PEA OF HAPPINESS

This week's composition is based on a recent PSLE question, probably from 2013 or 2012.  Can't remember which.


Again it's the picture-based question. My personal preference is usually question 3, the one whereby you have to continue the story given a opening scenario. Even as a PSLE candidate many many moons ago, I never chose picture-based compositions, whether it was in the actual examination or during practices.


My preference for open-ended questions simply stems from the fact that such questions usually give you more rein for creativity than picture-based ones. However, I've noticed since I began teaching that more than half the students prefer picture-based ones, mainly because they find it easier to stick to a story based on the picture, and also because it's less likely that they will go out of point when they do picture-based compositions.


I've also noticed that in the last 2-3 years, the picture-based composition is getting more difficult. This is because the picture presents a very simple event like birthday celebrations. Such events may be simple to describe but that is also their main problem -- they are too simple. How are you going to score high points for content when describing a birthday celebration?


The idea is to make the story more complex by:

1. adding emotional depth (like what we did here)

2. putting obstacles into the story (perhaps there were some difficulties during the preparation of the party - hence the lack of a birthday cake and dishes?)


This week's format is the same as the previous week's. The first video will analyse the picture and present the storyline we are doing.


Video 1 - Storyline




The second video will go through the sample story.


Video 2 - Sample Story




In the third video, we'll present a list of words and phrases that can be used in the description of happiness.

Video 3 - The PEA of Happiness




Notes:

1. In Video 2, Paragraph 3, second last bullet, 'packed' should be 'pack' because of the modal 'would' in front of it. If you remember, a verb after any modal (can, could, will, would, etc) must take the base form; that means no past tense, past participle or singular form.

2. In Video 3, Action -- one of the actions people do to express their happiness is to pump their fist in the ear air. Sorry for the typo in the video. And it's really tough to re-do the video, so I'm putting the correction here instead.


Resources:

Assignment

PEA of Happiness