The Critical Response Text is an English Paper 3 component for students in the Integrated Programme (IP). Students are required to write a critical response text of about 200 words based on a visual. This is a challenging component that most IP students grapple with.
Thus, this book provides a step-by-step guide, enabling students to understand and apply the techniques of a well-structured critical response text. The visuals have also been carefully designed to reflect a wide range of social issues from ethics to technology.
This book is the only material available in the market to date, for IP students seeking help in the Critical Response Text.
I would like to recommend this hilarious movie. More importantly, behind the laughter is a subtle message of what makes a person attractive. It’s not physical appearance but something from within – self-confidence.
In the movie, this intelligent overweight girl meets with an accident and somehow when she looks at the mirror, she sees herself transforms into a supermodel. But nothing has changed really. As she thinks she’s a supermodel, she carries herself with great confidence. She’s lively around people and cheerful all the time. People are drawn to her and think she’s amazing. Her life completely changes because of her confidence!
Go on, watch the movie and be impressed by the storyline!
The O-level students will be taking the English O-level oral exams in two weeks’ time. In fact, I always tell students that the oral exam is the easiest to score. Examiners are NOT there to assess how intelligent your ANSWERS are. Rather, they are looking for that candidate who is relaxed and articulate enough to hold a decent conversation. Really, it’s as simple as just chatting with your friends, teachers or parents; albeit with correct grammar as you speak.
For those who would like to have more practice and tips on tackling the exams, you may grab a copy of my O-Level English Oral book from The Popular bookstores. The book also includes the official assessment criteria by the Exams Board.
As for reading, just be mindful of commonly mispronouncedwords that you may encounter.
Some schools have provided students with a list of words mispronounced by most people. And today, I would like to share some of these words. Even for those who are not taking the exams, knowing the correct pronunciation is certainly useful in our everyday conversation.
Last month, I did a 4.5-hour lecture for O level students and parents at the Buddhist Cultural Centre. Aptly titled “Have Fun with English 2018”, the participants had fun while gaining important insights into Situational Writing and Comprehension techniques in particular.
Though it was really tiring, seeing the enlightened faces of our young was worth every effort that I put in. It’s a voluntary work that I do at the centre for two years running already (you may scroll down to read about the 1st session conducted in Aug 2017)
Doing the lecture is my way of returning back to society for what I have been blessed with thus far.
Came across a very good article in the Sunday Times dated 1 Apr 2018.
The writer sits on the panel of interviewers in a scholarship interview to look for the right candidate. All the applicants fitted the typical profile of potential scholars – good schools, stupendous grades and sterling achievements in co-curricular activities. Everyone seemed to possess unsullied records. But the writer and the panel of interviewers were less than impressed… When the applicants were asked if they ever failed, they were stumped.
The interviewers were looking for that down-to-earth applicant who would share with them his failure and how he confronted and overcame his setbacks. Indeed, in my blogpost dated 1 Jan 2017, I mentioned “it ain’t how hard you hit. It’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving till you get there”.
Certainly, the judges have no doubt scholarship applicants’ potential to continue the string of achievements in life. But to survive a setback and remain resilient is a question mark. Barely three years ago in 2015, society witnessed how a straight As student allowed a ‘setback’ to crush her – by jumping to her death. (read: https://www.allsingaporestuff.com/article/spore-straight-student-commits-suicide-after-getting-b-o-levels)
So for those who wish to apply for scholarships or even that coveted job opening in future, don’t shy away from your failure. Talk about it and impress the interviewers with your fighting spirit. After all, success is merely ephemeral that we celebrate, but we learn from failure that makes us wiser.
A friend recently sought help from me to check if his son’s answers to his K2 homework were correct. I draw to your attention Q1 – ‘on the bus’ or ‘in the bus’?
The boy’s answer was correct but he was not sure why. Why do we say in the car but on the bus instead? He was happy after being enlightened and submitted his work. His joy was short-lived when he was told by his teacher that the answer should be ‘in the bus’ since children are inside the bus. The poor boy was confused…
I am glad my friend verified with me instead of following blindly what the teacher had claimed. To which, I provided a credible source – Ministry of Education’s (MOE) explanation.
This is not an isolated case of our educators obfuscating our young. I have come across students attempting to use difficult vocabulary that they have learned outside the classroom – only to be penalised because the teachers are not familiar. I am not advocating that our educators must be walking encyclopaedias. But certainly they can do better than to simply disregard our young minds when they experiment with something new. When something seems unfamiliar, mutual learning happens.
Last month I shared the standard questions that are found in the Paper 2 Visual Text. This month, I would like to continue with the final component, which is the standard questions for comprehension.
1. Literary Device
There are plenty of literary devices. Students are generally only required to identify the 3 common ones in the exams:
Personification
Something that adds a human characteristic to inanimate objects
Eg. The abandoned house has blank staring windows
SimileEg. The survivor was bobbing like a cork in the open sea
MetaphorEg. We are nothing but cogs in the huge economic machine…
2. Using your Own Words
To paraphrase an answer using your own words, you simply change the verbs, adjectives, adverbs and possibly nouns in the sentence or phrase. In short, the word form. All words typically have four word forms namely:
For example to paraphrase the sentence below: ‘The camera is able to locate exactly the whereabouts of the endangered species’. The camera is capable to clearly identify the position of the threatened species.
3. Irony
To explain something that is ironic, all you need is to show an outcome or situation contradicts what we expect. For example: “Tigers are endangered species, and they are poached aggressively…” What is ironic about the above?
Since tigers are becoming extinct, we should protect them, instead, we kill them in great numbers.
4. Unusual and Effective
In order to show why something is unusual, simply compare it with logic or reality. And being effective refers to emphasis; that is, what it is trying to emphasise. For example:
“When Andy entered the dank cave, he was greeted with a sickly sweet smell of rotting flesh”. What is unusual and effective about the underlined phrase?
It is unusual as rotting flesh should not smell sweet, which is pleasant. The phrase is effective as the combination of sickly and sweet in the smell emphasises how repulsive it is.
5. Language use Question
This type of question requires students to firstly identify the phrase that explains something (be careful of excess denied!!) After identifying the phrase, explain what it means in your own words. For example:
– Explain how the language used shows danger in the expedition.
First, identify the phrase “rewards a false step with whatever comes after life”
Then, explain what the phrase means “rewards a false step with whatever comes after life” shows that any wrong move in the expedition will result in death
With all the valuable tips I have shared so far in Paper 2, I hope it provides some insights and confidence in tackling your Visual Text and Comprehension henceforth. Good luck!
Every year for the last 7 years, I send my soldiers; I also call them warriors to the O-level battle ground in Oct. Before they go for battle, I do my best to ensure that they not only survive, but also emerge victorious.
Indeed, the last year’s students were my best performing batch ever – every single one of them delivered either an A or B. I have been exploring the different ways and techniques over the years to best nail the O level English. The performance of my last year’s batch bears testament that my latest technique adopted is by far the most expedient. And I shall share with everyone the tips in my blog.
The Paper 1 component consists of Editing, Situational and Creative Writing.
In Editing, there are only 2 correct sentences. The rest of the eight sentences have some form of error. In order to spot the mistake, just look out for the 5 common errors in each sentence:
The 5Ws 1H – ‘who, what, where, when, how’
Determiners – ‘a, an, the etc’
Preposition
Word form – ‘noun, adj, verb and adv’
Tenses
Unfortunately, many students are either unaware or have forgotten there are typically 6 different types of Situational Writing they may encounter, namely:
Formal email
Formal letter
Proposal
Report
Feature Article (news report)
Speech
Always make sure that you know the correct structure and format for each type. By doing so, you are guaranteed the max 10 marks in format. Also be mindful of the difference between “Yours sincerely” and ‘Yours faithfully” when signing off. When it comes to Essay Writing, most students would take the safe approach and tackle
1) Narrative (personal recount) type While this tried and tested approach may be safe, it will not get you very far if your story is trite or fabricated; which unfortunately is usually the case for most students. A story is unique to everyone and unless you have personally experienced an incident that is ‘mind blowing’, don’t attempt such questions.
Some might also attempt 2) Descriptive type Such essays require students to have stupendous descriptive phrases that bring out the five senses; smell, touch, sight, taste and hearing. Generally those who love to read novels and are adroit in adopting the language use of novelists score in such essays. But for those who do not like to read, never attempt such questions because the risk of failing is high if your writing fail to stimulate the five senses of the examiner.
The best way to score in essay is to do the expository type – mixed text, argumentative and discursive. Present your opinion in a cogent manner, pebbled with one or two idioms and generous use of nice vocabulary words; you are on your way to a distinction! I always prepare and train my soldiers to do such essays. Yes, for those who may not have had the opportunity to learn from me, fret not! Just head to the Popular bookstores and grab a copy of my book, Excel in Argumentative, Expository and Discursive Essays. This book provides some of the useful idioms that you can use with a step by step approach in developing your cognitive thoughts. What’s more, all the essays are backed by real life examples and statistics to vindicate your points.
So much for Paper 1 this month. I will share the the tips to handling the Paper 2 in my next blog. Till then, stay healthy and ebullient!
I was searching for some material when I chanced upon all the books that I have written are made available at the National library. I am aware some of the books have been used by the schools but to see them placed at the library is something I never imagined.
I will continue to deliver good material to benefit our young minds.
