Guidelines for Writing Novel Section

For this section, you will have to elaborate clearly on every point you
write.

Give suitable examples from the novel. You must answer in complete
sentences and not point form, otherwise marks can be deducted. Make
sure that the grammar is correct.

You can also quote what the characters said in the novel as textual
evidence.

5 types of errors found in students' answer for the novel

5 types of errors found in students' answer for the novel:

1. mere mention
Students do no elaborate or give evidence.
For example:
The most interesting event in the novel is when Mr.Kilmer left to go to
Europe for the war.
It should be : The school is putting on a patriotic program to help finance
the war. There was two main people for the play, but in order to get the
parts you had to write poetry. Richard got the main part for dough boy and
Hannah got the main part for lady liberty.

2. mere narration
Students tell the story without answering the question. You are merely
giving a synopsis of the story.

3. factual errors
Students do not know the novel well and they tried to elaborate but ended
up giving factual errors.
For example:
Richard joined the army after his graduation.

4. switching between tenses

If you answer in the present tense, do not change. If you are more
comfortable answering in the past tense, make sure it is all in the past
tense.

5. answering only one part of the question

For example:

Describe a sad event in the novel and how this event affects the main
character.
First you have to write on any sad event in the novel then you have to
relate the event that may affects the main character.
For example, you plan to write about Mr.Kilmer that has been killed in the
war. Then you have to elaborate how the event affects Richard as he puts
his courage and publishes his poems to be in the newspapers.

Question

Using the details in the novel you have studied, write about a moral value
you have learnt
from the story.

In the novel Dear Mr.Kilmer, the story highlights some moral values such
as family responsibility, mutual understanding, love and patriotism. But, I
have learned that love keeps the family together although they appear to
have contrasting views.

Richards father dropped out after finishing fifth grade but he is a good
farmer and provider. A single parent is determined that his older son Gus
should one day graduate. He has no problems with Richard who gets
excellent grades. Although Richard yearns to get close with his Pa, he
senses a strange barrier between them. However, both father and son are
able to understand each other in the closing chapters of the novel
showing that love keeps their bond together.

Richards older sister was nine when their mother dies. She leaves school
after eighth grade and takes on the roles of full time farm woman. She
spends her day cooking, cleaning, washing and sewing, generally looking
after her family. This shows her love towards her family that makes her
devote and sacrifice for her family.

As for Richard, he comes across as someone with soft heart. He helps her
sister to clean up in the kitchen, enjoys working alongside with Pa and
helps around whenever he can. Although the family is without a mother
figure to help to run the family, it is clear that with the love shown by
everyone including Richard, they can stay together as a caring family.