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Essay development practice

Essay development: practice

You have read the four lessons and want to test your paragraphs, links and endings.

These seven original exercises follow the order of the four lessons. Write your own answer first, then open the explanation.

If you need a lesson, start from the essay development hub.

Exercises

Exercise 1. Label each part in this paragraph: isi, huraian, contoh or kesan.

“Membaca akhbar meningkatkan kosa kata. Perkataan baharu yang dijumpai dalam berita membantu pembaca menulis dengan lebih tepat. Contohnya, seorang murid yang membaca akhbar setiap pagi mula menggunakan perkataan seperti ‘prihatin’ dalam karangannya. Akibatnya, markah bahasanya bertambah baik.”

Answer

Isi: the first sentence. Huraian: the second, explaining how. Contoh: “seorang murid yang membaca akhbar setiap pagi”. Kesan: “markah bahasanya bertambah baik”.

The contoh is specific, and the kesan follows from it.

Exercise 2. This contoh is weak: “Contohnya, ramai orang tidak menjaga alam sekitar.” Rewrite it so a reader can picture it.

Answer

One version: Contohnya, sekumpulan pelancong yang berkelah di tepi pantai meninggalkan botol dan bungkusan makanan di atas pasir.

It names a group, a place and an action. See building isi, huraian, contoh and kesan.

Exercise 3. Apply the swap test to this opening for the task “Kepentingan menjaga kebersihan sekolah”: “Pada zaman yang serba moden ini, manusia menghadapi pelbagai cabaran.” What do you find?

Answer

The opening fits any topic, so it fails the swap test. It says nothing about kebersihan or sekolah.

A repair: Sekolah yang bersih menjadikan persekitaran belajar lebih selesa dan sihat. See writing an introduction without memorised filler.

Exercise 4. Write a three-part introduction (topic, context, direction) for the task “Peranan ibu bapa dalam pendidikan anak”.

Answer

A model: Ibu bapa ialah guru pertama bagi seorang anak. Sokongan di rumah membantu anak berasa yakin untuk belajar. Karangan ini akan membincangkan peranan ibu bapa dari segi bimbingan, sokongan emosi dan contoh teladan.

The topic, context and direction are each one short sentence.

Exercise 5. Choose the best link for the start of the second paragraph: (a) Oleh itu (b) Namun demikian (c) Selain itu. Paragraph 1 says bersenam meningkatkan kecergasan. Paragraph 2 says bersenam mengurangkan tekanan.

Answer

(c) Selain itu. Paragraph 2 adds a second benefit. Oleh itu shows a result and Namun demikian shows a contrast, so neither fits.

Exercise 6. Paragraph 1 says kempen kitar semula berjaya di sekolah. Paragraph 2 says kempen itu kurang berjaya di kawasan kediaman. Write the opening words of paragraph 2 with a suitable link.

Answer

Namun demikian, kempen yang sama kurang berjaya di kawasan kediaman…

The two paragraphs contrast, so Namun demikian or Walau bagaimanapun fits. See connecting paragraphs with penanda wacana.

Exercise 7. The body argued: (1) pelajar belajar bekerjasama dalam kegiatan kelab, (2) kegiatan kelab mengisi masa lapang dengan perkara berfaedah. A student writes this ending:

Sebagai penutup, kelab penting. Selain itu, pelajar juga perlu makan dengan sihat.

What is wrong, and how would you fix it?

Answer

“Makan dengan sihat” is a new point that was not in the body. The first sentence only repeats the task.

A fix: Sebagai penutup, kegiatan kelab melatih pelajar bekerjasama dan mengisi masa lapang dengan perkara berfaedah. Jika pelajar menyertainya dengan sungguh-sungguh, mereka akan membesar sebagai individu yang lebih bertanggungjawab.

See writing a conclusion that follows the argument.

If you got some wrong

Go back to the lesson that matches the exercise: paragraphs in Exercises 1 and 2, openings in 3 and 4, links in 5 and 6, endings in 7. Log each slip in the mistake log and paper-error review tool, and use the BM essay plan builder before your next karangan.

For exercises built from your own writing, see online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Melayu tuition, where a teacher can set new tasks and read your answers with you. The timed original practice session builder sets up a timed run.

Common questions

How should I use these exercises?

Write your answer on paper before you open the explanation. Then compare by the idea each part needs, not by the exact words, because more than one wording works. Mark which part of the paragraph, link or ending you missed.

Are these past-paper questions?

No. Every exercise and answer is original. Use your school's past papers for the real format and check the Lembaga Peperiksaan website for the current paper structure. These exercises focus on the skills behind the format.

Should I memorise the model answers?

No. The question in the exam will differ, so a memorised answer rarely fits. Learn the pattern instead: what each part does, and how to test it. Then apply it to the question in front of you.

If you can repair the samples but your own essays stay thin, a one-to-one BM teacher can read your karangan with you and set exercises from your own paragraphs.

  • Online one-to-one lessons for your child with an experienced teacher.
  • Your first class is a one-hour trial, from RM50. The fee is agreed before you book.
  • Happy with the teacher? Continue with lessons of about 1.5 hours. If not, ask for another teacher.