Writing assignments 1

Writing Assignment 1

Task
You will read an excerpt of a newspaper article. Then, write a paragraph in about 180 to 200 words. Give your paragraph a suitable title.

Portfolio content
Your writing Assignment 1 portfolio should include the following items:
1. Paragraph outline
2. Peer feedback form 1
3. Self-editing checklist 1
4. First draft
5. Second draft
6. Final draft

The Writing Process
I. Pre-writing
Ask yourself questions such as these and make a list of possible answers for each question.
a. What is the main issue discussed in the article?
b. What are your feelings after reading the extract?
c. What are the specific details in the discussion that catch your attention the most?
d. Which word/phrase in the article sticks in your mind?
e. Do you agree with this comment? (if relevant)
f. What other reasons do you have if you agree/disagree with this comment? (if relevant)

II. Prepare an outline
Organize the content for your paragraph into a rough outline.
Single-paragraph outline

ARTICLE 1
Angry mother sets herself on fire
By Adie Suri Zulkefli

NIBONG TEBAL: A mother of seven from Kampng Sungai Buaya, Bukit Pachor here suffered serious injuries after she allegedly poured petrol and torched herself yesterday. She allegedly did it in a fit of anger over the disobedient attitude of one of her daughters.

The 33-year-old woman, who suffered 54 per cent burns on her body and head, was rushed to the Sungai Bakap Hospital before being transferred to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star, Kedah. Her condition is said to be serious.

The drama unfolded when the woman, who quit working as a restaurant helper recently, went to her mother's home to look for her second child. The woman was said to be under great pressure as the child, a 15-year-old pupil of SMK Saujana Indah, had been skipping school since the new year term started on Monday. It is learnt that she had also threatened to kill herself out of depression over her child's attitude.

The woman's fourth child, an 11-year-old boy, said he saw his mother pouring petrol on herself and trying to set herself on fire using a candle. The woman then torched her body before running out from the house. A group of youths nearby, upon seeing the woman engulfed in flames, used their shirts to put out the fire.

Source: New Straits Times Online, 10 January 2010