Section A 1119/1 – Directed Writing

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
> develop leadership skills --- learn to organize activities
> keep you healthy --- healthy body and mind

When writing your letter, remember to include the following:

> your address

> a proper salutation/greeting
> a complimentary close
> all the notes given above
Sample answer 1

10, Jalan Mega Minang, Taman Minang Sari,

68000 Ampang, Selangor.
7th September 2009

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 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