With two sources, the task is the filter. Read it first, find its focus, and then select only the points from either source that match that focus.
This page belongs to the SPM Bahasa Melayu guide and pairs with the lesson on identifying the correct focus across materials.
What does the student usually say?
“Ada dua petikan dan semuanya kelihatan penting.” Or: “Saya tidak tahu sama ada isi dalam petikan kedua patut dimasukkan.”
A task and two short sources
These sources are original, written for this page. The task: Rumuskan faktor yang menyebabkan murid kurang berminat membaca.
Source A: Ramai murid lebih suka menonton video pendek di telefon. Mereka juga mengatakan buku terlalu tebal dan sukar difahami. Rekod pinjaman perpustakaan menunjukkan hanya 40 daripada 100 murid meminjam buku pada bulan lalu.
Source B: Perpustakaan sekolah hanya dibuka sehingga pukul 1.00 petang. Koleksi buku baharu jarang ditambah, dan murid mengeluh bahawa bahan yang ada sudah lama. Namun begitu, pihak sekolah merancang mengadakan Bulan Membaca pada bulan depan.
The focus is “faktor yang menyebabkan kurang berminat”. Now decide point by point.
| Point | Source | Keep? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suka menonton video pendek | A | Yes | A factor |
| Buku terlalu tebal dan sukar difahami | A | Yes | A factor |
| 40 daripada 100 murid tidak membaca | A | No | A statistic, which describes the result, not a cause |
| Perpustakaan dibuka sehingga 1.00 petang sahaja | B | Yes | A factor |
| Koleksi buku baharu jarang ditambah | B | Yes | A factor |
| Bulan Membaca dirancang bulan depan | B | No | A plan, which is not a factor |
Four points stay. Two are from each source, and the two that go are a statistic and a plan. Both are true, but neither answers the focus.
What might a rumusan look like?
Murid kurang berminat membaca kerana lebih suka menonton video pendek, menganggap buku terlalu tebal dan sukar difahami, waktu perpustakaan yang terhad, dan koleksi buku baharu yang jarang ditambah.
The summary uses one sentence, keeps the four factors, and joins them with commas and “dan”. Each factor can be traced to a line in the sources.
What goes wrong with two sources?
Two faults appear most.
- Including everything. The summary includes the statistic and the plan because they seem important.
- Favouring one source. The summary takes all points from Source A and leaves out Source B, even when the task asks about both.
A quick check: for each point in your summary, write “A” or “B” beside it. If one letter is missing, ask whether the task really needs only one source.
What can I do myself?
- Practise on pairs of short news items. Write the focus in a short phrase before selecting anything.
- Cross out every statistic, example and plan in the sources, then see which points remain.
- Use the mistake log and paper-error review to record whether your errors are in focus or in wording.
- Read selecting relevant content without repetition for the next step.
When might one-to-one tuition help?
If you keep choosing points that do not match the focus, a teacher can read your selection with you and ask why each point is in. The habit of asking “does this match the focus?” often takes two or three guided attempts to build.
The one-hour trial class (from RM50) suits this well if you bring a task with two sources and your own selection. Learn more at online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Melayu tuition.