Context 1: Factual Support For ACT Essay

These words can easily be used when stating facts and describing examples to support one’s
argument. On ACT essays, common examples are trends or patterns of human behavior, current or
past events, and large-scale laws or regulations.

1. Antecedent – a precursor, or preceding event for something – N

2. Bastion – an institution/place/person that strongly maintains particular principles, attitudes, or

activities – N

3. Bellwether – something that indicates a trend – N

4. Burgeon – to begin to grow or increase rapidly – V

5. Catalyst – an agent that provokes or triggers change – N

6. Defunct – no longer in existence or functioning – Adj.

7. Entrenched – characterized by something that is firmly established and difficult to change – Adj.

8. Foster – to encourage the development of something – V

9. Galvanize – to shock or excite someone into taking action – V

10. Impetus – something that makes a process or activity happen or happen faster – N

11. Inadvertent – accidental or unintentional – Adj.

12. Incessant – never ending; continuing without pause – Adj.

13. Inflame – to provoke or intensify strong feelings in someone – V

14. Instill – to gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude into a person’s mind – V

15. Lucrative – having a large reward, monetary or otherwise – Adj.

16. Myriad – countless or extremely large in number – Adj.

17. Precipitate – to cause something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly – V

18. Proponent – a person who advocates for something – N

19. Resurgence – an increase or revival after a period of limited activity – N

20. Revitalize – to give something new life and vitality – V

21. Ubiquitous – characterized by being everywhere; widespread – Adj.

22. Watershed – an event or period that marks a turning point – N

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Context 2: Analysis

These words can often be used when describing common patterns between examples or casting
some form of opinion or judgement.
23. Anomaly – deviation from the norm – N

24. Automaton – a mindless follower; someone who acts in a mechanical fashion – N

25. Belie – to fail to give a true impression of something – V

26. Cupidity – excessive greed – Adj.

27. Debacle – a powerful failure; a fiasco – N

28. Demagogue – a political leader or person who looks for support by appealing to prejudices
instead of using rational arguments – N

29. Deter – to discourage someone from doing something by making them doubt or fear the
consequences – V

30. Discredit – to harm the reputation or respect for someone – V

31. Draconian – characterized by strict laws, rules and punishments – Adj.

32. Duplicitous – deliberately deceitful in speech/behavior – Adj.

33. Egregious – conspicuously bad; extremely evil; monstrous and outrageous – Adj.

34. Exacerbate – to make a situation worse – V

35. Ignominious – deserving or causing public disgrace or shame – Adj.

36. Insidious – proceeding in a subtle way but with harmful effects – Adj.

37. Myopic – short-sighted; not considering the long run – Adj.

38. Pernicious – dangerous and harmful – Adj.

39. Renegade – a person who betrays an organization, country, or set of principles – N

40. Stigmatize – to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or disapproval – V

41. Superfluous – unnecessary – Adj.

42. Venal – corrupt; susceptible to bribery – Adj.

43. Virulent – extremely severe or harmful in its effects – Adj.

44. Zealot – a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or
other ideals – N

Context 3: Thesis and Argument

These words are appropriate for taking a stance on controversial topics, placing greater weight on
one or the other end of the spectrum, usually touching on abstract concepts, and/or related to
human nature or societal issues.

45. Autonomy – independence or self governance; the right to make decisions for oneself – N

46. Conundrum – a difficult problem with no easy solution – N

47. Dichotomy – a division or contrast between two things that are presented as opposites or
entirely different – N
48. Disparity – a great difference between things – N

49. Divisive – causing disagreement or hostility between people – Adj.

50. Egalitarian – favoring social equality and equal rights – Adj.

Accolade praise

Allusion indirect reference

Ambivalence uncertainty; having 'mixed' feelings

Ambivalent unable to decide

Analogy comparison

Anecdote short account of something interesting; story

Anomalous odd; not fitting the pattern

Apparition ghost; something that 'appears'

Aspersion negative feeling; damaging remark

Belligerence aggression

Bombastic too elaborate; exaggerated

Candid truthful

Capricious changeable; fickle

Cherished cared for; firmly-held

Cliche over-used expression

Conception 1. idea; view. 2. beginning of pregnancy

Convoluted complicated or long-winded

Credence belief

Cryptic hidden

Currency 1. widespread acceptance, 2. money

Decorous good and correct (used of behavior)

Denunciation act of speaking out against

Derailed thrown off course

Derivative unoriginal

Despotic acting like a tyrant

Detritus rubbish

Diaphanous very thin and transparent

Dictum often-used saying

Dilettante person who dabbles in the arts

Disdained showed contempt for

Dispassionate unbiased; fair

Dowager an elderly woman of elevate social status

Dubious doubtful

Egalitarian equal; believer in equality

Elicit draw out (used mainly for information or feelings)

Elliptical 1. shaped like an ellipse, 2. indirect

Epitomizes acts as a typical example of

Equivocate speak ambiguously/vaguely

Evasiveness trying to avoid something

Explicitly very clear; nothing hidden

Foraging searching for food

Hypothetical based on guesswork; not proven

Iconoclast person who goes against accepted authority

Idiosyncratic quirky; unique to an individual

Imponderable cannot be understood

Indecorous not well-behaved; lacking in dignity

Indigence extreme poverty

Inept clumsy

Inherent inbuilt; genetic

Intricate complicated

Irrefutable cannot be proved wrong

Jingoism using words to stir up exaggerated patriotism

Jubilant joyful

Judicious fair and equal

Lament express regret over something

Loquacious talkative; using too many words

Mendicancy begging

Metaphorical not literal; figurative

Milieu environment; surroundings

Mitigated made less severe

Nascent just begun; in an early stage of development

Nostalgia longing for the past

Obtrusive easily seen

Orthographical concerned with writing and spelling

Ossified become fixed and rigid

Ostentatious showy

Palpable can be felt

 1. concerned with the countryside, 2. concerned with the
Pastoral care a pastor gives to someone

Pedestrian 1. boring (adj), 2. person who walks (n)

Perfidy treachery; betrayal

Profligacy wasteful and immoral behavior

Prohibitive very expensive

Prudence wisdom; caution

Pugnacious aggressive

Purveyor one who sells something or causes something to spread

Resonance echo

Respite break (from work etc.)

Resurgence revival

Sparse thin; not thick

Stringent strict

Succumbing giving in to; falling under the influence of

Supercilious arrogant

Tenacity firmness of purpose

Transcend go beyond a limit

Variegated multi colored

Venerable worthy of respect

Viable workable; able to live or grow

Visceral concerned with the 'guts'; physical rather than mental

.................................................................................

The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English

Ailurophile A cat-lover.

Assemblage A gathering.

Becoming Attractive.

Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.

Brood To think alone.

Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.

Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.

Chatoyant Like a cat's eye.

Comely Attractive.

Conflate To blend together.

Cynosure A focal point of admiration.

Dalliance A brief love affair.

Demesne Dominion, territory.

Demure Shy and reserved.

Denouement The resolution of a mystery.

Desuetude Disuse.

Desultory Slow, sluggish.

Diaphanous Filmy.

Dissemble Deceive.

Dulcet Sweet, sugary.

Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.

Effervescent Bubbly.

Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.

Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.

Elixir A good potion.

Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.

Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.

Emollient A softener.

Ephemeral Short-lived.

Epiphany A sudden revelation.

Erstwhile At one time, for a time.

Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.

Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.

Evocative Suggestive.

Fetching Pretty.

Felicity Pleasantness.

Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.

Fugacious Fleeting.

Furtive Shifty, sneaky.

Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.

Glamour Beauty.

Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider's silk

Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.

Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.

Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.

Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.

Imbue To infuse, instill.

Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.

Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.

Ingénue A naïve young woman.

Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.

Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.

Inure To become jaded.

Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.

Lagniappe A special kind of gift.

Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.

Languor Listlessness, inactivity.

Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.

Leisure Free time.

Lilt To move musically or lively.

Lissome Slender and graceful.

Lithe Slender and flexible.

Love Deep affection.

Mellifluous Sweet sounding.

Moiety One of two equal parts.

Mondegreen A slip of the ear.

Murmurous Murmuring.

Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.

Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.

Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.

Opulent Lush, luxuriant.

Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.

Panacea A solution for all problems

Panoply A complete set.

Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.

Penumbra A half-shadow.

Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.

Plethora A large quantity.

Propinquity An inclination.
 Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.

Quintessential Most essential.

Ratatouille A spicy French stew.

Ravel To knit or unknit.

Redolent Fragrant.

Riparian By the bank of a stream.

Ripple A very small wave.

Scintilla A spark or very small thing.

Sempiternal Eternal.

Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.

Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.

Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.

Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.

Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.

Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.

Susurrous Whispering, hissing.

Talisman A good luck charm.

Tintinnabulation Tinkling.

Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.

Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.

Vestigial In trace amounts.

Wafture Waving.

Wherewithal The means.

Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.

..............................................................................
Bright sunny day     dark and gloomy night        exclaimed        shriek of happiness     a tired face

arms spread wide open for a hug        ran towards           a warm smile           she sobbed        

opened the door to take a peek       A tear slipped down his cheek

............................................................................................  

Could you imagine a story from words below....Write them all!   

 who came bolting in   

Ethan replied promptly “ I’m busy. ”

out of the blue = ............................

suddenly showed up once more

with his trembling hands

He flipped the card

Tall and gangly.

on his own stupidity

He parked his car at the driveway.

He smiled while thinking of 

 looking more beautiful than ever in her...

It will be now or never.

he heard running footsteps ...

Tears started to flow down her puffy cheeks

“I’ve been waiting for you this whole time.”

In the distant, he could hear....

Example of a narrative essay:

The story beginning with "I could not sleep throughout that night..."

Stranded

I could not sleep throughout that night. Not even a minute. It was just because I
might miss the ships or boat that passed by the island. I was shivering in
cold even it was just a gentle breeze. I thought to myself that things would have
been different if I did not take part in that vacation. Never in my wildest
dream that a spectacular vacation on a cruise ship at the beginning turned out to
be a nightmarish affair. Introduction
The day before was a joyous one. I embarked on a three-day vacation trip on a
cruise ship. The vacation was amazing. The scenic view was splendid across the
horizon of the sea as far as the eyes could see. The sea water was crystal clear
and the sky was amagnificent azure. My blissful day did not stop there. The
dusk thrilled me as I sat on a chair. The sky gave its golden appeal and the Sun
looked like it was sinking into the sea as night began to unfold. Then, the golden Raising action
yellow background of the sky changed to twinkling stars. I was staggered to see
the view of the opulent God's magnum opus.

As the night grew older, something totally different started to appear up to the
sky. The sky was too dark. It darken so much as the glimmering stars started to
disappear. To my instinct, something bad would happen any time soon, but I just
could not figure it out. I went into my room and soon dived into a deep slumber.

'RIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!'

"This is your captain speaking. Abandon the ship! This ship is about to sink!"
Climax

The loud ringing sound really woke me up from my comfort bed and I was taken
aback to hear the announcement. To my horror, the ship was in topsy-
turvy. High jinks enshrouded the air. Then I realised, there was a storm
happening outside. To myflummox, I dragged myself outside and saw people
running higgledy-piggledy as they did not know what to do. As for me, the only
thing I could remember is that a huge wave came crushing upon the ship and
then everything seemed to darken. 

Streaks steaks of light awaken me found out that I was on a beach. At last I
thought that my misery had ended. But a little exploration did not bring much
hope. There was no one there. So, being an optimistic person, I built up a
settlement near the beach. I laid upon my leaves bedding. I wondered. Could I
survive? Did my family know that I loved them? For how long did I have to wait?
 Falling action
Out of the blue, an abrupt siren was heard from afar.Swiftly, I arose from my
leaves bedding and ran nearer to the beach. I shouted for my life while waving
my hands up on the air.

"Help! I'm here! On the island! Help! Help! I'm here!"

Then, the siren became louder and louder. At the moment, I knew they had
noticed me. Unexpected, tears of joy started to drop from my eyes. Before I even
thought my life was over, now the door back to my life was widely opened. By
the moment I stepped into the rescue boat, I know that it was the time for me to
go home.

Resolutio
Sentences and Phrases for Descriptive and Narrative Essays(To express FEAR)

1.Nervous and jittery

2.Blood ran cold

3.His heart,his lungs and all his youthful muscles were(are) fighting,struggling to keep him alert

4.Adrenaline gushed out from his throat

5.His emotion was greatly disturbed by consternation,concern and deep fear

6.Butterflies seemed to be flying randomly all around in my stomach

7.With a fast-beating heart and heavy footsteps

8.My mind was entirely engulfed by deep fear as........

9.Their screams added to the confusion

10.I jumped out of my skin as....(I saw something)

11.My heart was thumping faster as though it was trying to breakthrough my rib
Male

 The man had tanned wrinkled skin, and a blatant scar trekked across his right cheeks,
amplifying his rugged features. 

 The teenager had taut sinewy arms as a result of his regular gym sessions, enhancing his
winsome looks. 

 The elderly struggled to walk up the staircase as a result of his gaunt physique. 

 The disheveled man sported a head of unkempt hair and a dirty pair of trousers, as he
loitered the streets with a cigarette balanced on his thin lips. 

 Decked up in professional suit and tie, John smiled brightly at his interviewers, revealing his
dimples.

 Josh boasted his wealth by being decked up in flashy designer clothing and stylish hairdo.

 The chairman exuded an aura of authority as he pursed his thin lips and demanded an
answer from his employee in a throaty voice. 

Woman

 Amy's heart-shaped face is framed by her voluminous silky tresses, making heads turn as she
sashayed down the runway with her long evening gown. 

 Age appeared to have caught up with Tricia, as her once flawless skin is now wrinkled and
dotted with age spots. Despite that, she still maintained her classy smile and elegant
demeanor, drawing attention from everyone at the event. 

 The elderly women walked with a limp, wheezing repeatedly, enhancing her frailness. 

 Her brown almond-shaped eyes were complimented by her hazel brown hair, making her
look alluring and mysterious. 

 Tendrils of curly hair that had been highlighted a bright crimson red escaped from the
confines of her cap and framed her oval-shaped face like a halo. 

 Dressed in a simple blue dress and adorned with a pair of pear earrings, Emily looked like a
refined young lady. 

Act of mischief

Bullying
  Terror gripped his whole being as the bullies approached him with their signature roguish
smirks.

 On hearing the thundering footsteps of approaching menace, the poor boy broke into a brisk
walk.

 The notorious bullies cornered the poor boy at a secluded spot.

 The threatening glares of the bully caused the girl to break out in cold sweat. 

 The discipline master unleashed a terse lecture at the bullies' obnoxious behavior. 

 With arms crossed in front of his barrel chest, the man demanded in a nasal whine that
belied his built.

 My heartbeat quickened as I stepped foot in the deserted school building, where the
notorious boys are waiting for me.

 The obnoxious bullies snickered rambunctiously as they leered at the poor boy who fell
victim to their mischief. 

Vandalism

 Traces of the misdemeanor were evidently visible in the classroom walls that were filled
with unsightly graffiti. 

 The discipline master interrogated the class succinctly in a grave tone but none of the
culprits owned up, 

 The two boys were wielding the brushes like swords, slashing them against the originally
white-washed wall.

 Throwing all caution to the wind, the boy started drawing haphazardly across the walls.

 The mischievous kids began vandalizing the seats on the bus haughtily with penknives.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 7:11 PM 21 comments: 

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Saturday, January 18, 2014

Crime ( theft, burglar, robbery etc. )

PHRASES

 The robbers brandished their weapons and disfigured he entire luxurious interior of the
jewellery shop. 

 With a deadly glint in his eye, he motioned the victims to keep quiet.

 The suspicious looking man drew a menacing knife from under his cloak, threatening his
startled victim.

 The entire bank fell into a nerve-wrecking silence after the robber fired a series of shots with
his gun. 

 Bullet whizzed over our heads. 

  Informations tumbled out of our mouth incoherently as we reported the crime to the
police. 

PARAGRAPHS

 The police were in hot pursuit of the fleeing robber. In his panic, the robber ran helter-
skelter as he headed to the nearest exit. This proved to be a costly mistake for him as the
police officers gave chase like a group of Olympic athletes. In no time, they had caught up
with him and immediately cornered him to one side. 

 The burglar sensed that he was not alone. He spun around and saw me. He hurriedly put
down the vase and grabbed a nearby baseball bat, lunging at me with it. Fortunately, I
managed to dodge the attack. I let my heavy haversack which I was carrying off my shoulders
onto my hands I swung it with all my might and slammed it into the burglar's stomach. He
staggered backwards and collapsed with a loud "thud" in a heap on the floor. 

 Out of the blue, I noticed a burly, suspicious stranger pacing about in  remote corner of the
shop. At first, I assumed that he was a little weird so I did not pay much attention to him, not
until a gleaming sharp knife appeared in his firm hand. I gasped. To my horror, he slowly
advanced towards me, as if he might attempt to launch his attack at any moment I clutched
my chest as a surge of intense fear engulfed me 

 Two masked robbers, armed with daggers, entered the jewellery shop stealthily in the
middle of the night. Never did they expect that the police had already surrounded the
building. They smashed the glass displays and stuffed the glittering jewellery into a bag Just
as they were about to make their escape, the whole place was swarmed with policemen.
Beads of perspiration trickled down their foreheads as the panic-stricken robbers fled.

 Bile rose in the back of my throat as the robber held me at knife point. My heart thumped
furiously against my ribs and a loud buzzing sound vibrated in my eardrums. The masked
robber smiled with amusement at my apparent fear. 

 The two men wrestled and rolled on the floor engaged in a precarious struggle. The valiant
passer-by held the robber's hand in a vice-like grip, preventing him from using the knife.
After some twisting, he managed to unarm the robber. 

 As I approached my apartment, I heard sounds around the corner of my neighbour's

apartment. I proceeded slowly and quietly towards the their apartment, and was surprised
to see the main door ajar. Wild thoughts raced through my mind. I gingerly swung open the
door and saw that the living room was in disarray. Drawers were ransacked, furnitures were
toppled over. What confirmed my suspicion was the sinister looking stranger standing in the
middle of the room. 

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 9:53 PM 82 comments: 

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Friday, December 27, 2013

:)
Suggestions on what phrases you might want me to contribute?

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 9:27 PM 73 comments: 

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' Said '

Words to replace ' Said ' 

Anger

 Fumed

 Roared

 Snarled

 Snapped

 Chided

 Exploded

 Growled

 Retorted

 Bellowed

 Barked

 Yelled

 Snorted

Fear 

 Stuttered

 Whimpered

 Gasped

 Implored

 Pleaded

 Stammered

 Whispered
  Screamed

Sadness

 Sobbed 

 Moaned

 Lamented

 Wailed

 Cried

 Whined

Excitement

 Exclaimed

 Raved

 Ranted

 Screeched

 Shrieked

 Screamed

 Squealed

Command

 Ordered 

 Demanded

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 9:16 PM 6 comments: 

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Back .

Wow. It had been 3 years since I've updated this blog. To be honest, I've completely forgotten about
the existence of this blog only until like, 5 minutes ago. Aha, my apologies.

Since I've seen comments requesting me to include more good phrases and paragraphs, I'll continue
to post more, hopefully. I look through my previous posts and realised that there were many typos.
I'm sorry. I'll edit those posts too. (:

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 2:06 AM 26 comments: 

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Sing To The DAWN( Good Phrases)

I like this book and would like to share with you some good phrases and sentences:

1. It was still dark, but in the wet moonlight outside the window she could still see shimmer of
raindrops on smooth banana leaves.

2. Dawan liked this part of the day the best of all, when the waves of afternight twined so gently
around the slow swirls before-dawn.

3. Somewhere in the distance, the crowing of a rooster drilled through the fluid stillness.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 1:29 AM 23 comments: 

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Labels: Book

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Blackout and chaos

Blackout and chaos

• Without warning, the MRT train jerked to a halt and everything turned pitch dark. Panic invaded
the carriage I was in. Some of the commuters screamed at the top of their voice and burst into tears.
Fear ripped into my lungs, robbing me off all oxygen. I could hear my own pulses and my heart
palpitating with the chilling fear that was setting in. The carriage was soon abuzz with nervous
chatters and some lights from mobile phones illuminated the carriage.

• The train came into a sudden halt. The light in the carriage started flickering and the whole train
was engulfed in darkness.

• The train was plunged into total darkness! The train was in total chaos and fear snaked around my
heart as I adjust to the darkness.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 12:21 AM 35 comments: 

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Fire

Fire

• Fire spread itself throughout the whole building like locusts destroying everything in its path.
Everywhere, people were taking off in all directions with fear visibly etched on their faces. The fire
changed from orange to blue as the temperature rose like the thick black fumes that were stretching
skywards.

• Pandemonium broke out, people dashed off in fear, hoping to escape from the clutches of the
raging fire. The howling wind fed the raging flames and the fire sang a grim tune triumphantly as it
burnt. The repugnant burning scent filled the air as the ravenous orange flames swallowed up the
building.

• The orange clutches of fire wrapped its fiery fingers around the whole building, turning the whole
building into a gloomy black. The roaring flame escalated ferociously when aided by the strong
winds. The entire building was transformed into an incinerator with its strong flames, cremating
everything into ashes.

• Everything and anything that can be burnt was fried in the fiery cauldron of yellow flames. Smoke
and sparks were whirling in all direction. The sharp shrill of alarm reverberated through the whole
building.

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Labels: Fire

Car Crash

Car Crash

• The young driver sped recklessly on the highway. The bus zipped past cars and lorries and was
traveling at a speed on 120km/h with 20 passengers on board! Suddenly, the bus veered abruptly to
the right and plunged into a ravine, crashing into a tree.

• The driver’s foot riled the accelerator and pushed the taxi to its limits precariously. All of a sudden,
the car in front of them braked. The driver slammed his foot down, attempting to salvage the
situation with an emergency brake.

• The tyres blazed the rough cement road as it screeched with a deafening sound. The car went free-
wheeling and turned turtle before coming to as stop.

• A deafening blast rose into the air. The car had crashed into a tree. The windscreen shattered into
smithereens. Thick layers of burnt dust puffed out of the rattling engine. Traffic came into an
immediate total standstill.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 12:06 AM 61 comments: 

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Labels: Accident

Chasing after a snatch thief and robbery

Chase
• The thief grabbed my bag and dashed across the road, running like a mad horse on steroids. I
immediately pelted towards the thief before pouncing on him and giving him my signature punch on
his face that made him cry out in pain.

• The security guards gave chase like a group of Olympic athletes. In no time, they had caught up
with the thief and handcuffed him.

• The snatch thief skedaddled away and disappeared round the corner. Upon seeing that, I
immediately gave chase and scooted around the corner at the speed of the light. Soon, I narrowed
the gap between the thief and me. Taking the opportunity, I sprinted towards him and threw myself
on him.

Robbery

• Armed with rifles, the four masked robbers rushed into the bank and held up the staff members
and the customers at gunpoint.

• “Don’t move!” the robber bellowed. Silence hung in the air as time stood still. All the customers
and staff members raised their trembling hands and crouched in fear.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 12:05 AM 33 comments: 

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A fight

A Fight

• In mere seconds, punches were thrown. Fists were sent flying. A fight had erupted! I watched in
horror as the two men wrestled each other to the ground. One of them had already owned a bloody
lip.

• Their heated argument turned into violence. The two men exchanged blows. Bystanders cowered
in fear and leapt out of their seats to escape from any fury that might come from either of the two
men.

• Like a relentless murderer, he went head-on with John. John swung his fists and hit his cheeks. The
sudden punch cracked across his cheeks, bursting the fine blood vessels in his mouth. Instantly, he
could smell blood which was pooling beneath his tongue.

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 12:02 AM 46 comments: 

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Labels: A Fight

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Writing a GOOD composition

Writing a GOOD COMPOSITION

Content:
• Answer all “WH” and “H” questions
• Check the time sequence of the story
• Pick the most appropriate introduction
• Include direct speeches
• Make use of five senses

Language:

• Use the correct tenses

• Check your punctuation
• Use similes, idioms, adjectives, proverbs
• Replace words that you use repeatedly in the story

A good composition......

Includes……
• Ideas that is ample, relevant, and fully developed.
• Almost no errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Wide And appropriate use of vocabulary.
• Good paragraphing and content.

• Include:
• What were the characters doing before the scene?
• What was the time of the day?
• Were there any direct speeches?
• Is a sunny or windy day?

• Who were the characters?

• Did you describe their appearances, actions and their facial expressions?
• What was the relationship between the characters?
• Where are the characters?
• Why were the characters there?
• What happened to them?
• Why did this incident happen?
• Are they affected?
• How does the story end?

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 11:58 PM 28 comments: 

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Model Composition: Fire

Fire

Q: You and your father were at a crowded supermarket. When both of you were queuing to pay for
your groceries, you heard the fire alarm go off.

It was a Saturday morning, April 14th. It is a splendid morning, and my father and I were planning to
go to the nearby supermarket to buy some ingredients for making a birthday cake for mum’s
birthday. We left the house and ambled along the streets with our hands in our pocket, thinking
about what ingredients we needed for the cake.

     Soon, we reached the supermarket. It was bustling with enthusiastic housewives, many early
birds were hovering around discounted food items, there were long lines of queues yet nobody
seemed to mind at all. “And yet I thought we were early,” I told my dad, who nodded in
agreement. My father and I grabbed a trolley and made a beeline for the bakery ingredient section. I
was already feeling claustrophobic as we attempted to avoid the busy shoppers, and was relieved
when I realized that section of the supermarket is deserted except for a few wandering shoppers
who seem to had lost their way in this gigantic building. Rows and rows of different brands of sugar
and flour seem to be greeting us. My father and I were flabbergasted by the selections of
choices.  When we reached the end of the aisle, we saw a young boy not more than 5 years
old playing with a few matchsticks. Dark circles formed a circumference round his eyes and added
the years onto his boyish face, he was decked in a yellow t-shirt and brown jeans. His parents are
nowhere to be seen.

     “Young boy, you should not play with fire matches, it is very dangerous as there are many goods
here that can easily catch fire,” my father warned him out of good intentions. The young boy
mumbled a ‘yes’ and scurried away to another side of the supermarket. “Nowadays, children do not
understand the consequences of their actions, parents should have done their part and taught them
well,” my father sighed, shaking his head.

After a long time pondering on which ingredients we should buy, we immediately hurried to the line
of queues to pay for our groceries, afraid that we would not be able to finish baking the cake in time
before mum comes back from work. “DING……!” The sharp shrill of fire alarm reverberated through
the entire supermarket building. Many people let out bloodcurdling screams and for me, I was so
petrified that my hair stood on end, all traces of lethargy disappeared. Out of
nowhere, someone grabbed my hand, and it took a moment for me to realize it was my father.
Together, we dashed out of the supermarket’s exit. When we got out of the supermarket, I got the
greatest shock of my life. Fire had spread itself throughout the whole building like locusts destroying
everything in its path, everything and anything that could be burned was fried in the fiery cauldron
of yellow flames. The fire sang a grim tune triumphantly as it burnt.  The entire supermarket was
covered in a thick gloomy blanket of smoke. Sparks and flying splinters hit us. I could feel my own
pulses and my heart palpitating as the orange clutches of fire wrapped its fiery fingers around the
whole supermarket building. There is a thick repugnant scent as we waved away the smoke as best
as we could and looked in the building with our hearts in our mouths.

I looked around, in the midst of panic, nobody seemed to have called the fire brigade, so I fished out
my hand phone and dialed the fire department. Meanwhile, the roaring flames escalated ferociously
when aided by strong winds.
Fortunately, the wails of sirens of the fire engine could be heard. Within minutes, the policemen also
arrived, followed by paramedics. We were quickly ushered down to a safer place but also with a
good view of the fire where more paramedics arrived to check on us to see if we had suffered any ill
effects of smoke inhalations. Meanwhile, the firemen battle the blaze heroically.

After about ten minutes, the fire had ceased. Even though debris and rubble were what was left of
the supermarket and the furniture store, my father and I were glad that no one had lost their life
during this fire!

     In the end, our groceries were all burnt and hence, my father and I went to a bakery shop and
bought a cake instead to celebrate mum’s birthday. When I told mum about the fire, she even
praised me for calling the fire department!

    The next day, I read the newspaper and found out that the young boy with the
brown jeans playing with the matches was the culprit. He had accidentally dropped the matches on
some goods and the fire had spread throughout the entire supermarket building. When my father
saw the newspaper, he spouted some words which would be etched in my mind forever. “Son, you
must learn never to play with fire, it will not do you good.”

Posted by Overwhelmed. at 11:53 PM 96 comments: 

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Labels: Fire

How to express feelings......

How to express feelings?

How do you describe a person who is angry?

• He turned red with fury.

• Her face was contorted with rage and fury.
• Jimmy was so angry that his blood boiled.
• Lara’s voice crackled with anger.
• An angry frown creased her forehead.
• A wave of futile rage swept over him.
• Venom spewed from his lips as he cursed belligerently.
• •She was like a bull in a china shop.
• Seething with anger, she approached Ben menacingly.
• Her eyes flashed with anger and resentment.
• His anger turned into violence.

How do you describe a person who is sad?

• Tears welled up in his eyes and began rolling down her cheeks like rivulets.
• No one could express his agony.
• She was on the brink of tears.
• He felt the whole world collapsing upon him.
• Dark clouds seemed to constantly loom over her head.
• She felt as if her heart had been ripped from her body.
• He cried his heart out on hearing the tragic news.
• She fell to her knees, clutching her head in despair.
• He felt the whole weight of the world upon her shoulders.
• His eyes were puffy and red after all the crying.
•

How do you describe a person who is shock/frightened?

• Panic started to engulf Timmy.

• The cold black night pierced his very bones.
• Terror seized us all.
• Paralyzed with fear, he could not command his legs to run.
• The shock robbed him of speech.
• The blood drained from his face when he heard the tragic news.
• A chill ran down his spine.
• His hair stood on ends as a cry rang high into the night.
• She screamed her head off when she saw the corpse.
• Overcome with fright, she lost her balance and fell down in a swoon.
• She stood rooted to the ground.
• A haze of fear surrounded her.
• He stood motionless with horror.
• Frightening thoughts race through her mind.
• She felt a wave of fear rush through her.
• He stood stunned and speechless by his sudden rebuke.
• •She was at loss for words.
• They huddled together and stared apprehensively into the darkness.
How do you describe a person who is happy?

• He was over the moon when he heard the good news.

• She was floating on air when her teacher praised her.
• She could hardly contain her joy.
• Her eyes glittered with tears of joy.
• It seemed as if a smile was plastered on her face.
• They were saturated with happiness.
• She felt as if the whole world was on her side.
• He nearly fell over in elation after learning that he had won the prize.
• Her bright smile was infectious, lighting up the room.
• Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks.
Finally, A Voice Message

    [PLEASE LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE AFTER THE TONE...BEEP!]

    [Hello...How do I start this? Err, it’s Pippy here. So, how was school? I’ve tried reaching your phone
but I was always answered by a robot-voice woman. Your Uncle Tom said you might be too busy, but
I knew my grandson was just being a good boy who wouldn’t break the school regulations. How are
you?]

    Amongst hundreds of scholars scattered dot-like in front of the brick-red edifices of an elite
boarding school, were two friends deeply absorbed in their conversation.

    Mick, a bright student, was bargaining his friend to stay with him during the holiday. With little
reluctance, his friend said yes, so much for the 3DVC* Mick owned and so that they could discuss the
‘Passive Cigarette Filter’ project.

    [Here’s the truth about your mother, Diana. When it came time you were born, not a glimpse of
disgust had she shown despite your condition. There was only one regret...]

    True, as they say, life isn’t all beer and skittles. His fantastic blueprints of childhood dreams,
hardship borne – flying suit, smart robot maid, and fountain of youth – were sold by his associate,
Mick, out of the trust and friendship they had been through for so long. In fact, there was a story
about a man’s-best-friend terrier biting its master.

    [...her chicken boyfriend. She besought me to be strict with you, and soon she died of AIDS. By
God’s will, you were alive! Don’t play fool with lust, believe me He won’t save you twice.]

    Somehow, somewhere in the midst of glory, he was dragged back to where he began assembling,
bit by bit, the ingredients to bake a cake of success. He felt for and found an old luggage.

    Strewn inside were a Bible, an iPhone, and a forgotten photo capturing a grinning boy clasping the
eyes of an old man – picture perfect. From this place in an old apartment, through the windowpane,
as he started combining the pieces of nostalgic puzzle, he caught a forlorn view of the boarding
school, his ‘alma mater’. Then it dawned on him; his friend wasn’t just a biting terrier, he was an evil
obscured beyond the look of an angel.

    [Once, you asked why there were still bad people if really God is almighty. You see, on a rainy day,
some cursed, but in truth, farmers, trees, and starving African all gave their thanks. He is fair...simple
answer for simple question. Now stop questioning and read the Bible.]

    Soon the decelerating car halted to a rest, floating aloft the electromagnetic roadway. Hence he
set forth all he could an effort to run, with an anxiety that just grew stronger, almost staggeringly so.

    He dashed his way inside the house, all the rush only to witness a humorous hanging banner:
WELCOME HOME, CITY BOY. His sight improved to a wider angle. At once he was dumbfounded as
he realized the dust in place everywhere; the unwanted but the logic had happened.

    [No one can travel to the past but it’s never not alright to make mistakes. Upon every breath, give
your best; cherish every chapter of life. If on your way the road gets harsh, step into a carriage of
faith and it will escort you to the triumphant sky. One of these days when your feet crumble, flip the
Bible and inside it you’ll find wisdom, with little or no searching. Sometimes even the slightest failure
can shut the voice of a fighter, that’s when others’ advices can guide you, but above all, bow your
head and pray...]

    Gone were the days of storm and chillness, and after came the warmth of the sun and comfort of
the breeze, which blew a pale gold leaf pass three figures, already loud in a lunatic burlesque. While
one busied himself fixing the camera, the other was persuading his cheeky grandson not to stand on
the bench. The way it defied the world, the grandson’s synthetic leg wasn’t something that brought
him slumping. But that is how it goes with young children: the more you prevent them, the more
rebellious they will be.
  
    The old man gave in and sat beside his grandson. Just a split second before the cameraman
(whose name was Tom) flashed his camera, the bolt-quick hands of the grandson had closed the
eyes of his grandfather – picture perfect.

    [I know it’s busy life there but...I really miss my boy. I can still kick a ball you know...I need a tissue,
Tom...Why in the world am I crying like a sissy? Maybe my boy has turned handsome and gentleman
now, but if you need a Grandpa, Pippy’s not going anywhere –]

    [YOU HAVE ZERO TALK-TIME LEFT ON...]

    [...I hate that robot woman, for real...]

I stood motionless and looked at the solid, dark brown wooden door. The house was painted white,
and black on the wooden beams and window panes. It looked huge and expensive from the outside.
I had to make my mind up whether to knock or press the bell. I turned to face the garden. I thought
about going back to my car and drove home. Home. That was where I wanted to be; or was it where
I would be after I knocked the door? I sighed and walked to the side where there was a wooden
bench by the beautiful garden. I could see that the woman in the family loved the garden. The smell
of white lilies reminded me of the florist down the road on Sixteenth Street. I sat on the sturdy
looking wooden bench, trying to figure out what I would say if someone was to open the door. I
wished I did not find out where she was so that I would not have three sleepless nights thinking of
why she left me, whether she was looking for me or whether I should be angry.

I was abandoned at Bliss Home when I was barely four. They said they found me playing joyfully in
the playground, innocently thinking that I was sent to school. After three years, I found out that my
mother left me at the orphanage because she had to go and find my father who left us when I was
two. I was devastated, knowing that my mother left me to strangers. Funny, I thought, how
manipulative and contradictory adults could be when it comes to giving advice. Those at Bliss Home
took good care of me and made me realise that I was still lucky to be able to enjoy life. Sister Lisa
was one of those who managed to make me see that I should make the most of myself than being
miserable, grieving my unfortunate life; thinking nobody loved me. I stayed there till I was 12, when I
was then transferred to Rouston Public School. Well, Sister Lisa thought it was a good school.
Spurred by Sister Lisa’s determination to give me ‘life’, I did my best in Rouston and would go back
to Bliss Home during semester breaks or Christmas to be part of the family. Well, I was not sure
whether I knew the meaning of that word, but Sister Lisa convinced me that I was part of them when
my presence was usually welcomed by freshly baked apple pie and mince meat. Then we would all
sit in our warm huge and rather aromatic dining hall. I could still smell Martha’s mouth-watering
Yorkshire pudding and roast beef in the kitchen whenever I visited Bliss Home. 

It was 8 years ago when I started digging files and tailing endless documents to find out who my
biological parents were. Blessed, I found where my mother lived but was reluctant to go and see her.
I knew it would shake her down to her knees and she would beg forgiveness for leaving me; that she
was young and naive; that she would not have managed looking after me on her own. Even worst,
my presence would stop her heart; that she would collapse unconsciously, leaving me feeling guilty
instead. Sister Lisa was the one who insisted. At the end of the year, I eventually gave in but forbade
her from calling Mom to inform that I was coming; in case I changed my mind. She gladly agreed and
even packed me cheese and tomato sandwiches for the journey. I was skeptical when she said that
Mom would be waiting for me. If mom knew where I was, why didn’t she come and find me?

My thoughts were interrupted by a butterfly flying right in front of my nose. I looked back at the
house to see if anyone noticed my presence. Silence. I glanced at my watch but I forgot what time I
arrived, so I did not know how long I was there. I stood up and walked back to the sandy path
leading to the house. I stopped at the wooden door again wishing it was an automatic door so I did
not have to decide. Spotting a shadow by the window on my left, my heart pumped. Somebody was
at the window and was walking towards the door. I found it very hard to swallow a big lump in my
throat as my heart thumped against my chest. I thought that I was the one who would be
unconscious. 

“Hi, can I help you?” asked the girl who was standing in front of me with a huge grin. I swallowed
hard while admiring her curly blonde. Seeing that, I knew she must be Mom’s daughter. She looked
15, lean and has beautiful brown eyes. Pretty.

“Yess.. Ermm yeah.. I was looking for Mrs Collins. Hmm well, is this Mrs Collins’s house by any
chance?”

“Ohh yeahh.. Hmm..Mom’s upstairs. And I think she’s expecting you. Aunt Lisa told mom this
morning.” She smiled pleasantly holding the door. Despite the dazzling big smile, I could see the
quizzical frowns on her forehead. I wondered whether it was because I frowned first. Obviously
Sister Lisa must have had said something to Mom.

I waited. Looking for words, 1 folded my arms unintentionally and looked away at the lilies, biting my
lower lips. I thought of saying that it was a big mistake and should just walk back to my car. After all,
it had been 25 years since she left me. It would not change anything, would it?

“Owh well, you must be freezing. Please come in, she’ll be down in a minute”.

She opened the door and took my left hand, looked at me in the eyes as if to ask for permission and
pulled me inside. As I dragged my feet down the hallway, I could see a family picture on the wall.
Something stabbed me, right on my chest. Deep. I could feel the pain that I felt years ago when I
found out I was left on my own, and was on the verge of tears. Again, I thought of walking back to
the door but I brushed the thought away when I heard the footsteps. It happened so quickly, I was
not sure whether I was actually there. My stomach tightened when I saw the hopeful look in her
eyes.

“William, ohh it’s you. I’ve been waiting for you for what..like..30 years? I knew you would find me.
See, it’s in your nature. Being curious, that is.”

Well, as if it was my mistake that she had to wait so long. I thought I was supposed to wait for her to
find me, or at least she should have gone to Bliss Home to find out. Silence. I could not say anything
looking at her fragile face. I noticed that her daughter was standing by the small coffee table, looking
out of the window expressionlessly, pretending we were not there. 

I looked at Mom pityingly and sighed. I was unsure of what to say. As if to wait for me to invite her in
her own living room, she stood by the door and smiled awkwardly. Despite the quivered smile, I
could still vaguely recognise those beautiful brown eyes when she smiled. Then, she looked down at
her hands, which she clenched and unclenched nervously. I presumed that she was as uneasy as I
was. After a moment, I cleared my throat and forced a weak smile. Seeing that, she ran towards me
and hugged me. Sobbing. Tears welled in my eyes. I closed my eyes, afraid that anyone would see
me, but I knew she was forgiven.
She looked so beautiful that morning. As I shifted my hands through her gorgeous hair, I kissed her.
“Take care, darling. Gotcha go to work,” I said, in my peculiar Australian and European mixed accent.
After waving at my wife, I got into my black Brabus S350, “sitting” in my porch, growling. “Good day,
Sir,” wished Mr. Baskaran, my personal driver, as he started to drive the growling beast, ready to
unleash its mighty horsepower. As I leaned back in the posh leather seat, the 30 inch widescreen
LCD screen started to unfold in front of me. It resumed the episode of “House”, I was watching
yesterday.

But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t enjoy the sarcasm of Hugh Laurie as I was too preoccupied with
what happened at work yesterday. Being a CEO of a multimillion dollar company like Google does
equate to a life full of stress and tension. The only consolation I got was, the security analyst, who
melted my heart and made me go on a cloud nine, Julie became mine. Her smile made me euphoric,
her eyes made me drool; her voice sent a tingling sensation down my spine, which I longed for, every
minute, every second.

“Mr. Mahen, we have arrived, Sir,” announced Baskaran as he opened the door and led me into the
giant headquarters of the world-renowned Google Inc. As I made my way through, dozens of smiling
faces wished me a good morning. But, the morning wasn’t good. The thought of what I did yesterday
was running all over my mind.

Hssh! the air-conditioner hummed as I went into my cabin. The most luxurious in the building. The
CEO room was finished with fine oak wood, enriched with blinds which are controlled automatically,
a foosball table and yes, a state-of-the-art computer system.

Slowly, I sat and took out the files. The figures were big and scary, some eight digits and some nine.
If it happened, I have no idea how I’m going to pay the foreign investors and even worse, my staff! I
need a solution, one which can solve this problem once and for all. Trying to think as hard as I could,
I closed my eyes. Just as I was trying to visualize some ideas, there was a knock on the door. It was
hard.

“Sorry to interrupt Sir, but here’s your cup of special Jamaican brewed mocha cappuccino,”
mumbled Sarah Lane, my personal assistant cum secretary. Still thinking hard, I brought the
porcelain cup closer to my mouth. There was a code on the cup. It read ‘CBSGOOGLEV2’. Just as I
started to take a sip, suddenly the missing pieces of the jigsaw in my mind came together. YES! I’ve
got it! It was all because of the ‘V2’ code on the cup. If it wasn’t for that code, I wouldn’t have got it.

I immediately called my chief programming officer, Mr. Karl Benzer. A sore looking, depressed, fat,
belly-buttoned guy entered my cabin. “Take that look off your face at once,” I exclaimed. “I’ve found
the solution to our problem!” I shouted happily.

As though my words were words of some sorcerer’s magic, the sore look disappeared. His teeth
started to show and he was desperate to know further. I poured the whole thing. “Benzer, settle
down and I’ll tell you.” “Initially, as you know, we were facing a losing battle with those scoundrels
who stole our new unreleased software, Gamma Google. If it went into the pirate’s hand, we would
be bankrupt........ .” As I was talking, Benzer interrupted me. “But sir that is what we were discussing
the whole day long yesterday. Tell me how you are going to overcome it,” blattered my impatient
staff.
“It’s like this. They’ve stolen Gamma Google which wasn’t ready and for testing purposes, I secretly
added a command which would allow the software to self-destruct no matter wherever it is in the
world. How silly of me to forget about that,” I explained contentedly to Karl. “Wow! It’s a huge
relieve to hear that, sir. I will start working on executing the command strings you’ve put in,” said
Karl.

That evening, I left early. I wanted to take my wife to an exclusive, select restaurant as a treat. I hit
the pause button of the LCD TV and I called my wife to inform her about the good news while I was
in the Brabus. Later, I resumed watching and yes, it was that sarcastic doctor’s show being screened.
Hey, who said being a CEO of a multimillion dollar company like Google equate to a life full of stress
and tension? After all, it isn’t that bad.