gce o level essay writing

O-LEVEL PAST YEARS COMPOSITION QUESTIONS

In our ‘O’ Level English Enrichment Programme, we ensure that our graduating students are ready to ace the English Language examination. It is a race against time to prepare for the ‘O’ Levels, hence our programme focuses on teaching and reinforcing our students’ essay writing skills, comprehension answer precision, summary writing and oral examination techniques. All W@W secondary teachers spare no effort in coaching our students how to tackle popular examination essay topics.

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Janice glanced worriedly at her wrist watch. The time was already ten past seven. She had twenty minutes to make it to school on time. The sky was overcast. A slight drizzle rained down like a mist. It started raining cats and dogs as Janice reached the bus stop. She had ignored her mother’s advice to take an umbrella with her. She wondered how she was going to make itto school in the rain.

Jovan Ang, Primary 2

Rulang Primary School

It was an idyllic Saturday morning. Fluffy white clouds hung in the clear cerulean sky. Granny Lucy was tottering to the market. Her heart was filled with light-hearted cheer and her mouth curled into a smile. She was looking forward to preparing a feast for her grandchildren, who were coming for dinner that night.

Kew Ling Wei, Primary 3

Raffles Girls’ Primary School

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Cambridge o level english language (1123).

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O/L English Essays PDF and  O/L Exam English model Essay topics for students

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Study both previous and Model O/L English essays topics. Get ready for exams.

• An Essay on Corona Virus/ Covid 19
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Tips To Ace the GCE ‘O’ Level English Paper 1 & 2

Nuha ghouse.

• Created on November 29, 2018
• Blog , Exam Tips , PSLE

A key aspect of conquering GCE O Level English is developing skills to anticipate new trends. As this is something that will make or break your L1R5, the team of experts in Tutopiya have curated a beginner’s guide to conquering the GCE ‘O’ Level English Paper 1&2. 

Read also: GCE O Levels: Using the L1R5 to your advantage

GCE O Level English Paper 1 

Assessment for gce o level english paper 1 .

English Paper 1 consists of 3 sections and they are namely, Editing, Situational Writing and Continuous Writing. 

Visit the official MOE website to find out more about the GCE O Level English Paper.

Tips for tacking English paper 1 

1 – Skim through the passage to determine whether the text is presented in the present or past tense. 

2 – Go down the list of grammatical errors to check against the context and sentence of the text. 

3 – There are only 2 sentences that are correct in the whole passage. Be sure to not tick more than 2 boxes otherwise you would be marked wrong.

A list of the typical errors to look out for: 

• Subject-verb agreement
• Singular and plural forms 
• Uncountable/ collective nouns 

B: Situational Writing 

Here are some tips on how you can tackle the situational writing portion of English paper 1. 

1 – PAC 

Teachers often stress the importance of identifying the Purpose, Audience and Context before writing. This will help provide students with a direction on how to begin.

2 – Explain your objective in the introduction

It is also important to identify the objective of the visual text and be able to pen it down in words. Hence, you will need to be able to understand the question and identify the purpose.

3 – Annotate your question paper as you read 

Read the question details thoroughly and make sure that you understand what the question is asking you to do. Additionally, you will have to be able to understand what the question is asking you. Annotate as you read in between the lines. 

4 – Including an insightful personal response

Students should include their own opinion and interpretation in their writing. It would be good to indicate your own stand (positive or negative) and explain why they feel this way. 

C: Continuous Writing 

After you have read the question and chosen which you’d like to answer, spend 10 minutes crafting an essay plan. Detail your introduction, body and conclusion in point form. This is crucial to ensure the subsequent essay you write is coherent and comprehensive. 

GCE O Level English Paper 2 

Assessment for gce o level english paper 2, tips for tacking english paper 2, visual text.

1 – Find the main purpose of the visual text and answer the question directly

“The main purpose of this flyer is to…”

Use call to action words likes, to convince, to raise awareness, etc. 

2 – Read the title of the visual text

The title can give you an idea of what the text is about and even allows you to know what the overall message or purpose of the text is. 

Comprehension

Determine first if the question is an inferential or direct question. 

If it is direct, many times, you could just rephrase the relevant portion from the passage. 

If it is inferential, take a bit of time to thoroughly read the relevant part and try to think a step further and figure out what the question is aiming to draw from you.

General tips for the GCE O Level English papers

Time-management.

This might be the most important skill to master. Write as quickly and as legibly as you can. But also slow down when it’s crucial. 

For instance, it’s important to ensure you fully understand the passage, so after you finish reading it, you should write a 2-line summary of what the passage was about just to test your understanding. If you’re unsure of what a question is asking, especially if it’s an inferential question, skip it and come to it again later. 

Be prepared ahead of time 

The GCE O Level English paper happens annually around November alongside with the other subject papers. It is important to schedule your studying plan ahead of time and remove all distractions to complete your revisions in time. 

Read also: Essentialism: The BEST way to study better before examinations

Online tutor 

Having additional help and guidance for your national examinations can help drastically. Your tutor will be able to attend to your doubts and questions and even provide you with more resources. 

For students who feel not challenged enough, having a tutor can help you to develop greater confidence and skills for your exams. 

Tutopiya provides live 1-1 online tuition to secondary 4 Express and Secondary 5 Normal (Academic) students taking their GCE O Level English. Speak to our experts today to book yourself a free trial lesson to experience online learning with us today!

Nuha Gouse is the Co-founder of Tutopiya and is equipped with a first class honours Math degree from Imperial College, London. Her mission is to provide personalized individual lessons online where students from around the world can learn at their own pace and convenience.

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O level english expository essay: mastering the peel format.

by LearningGems.sg | Jul 20, 2023 | 1 comment

1. Introduction | O Level English Expository Essay

A well-structured essay with clear arguments and a logical flow demonstrates proficiency in communication and critical thinking. One effective structure that aids in crafting coherent essays is the PEEL format, a widely recognised format used in essay writing. This format provides students with a systematic framework to organise their ideas and present them coherently.

PEEL stands for Point, Explanation, Evidence and Link.

2. Writing Body Paragraphs using the PEEL format | O Level English Expository Essay

2.1 point: crafting a strong topic sentence.

Within the PEEL format, the Point component holds significant weight as it sets the direction for each paragraph. The Point can also be known as the topic sentence. A strong topic sentence serves as a concise preview of the paragraph’s content, encapsulating the main idea or argument. It should be clear, specific, and should also answer the essay question directly.

A good topic sentence not only captures the essence of the paragraph but also engages the reader from the start. For example, in an essay about the impacts of social media on society, a strong topic sentence could be: “The pervasive influence of social media has transformed communication patterns and reshaped social interactions.” This topic sentence clearly states the focus of the paragraph and presents a compelling point for further discussion.

On the other hand, a weak or vague topic sentence can lead to confusion and a lack of clarity in the paragraph. For instance, a weak topic sentence in the same essay topic could be: “One impact that social media has on society is its impact on humans.” This topic sentence lacks specificity. It is too general and fails to provide a clear direction for the paragraph. It does not offer any indication of the particular aspect of social media being discussed.

By crafting strong topic sentences, students establish a solid foundation for their paragraphs, allowing for targeted and impactful discussions throughout the essay. Effective topic sentences provide a roadmap for the reader, ensuring that the subsequent components of the PEEL format align with the overarching argument and contribute to the overall coherence of the essay.

2.2 Explanation: Providing Context and Analysis

The Explanation component of the PEEL format plays a crucial role in connecting the Point and the Evidence. It serves as a bridge that provides necessary context, analysis, and interpretation to support the main argument. Offering in-depth explanations allows students to showcase their critical thinking skills and demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic.

When crafting explanations, it is important to provide relevant background information and clarify any terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to the reader. This contextual information helps to establish the foundation for the evidence that follows. Additionally, students should delve into the significance and implications of the point being made, providing insightful analysis and interpretation.

For example, if the essay is discussing the impact of climate change on biodiversity, the explanation should go beyond stating the facts. It should explore the interconnectedness between climate change and biodiversity loss, analysing how changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can disrupt ecosystems and lead to the decline of species. By providing such context and analysis, the writer not only educates the reader but also strengthens the overall argument.

Effective explanations should also consider alternative perspectives or counterarguments, demonstrating the writer’s ability to critically evaluate different viewpoints. By addressing potential counterarguments and providing a thoughtful rebuttal, students can strengthen the persuasiveness of their essays and showcase their ability to engage in nuanced discussions.

Incorporating thorough explanations within the PEEL format helps to connect the main point with the supporting evidence, ensuring a coherent and well-developed argument. It demonstrates the writer’s depth of knowledge and analysis while providing the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.

2.3 Evidence: Supporting Your Point

The Evidence component within the PEEL format plays a pivotal role in bolstering the main point and providing credibility to the argument. Well-chosen evidence strengthens the writer’s position and convinces the reader of the validity of their claims.

Effective evidence can take various forms, such as statistical data, expert opinions, direct quotes, or real-life examples. It is essential to select evidence that directly supports the main point and helps to substantiate the argument. For instance, when discussing the benefits of exercise on mental health, citing scientific studies or referencing experts in the field can serve as compelling evidence.

To ensure the effectiveness of the evidence, students should avoid including certain types of evidence such as anecdotal examples. While anecdotal examples and personal experiences can be compelling, they should generally be avoided. The exception is when students are writing a reflective exposition. This is because anecdotal examples are based on personal observations or experiences, rendering them subjective and limited in their applicability to broader contexts. Just because an event occurred to one individual does not imply its occurrence or likelihood for everyone else!

Further, it is worth noting that simply presenting evidence is not sufficient; it is equally important to analyse and explain its significance. Connecting the evidence back to the main point and offering insightful analysis helps to reinforce the argument and allows the reader to see the logical progression of ideas.

2.4 Link: Ensuring Smooth Transitions and Coherence

The Link sentence in the PEEL format connects the paragraph to the overall argument and succinctly summarises what was discussed within the paragraph. It acts as a bridge between the supporting evidence and the main point expressed in the topic sentence, effectively rounding up the argument presented in that paragraph.

It is important to note that link sentences should be concise and purposeful, avoiding unnecessary repetition of information or phrases. Many students have the tendency to just repeat the topic sentence, but doing so does not add any value to the paragraph. In fact, it merely creates redundancy and diminishes the overall impact of the paragraph.

A good link sentence should wrap up the key ideas within the paragraph and connect them to the central argument. Mastering the art of linking within the PEEL format enhances the overall readability and impact of the essay.

3. A Sample Body Paragraph using the PEEL format | O Level English Expository Essay

Let us now look at how we can put all these together and apply it in writing. Can you identify the elements of the PEEL structure in this sample paragraph?

Question: Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be regulated? Explain your views.

The development and prevalent use of AI poses significant risks to individuals and society. One of the primary risks is the potential for biased algorithms. AI algorithms are only as unbiased as the data sets they are trained on. Therefore, if these data sets contain biased information, the AI will replicate and even amplify those biases. This could result in discriminatory decisions, such as denying someone of an employment opportunity based on their race or gender. For example, in 2018, Amazon scrapped an AI-powered recruiting tool after it was discovered that the system had a bias against women. The system was trained on resumes submitted to Amazon over a ten-year period, which were mostly from male applicants. As a result, the system taught itself that male candidates were preferable, and it downgraded resumes that contained words like “women” and “female”. Without regulation, these risks could lead to significant harm to individuals and our social fabric. Therefore, it is essential to regulate AI to ensure that it is developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner, with appropriate safeguards in place. By mandating transparency, accountability, and fairness in the development and deployment of AI systems, we can mitigate the potential harms associated with this powerful technology.

4. Conclusion | O Level English Expository Essay

In summary, the PEEL format equips students with a structured framework to effectively organise their ideas and present them with clarity and flow. Ultimately, incorporating the PEEL format empowers students to craft well-structured essays that engage readers, showcase their depth of knowledge, and present compelling arguments.

Preparing for the O Level English Exam is never a walk in the park, but you should never navigate the journey alone. Should you require additional support in mastering the PEEL format, our experienced tutors are here to provide personalised guidance and assistance. Together, we can help you refine your writing skills and achieve the success you desire!

Calling all Sec 2 students! Are you ready to elevate your expository essay skills and master the PEEL format? Join our Expository Writing Booster Workshop today!

Learning Gems  is a premium tuition centre that provides quality English tuition to PSLE and GCE ‘O’ Level students in Singapore. Our teachers are well-versed with the latest MOE syllabus and have taught at various schools in Singapore. Be it the primary or secondary level, we possess the relevant experience and are fully qualified to help your child.

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2019 O Level Model Essay

‘it was my proudest moment.’ write about a time when you felt like this..

2019 O Level English Examination Question

I was the last speaker to deliver my speech in the room. Our school team sat just a meter or so away, so nervous I could physically feel anxiety radiating from them. Every painful hour of training we submitted ourselves to was for this moment. So far, it had gone well: we had trounced so many of the so-called elite debate teams, cementing our status as the underdog. No one expected a team of seemingly-quiet girls to have come this far, but here we were, in the finals, against a team that had won the championship for ten years in a row. 

Our coach held our hands tightly as we walked towards the lecture theatre where the results would be announced, reassuring us that we did well, and that accomplishing a guaranteed silver medal was still good enough. However, secretly in our heart of hearts, we hoped we would take the gold. Otherwise, what was all that training for?

I was so nervous I kept quiet, feeling the sweat trickle down the back of the school’s formal uniform that was set apart for only students who participate in the most prestigious competitions. My tie suddenly felt tight and uncomfortable, but I did not dare to loosen it and sully our image. Walking into the blessed air-conditioning of the lecture theatre, we sat down and awaited our fate. Unfortunately, we were seated next to our competitors, who kept pointing at us and laughing condescendingly, as if they were expecting the win.

“And the winner of the Singapore Debating Championships is…”

He trailed off into silence but I swore you could hear our collective hearts pounding in sheer anxiety. 

When he cried out our school name, I could not even react. It was like an absolute dream when everyone started bursting into tears of joy, while I stared, stunned, until I finally realised what happened. We won. The underdogs won. We, the quiet, unassuming team that had just barely made it to this high-level division via the qualifiers won. Our competitors looked disgusted and refused to shake our hands, choosing instead to cast us looks of disdain.

It was then my team and I stepped forward with courage we never knew we had, and turned around to face our opponents.

“You will display proper gentlemanly behaviour and sportsmanship, or you will forever be known as bad losers,”

I managed to say, as politely as I could, even though I wanted to scream inside me. Staring them directly in the eye even though I was at least a head shorter than them, I refused to break my gaze.  

Finally, they looked away, then embarrassedly stuck out their hands.

That was when I felt the proudest of myself and of my team. It was not the gold medal that went around our necks, not the championship trophy that we got to bring home, but the act of standing up against people who truly believed we would not make it. We had struggled through so much to make it this far and we deserved that respect. Even though we had to demand it, I still proudly reached out and shook their hands. From that day on, we would not just be known for our debating prowess, but for the fact that even though we seemed like pushovers, we were incredibly strong. Our gold medals shone brightly under the lights, but our faces and spirits shone ever brighter.

Total: 572 words

Teacher’s Commentary

• Building Tension We knew we were going to have fun with this question! We wanted to build up the tension and have it culminate at the point where we could describe where the writer was at her proudest.
• Championship Setting We picked a championship setting because it was the most relatable setting. We thought of setting it up so that it would seem that we were proudest because our hard work had won us the tournament.
• Competitor vs Home Team  It was important to show the build-up as to how and why we were so proud. So, we developed the contrast between the main team and the competitor’s team.
• The Twist  The climax was not the win as expected, but rather the moment where their characters were tested. Since the main team of the story was described as quiet and unassuming, speaking up against the more arrogant competitor’s team would be a surprise that no one would expect in the story.
• Reflection Finally, it was important to have some reflection as to why that was the proudest moment. This part would differentiate this writing from other students who chose the same 2019 O Level English examination topic. While other students would write about hard work paying off, we would talk about standing up for ourselves.

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Narrative Writing Sample | GCE O Level English (1123) | Best Notes

You want to get an A* in GCE O Level English but, your writing skills are not very good? Even if you are good at writing, you want to see some work of other students to learn something new?

Do not, worry. I am here to help. But before, let me introduce the topic to you.

Narrative writing is a form of writing in which there is a main character. This character faces a problem or an event and then deals with it.

In simple words, it tells you a story with a proper sequence of events (plot). For example, you share your amazing story about your exams. So basically, if you do this, you are using characteristics of a narrative.

Suspense if a main part of a narrative. But, we will take a look at it later in this article.

You should know that narrative is a part of section 2 in paper 1 of O level English. You have to write between 350 to 500 words for this question.

We'll take a look at:

Parts of Narrative Writing:

(If you are interested in only reading the sample, scroll down. But, it is not recommended).

Just like a cake has some layers, narrative has also some parts. But, why should you know them?

It is very simple. If you do not know about the parts of a narrative you, will not be able to write a good story. For example, you have to know about your characters, story (plot) and setting while writing a story.

So, some of these parts are:

• Plot : In creative writing, it is the sequence in which events happen.

The plot is all about the story and how your events progress. But, it is not only how events are taking place in you story.

What do I mean by that? Let me tell.

A good plot shows how the character gets into a conflict (discussed below). Simply, your character has to get into trouble and then, he has to work out a solution to deal with the problem.

This creates suspense and drama that is one of the most important parts of creative writing, especially narrative. This is because you have to remember that without suspense, no one will read your story.

To summarise, a good plot looks something like this:

• The main character faces a conflict (problem).
• Things go right (everything gets normal).
• Things go wrong (problem arise that creates suspense).
• Finally, wrap up how your character deals with the problem (gets successful or fails).

Moving on, let’s talk about characters now.

• Characters : For me, characters are the most important. But why? Let me tell.

Characters are what your readers remember . For example, there is a hero or a villain that you will remember after reading a story. Therefore, they play a very crucial part in your essay writing.

Simply, characters are those people in your writing that perform actions and speak dialogues. They play their part in the story to develop the plot.

Note : Character development is the key if you want to write a good narrative. You have to show your characters change during the story and what part they play.

There are different kinds of character. For example:

• Protagonist : The main character of the story (and the most important one).
• Antagonist : The villain of the story (the opponent of the protagonist).
• Tertiary characters : They are the minor characters in the story that may or may not be linked to the storyline.

However, the tertiary characters serve different functions and objectives. You can use these characters to your benefit by developing your sequence of events (plot).

• Conflict : This is the part of the story when your main character faces some problems. This part is what you can call suspense or drama.

Here, you have to make sure that tension builds that keeps your readers engaged. What do I mean by that?

Simply, let’s suppose that your character is being accused (blamed) for a crime that he has not committed . This is the conflict that your character will resolve. So, the conflict allows your story to continue.

Remember the better the conflict, the better the story.

• Setting : A backdrop (or setting) refers to the location or time in the narrative.

It can be fictional or non-fictional, depending on your story. Let me explain this with the help of an example.

For example, a story about a boy who is bullied in college in the suburb of Atlanta , in the 1980s .

Moving on, let me share a sample of creative (narrative) writing with you so that we can discuss some other points regarding this topic.

Sample of Narrative Writing:

Question : Write a story in which you disobeyed an order.

Sample response:

The camp had never been as crowded as it was on that day which dawned crisp and clear. I had never witnessed so much chaos that erupted due to the convocation of the arriving troops.

This was because our village was under attack by a rival party, and our soldiers were summoned to prevent further loss of lives. This was the only thing that we could do at the moment – abide by the orders given to us.

Ryan , our leader, was a tall dark man who possessed fierce looks. He assembled me and Jimmy in his office and, we rushed to meet him. Unlike other days, we had to clear multiple security checks because dozens of Seraphites penetrated our camps.

Seraphites were the people of our rival squad but, Ryan called them “Scars”. Therefore, everyone followed his expression due to the simultaneous feelings of fear and respect.

Ryan’s office was as usually dark, and it was like a place out of time. The smoke of the cigarette occupied the entire room with its offensive, eye-watering and stale odour.

“Joel and Jimmy, do not leave the camp at any cost . The scars have their traps all around”, he said. We nodded and enquired about our future plans.

However, the blaring sounds of disarray disturbed our conversation. “Go check out what the matter is. I am expecting Chris and Karl back to the camp soon”, Ryan said in an optimistic manner. I dashed out where I glanced at some soldiers dragging a body towards Ryan’s room.

I lifted the muddy black fabric from the face, and it was Karl. “Chris has killed him! We will make that traitor pay for this”, one of the sobbing soldiers commented. I was in utter disbelief because Chris and Karl had served our village for decades and therefore, I could not comprehend one being a traitor.

Further reading :

Account Writing Sample | O Level English (1123)

Report Writing Sample | Directed Writing

Formal Letter | Format and Sample

“I have to get to the bottom of the issue”, I said in a hustle. My ally Jimmy urged me to stop and not disobey Ryan’s order of not leaving the camp. I was determined to reach out to Chris, and I even knew about his whereabouts.

This was because he was entrusted an assignment to our previous hide-out. Nonetheless, Jimmy helped me egress from the camp from the Southern door because the number of troops was minimal over here.

I confidently marched towards the East to confront Chris, but after twenty minutes of hectic sprinting, I became more cautious. Unfortunately, one of the traps of Scars caught me as my left foot was trapped in a metalled cage (like structure).

I was surrounded by numerous Scars within a fraction of seconds who had their heads shaved and eyebrows removed, and they were honestly terrifying. They referred to us (the people of my camp) as “ Wolves ” and one of them said: “We need to get rid of him. He has an idea where we are camping”.

I took a deep breath and my nose caught the most horrible odour ever. The smell was terrible – it could even get a beast on its feet. But, I was more concerned about my life as it flashed before my eyes . The muscles in my body screamed at me to flee, but the cage kept me frozen.

My intensifying breaths came to a halt for a while when I started to hear distant gunshots. These disturbing sounds caught the attention of most of the Scars, who departed in fragments to come across the matter. This was the time when I grabbed out my knife, which I concealed, and struck the cage with intense force until the lock pierced into pieces.

With this, I instantly broke into a sprint and multiple Scars started to chase me. The colour of my pale face was draining , and my legs were losing their energy and potential to run. However, half a mile forward, Jimmy appeared who diverted their route.

Exhausted, I arrived at the door of the camp where Ryan was standing with his wide-open glaring eyes and tightly closed lips. I wanted to explain but he yelled in an uncontrollable manner: “ You disobeyed me for that traitor? I also want to know why he did that to his close friend, Karl.”

Simultaneously, he struck sharply at my face with intense force from his hands and ordered me to get locked. I was anxious about my punishment but even more worried about Chris. My mind was bombarded with questions such as, “Why did he commit this crime? What if he is innocent? What punishment will the camp decide for him, and for me?” I sobbed in the cell which gradually escalated.

Examiner response:

First of all, let’s start with the strengths of the response .

• The candidate makes use of description (particularly sensory words sometimes) which is very important in a narrative.

For example, “I took a deep breath and my nose caught the most horrible odour ever. The smell was terrible – it could even get a beast on its feet”.

The thing over here is that good vocabulary is important to score well. However, do not the stuff in fancy words you have learned just to make your story look good. This will do more harm than good .

Therefore, try to keep your writing style as natural as possible. The candidate deserves appreciation for this point (at least in my point of view).

Bonus tip : If you want to use good vocabulary and make it look natural, here is what you can do. Find out the words you want to use. Learn about their meaning and read sentences around those words. Then, gradually use them in your writing. They will look much more natural than usual.

• There is some element of suspense in the story. This keeps the reader engaged.

For me, suspense and mystery are extremely important in a narrative.

Simply because it keeps your reader engaged , and when you convince your reader to keep reading, you have written something good. Let me explain this with the help of an example.

The candidate uses a cliffhanger technique at the end of the narrative. For you, a cliffhanger is a technique that creates suspense (at the end of the story). What happens is that the writer leaves some questions (unanswered) for the readers.

For example, the candidate leaves it on the readers to think what the fate of the writer (Joel) and another character, Chris, would be. The questions such as “what if he is innocent?” create suspense among the readers.

But note that, do not leave your story incomplete (this technique does not say that). It is all about leaving behind some questions (which you do not answer) and demand your readers to figure them out. This takes us to another important point, which is about the characters.

• You will agree with me over here, a story without good characters is not a good story.

When it comes to characters, there are some areas of improvement (which I have discussed later). But for now, let’s talk about some positive points.

There is some description about the characters and their roles, such as: “Ryan, our leader, was a tall dark man who possessed fierce looks”. The story has major as well as minor characters.

Moreover, the dialogues used by the characters show that the candidate had knowledge about dialogues. But remember that, do not use dialogues in excess .

You have to use dialogues sometimes to show the examiner that you have knowledge about them. But, too much dialogue makes your narrative less of a story but some of a speech . So, use them when necessary (and when you should use them).

If you are not using dialogues, you are compromising on major elements of narrative writing , such as character development. Because your reader will know about your characters through their dialogues. So keep that in mind.

• The story revolves around the topic of disobeying an order.

The topic was about writing a story in which you disobeyed an order. Well, the story justifies the topic (although there could have been some improvements).

The story clearly has a theme and a plot. Furthermore, the candidate successfully builds up the story, making the main character forceful to “disobey the command” of their leader. In terms of language, the student uses decent vocabulary along with transition words (such as however and moreover).

The candidate uses simple sentences along with compound sentences. The spellings and grammatical mistakes are less but, this area can be improved further (because in the English language, these things matter).

Now, let’s talk about some areas of improvement as well.

The areas of improvement:

• I think you will agree with me over here. The story has not a “great” beginning (particularly, the first paragraph).

But why am I saying this? Let me explain this to you.

A good starting in a story indicates what is going to happen in future (simply, an overview was required ). For example, the candidate could have given an overview of how events were going to happen in future.

And after all, the purpose of the introductory paragraph is to briefly tell your readers what the story will be about. In short, the candidate could have linked the starting lines with the topic (of disobeying the order).

The take away from this is that make sure that your reader knows what the story is going to be about. For that, make sure you talk about the topic at the start (this may not be applicable to all narrative topics). In my opinion, the start could have some reference to all the soldiers abiding by the orders of their leader.

And like the beginning, the conclusion could have improved (by describing some challenges that the character faced after disobeying the order).

Moving on to the next thing, which is about the element of suspense and tension.

• Earlier, I said that there is some element of suspense present in the story. But it can be improved. Let me show you how this can be done.

There is suspense in the story when the main character gets caught by his rivals . But, a better description of the problems faced by the character could have been written. The tension could have been build with details about what his rivals were planning to do with him.

And if I talk about the setting here, the candidate could have explained a little bit more about the time and place. These things are the main components of a narrative. Therefore, you should “show not tell”.

• A predictable plot is a bad plot .

You may have predicted what was going to happen in the future. If this happens, then there is a problem with the plot.

Let me explain.

A plot should have interesting twists (in the story) that build up tension and mystery. This is the thing that will prevent your writing from being “boring”. When it comes to this sample, a couple of twists in the plot could have made the story very good.

For example, the attack on the camp when the main character returned or meeting with the so-called “traitor” (or something like that may work). So, try to do these things to keep your readers engaged.

• The candidate should have worked on the characters as well.

Look, no one likes flat characters . The student has used characters – great. But, there are some things to improve over here.

You have to make your character interesting (for example your character may love to do strange or risky things). If your characters (especially the protagonist) are unique, readers will love your story.

For example, a casual story about a dad working hard for his family may not necessarily be interesting. But, a story about a dad working hard and educating his daughter despite social pressure may work out as a good story (depends on how you deliver it).

Conclusion:

With this, our topic about narrative writing has come to an end. Thank you very much for reading and staying with me till the end.

In this article, I have discussed the parts of a narrative along with a sample report. Do practise some questions and take proper feedback from someone so that you improve your writing skills.

Now I turn it over to you. Which part of a narrative you think matters the most? Is it the conflict, setting or the plot? I will appreciate your thoughts on the topic.

Stay tuned for more.

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