content Points
Not a point, an extension of point about clothes.
All other points in this section are clearly made.
‘Horses’ needed to bespecified.
Purpose not required by rubric, only use of animals.
‘Pets’ needed to be specified.
Mark for (a) = 12 out of 12
Summary
Relevance - almost entirely relevant
Coherence - fluent, good use of linking devices, although more might have been used.
The following lines were fluent: but also (line 2), simultaneously (line 4), although (line 6), also (line 7),
as (line 7), moreover (line 9), nowadays (line 12), which (line 13), as (line 16), as well as bring (line 18),
also (line 18), and even (line 19), as (line 20).
Answer could have been improved with more links, such as ‘however’ or ‘furthermore’.
This script was awarded lower Band 5 for Coherence.
Mark for (b) = 9 out of 10

Common mistakes candidates made in this question
Part (a)
The most common error was to offer examples as if they were overarching points, e.g. to write ‘horses
carried soldiers into battle’ rather than ‘animals were used in warfare’ or to write ‘The Greeks used horses
in chariot racing’ rather than ‘animals were used in sports’.
• Another common error was to write only a partial point, e.g. ‘animals were sacrificed’ with no reference
to gods, or ‘this study could help in forecasting of earthquakes’ instead of ‘animals can be used to help in
forecasting of earthquakes’.
Part (b)
There were three basic types of errors under Relevance.
• Writing general statements which did not contribute to the summary, e.g. ‘many animals were used and
are being used for different purposes’ and ‘in recent times, animals were used for different things’.
• Details and examples, rather than overarching points, e.g. specific reference to camels, llamas and
elephants.
• Invented material, e.g. ‘Olympic racing’, sign of kindness’ and ‘harmless or natural way.’
There were also two basic types of errors under Coherence.
• Not using links such as ‘however’ or ‘moreover’, producing a stilted or abrupt effect rather than a fluent
one.
• Fluency was sometimes impeded by many common errors.
Ref: Example Candidate Responses, Cambridge O Level, English Language 1123, For examination from 2018 (Version 1.0, Paper 2)
Linking & Transitional Words /Phrases
The following list, categorized by type of relationship, provides examples of some common and useful
transitional words and phrases.
Cause and effect:

Consequently, therefore, accordingly, as a result, because, for this reason, hence, thus
Sequence:
Furthermore, in addition, moreover, first, second, third, finally, again, also, and, besides, further, in
the first place, last, likewise, next, then, too
Comparison or contrast:
Similarly, also, in the same way, likewise, although, at the same time, but, conversely, even so,
however, in contrast, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, otherwise, still,
yet
Vocabulary

Read the following closely, and make ‘descriptive’ sentences of your own.
Abhor
(v.) to hate, detest, despise
1. A wise and peaceful man by nature, Maximus abhorred violence and was deeply committed to
reconciliation.
2. Because he got hit in the head while playing cricket, Jones began to abhor the sport.
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Alacrity
(n.) to do something with eagerness and promptness

1. When his teacher asked him to lend a hand with the distribution of handouts, Simon did so with
alacrity.
2. Always anxious to do well at class, Asad headed for his University with alacrity and determination.
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Amiable
(adj.) friendly
1. An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.
2. Pakistan has always enjoyed an amiable relationship with Saudi Arabia.
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Appease
(v.) to calm, satisfy

1. When Jerry cries, his mother gives him a chocolate to appease him.
2. The captives appeased the angry king with gifts and offerings.
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Arcane
(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few

1. Professor Langdon is an expert in arcane literature of ancient symbols.
2. An arcane society, the ‘Illuminati’ have been around for centuries.
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Avarice
(n.) excessive greed

1. The banker’s avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.
2. He paid a year’s rent in advance, just enough to satisfy the landlord’s avarice.
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Boon
(n.) boon: advantage / blessing
I don’t sleep well on planes, so it’s a real boon to me to be able to watch the latest movies while travelling.
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Beaming
(v.) Smiling, grinning
Haris was beaming with delight in his brand new vehicle, while his friends gawked in disbelief.
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Broached
Started /mentioned/ raise (a difficult subject) for discussion.
1. Feeling the weight of the questions the journalists put forward, the mayor finally broached the
subject he had been avoiding all evening.
2. Finally Simon dragged up the courage to broach the subject.
3. When Tom dared to broach the subject of seasickness at the breakfast table, his siblings scowled at
him.
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Baffling
Impossible to understand; puzzling / bewildering / confusing/ perplexing
1. Hanson found it baffling how different Paul was in person than over the net.
2. He was baffled by the technical language of the instructions.
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Cajole
(v.) to urge, coax
1. Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.
2. It was Simon who had cajoled Paul into jumping from the train.
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Callous
(adj.) cold, insensitive, unfeeling
1. The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.
2. She was so callous that she could make fun of a cancer patient for wearing a wig.
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Candour
(n.) honesty, frankness
1. We were surprised by the candour and honesty of the politician’s speech and the impact she made.
2. I find it hard to have conversations with people who lack candour; in fact I don’t trust such people.
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Chide
(v.) to scold or rebuke/ to voice disapproval
1. Asad’s mother chided him for his lazy habits and sloppy appearance.
2. She chided him for not replying to her letters.
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Coerce
(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat
1. The captive was coerced into admitting a crime in front of the judge, which he had not actually
committed.
2. The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honour the contract because he had been
coerced into signing it.
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Confidant
(n.) a person entrusted with secrets
1. Jack was not only a friend and a confidant; he was also my business partner.
2. Shortly after we met, he became my chief confidant.
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Confine
(v.) keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits
1. A recluse by nature, Joseph mostly confined himself to the four walls of his study room.
2. Danial was confined to bed for four days with a bad dose of flu.
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Condescended
Showing that you are more important than others; show that one feels superior; be patronizing; do
something in such a way as to emphasize that one clearly regards it as below one's dignity or level of
importance
1. I don't want to condescend but isn’t this the same shirt you wore on your brother’s birthday five
years ago?
2. You make me feel worthless with your condescending attitude.
3. Drake needs to take his condescending attitude elsewhere and realize that he is not the king of the
world.
4. The arrogant boss spoke to his employees in a condescending manner.
5. Your condescending words belittle people!
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Caution
Say something as a warning; warn or advise against (doing something)
1. "You’re in the courtroom,” the judge cautioned the witness, "whatever you state shall have legal
implications”.
2. This mountainous terrain has suffered recently from tragic accidents; therefore, drive with caution
and take care.
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1) Use the above vocabulary in the following themes:
1. Hospital
2. Any Business Activity
3. Park
2) Attempt the following Narrative Essays [w18 (11)]:
REMEMBER: A NARRATIVE IS A STORY THAT OFFERS REFLECTION. THEREFORE, ONLY AN EXPERIENCE

WORTH REFLECTING UPON IS WORTH NARRATING TO OTHERS.
1. Write a story which includes the words: ‘They both read their letters and then walked away in
opposite directions.’
2. Write a story about someone who became successful because of their determination and hard
work.

Deride
(v.) to laugh at mockingly; scorn; express contempt for; ridicule; to laugh at someone or something in a
way that shows you think they are stupid or of no value
• The native speaker often derided the other teacher’s accent.

• The worst thing you could do to a champ once he has lost his title would be to deride him or laugh
at him.
• While critics might deride it, the public can't get enough of the painter’s work.
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Diligent
(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work; reliable and meticulous in one's work or duties.
• The diligent researcher made sure to double check her measurements.

• After diligent investigation, the police found the parcel.
• Most wars would not be possible without the diligent efforts of the West's gigantic arms trade.
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Decry
(v.) to criticize openly; publicly condemn
• Simon wanted to, but could not decry the bullying at school due to fear.
• The leader of the opposition decried the appalling state of roads.
• When corruption is rife, no one decries the misuse of power.
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Delicately
(adj.) tactfully, with extreme care
• Mr Lutchman turned the camera delicately in his hands.

• He approached the main subject delicately.
• She took the jewel in her hands, holding it delicately.
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Elated
(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled; ecstatically happy
• I felt elated after beating Dennis at the tennis final.

• When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.
• The students were so elated on the day of their graduation.
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Eloquent
(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving or persuasive in speaking or writing
• The President gave such an eloquent farewell speech that most guests were teary-eyed.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto have carved a name for themselves as two of the
most eloquent orators in the history of the subcontinent.
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Embezzle
(v.) to steal money by falsifying records; steal or misappropriate money placed in one's trust
• The accountant was fired for embezzling $10,000 of the company’s funds.
• To copy another person's design is no less wrong than to embezzle his money.
• The judge sentenced the embezzler to ten years in prison, along with a hefty fine.
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Enmity
(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility
• His comments earned him the enmity of his co-workers.

• We need to put aside old enmities for the sake of peace.
• John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmity between them is obvious
to anyone in their presence.
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Empathy
(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own
• She had a deep empathy with animals.
• The ethical basis of the fast is to teach self-restraint and empathy with the poor.
• It's hard to empathise with a cold-hearted murderer who gets the death sentence.
• Teachers should be empathetic towards their students.
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Erudite
(adj.) having or showing great knowledge or learning
• Professor Dwight was known as an erudite scholar who had translated some of the most difficult
Old English poetry into Spanish.
• Watching the news and reading the newspapers are good ways to stay erudite on world events.
• The erudite article was a great resource for learning about the difficult topic.
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Extol
(v.) to praise enthusiastically; revere or admire very much
• I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
• The actor was extolled by various critics for his performance in the film.
• The friends and family of late Mrs Johnson, spent time at her funeral while extolling her virtues.
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Fabricate
(v.) to make up, invent
• When Sam arrived an hour late to class, he fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on
the way to work.
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Feral
(adj.) wild, savage
That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.
The three boys who had been raised in the wilderness were as feral as a pack of wolves.
He looked at me with a feral grin.
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Flabbergasted
(adj.) surprise (someone) greatly; astounded
She was too flabbergasted to speak.
Everybody was flabbergasted when I announced I was going to immigrate to Australia.
Murder mysteries always leave me flabbergasted when I am unable to guess the identity of the murderer.
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Forsake
(v.) to give up, renounce
My principles are dear to me; I won't forsake to appease anyone.
You must forsake your bad habits.
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Fringed
(Verb) form a border around (something).
He paused under the trees that fringed the park and surveyed the damage caused by storm.
The island has long golden beaches fringed by palm trees.
11. The boy’s eyes were large and brown and fringed with incredibly long lashes.
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Furtive
(adj.) secretive; attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery
would lead to trouble.
There was something furtive about his behaviour and I immediately felt suspicious.
The soldiers were furtively crawling through the night.
The old gardener looked around furtively and then stealthily sneaked the mobile into his tool bag.
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1) Use the above vocabulary in the following themes (at least 5 words each):
4. Joe at the Hospital

5. A Business Activity
6. Simon at the Park
7. The Shopping Mall
8. The ceremony
2) Attempt the following Narrative Essays [w18 (12)]:
REMEMBER:
i. A NARRATIVE IS A STORY THAT OFFERS REFLECTION. THEREFORE, ONLY AN EXPERIENCE WORTH

REFLECTING UPON IS WORTH NARRATING TO OTHERS.
ii. A NARRATIVE HAS ONLY ONE MAIN EVENT.
EXAM QUESTIONS:
1. Write a story which includes the words: ‘The house they lived in as children now looked very
different.’
2. Write a story about a time when you wanted to do something adventurous but you had to change
your plans.

CIE O-Level
English Language
(1123) Notes
Compiled by:
Kamran Qureshi
AS/A/O Levels
+92-303-4128652
TaughtWare Academy
+92-300-1000979
CIE O-Level
English Language
(1123) Notes
Compiled by:
Kamran Qureshi
AS/A/O Levels
+92-303-4128652
TaughtWare Academy
DHA, Lahore
+92-300-1000979

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CIE O-Level

Notes compiled by Kamran Qureshi, for the benefit of O-Level students

A Soft copy can be obtained from https://www.facebook.com/OALevelsEnglish

Recipient’s Name (Title/ Designation/ Address)

Salutation (e.g. Dear Editor,) (usually given)

(Body of the letter)

o P1: Introduction (Reason for writing)

P2: Content Point 1

P3: Content Point 2

P4: Content Point 3

Yours faithfully/ Yours truly,

• I am writing to complain about... (the faulty installation of my air conditioner.)

Yours faithfully OR Yours truly,

SEE SAMPLE LETTERS ON NEXT PAGES

1. See a letter of complaint about a faulty product.

Mr. Shaukat Siddique

Customer Services Manager

Subject: Electric Iron (Model No. 2279)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Mr. Irfan Siddique

FAULTY INSTALLATION OF WINDOW SHADE

together with photos of the bedrooms and the hotel grounds.

description in the brochure, and it ruined our holiday.

1. when and where the incident took place

Cover all three points above in detail.

2019 May (12) LETTER to the Editor

1. details of the problems with the public transport in your area

Cover all three points above in detail.

2014 May (12) LETTER of Complaint (Restaurant Manager)

1. The date and the reason for the celebration

Tone/Register: polite but persuasive.

Notes compiled by Kamran Qureshi, for the benefit of O-Level students

Tone/Register: You should make your letter polite and informative.

Notes compiled by Kamran Qureshi, for the benefit of O-Level students

Soft copy can be obtained from https://www.facebook.com/OALevelsEnglish

• Valediction [Warm regards, Best, Yours lovingly]

• First name [ First name: Zain]

• Anyway, the reason I'm writing ...

• I thought I'd write to tell/ask you

• Thank you for asking/inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

• Hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?

• I’d be very/really/terribly grateful if you could …

• I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality/the wonderful present.

c) SIMPLER SENTENCE STRUCTURE

• Well, that's all for now…

• Best/ kindest/ warm regards,

Notes compiled by Kamran Qureshi, for the benefit of O-Level students

• You will be awarded up to 15 marks for following the task instructions.

• You will be awarded up to 15 marks for the language you use.

2019 Oct (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)

1. who the relatives are and when they came to visit

Cover all three points above in detail.

2019 Oct (12) LETTER to Inform (Friend)

Cover all three points above in detail.

1. when and how the item was lost

Cover all three points above in detail.

2011 May (11) LETTER to Inform (Aunt)

Cover all three points above in detail.