We analyse the 2017 PSLE English Composition Question and break it down for you.
Write a composition of at least 150 words about a special gift.
The pictures are provided to help you think about this topic.
Your composition should be based on one or more of these pictures.
Consider the following points when you plan your composition:
- What was the special gift?
- Why was the gift special?
You may use the points in any order and include other relevant points as well.
Before jumping in straight to the sample response, let’s go through the thinking process a writer should undertake in the planning stages. Planning is key to writing a good composition. These 3 steps planning process will help you write a good composition.
Step 1 – Studying the Pictures
It is important to identify the important elements of each picture and describe them in the composition. Cultivating the discipline to do this ensures we fulfill the requirements of the question.
- Picture 1: boy; a wrapped present; boy could be presenting or receiving the present
- Picture 2: mug with handle; the words “BEST FRIENDS”
- Picture 3: short-sleeved sports jersey; the number “1”
Step 2 – Connecting the Theme to the Chosen Picture(s)
Fortunately for us, this is fairly straightforward for this particular question; no great leap of imagination is required to link the theme to all three pictures.
- Boy holding wrapped present: what he’s holding is the special gift
- Mug with the words “BEST FRIENDS”: the mug is the special gift
- Sports jersey with the number “1”: the jersey is the special gift
Step 3 – Choosing Which Pictures to Use
Note that the question requires the use of only one picture. Since the PSLE English Continuous Writing marking rubric does not award additional marks for using more pictures for their own sake, use more than one picture only if the chosen pictures fit into your story naturally. Otherwise, a writer will just be imposing additional restrictions on his or her own story for no real benefit.
The following picture combinations lend themselves naturally to the conception of a storyline based on the given theme.
- One picture: Boy holding gift
- One picture: Mug
- One picture: Jersey
- Two pictures: Boy holding gift + Mug
- Two pictures: Boy holding gift + Jersey
Theoretically, the following combinations are also possible…
5. Two pictures: Mug + Jersey
6. Three pictures: Boy holding gift + Mug + Jersey
However, it is not easy fitting options 5 and 6 into a storyline within 50 minutes (the suggested time allocation for Continuous Writing based on mark weighting for Paper One). The theme for the 2017 PSLE Eglish Composition is a special gift, so the moment we bring in two gifts (Mug + Jersey), we risk writing out of point.
For our sample response for the 2017 PSLE English Composition, we’ve chosen to go with Option 3, written in the usual format that we use for the sample responses we provide in our regular Primary English and The Thinking Writer programmes.
Model Composition – A Special Gift, 2017 PSLE English Composition
Stephy made her decision in the split second the ball was struck.
Storytelling technique:
o Dramatic one-sentence introduction
Storytelling techniques:
o Establish setting
o Vivid description of action (‘slow-motion’ technique)
o Alliteration: sea of screaming spectators
Stephy had saved the crucial penalty, and won her school the championship. It was the Stephy’s thirtieth save of the tournament – an all-time record in the inter-school football competition.
Storytelling technique:
o Description of the main character’s contribution to the team (establishes reason for the gift)
“Stephy! Stephy!” her teammates chanted as they threw their team captain into the air in jubilation(2).
That afternoon, the team treated themselves to a celebratory meal at Queensway Shopping Centre. After a satisfying lunch, the girls engaged in their favourite activity: window-shopping for football merchandise.
“Look at this season’s Manchester City jersey design. It’s so cool!” Ariel, the team’s vice captain, cooed.
Storytelling technique:
o Use of specific dialogue tag and dialogue to show emotion
The girls took the jerseys off the rack to admire its design. Made from the highest grade moisture wicking(3) polyester, the material felt smooth as silk under their touch. More importantly, the jersey was embroidered with the magnificent shield of the girls’ favourite football team.
Stephy picked up a jersey that had the number “1” on it. It was her number. The number of goalkeepers! Pinning it to her shoulders and inspecting herself in the mirror, Steply imagined herself wearing the jersey and saving goals in a professional football league.
Storytelling techniques:
o Description of jersey using ‘5 senses’ technique (touch and sight) and simile (smooth as silk)
o Using the ‘show, not tell’ technique (through actions and thoughts) to suggest main character’s desire for the jersey
Picture referenced:
o Jersey with the number ‘1’ on
“The price tag’s not so cool though,” Stephy lamented(4). At over a hundred dollars, it was not something a student could easily afford.
Storytelling technique:
o Establish that the gift is not something the main character could have gotten for herself
After two hours of window shopping, the girls settled down at a café for drinks.
“Could you order a root beer float for me?” Ariel asked Stephy. “I need to pop into the washroom.” Stephy gave Ariel the thumbs-up sign.
Storytelling technique:
o Set the stage for the climax.
As they sipped their drinks, the girls relived their victory with exaggerated retellings of their glorious moments on the field. Stephy was in the middle of mimicking a vicious tackle executed(5) by Ariel when she realised that Ariel had not returned from the washroom.
Storytelling technique:
o Vivid and realistic description of the behaviour of a group of girls
“Why is Ariel taking so long?” Stephy wondered aloud. While the rest of the girls smiled conspiratorially(6) at each other, Ariel reappeared with a shopping bag under her arm.
Stephy eyed Ariel suspiciously as Ariel pulled something from it. In mock ceremonial(7) manner, Ariel unfolded a garment while humming the Manchester City team anthem. It was a Manchester City jersey, the one with the number “1” on it!
Aried said, “Stephy, this is a gift from the team to you. Thank you for being a terrific team captain and for leading us to victory!”
Storytelling techniques:
o Reference made to the chosen picture in the climax of the story
o Dramatic presentation of gift
o Answers the question: what is the special gift?
Picture referenced:
o Jersey with the number ‘1’ on it
Stephy made a valiant(8) effort to hold back her tears. What made the gift special was not only that it was the goalkeeper jersey of her favourite team, but that her teammates had pooled their pocket money to buy the jersey just for her. The gift was a token of the team’s recognition and appreciation of what Stephy had done for the team. Receiving it on the day of their having won the championship only made the gift all the more special.
Storytelling techniques:
o Answers the question: why is the gift special?
o Use of ‘show, not tell’ technique to reveal main character’s reaction at having received the gift
“Thank you, girls,” Stephy uttered in a voice choked with emotion. “This is the most special gift I have ever received. I promise to continue to work hard to lead our team to more victories in the years to come!”
Storytelling techniques:
o Main character explicitly expresses her gratitude for the special gift
o Main character expresses her resolve for the future in appreciation of the gift
Vocabulary list:
1 caused something to change direction
2 a feeling of great happiness and triumph
3 absorbing water (by capillary action)
4 expressed with grief
5 performed; did
6 relating to or suggestive of a secret plan made by a group of people
7 relating to or used for formal events
8 brave
Download Model Composition for 2017 PSLE English Composition
📢 Ready to Elevate Your Child’s Composition Writing Skills? Creative Writing Made Easy!
📚 Whether it’s mastering English or exploring creative writing in our Thinking Writer Class, let Joyous Learning unlock your child’s potential and spark their joy for learning!
🎁 Sign up now for a FREE Trial Class!
📱 WhatsApp us at 89051533 or 🌐 Visit us here to secure your spot today!
🌟 Joyous Learning: Where Every Child’s Journey to Excellence Begins! 🌟