UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR CONTINUOUS WRITING SECTION OF

SPM ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1119

ESSAY TYPE

THEME:

Instructions:
1. This module is divided into 6 sections: Let’s Recall, Let’s Discover, Let’s Learn, Let’s
Replace, Let’s Expand and Let’s Create.
2. You MUST attempt each section in sequence. DO NOT skip any section.
3. READ and understand all the instructions given.

English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)

Ministry of Education Malaysia
2018
QUESTION: How can modern technology can benefit our life?

Look at this picture. Think of any words or phrases that are related to it.
Write your words or phrases in the Circle Map below.

Image source: https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/how-technology-helps-us-our-daily-lives/

Example: innovation, gadget

Digital native

How
Modern
Technology
Can Benefit
Life

Smart homes

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Read the sample essay below.

QUESTION: How can modern technology can benefit our life?

Technology is the use of scientific knowledge to produce new machinery and

devices. It is the application of information to design and produce machines and other
goods to make life more convenient for human beings. Our lives have improved
significantly due to the convenience provided by technology.

There used to be a time when simple tasks like doing laundry would take most
of the day but thanks to modern technology, we have more time and energy to do what
we want to do.

Connecting with people in different parts of the world, travelling long distance,
having constant sources of entertainment and ease of cooking and storing food are some
of the best things technology has offered us.

In the area of education, the Internet offers a vast source of information that is
accessible from almost anywhere on the planet. It makes the entire education process
a lot faster and more open, which is a major benefit.

Technology is now a big part of our society and our future. There is little room
for people who wish to live without technology.

(179 words)

Adapted from: Uni. Assignment Centre helping international students since 2011
https://www.uniassignment.com/essay-samples/information-technology/the-importance-of-technology-in-our-daily-life-information-technology-essay.php

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Table I:

Read the information in the table below. The information in the table is from the sample
essay in Let’s Discover.

A B C D E

No. Phrases/
Meaning in
Words Synonyms Idiomatic Examples of use
Context
Expressions

1. produce to make / • build • produce The robot was

create • design for designed by a well-
something or • assemble known scientist.
bring • construct
something The computers have
into existence been specially
produced for the
company.

2. devices objects or • machines • leave to Do not use any

machines that • tools one’s own electronic objects
have been • objects devices such as a mobile
invented for a phone while driving.
particular
purpose The busy mother left
the child to her own
devices for an hour.

3. convenient suited to • comfortable It is easy to use the

one’s own • helpful washing machine to
needs, • easy wash clothes.
purpose or • handy
comfort

4. significantly by a large • greatly Our lifestyle has

amount, a lot • vastly changed
• hugely tremendously since
• remarkably the invention of
• immensely smartphones.
• tremendously

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 A B C D E

No. Phrases/
Meaning in
Words Synonyms Idiomatic Examples of use
Context
Expressions

5. tasks work assigned • work • take/bring to Software

or done as • chores task = programmes can
part of one’s reprimand help reduce our
duties scold workload by
reducing repetitive
chores.

The teacher took

her student to task
for her
carelessness.

6. laundry dirty clothes • dirty • a laundry list She does her

and sheets washing = a long list laundry twice a
that need to of subjects week.
be washed

7. constant happening a • ceaseless • constant The IT exhibition

lot or all the • continuous dripping had a ceaseless
time • regular wears away a stream of visitors.
• non-stop stone
= success is My speaking skills
earned improved after I
through
started practicing it
determination
online every day, so
it is true that
constant dripping
wears a stone.

8. vast very great in • huge The farmers need

size, quantity • great machinery to work
• enormous on their massive
• massive stretches of land.
• immense

9. accessible able to get / • available The book is now

obtain easily • obtainable available to public.

10. entire the whole, • whole The whole

having no part • complete community was in
excluded • total awe of the new
device.

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Table II:

Read the words and phrases in the table below. They will help you to organise your ideas
clearly.

• Next
• To start off
• Besides
First reason/ • To begin with
Next reason/ • Another
opinion • The first reason
opinion • Furthermore
• First and foremost
• In addition
• One important reason
• It is also found that

• Thus
• As a result • Yet
To emphasise • Due to this • By contrast
earlier • Therefore To introduce • In comparison
other possible
reason/ • Consequently • In other words
opinion
opinion • In view of this • On the other hand
• In other words • Another possibility is
• To put it simply

• Finally
• To sum up
• For example
• To conclude
• For instance
• In conclusion
To introduce • … mainly
To conclude • On the whole
examples • … such as …
• My final reason
• … in particular
• Last but not least
• An example of this is
• It can therefore be
concluded

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Fill in the blanks with suitable words or phrases from Column C in Table I and from Table II
of Let’s Learn.

QUESTION: How can modern technology can benefit our life?

Technology is the use of scientific knowledge to _________ new machinery and

_________. It is the application of information to design and produce machines and
other goods to make life more _________ for human beings. Our lives have improved
_________ due to the convenience provided by technology.

There used to be a time when simple _________ like doing _________ would take
most of the day but thanks to modern technology, we have more time and energy to do
what we want to.

Connecting with people in different parts of the world, travelling long distance,
having _________ sources of entertainment and ease of cooking and storing food are
some of the best things technology has offered us.

In the area of education, the Internet offers a ________ source of information

that is ________ from almost anywhere on the planet. It makes the ________ education
process a lot faster and more open, which is a major benefit.

Technology is now a big part of our society and our future. There is little room
for people that wish to live without technology.

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Read the essay you have completed in Let’s Replace. Expand the essay in Column 2 by
answering the questions in Column 1.

Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes
Practice
for Expansion

1. What are some of the Technology is the use of scientific knowledge to

devices? produce new machinery and devices such as (1) __________
___________________________________________________
Introduction

It is the application of information to design and produce

machines and other goods to make life more convenient for
human beings. Our lives have improved significantly due to
the convenience provided by technology.

1. What are some There used to be a time when simple tasks like doing
examples of simple laundry (1) _________________________________________
tasks? would take most of the day but thanks to modern
technology, we have more time and energy to do what we
Body 1

2. What are some of the want to like (2) _____________________________________

things that people ___________________________________________________
like to do when they
are free?

1. What are some Connecting with people in different parts of the

examples of world, travelling long distance, having constant sources of
entertainment? entertainment such as (1) ___________________________
___________________________________________________
Body 2

and ease of cooking and storing food are some of the best
things technology has offered us.

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 Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes Practice
for Expansion

1. How does the In the area of education, the Internet offers a vast
Internet offer a vast source of information that is accessible from almost
source of anywhere on the planet It makes the entire education
information? process a lot faster and more open, which is a major
Body 3

benefit. On top of that, through the Internet, students

(1) ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

1. Why is there little Technology is now a big part of our society and our
room for people who future. There is little room for people that wish to live
wish to live without without technology because (1) _______________________
Conclusion

technology? ___________________________________________________

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Now you are ready to write an essay. Do your best!

Instructions: Write a composition of about 350 words on the following topic. You are
advised to spend about one hour to complete this task.

How can modern electrical appliances benefit life?

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