Sample Narrative Essay Learning something new can be a scary experience. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was learn how to swim. I was always afraid of the water, but I decided that swimming swimmi ng was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought it would be good exercise exercis e and help me to become physically stronger. What I didn't realize was that learning to swim would also make me a more confident person. New situations situations always make me a bit nervous, and my first swimming lesson was no exception. After I changed into my bathing suit in the locker room, I stood timidly by the side of the pool waiting for the teacher and other students to show up. After a couple of minutes the teacher came over. She smiled and introduced herself, and two more students joined us. Although they were both older than me, they didn't seem to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim. I began to feel more at ease. We got into the pool, and the teacher had us put on brightly coloured water wings to help us stay afloat. One of the other students, May, had already taken the beginning class once before, so she took a kickboard and went splashing off by herself. The other student, Jerry, and I were told to hold on to the side of the pool and shown how to kick for the breaststroke. One by one, the teacher had us hold on to a kickboard while she pulled it through the water and we kicked. Pretty soon Jerry was off doing this by himself, travelling at a fast clip across the short end of the pool. Things were not quite that easy for me, but the teacher was very patient. After a few more weeks, when I seemed to have caught on with my legs, she taught me the arm strokes. Now I had two things to concentrate on, my arms and my legs. I felt hopelessly uncoordinated. uncoordinated. Sooner Sooner than I ima gined, however, things things began to feel "right" and I was able to swim! It was a wonderful free feeling - like flying, maybe - to be able to shoot across the water. Learning to swim was not easy for me, but in the end my persistence paid off. Not only did I learn how to swim and to conquer my fear of the water, but I also learned something about learning. learning. Now when I am faced with a new situation situation I am no t so nervous. I may feel uncomfortable to begin with, but I know that as I practice being in that situation and as my skills get better; I will feel more and more comfortable. It is a wonderful, free feeling when you achieve a goal you have set for yourself.
D escriptive
Essay: My Favourite Tv Programme
The television (TV) is part and parcel of many households. Therefore, watching television is a culture of todays modern society. It is a favourite past -time of many people, cutting across the culture, creed, gender and age. I must admit that I too enjoy sitting glued to the TV as mum often laments. Since I watch TV whole day long, I dont blame mum. However, whenever I watch my favourite TV programme she doesnt complain. In fact, she often sits together to watch it, the National Geographic. The National Geographic is a well-known documentary programme, focusing mainly on the ever-changing world, on Mother Earth and on nature and peoples and creatures that colour it with. Just the press of a switch and a button and Hey Presto!, the whole world is brought before me, for me to savour its beauty and wonders. Personally, I am often awed and amazed with them. I like this programme because it is very educational. It is a window to the world. By watching it, I can travel, explore and discover the four corners of the world. I have trekked up the highest peak and conquered Mt. Everest. I have dived down the deepest trenches. I have walked through the wilderness and be amongst the wild beasts, big and small. Thus, this programme has helped to expand my horizon and improve my knowledge and experience. I can proudly say I am no more a frog in the well. I also enjoy watching the National Geographic because it is entertaining, interesting and stimulating. I never imagined that such an educational programme can be very enjoyable. I get a chance to enjoy the kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and colours of the world and its different peoples, all in the comfort of my own home. In addition to that, this programme is of very high quality and it is produced by a team of experts, all are authorities in their own field of interest. The photographic footage is extremely breath-taking and inspiring. Besides, the narration is very accurate, informative, vivid and descriptive. Thus, I have never felt restless, distracted or bored watching this programme. The National Geographic is my favourite programme as it has helped me to grow and mature. I have watched it since I was a seven-year-old innocent child. Now, I am more sensitive and aware of the world and Mother Earth. I learn to be more appreciative of Mother Earth and its beauty and wonders. I am more concern about the preservation and conservation of the world not only now but also for posterity. In short, the National Geographic has converted me into a more responsible citizen of the world and a caretaker of Mother Earth. It is a touching and heart-warming TV programme and I will not hesitate to recommend it to others so that they too have a chance to savour amazing moments and appreciate and care for the one and only world we live in.
Argumentative
essay: Public exams should be abolished. Do you agree? Public examinations play an important role in a students life in Malaysia. In his eleven years of schooling, a student has to sit for three major public examinations, the UPSR, PMR and SPM. These examinations are taken seriously by all parties involved, especially students because the results are used for a wide ra nge of purposes ranging from placement of students to awarding of scholarships. Despite these advantages, I strongly believe that public examinations should be abolished as they have several drawbacks. To begin with, public examinations to some extent merely test a students ability to memorise and regurgitate facts. Blooms taxonomy of learning ranks these skills as lower order thinking skills. Higher order thinking skills such as application and inference are often neglected. Students with excellent memory do well in such examinations while those with poor memorising skills do poorly. Thus, it is not surprising that many students with poor recall skills loathe subjects like History and Biology. Another case in point is the Moral Education paper, which requires students to memorise moral values. This is not a valid test as it tests only a students knowledge of values, not the practice of these values. An A in this paper does not guarantee that the student is a morally sound and virtuous individual. And what about the student who gets an E? Are we suggesting that he is not a morally upright individual? Another reason why I am not in favour of public examinations is that they are not the best way to identify a students strengths or weaknesses. This is because these examinations test only certain skills. Allow me to illustrate my point. The language papers, for example, test a students reading and writing skills only and even so, the range of sub-skills tested is limited. An A in these subjects does not reflect a students competency in all areas of the language. For all you know, he may be an incompetent speaker. Or for that matter, does a C mean a student is about average in all the language skills? Do these grades tell us where a students strengths and weaknesses lie? Another major drawback is that teaching in schools today is largely influenced by public examinations. Teachers teach to prepare students for exams and not for life. As such, many of our students are ill-prepared to face the challenges of the real world. This also goes against the grain of our National Philosophy of Education where the emphasis is on character building and the development of human capital. All parties involved are to be blamed for this as they are more concerned with student achievement and not student development. At the end of the day, parents want straight As for their children, principals want excellent performances from their students and teachers, and the list goes on. Finally, in their quest for excellent academic results, school becomes a bore and a chore. Students are overwhelmed with homework, extra classes and tuition, and teachers are overworked, leaving both parties with little or no time for relaxation. Thus, it is not surprising that students choose to ignore co-curricular activities. They see these as a waste of precious time. Parents too, are affected by the emphasis on academic achievement. Some go to great lengths to secure private tuition for their children, hiring only the best. Thus, we can conclude that public exams take the fun out of learning. We cannot deny the fact that public examinations enable us to assess thousands of students using a similar instrument but the question one needs to ask is who eventually benefits from such a system? What happens to students who are not able to master test-taking skills? Is academic excellence the only indicator of success as suggested by the public examination system? In a world which is changing rapidly, we need to prepare our students for the many challenges they will have to face as they will form the backbone of our nation in the years to come. Taking into consideration the flaws of the public exam system, it is clear that we should seriously consider other means of assessing students and do away with public exams.
Expository Essay: How To Make A Simple Birthday Cake Have you ever wanted to make a birthday cake for a loved one?Well, here is how to make a simple birthday cake. All you'll need is a little time, love, and a few items from the grocery store. You will need a boxed cake mix (the favourite of the birthday person), shortening, eggs, oil, flour, and birthday candles (the number will depend on the age of the birthday person.)When you get home, you will need to gather a few items: a large mixing bowl, a large cake pan, an electric mixer or a large mixing spoon, a spatula, and measuring cups and spoons. First, you will need to wash your hands and work area. Read through the directions on the cake box to be sure you have everything you need. Then, gather all of your equipment and food items in your work area, organize it according to the order you will use them in making your cake. Be sure to preheat your oven to the appropriate temperature before you begin. Next, put the dry cake mix into your large mixing bowl. Then, put the prescribed amount of water, oil, and eggs into the mix. Then, with the electric mixer or mixing spoon mix the batter until it is smooth and free of clumps. Next, grease the large ca ke pa n with the shortening. If you wish, you can wrap your fingers with wax paper to keep them from getting greasy. Then, flour the pan lightly. If you do this over the garbage can it will be easier to clean your work area later. Next, pour the cake batter into the cake pan, using the rubber spatula to scrape all of the batter off of the sides of the bowl. Be sure the batter is level in the pan so it will rise evenly. Next, place the cake on the top rack of the oven and bake for the amount of time specified on the box, the time is usually around thirty minutes. While the cake is baking clean up you work area. After the cake is done remove it from the oven. If you push a toothpick to the bottom and it comes out clean it is done. Turn off the oven and let the cak e cool. After
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to spread the icing on the cake. If you use a spatula, rather than a knife, the icing will spread easier and will be less likely to ruin the cake. When the icing is on the cake, place the appropriate number of birthday candles on it, you are ready to present your simple birthday cake. There you have it, a birthday cake that someone will be glad to devour. This cake is easy to make, but still shows someone you care. Be sure to prepare it with love, and your loved one will appreciate it.
