Directed Writing

1. FORMAT ESSAYS
Formal Letter
Sender’s Address

____________________________________________________________________________________

Designation ( Identifying word : Mr/Mrs )

Recipient’s Name

Address Date : 27 APRIL 2015

Dear _________, ( Salutation )

Subject: ___________________________________________________

Introduction
Body ( minimum : Three content points )
Make three Paragraphs
Conclusion

Yours truly,
Signature
( Full Name )

2. Informal Letter
Sender’s Address

Date : 27 APRIL 2015

Dear _________,

Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion

Yours truly,
Signature

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3. Report Writing
To: [Name of Recipient]
[Position/ Title]

From: [Name of Writer]

[Position/ Title/ Class]

[Date]

[Title]: Underline the title

Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion: Provide a clear conclusion and finish off strongly

[Signature]

4. Account

Heading (optional)
Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion

Written by,

( Name )

Date

5. Speech
Dear Friends/ teachers/ classmates,

Good morning/ evening

Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion

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6. Newspaper Report
Headline

By Line (Name of writer)

Dateline( City, Date:)

E.g. Karachi, 28th March: Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion

------------------------------------------------------------

If you are asked to end properly, then end like this:

Written by,

Sign

Date

7. Newspaper Article
Headline

By Line (Name of writer)

Introduction

Body (Three content points)

Make three Paragraphs

Conclusion

--------------------------------------------------------------

If you are asked to end properly, then end like this:

Written by,

Sign

Full name

Date

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8. Leaflet
Heading

Introduction

Sub Headings 1
Body (1st content point)

Sub Headings 2
Body (2nd content point)

Sub Headings 3
Body (3rd content point)

Conclusion

Contact Details:

Cell number

Email address

.......................................................................................................................................................................

Tips for Directed Writing

 Read the question thoroughly.

 Follow the given instructions.
 Begin and end properly. ( Introduction & Conclusion )
 The given situation should be reiterated in the introduction and description of

content points should be started from second paragraph.

 Justify each and every content point. ( Include supporting details & examples )
Make separate paragraph for every content point .
 Use wide vocabulary. ( to get merit points – phrasal verbs, idioms, phrasal verbs,

similes, collective nouns where appropriate )

 Do mention date. ( For letters , report, news report and article if necessary )
 Use appropriate tone and register. ( formal & informal tone )

Types of Directed Writing

There are various types of text that will be tested in the first question. Types of text that would be tested
are:

1. Speech/Talk
2. Report

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3. Informal letter
4. Formal letter
5. Narrative Essay

1. Speech / Talk

How to write a Speech. Here are some guidelines you should follow when giving a speech or a talk. Let’s look
at a sample question: You recently won the ‘Best Student Award’ in your school. You have been
asked to give a talk during assembly to share tips with the other students on what they need to do so that
they too can become successful students. Use the following notes to write your speech.

Suggestions:
 set goals
 be motivated
 pay attention
 ask questions
 be organised
 complete homework on time
 prepare well for exams
 take part in co-curricular activities
 obey school rules
 respect everyone
Avoid:
 wasting time
 skipping school and playing truant

When writing your speech, you should remember to:

 address your audience ( F1 )
 state the purpose of the speech ( F2 )
 use all the points given
 end your speech appropriately ( F3 )
E.g
Introductory Paragraph:
1. address your audience
2. introduce yourself
3. state the purpose of your speech

Second Paragraph
1. point 1 (set goals)
2. point 2 (be motivated)
3. point 3 (pay attention)
4. point 4 (ask questions)

Third Paragraph
1. point 5 (be organised)
2. point 6 (complete homework on time)

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3. point 7 (prepare well for exams)

Fourth Paragraph
1. point 8 (take part in co-curricular activities)
2. point 9 (obey school rules)

Fifth Paragraph
1. point 10 (respect everyone)

Sixth Paragraph
1. point 11 (avoid wasting time)
2. point 12 (avoid skipping school and playing truant)

Final Paragraph
1. conclude appropriately

Here is a sample answer. ( Underline all the content points )

A very good morning to our beloved principal, Pn Laila Mohd Noor, senior assistants, teachers and
friends. On this glorious morning, I, Gary Tan the recipient of this year’s “Best Student Award” am going to
give a talk on “How to Become a Successful Student”. In my speech, I am going to share with you some tips
on how you can be a successful student.
If you want to be successful, you must set goals. Research shows that people who set goals
accomplish more than those who do not. In deciding your goals, ask yourself “What do I want to be?” and
“What do I do to get there?” Besides, you must be motivated. When you are motivated you will have a
strong desire to do well and to achieve your goals. In addition, you must pay attention in class. Listen
actively and focus on what the teacher is teaching. If you have disruptive classmates, sit in front of the
classroom, away from them. Always ask questions if you do not understand. Seek clarifications from your
teachers or your friends if you are shy to approach the former.
Another important tip to being a successful student is to be 6rganized.You can use a planner or
notebook to write down all your assignments when they are given. This way you will not forget your
homework, dates of tests or projects. Remember, if you are 6rganized you will be well- prepared and you
will have less stress. Moreover, you must complete your homework on time. Homework helps reinforce what
you have learnt. It helps you understand and remember the information. You must prepare well for exams. A
successful student is one who prepares for exams well in advance, and not at the eleventh hour. If you study
consistently, you will have ample time for revision.Friends, to be a successful student you must have diverse
interests.
Additionally, you should take part in co-curricular activities in order to become a well-rounded
person. These activities help develop leadership skills and teamwork besides instilling values like cooperation
and tolerance. Discipline is an important aspect of our lives. No matter where you go or what you do, you
will be subjected to rules and regulations. Hence, it is crucial that you obey the school rules.
Dear friends, What is success if you lack the common courtesies in life? Remember, you must respect

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everyone. You must respect your parents, your teachers, the school staff and also your friends. You must
respect other people’s feelings and opinions. There are also several things you must avoid if you want to be
a successful student. You must avoid wasting time. These days many teenagers spend hours on social
networks such as Facebook or playing computer games. These are a waste of time and will not benefit you
in any way. Remember, ‘Time and tide wait for no man’. Also, avoid skipping school. Some students feel that
school is a waste of time as they can learn better from their tuition teachers. This is not true. The teachers in
our school are experienced and well qualified. They are also experienced examiners and they know how to
impart knowledge effectively.
I have to stop here. I hope you have found my talk helpful. Thank you for listening attentively.
( 545 words )

2. Report
How to write a report. Let us now look at report writing. Read the sample question below:
Your school recently organised a Leadership Camp for all presidents and secretaries of the
various clubs in your school. You are the Editor of the School Magazine. You, too, attended the
camp and you have been asked to write a report for the school magazine. In your report,
include the following information:

Place : Perimbun Resort, Cheras

Date : 27-29th July
Participants : Presidents and secretaries of various clubs in school
Organised by : Co-curricular Unit
Objectives of the camp:
 to instil leadership qualities
 to improve teamwork

Facilitators : Youth leaders from local university

Activities : Day 1
 Briefing by facilitators
 Setting up tents

 Group activities

: Day 2 : Day 3
 Morning exercise - Feedback session
 Survival skills
 Night hike

The above question requires you to write a report on a school activity. Below are two samples based on the
same question.

Sample answer 1 :

Integrated Leadership Camp

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 The Co-curricular Unit of SMK Setia recently organised an Integrated Leadership Camp at
Perimbun Resort, Cheras, from 27-29th July. The objectives of the camp were to instil leadership
qualities and improve teamwork among the 50 participants who attended this camp.
The activities at the camp were handled by several youth leaders from a local university. All
participants, presidents and secretaries of the various clubs in school, had gathered at the school hall at
2pm. From there, they were taken to the campsite in two buses. They were accompanied by five
teachers, including the senior assistant of co-curricular affairs Puan Ng. Upon arrival at the campsite,
they were given a briefing by the facilitators.
Then, they were put into groups and asked to set up tents. By 7pm, most of them had
accomplished this task successfully. After dinner, the participants had to engage in their first group
activity. They were required to come up with names and theme songs for their groups.
The second day of the camp was much more hectic. The participants had a rigorous exercise
session which involved aerobics and jogging around the campsite. Then, after breakfast, they had to
display their survival skills. In the afternoon, the participants had another round of physical activities.
They engaged in canoeing in the nearby lake.
The night programme was the most interesting. Participants had to take part in a night hike.
There was only one activity on the third day of the camp ? the feedback session. The participants rated
the programme highly and hoped that it would be held annually. The leadership camp was a huge
success because all participants showed tremendous support by actively participating in all the activities
throughout the duration of the camp.

Written by,
TAN
Editor
( 287 words )

Sample 2

Integrated Leadership Camp

The weekend of 27-29th July this year will forever be etched in the minds of the 50 participants

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who attended the Integrated Leadership Camp organised by the Co-curricular Unit of SMK Setia. The
two-day two night camp, held at Perimbun Resort, Cheras, some 20 miles away from the city centre,
was a compulsory activity for all presidents and secretaries of the various clubs in school. The objectives
of the camp were to instill leadership qualities and improve teamwork among participants.
Although the students were accompanied by several teachers, all activities were conducted by
youth leaders from a local university. Most of the students, who are in Form Four this year, were very
excited throughout the 45-minute journey to the campsite. Upon arrival, they were immediately whisked
off to the seminar room where they were given a briefing on the rules and regulations at the campsite
by the facilitators. Then, they were put into groups of five and asked to erect their own tents. Luckily
for my group, we had the President of the Scouts Club with us. In no time, he had instructed us on how
to put up the tent. Unfortunately, some of the other groups were struggling with their tents and seeing
their dismal efforts some of us decided to help them. Apparently, this was the first test of our teamwork
skills and fortunately, many of us passed with flying colours.
After dinner, we had a group dynamics activity, where we had to come up with names, logos
and jingles for our groups. Well, with names like the Flying Potters and Forever Dumbledores, and
jingles ranging from pop rock to jazz, the students of SMK Setia proved that they are indeed a creative
lot. The second day of the camp started off with an early morning exercise session at 5.30am. The two
energetic facilitators, Tim and Ashraf, took us through a rigorous exercise routine. Many of us who
barely exercise knew what to expect over the next few days ? muscle cramps. After the one-hour
aerobic session, we jogged through Perimbun town, which was a pale shadow of its daytime hustle and
bustle.
The early morning exercise was invigorating and refreshing. We had enough time for a quick
shower and breakfast, before we took part in more group activities. These activities were physically and
mentally challenging. One of the activities was basic survival skills. We had to start our own fires with
only two matchsticks and cook lunch for the group members. Using water from the slightly muddy
stream nearby, we had to cook not only rice but also fish and vegetables. As no soap was made
available to us, we learnt to wash the cooking utensils using ash.
Later in the afternoon, we had activities like flying fox and abseiling. Through these activities, we
learnt to trust each other and to give moral support when it is most needed. The highlight of the camp
was a night hike in the surrounding jungle. The facilitators led us deep into the jungle and made us sit
all by ourselves. The half hour spent alone was aimed at making us brave and resilient. Though many of
us were initially hesitant and sceptical about this activity, it was indeed an insightful experience.
On the final morning, we had a hearty breakfast, which was followed by a feedback session.
During this session, we were given the opportunity to voice our feelings and opinions regarding the
camp. Many of the participants gave constructive feedback on what the camp had taught them. We
learnt about the importance of teamwork, consideration, tolerance and understanding. Most
importantly, we learnt that good leadership is responsible leadership.

Reported by,
Dhanesh
Editor

General guidelines to remember when writing a report:

 Address it to the person concerned.

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  Use the points given in a systematic manner – use transition markers to enable your
audience to follow the flow of your thoughts.

 Elaborate on your points with examples or illustrations.

 Conclude your report in an appropriate manner.

 Maintain a formal yet pleasant/polite tone.

3. Informal Letter

Formats for Informal Letter in the Malaysian school system:

Students are taught to:

 include the writer’s address and date in the upper right hand corner. The date must be
written in this form. ( 7 SEPTEMBER 2015 )
 use the most common salutation. ( Dear John or friend )

 indent paragraphs.

 include a suitable complimentary close. ( Your loving daughter )

 Do not use ‘Regards’ as it is considered slightly more formal and distant.

 Also, do not use ‘Best Wishes’ as this is considered inappropriate.

 use proper punctuation. For example, a comma should be used after the salutation and
complimentary close.

 use capitalisation where necessary. For example, the month of the date (10 January
2015), the salutation ( Dear Maria )

Under normal circumstances, it is perfectly acceptable to use informal language (e.g. stuff,
jam-packed ) and contractions (I’ll, won’t ) in an informal letter, butthis is usually not
acceptable in the local examination system.

Let’s look at some important aspects of an informal letter.

1. Organisation
Paragraph 1 – include formalities; give reason for writing the letter
Paragraph 2 onwards – depends on the reason for writing the letter. If your reason is to
tell the recipient about your holiday, then you will include details of the holiday.
The last paragraph – you can give a reason why you have to stop writing such as:

 I am sorry I have to stop here because it is getting late.

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  I am sorry I have to stop here because …
 I have to stop now because …
 Or you can simply end the letter in a number of appropriate ways as shown in #3
below.
2. Some useful expressions on how to begin an informal letter

 I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you.

 Thank you for your letter. I was pleased to hear that you are in good health.
 It was really nice hearing from you. I am glad that you like your new school.
 I hope this letter finds you in the pink (of health).
 Thank you for the lovely birthday card.

3. Some useful expressions on how to end an informal letter

 I promise to write to you soon.
 I hope you will reply soon.
 Give my best wishes to your parents.
 I am looking forward to seeing you.
 I look forward to hearing from you.
 Do write and tell me how you are progressing.

Sample Question
Your younger sister, who is studying in a boarding school, has written to complain that she
finds the compulsory co-curricular activities very tiring. Write a letter to her to explain the
benefits of co-curricular activities.

Use the notes given below to write your letter.

 help you become a better person
 instill discipline
 learn good values – cooperation
 respect for others
 develop leadership skills
 learn to organize activities
 provide opportunities - to develop social skills
 to take part in competitions
 keep you healthy
 get a good testimonial
When writing your letter, remember to include the following:
 your address
 a proper salutation/greeting
 a complimentary close
 all the notes given above

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Sample answer 1

10, Jalan Mega Minang,

Taman Minang Sari,
68000 Ampang, Selangor.
7 September 2015

Dear Lina,
It was lovely to hear from you. All of us miss you very much. Mum and Dad are glad that
you are slowly adjusting to life in a boarding school.

In your letter you complained about the compulsory co-curricular activities. Well, let me
tell you that you can reap many benefits through active participation in these activities. Firstly,
the various co-curricular activities help you become a better person (point 1). Participation in
uniformed units, clubs and societies, sports and games will help you discover your talents and
develop your character. You will become a more confident and well-rounded person. The strict
rules and good behaviour expected of you as a member of a uniformed unit will instil discipline
(point 2) in you. This is important if you are to become a law-abiding citizen.

Besides, you will learn good values (point 3) through the various co-curricular activities.
You will learn about the importance ofcooperation (point 4) and respect for others (point
5). These values are very important in a multi-racial society like ours.

You have always said that you admire great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Abraham
Lincoln. Well, co-curricular activities will certainly help you to develop leadership skills (point
6). There will be ample opportunities to enable you to become a good leader. Besides learning
how to plan events, you will learn to organise activities (point 7).Sometimes, you might even
have to handle a challenging situation and this will teach you how to make on-the-spot
decisions.

More importantly, co-curricular activities provide you with many opportunities (point 8) to
help you develop social skills (point 9). As you know, a person with good social skills has an

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edge these days. Extra-curricular activities will also provide you with opportunities to take part
in competitions (point 10) at various levels. Schools usually select their representatives for
competitions at zone, state or national level by looking at their students’ performance in school-
level competitions.

These activities also keep you healthy (point 11). Who knows, you might finally shed your
baby fat! Most importantly, you will get a good testimonial (point 12) if you are active in co-
curricular activities. This will definitely boost your chances when applying for a scholarship or a
job.

There is no need for you to worry that participation in these activities will affect your
grades. On the contrary, it has been proven that students who are actively involved usually do
well academically.

I hope you will take the opportunities co-curricular activities provide to experience new
things and discover your strengths.

I have to stop here. I have to study for my trial examination, which is in two weeks’
time. Till I hear from you, take care.
Your loving sister,

Shuhada
The sample above is meant to show weak students how they can get marks for format and
content.

Most of the sentences are simple sentences and the points are not elaborated. If you are a
weak student, try to insert some sentences to elaborate on the points given.

Remember when you write an informal letter:

 Do not use slang words.

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  Do not use words which are in a language other than English. This means you cannot
write ‘Dear Abah’, or ‘Dear Amma’ even if that is how you address your parents.
 Do not sign off with ‘Love and Kisses’. Keep that for your personal letters.

4. Formal Letter

Guidelines for Writing a Formal Letter:

 Your address should appear on the left-hand corner.

 A horizontal line across the page separates your address from the recipient’s address.
 Address of the person to whom you are writing
· The recipient’s address should be below your address.
· The postcode and name of the town should be underlined.
 Date
· The date is written on the right along the same line as the last line of the
recipient’s address.
· The month should be spelt out (i.e. it should be in words, not numbers). It
must be written in full (do not use abbreviations such as Sept) and in
capital letters.
 Salutation/Greeting
· If you know the name of the recipient, then do use his surname ( Dear Mr. Tan )
· If you do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, then use
Dear Sir or Madam
 Subject heading
· The subject heading gives the reader an idea what the letter is about.
· Write the subject heading directly below the salutation and it should be
Underlined
 The body of the letter
· The body of the letter refers to the contents of your letter.
· It should be divided into short and clear paragraphs.
· All paragraphs should be numbered except for the first and last paragraphs.

 In the first paragraph, you should state the reason for writing (whether it is to
inform, to complain, to invite etc).
 From the second paragraph onwards, you should include information that is
deemed necessary, depending on what you are writing about. The number of
paragraphs depends on what you are writing.
 In the last paragraph, state what you expect from the recipient. This is usually in
the form of an action or response. It is a common practice to end a formal letter with
phrases such as I look forward to hearing from you or I hope prompt action will be
taken to solve this problem. A note of thanks is usually included.
· Remember to organise the information in a clear and logical manner.
· Also, do not write lengthy paragraphs.

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  Ending
· You can end the letter by writing “ Yours faithfully ”.
· In practice, we usually use “ Yours sincerely ”, if we know the recipient but for
exam purposes I would advise you to use only “ Yours faithfully ”.
 Signature
Do not forget to sign the letter and write your name below it in capital letters with in
brackets.

Sample question :

You are the Secretary of the Residents’ Association in your housing estate. Write a letter to the
director of the local municipal council to complain about the problems you and the other
residents are facing.

In your letter, include the details below:

 rubbish not collected
 causes terrible stench

 stray cats and dogs scatter rubbish

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  clogged drains

 breeding ground for mosquitoes

 increase in cases of dengue fever

 street lights not working

 cause accidents at night

 increase in crime

 playground not well- maintained

 overgrown grass

 playground equipment damaged

When writing your letter, you should remember to:

 set it out in the correct format
 include all the points given

 address the letter to the director of the local municipal council

Rajvind Gill,
10, Jalan Jujur,
Taman Jayadiri,
68000 Ampang,
Selangor Darul Ehsan

_____________________________________________________________________________

The Director,
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council,
Bangunan Mentari,
68000 Ampang Jaya,
SELANGOR. 15 SEPTEMBER 2015

Dear Sir,

Poor Maintenance of Taman Jayadiri

I am writing this letter on behalf of the residents of Taman Jayadiri to complain about the
dismal conditions we have been putting up with for the past three months.

2. One of the main grouses of the residents concerns uncollected rubbish (point 1).
Initially, rubbish was collected three times a week. However, since June this year the garbage
collectors have only been coming once a week. Our litter bins are always filled to the brim and
we have no choice but to leave our bags of rubbish next to the bins. The rotting waste causes

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a terrible stench (point 2). Worse still, stray cats and dogs scatter the rubbish (point 3) while
looking for food. This is not only unpleasant but also unhealthy.

3. Most of the drains in Taman Jayadiri are clogged (point 4) with rubbish resulting in the
water becoming stagnant. It is not uncommon to see plastic bags, bottles and dry leaves in
these drains. There is an urgent need to clear these drains as the stagnant water is an ideal
breeding ground for mosquitoes (point 5). The residents are worried as there has been a
sharp increase in dengue cases (point 6) in the last two months.

4. The street lights along several roads are also not working (point 7). This has
caused several accidents at night (point 8), mostly involving motorcyclists as they are unable to
see in the dark. Unfortunately, the dark streets have also led to another problem – an increase
in crime (point 9). Several residents, especially women, have fallen victim to snatch thieves.

5. The one and only playground in our area is also not well-maintained (point 10).
The grass is overgrown (point 11) as it has not been cut for almost three months. Besides,
the playground equipment is damaged (point 12). Many of the see-saws and swings have been
spoiled by vandals.

I hope the council will look into our complaints and take prompt action to solve our problems.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Rajvind Gill
( RAJVIND GILL)

Prepared by

PRAKASH NADASON

Module prepared exclusively for

Usaha Jaya & Sinar Ilmu Tuition Centre
SPM students