1. Essay Type : Description
Guidelines
When you describe a place, you will be required to write the description of what you see there. This also includes
other senses as well such as what you hear and feel. You must also describe the activities you did there. Put in the
little details to make your essay interest and alive.
Heading Description about
Location/ Situation North, south, east, west, distance from major towns. Mention of the landmarks
Type of Place village, town, city, complex, beach, hill resort, island resort
Climate Type : equatorial, temperate, cold, hot, refreshing, rejuvenating, humid
Temperature : below freezing point 28ºC, freezing temperatures
Atmosphere bustling, busy, cozy, conducive, comfortable, convivial, dingy, deserted, isolated, hustle
and bustle, idyllic, noisy, peaceful, remote, serene, spacious, soothing, tastefully
furnished, tranquil
Physical features Highlands : undulating, hilly, mountains
Lowland : rocky, low-lying
Beach : sandy. pebbled
Facilities/Amenities Reads, transport system, shopping, accommodation, recreational facilities such as tennis
courts, fishing boats, golf course
Main attractions food, shopping, breathtaking/ panoramic views, scenery, flora and fauna, waterfalls
cascading, breezy, palm leaves swaying in the cool breeze,
Activities recreational activities such as fishing, jungle trekking, boating expeditions, pitching
tents, cave trekking, adventurous.
Use Vivid Vocabulary
Using vivid vocabulary makes the sentences stand out and sound interesting. Compare these sentences.
A: “Why are you still looking so happy after my accicent?” said Peter as he walked away in anger.
B: “Why are you still looking so elated after my accicent?” demanded Peter as he stormed away in fuming
mad.

2. Essay Type : Charts and Graphs
Vocabulary for describing charts and graphs
- a minority
- a small number
- an insignificant number
- the majority
- a high percentage
- slow/steady increase or decrease
- sudden increase or decrease
- a tremendous increase
- the figures remained constant / stable
- unstable
- increased abruptly
- increased gradually
- decreased sharply
- rose steadily
Essay Type : Letter of Complaint
Useful Vocabulary
take action lodge make complaint regret complain inconvenient irregular
would like to unbearable disappointed inconvenience
Useful Expression
Opening Paragraph
- On behalf of the residents of Taman Permai, I wish to lodge a complaint about the irregular collection of
rubbish
- I would like to complain about the late delivery of newspaper in our area
- We would like to draw your attention to the poor conditions existing in the school canteen
- I wish to make a complaint about the irregular bus service provided by your staff
- I wish to bring to your attention the poor service provided by your staff
Closing
- We would like you to look into this matter and take immediate action
- We hope action will be taken at once
- It is hoped that you will solve this problem
- We would appreciate if you could look into this matter and take the necessary action

3. - We hope that you will co-operate and take the necessary action
- We hope that our complaint receives your full consideration/ attention
Essay Type : Informal letters Useful Expression
Opening Remarks
- How are you? I hope you are in the pink of health
- Thank you for your interesting letter
- I received your letter yesterday / a few days ago
- What a surprise! It’s really good to hear from you
- How is everyone in the family? Well, I hope you are fine too.
- I am really glad to hear from you.
- How are you? I am sorry I couldn’t write earlier.
- This letter will probably come as a surprise to you.
- What a pleasant surprise it was to hear from you after such a long time
Extending Invitations
- Would you like to join me on a trip to Pantai Remis?
- How about coming over to my place next weekend?
- I would like to invite you to my brother’s wedding which will take place on the16th of August.
- My friends and I are planning to go camping during the holidays. Why don’t you come along?
- If you have not made any plans for the holidays, perhaps you would like to join us on a trip to
Cameron Highlands.
Responding to Invitations / Accepting Invitations
- I would be glad to join you and your friends on the trip.
- I would love to come over to your house.
- Thank you for your invitation. I would be glad to come to your birthday
- of course I would love to attend your brother’s wedding. Thank you for inviting me.
Declining Invitations
- Thanks for the invitation. However, I’m sorry I will have to turn it down as I have already
promised my father that I would join him on a fishing trip.
- Although I would love to join you, I am sorry to say that I will not be able to make it.
- I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to attend your sister’s wedding.
Giving Information
1. I would like to inform you that I have just been offered a scholarship.
2. Haven’t you heard the good news? I got the Best Student Award for my PMR exam results.
3. You are not going to believe what I am going to tell you. I have just been informed that I won the
beauty contest in SMK Dharma.
4. I had the most terrifying experience last Monday while I was on my way to school.
5. I am sure that you would be glad to know that I have passed my PMR exam.
6. Did you know that Berjaya Supermarket is having a sale?
Giving Advice
1. If you ask, I will advise you to accept the offer.
2. I really think you should give up your part-time job and concentrate on your studies.
3. If I were you, I will discuss the matter with my parents first, before making a decision.
4. I think you should think carefully before deciding what to do.
5. I would advise you to apply for the scholarship as there is no harm trying.
Offering Apologies
1. I am sorry for not replying your previous letter.
2. I did not mean to offend you in anyway. Please accept my apology.
3. Please forgive me for not informing you earlier.
4. I apologize for not keeping in touch with you

4. Offering Congratulations
1. Congratulations! You truly deserve the Best Student Award.
2. I would like to congratulate you on your recent success in your examination.
3. I heard that you passed your exams with flying colours. Please accept my congratulations.
4. “Well done” I am sure your parents must proud of you.
Offering Condolences and Sympathy
1. I am sorry to about the accident.
2. I know how you must be feeling now. You have my sympathy.
3. What a dreadful thing to happen! I am sure you must still be in a state of shock and disbelief.
4. My parents join me in extending you our deepest condolences,
To Express Appreciation/ Gratitude
1. Thank you for your advice
2. It was really thoughtful of you to help us in our time of need.
3. How kind of you to think about us!
4. I truly appreciate your kindness
Closing Remarks
1. That will be all for now. I shall write again when I have the time.
2. Please convey my warmest regards to your family.
3. Best wishes to you and your family.
4. Please convey my love to your grandmother.
5. Good luck in your coming examination.
6. I hope to hear from you soon.
7. Do write again when you have the time.
Essay Type
Presenting An Opinion / Expressing Opinions
Guidelines
Different Ways of Giving Opinions
- In my opinion, living in the country is better - From my point of view, I think that…..
than living in the town. - In my view, ……..
- My opinion on this matter……. - If you ask me, my opinion is ……
- It is my opinion that…….. - As I see it……
- I strongly feel that …… - I am in favour of ……
- Personally, I am of the opinion that….. - As far as I am concerned…….
- Frankly, I think that ……. - It seems to me that ……..
Giving Reasoned Opinions
A. To Start
- First of all Firstly In the first place To begin with

5. B. To add information or points in the support of an existing opinion.
- Furthermore……. - Besides……
- Other than that……….. - Another advantage is that…..
- Moreover…….. - Added to this is the fact that…..
- Apart from that/this….. - Similarly……..
- In addition…..
C. To show an opposite stand or to show contrasting opinion
- But, …. - On the contrary….. - Nevertheless…..
- However…. - In contrast - Conversely
- On the other - On one hand…. - Alternatively
hand…
D. To agree with a view point or opinion .
- I am also of the opinion that….. Yes, I agree that…..
- I share your view that….. It is true that…..
- I couldn’t agree more with you that …..
E. To disagree with a viewpoint or opinion.
- I disagree with the view that…… I don’t quite agree with you that……
- I don’t think that….. I am afraid, I don’t agree with you…..
- I am inclined to disagree with you…..
F. To end an argument
- Finally / Lastly/ Hence - For these reasons, I feel that you….
- In conclusion - Considering these reasons……
- The gist of the argument…. - After taking into consideration all these factors,
- Therefore….. I feel that…..
Essay Type
Speech
Model Sentences for Speeches
Opening Address
1. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to give a speech.
2. Ladies and gentlemen, I feel honoured to be able to give a talk entitled “A Healthy Lifestyle”
3. Good morning boys and girls. First of all, before I begin my speech today, I would like to take
this opportunity to thank the school for inviting me to give a talk to you all.
4. A very good morning to the principal, teachers and fellow students. It gives me great honour to
stand here in front of you all and give this speech.
5. A very good morning to all of you. Before I begin my talk today, let me introduce myself to you. I
am Adnan b. Khalid from the Sungai Petani Health Department.
Introducing the Topic
1. Today, I am going to talk on the topic “ How to Keep our Teeth Clean and Healthy”.
2. Without wasting anymore time, I would like to introduce my topic today, and that is, “ Qualities of

6. A Responsible Prefect”.
3. My talk today is entitled, “How to Prepare for Exams”.
4. The topic which I am going to present today concerns all of us. It is entitled “ How to Overcome
Pollution”
Sentence Connectors :-
To list a number of points
Firstly First and foremost Secondly Thirdly Then Next Finally
Apart from that Besides that
To Introduce an example in support of a point just made
For example For instance
To express a result or a consequence of a point made earlier
Therefore So Consequently Since As a result
To express an idea contrary to what had been expressed earlier
But However On the other hand Yet Nevertheless Despite that In spite of that
To emphasize what has been said by repeating it
In other words That is to say
To sum up what had been said
In conclusion To conclude