Many lower secondary students find essay writing a daunting challenge, because the requirements are different from PSLE. The purpose of writing shifts away from storytelling and personal recounts to include arguments, discussions, reflections, or a blend of different genres. The skills required for these genres do not come easily to most students. Therefore, essay writing becomes an uphill chore.
However, very few people are naturally gifted writers. Writers have to practice writing the same way musicians have to practice their instruments and athletes have to practice their form. Guided practice is what this book aims to provide for students.
The first part of the book will focus on developing essay writing skills. These include notes on essay writing as well as different short exercises to develop skills such as question analyzing, brainstorming, structuring, and amplifying.
The second part of the book will provide 20 model responses to essay questions. Each response is a step-by-step demonstration of how to analyze, plan, and write an essay without a time limit. There are also mind maps and other materials to assist a novice writer to build their confidence.