Some students take composition writing as a piece of academic work that requires them to write 120 -180 words on paper. Our hope at TF is that they will develop a love of writing that will continue to sparkle in their secondary school years when writing transforms into more demanding academic work.
While it is less challenging to help develop the love of writing at a younger age, usually at primary 3, we have witnessed even primary 6 students change their writing style and produce excellent pieces of work that make us glow with pride.
When a student joins our classes and the main area of weakness is composition writing, we first try to understand why the student is losing marks.
Here are a few ways that the teachers at TF help our reluctant composition writers.
Identify the areas of strength & weakness
Sometimes the student can fit into any of the categories below.
The word counter
This writer sees writing compositions as a chore. He repeats the same ideas and uses the same type of sentence structures, often repeating the same ideas differently. This is done so that he can fulfill the required number of words and be free of this task. This is evident when the student counts words after writing a simple sentence and ending his composition abruptly.
The grammar offender
This writer has a higher liking for the language and may write with many good ideas. However, his tenses are all over the place, and he makes many punctuation and spelling mistakes. This will affect the plot and cost him his overall marks.
The poor ‘theme’ developer
This writer lightly touches on the theme given or does not mention any of the pictures given in the composition question. The theme is almost forgotten as the writer weaves his own story.
Thinkng & Planning
When we identify the type of writer sitting before us, we begin by discussing his or her favourite books. Even if the student’s favourites are comic books, every story has a plot and characters. We discuss the plots and characters that they love and then we try to map out a composition question by using a story template.
We use this discussion method at every lesson so that the writer develops the habit of ‘thinking’ and ‘planning’ before jumping into writing. This also reduces over-complicated plots and characters.
Writing Techniques
Writing techniques come next and this is a vast area. We encourage our students to choose writing techniques and help them develop a style that they like. For the older writers who have already developed their style, we refine it by adding new techniques. However, the three techniques that we emphasise every time our upper primary students (Primary 4-6) write a composition are :
Theme development
Ways to develop the theme and how to use the picture/pictures given
Characterisation
During the planning stage, we ask our students questions like :
- Which character should we focus on and why?
- Would the the protagonist or the antagonist be a more standout character for this theme?
- How should we develop his or her character?
Introductions & Conclusions
The opening and closing of a story are essential in attracting the reader’s (examiner’s) interest. Direct speech or a dramatic opening can set the pace for a story.
For example,
I woke up in the morning. I went to eat breakfast with my sister and then went to my aunt’s house.
Could be re-worked to :
“Wake up sis! The day has finally arrived!” I opened my eyes dreamily to my younger sister jumping up and down in front of me. Her eyes were lit with joy as she clapped her hands gleefully. I smiled as I realised today was the day we were going to visit my aunt and my cousins.
The use of proverbs, similes and idioms can give a story edge and a good closing (especially if its a moral one) .
For example,
The police told John never to do that again. His mother punished him and he cried.
Could be re-worked to :
John stood before the police officer, shaking like a leaf. He listened intently to the police officer’s advice and promised never to do that again. After all, once bitten twice shy! John’s mother took him aside and told him that he would not be allowed to play in the soccer team for the next important tournament. John was crushed and started weeping. His mother looked him in the eye and told him that he he had made his bed, now he must lie in it.
The love of writing comes with the love of the language. Writers should not be boxed up and forced to memorise other students’ compositions. They should be nurtured to develop their own styles of writing with good writing habits.
Check the other articles from this section
- Phrases to create suspense & Model Composition – Upper primary English
- P5 SA2 Composition Theme – An act of honesty
- P5 English Paper 1 Reminders & Model Composition – A new friend
- 5 Situational Writing tips for P5 students
- Tips on how to improve your P5 composition writing
- 2024 SA2 P5 Composition Example & 3 ways to ace your composition
- P5 Characterisation technique & Weighted Assessment Composition – A Competition
- Three ways to score for your P5 composition & a model on A Surprise
- P5 Model Compositions & How we can make the most out of them
- 3 simple writing techniques to make your P5 composition sparkle
- P5 Paper 1 Reminders for SA2 & Prelim composition model
- P5 English Composition Writing: 4 ways to develop the theme when planning in composition writing & A Punishment model
- Primary 5 Composition An Adventure & descriptive writing
- Comparison of P5 and P6 Composition Writing & How we can help to bridge that gap
- P5 English Composition An Act of Honesty
- P5 English Composition Encouraging Someone
- English Composition an Unwelcomed Guest P5
- Primary 5 Composition A Dangerous Situation
- P5 English Composition A Bad Decision
- P5 Composition A Celebration Gone Wrong
- P5 / P6 Composition model A good deed
- Creative writing & the use of Idioms
- Words and Phrases for different writing scenarios
- How to plan a composition plot? P5
- Narrative Writing P5 / P6
- Primary 5 Composition Theme A Fun Day
- Primary 5 Composition Theme Cooking
- English composition Happiness model
- 2016 List of SA2 Composition Topics P5
- Compiled List of SA1 Composition Topics 2016
- Compositions Settings
- English Composition An Argument P5 & P6
- PSLE English Composition model on the theme of ‘A Mishap’
- Phrases to create suspense – P5 / P6 Composition Writing
- P5 English Composition : How to score for Paper 1 and model on Trusting Someone
- P5 English Composition Protagonist vs Antagonist
- 4 tips to manage composition themes well – P5
- Tips on preparing Primary 5 students for their PSLE year in Term 4 and model composition being late
- P5 Weighted Assessment Model Compo: Being Responsible
- P5 English Composition model on the theme of ‘A wish that was fulfilled’
- Primary 5 English Comprehension Open-ended
Don’t Miss Any Future Post!
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2025 P5 English Tuition Timetable
Branch | Day | Time |
---|---|---|
Bukit Timah | TUE - FULL - WAITING LIST | 3 pm to 5 pm |
Bukit Timah | WED - FULL - WAITING LIST | 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm |
Bukit Timah | FRI - NEW CLASS | 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm |
Bukit Timah | SAT - FULL - WAITING LIST | 9 am to 11 am |
Hougang | TUE | 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm |
Hougang | SAT | 9 am to 11 am |
