After many years diving in the sea with my students ,in search of the PEARLS in “The Pearl” by John Steinback, a novel that reveals the power of hope, love and determination… we have now taken the STEPS to leave the pearls which have taught us many valuable lessons and making us feel the waves of emotions in the sea of family love and unity. Since 2011, we have to change to “Step by wicked step” by Ann Fine…do I have a choice? Very well…life needs changes, so have faith that the changes are positive ones….as we go thru it, we learn new values in life especially about appreciating the power of family love which creates joy, peace, tolerance, understanding, gratefulness, forgiveness and beauty….blooming seeds of happiness, tranquility and attachment…as this novel managed to prove that strong family relationship sustains family bond and heals all the hurting moments through sense of love, devotion and loyalty. The power of family love leads to reunion and healing in a family. Therefore, we should appreciate and love our family unconditionally and be prepared to make sacrifices as when there is strong sense of love, there is forgiveness , patience, loyalty and devotion growing without force under the shade of genuine family love.
As the SPM examination is getting nearer, I’ve started to analyse the step by wicked steps novel, and created some sample answers in framework form so that you can understand better/ faster/ and make great effort to answer during your SPM English paper. Please share this literature notes with anyone in need as the more we share, the more we get…..Thank you God for Your Endless Blessings….
This is part of my literature notes prepared for SPM English Seminar (for my tuition students and those who are interested to join) which I will be presenting on the 14th and 21st October, 2012 at Kajang.
Analysing Novel Questions (2001-2011):
2001 A character you like/admire (character)
2002 What important lesson did you learn? (moral value)
2003 A character you sympathies. (character)
2004 Choose an event which you find to be the most memorable. (Plot)
2005 Love is important in a family. How is this shown in the novel you have studied? (Theme)
2006 The writer describes the main character as a very determined person. (character)
Write about:
~some instances that show the character’s determination
~how the determination affects his/her family
2007 Write about a character that you look up to. (character)
2008 Describe what happens at the end of the novel. (Plot)
Explain why you find the ending either happy or sad
2009 Write about a difficult decision made by one of the characters,
with close reference to the text, do think this was the right decision. (character)
2010 Write about an important incident in the novel. (Plot)
2011 Write about a part of the story that you like the most. (Plot)
2012 ?
Sample answers/framework for Step by Wicked Step:
1. Compare two characters.
Introduction:
State your novel (Step by wicked step)
Brief synopsis
The characters~ Richard & Colin
Content paragraphs:
1. Their love for their dad
E1 Similarity: Both missed their fathers
E1 Contrast:
Richard- His father died
Colin-mother moved away with father’s knowledge
Richard- His father died
Colin-mother moved away with father’s knowledge
E1 Contrast:
Richard-lost his father forever
Colin- still searching for his stepfather
Richard-lost his father forever
Colin- still searching for his stepfather
2. Ignored by their mothers
E2 Similarity: Both did not get any attention from their mothers
E2 Contrast:
Richard- His mother did not defend him when Reverend Coldstone treated him badly
Colin-his mother is not aware of how much he missed his dad because she is too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores
Richard- His mother did not defend him when Reverend Coldstone treated him badly
Colin-his mother is not aware of how much he missed his dad because she is too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores
E2 Similarity: Both of them did not feel their mothers’ love.
3. Running away
E3 Similarity: Both of them decided to ran away to make things work
E3 Contrast:
Richard- ran away from home with the hope that he would make life more pleasant for everyone
Colin-plans to run away to find his stepfather
Richard- ran away from home with the hope that he would make life more pleasant for everyone
Colin-plans to run away to find his stepfather
E3 Contrast:
Richard- realize that running away does not solve any problems
Richard- realize that running away does not solve any problems
Colin-he does three paper rounds to save money to search for his stepfather
Conclusion:
~the two characters suffered much pain and sorrow- no one cares about them/how they felt/ no one advise them
~running away does not solve problems, in fact it can affect the people around
~ we need to think wisely before making a serious decision in life.
2. How a character has changed due to certain events that have taken place in his/her life.
Introduction:
State your novel (Step by wicked step)
Brief synopsis
The character: Colin
1. Colin changed into a very unhappy and lonely boy
E1 He had to join a new school when his mother moved out of their home with him
E1 He has to go thru unpleasant experiences, got ignored, the students had their own set of friends.
E1 His mother busy with her job (at the canteen) and with her household chores, had no time to listen to his problems.
2. Colin becomes a dreamy boy which causes him to have less focus in class/did badly in school.
E2 he missed his dad very much
E2 every –he would night he would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow
E2 he would hum their (colin & dad) favourite song & stay awake for hours talking to his dad. He pretended that his dad was there.
3. Colin becomes resourceful
E3 It has been 5 years, 8 months & 7 days since he was separated from his dad
E3 He secretly writes his dad’s name & his old address on the forms at school
E3 he tries to save money- he does three paper rounds to earn money to search for his dad when he is older.
Conclusion:
~At first Colin responded negatively to the changes in his life-sad, dreamy, moody,
~finally he decided to do something worthy to search for his dad.
~His love and longing for his dad motivated him to become optimistic, resourceful and patient in his mission: search for his dad.