4 tips to manage composition themes well – P5

In composition writing, everything starts with the theme. A good plot comes from understanding the theme and using the given pictures well. It may sound simple, but why do even strong writers sometimes lose marks for Content, or have their compositions marked as ‘out of point’?

This usually happens because the student did not develop the theme properly in the story.

Here are 4 tips to help students manage composition themes, followed by a model composition on Honesty written by one of our students.

Study your theme carefully

Read the theme carefully and pause to identify the key words.

For example:
• ‘honesty’ in the theme ‘Being Honest’
• ‘unforgettable’ and ‘event’ in the theme ‘An Unforgettable Event’

Students must be very clear about what the theme is asking before they start planning.

Think about how the theme can be linked to the pictures

Start thinking of ideas on how you can use one, two, or all of the pictures and link them to the theme.

Ask yourself:
• Which picture best matches the theme?
• How can I link this picture to the theme?
• What kind of story can I create from this picture?

Plot your story while keeping the theme in mind

When planning your story, remember to refer to the theme throughout the composition. You can do this by using:
• Synonyms of the theme
• Opposites of the theme
• The character’s thoughts about the theme

For example, for the theme ‘An Unforgettable Event’, you may use words and phrases such as:
• memorable
• I will always remember…
• How could I ever forget that day…

This reminds the examiner that your story is clearly linked to the theme.

Do not flip the theme

This is a very common mistake.

If the theme is ‘Being Honest’, your story must be about being honest, not about being dishonest.

Following the theme closely is extremely important because many schools are becoming increasingly strict when marking compositions. Students in Primary 3 and 4 usually have fewer problems going off-point because the themes are more direct and easier to understand. However, this changes when students reach Primary 5, where themes become more abstract and require more careful planning. Below is a model composition written by one of my Primary 5 students. I chose this composition because the student understood the theme well and managed to write a descriptive and engaging story without flipping the theme to dishonesty.

Below is one of our previous students’ Primary 5 EYE composition theme. Fortunately, he remembered what we had learnt in class and scored 34/36.

Benjamin’s English Compo on the theme of Honesty

I walked with a spring in my steps back home after school.  I had just completed my Primary School Learning Examinations and was planning on how to spend the rest of my day.  I could probably spend the day watching television or playing computer games.  I continued rushing home while thinking what to do when I got home.

“Ah boy, can you help me take care of Kayden?  I need to go out for lunch with my friends.  I have already cooked your lunch.  It is on the table.”  Mother quickly rushed out after saying that.  “What a revolting turn of events!”  I thought frustratedly.  Kayden was my annoying three-year-old brother who always asked me to play with him. He was like a leech, always taking up my time.

Before I went to shower, I checked on Kayden.  He was asleep.  I quickly showered and ate my lunch.  “Yes!  I can play some computer games before he wakes up.”  At that thought, Kayden came rushing down the stairs, holding a ball.

“Kor Kor, can you play ‘catch’ with me?” he asked hopefully.  ‘Catch’ was a game where you just pass a ball to the person you are playing with.  I had outgrown this game years ago, yet I was forced to play it whenever Kayden wanted to.

“I thought you were asleep?” I asked him dubiously.  “I just woke up.  Now play with me please!” he squealed.  I had no choice but to agree.  I wished that Mother could have just taken him with her.

We sat down and I reluctantly started playing with him.  I almost fell asleep throughout the game.  This is torture, I thought,  I could have been playing my computer games right now!  I hope Mother will come back right this minute. 

Just as I was pondering about my bad luck, frustration gripped me and I accidentally threw the ball too high and with too much force.  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion when the ball came back down.  Realisation hit me like a twenty-pound sledgehammer — the ball was going to hit the television!

A long crack started to form on the television.  Kayden and I eyed each other in shock.  Mother was going to kill me.  Just then, my Mother strode in the house.  She looked at the television.

“Why is the television broken?” she asked.  I was in a dilemma.  Should I tell the truth or blame it on Kayden?  If I tell the truth, I would probably be banned from watching television for a week.  If I blame it on Kayden, he would be punished severely.  Before I could even decide, I found myself telling the truth.

After hearing my confession, my Mother hit the roof and bit my head off.  After she cooled down, she said to me, “You broke the television, but still decided to tell the truth.  I hope Kayden will learn from you.”  I heaved a sigh of relief after hearing that and went to play computer games, thankful my honesty prevented me from being punished.

I made a mental note to always be honest regardless of the consequences.  I also learnt that the right choice is not always the easiest to make.