Sample 1
Trapped – by Lucky Im Si Hyun, Year 9, REAL International School
“Again, the boy has returned,” I thought. The shriek of the metal door beat against my eardrums. The tiny boy, shivering from the cold approached me as I opened my eyes lazily. He tossed the white hare into my locked cage and started to chatter. He sat down bravely on the chilly ground in front of me. I devoured the hare leg as I stared into the deep-black eyes of the boy. Deep inside his eyes, I could see loneliness and warmth. As I gazed into his eyes, he smiled at me lightly.
The next morning, I heard unusual and numerous footsteps. A stout man, accompanied by two paunchy men, was carrying several cages containing familiar faces. They were trembling in fear and looking at me for help. Then they men shut the door loudly. I blinked my golden eyes. After a few hours, the boy came rushing to me with worry written all over his face. I yawned and stretched to show him that I was fine. A smile suddenly brightened his face. He started to chatter again, but not in the way he usually did. The tone was serious. I knew what he was saying. He was concerned that I would disappear just as the others did. “Only you and I are left,” I pondered. I moved slightly towards him but the chain prevented me from going any further.
It was no good. The moon light slanted over me and woke me up. There was no sound except for the sound of the boy’s footsteps. The steps were hastier than usual. He rushed to me after opening the door in silence. He unlocked my cage rapidly with his trembling hands. As the boy opened the heavy, rusty door, my heart bounced with vigour. I jumped out of the cage and dashed out of the deserted room with him. A few seconds later, we both froze. We heard a car driving towards us. The dazzling light shone at us as we dashed hurriedly away. I could hear my heart beating so hard that my eardrums hurt. My mind went crazy and my legs screamed with energy. I howled as loudly as I could. I was free! Bang! Then there was sudden silence.
The stout man was smoking and aiming his gun at the boy. He reloaded the gun. My eyes widened as another flash of light appeared at the head of the gun. The boy moaned in pain. Then he fell onto the ground. My instinct sensed danger and urged me to run away. However, my heart was stinging as the boy moaned. I smelled blood, smoke and danger from the direction of the boy. I dashed at the plump man and bit his tender thigh. He screamed in sudden agony. He went mad and shot me. The boy pleaded with tears for me to escape. It was no use. My body had become out of my control.
The man returned to the old wooden cottage leaving us behind. The boy was weeping and holding my cold body in his arms. I stared into his eyes and growled softly at him to show him I was alright. He smiled and embraced me. Time seemed to have stopped. I felt snow on my muzzle. It was snowing the same way it did when I was trapped and met this boy. I dropped my face over his chest one final time.
Sample 2
Plane Crash – by William Im Do Hyun, Year 10, REAL International School
I reached KLIA with my parents and younger sister. We saw three strange people going onto the airplane. I watched them carefully.
At first, I wondered why they were going onto the airplane. I didn’t feel good seeing them. I decided not to sleep on the airplane but keep watch on them instead.
When I was on the plane, night came. I was queuing for the toilet when I saw someone walk past me and straight into the cockpit. I was very curious so I peeped into the cockpit and saw three hijackers trying to kill the pilot and crash the plane.
I knew that if I didn’t do anything about the situation, the plane would crash and everyone would die because the hijackers had guns. So I decided to go talk to them. Surprisingly, they listened to me and put their guns down. The pilots flew the plane to our destination safely.
I became a hero and everyone wanted to buy me gifts. I felt happy. The airline thanked me and offered me a job. They also gave me a reward.
Sample 3
Perhentian Island – by Alex Yun Jae Won, Year 9, REAL International School
Do you like to sit on a white sandy beach feeling a mild sunshine on your body while watching blue waves splashing onto the beach? Do you like marine life? Do you want to have a morning jog in the mountains? If you do, you would definitely enjoy going to Perhentian Island. It is such a great place, where human and nature are one!
To begin with, Perhentian is an island where you can see all sorts of marine life. I had the chance to see and touch some sea turtles and swim with them. I found them while I was snorkelling. They were about three metres below sea level. They looked so comfortable and relaxed, like me eating snacks on my bed. They looked so peaceful at that depth where I can’t stand. At Perhentian, you don’t have to go deep to see marine life. Just by the beach, you will find a variety of fishes. There are so many types of fishes and you don’t even need to go underwater to see them. It is because the water is really clear. You’ll see them even if you are not in the water with your goggles on.
Secondly, it is very relaxing and peaceful on the island. The place is really green and blue. The island is almost totally lush green. We are surrounded by mountains covered with trees. We can hear birds and insects singing as one. When we sit on the beach and watch the waves, the feeling is amazing. The sea is emerald blue and when the sun reflects on it, it’s really shiny and beautiful. Of course, the best time to enjoy the scenery is during sun set. Perhentian is also peaceful because there not many kids running around and shouting. There are many married and old couples on the island enjoying a peaceful time. It is a place you can really take a good rest. You can also find a find where you can have a massage. You will really like Perhentian, where you can rest sitting and watching the waves, hear the waves and seagulls and enjoy the scenery of the sea.
Finally, I also loved the design of the resort. It is quite a small house but it is really comfortable. I think it’s because of the cosiness and rustic design. The house is made of logs and it feels vintage. Moreover, the surrounding of the room made me sleep really well. I want my dream house to be just like this. Although it is not a big house, the features matched the environment very well. It is like a house in the Rocky Mountain Range. I felt so relaxed because of the beautiful resort and environment.
In conclusion, Perhentian is a place you can’t experience fully just by hearing about it. You will have to go there to know what it is really like. It is a paradise you can relax and enjoy yourself. If you have not planned where to go for your next holiday, I definitely recommend that you go to Perhentian Island!
Sample 4
The Trip – by Eric Kim Dong Uk, Year 7, Fairview International School
My friends and I were all packed and ready for our trip to Malaysia. I was very excited when I got on the airplane. We were going to stay there for three weeks. As I sat down on the seat, I felt a little nervous because I thought the airplane might crash and kill me and my friends. Fortunately, I managed to stop worrying and as the plane lifted off, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
All of a sudden, I heard a beeping sound and people panicking. I had no idea what was happening and started to worry. I stood up and wanted to ask my friends what had happened. However, I couldn’t see them anywhere. I was starting to get more worried. When I found them, they were panicking too much to even listen to my question. I was going to look for a flight attendant to ask what was happening, but suddenly, everything felt as if it was falling. Then the airplane crashed into the water.
I opened my eyes. I thought I was dead because it was so bright. I could feel my hands and body and then I knew I wasn’t dead. I saw myself lying on a piece of the wing from the plane that was floating on the water, completely shattered. I felt too tired to get up. I felt hungry, lost and just dumbfounded. I looked everywhere and I couldn’t see any of my friends. The more I looked, the hungrier and dizzier I felt. After that, all I saw was pitch black.
I woke up. Instead of continuing to starve, I decided to try to fish. I hoped I could find some fish or anything to eat. The only things I had was a necklace and broken pieces of the airplane. I knew I couldn’t fish like that but I was too hungry. It felt like eternity trying to get something to eat. Then I heard something. I was too hungry to figure out what it was.
I looked up to see what it was. I couldn’t believe it. It was a helicopter! I screamed as loudly as I could. The people in the helicopter lowered a ladder. I got into the helicopter with relief. They gave me some food to eat. I went home safe and happy that I was still breathing.
Sample 5
The Day Our School Had A Bomb – by Raymond Lee Won Ryun, Year 10, Fairview International School
In the middle of the day, in the middle of the principal’s office, Ms Nava found a mysterious bag. When she opened the bag, she was very shocked because there was an ignition device inside. She thought it strange because the bag wasn’t there just a few minutes ago. That bomb had been set to countdown. There were six hours to go. She was worried. This was a big case of emergency!
First, she announced to everyone what was happening and let all the students and teacher out of the school. Luckily, she had the phone number of the bomb squad. She called the bomb defuser and told him about the situation and added, “You need to hurry. There are only five hours left!” The defuser arrived and rushed to the principal’s office. When he opened the bag, there was only four hours left.
He saw three electric wires – red, blue and yellow. Inside the bag, there was a message which said, “One would make the time go faster, one would make the time go slower, one would stop the bomb. You only have two chances.”
He thought about which wire he should cut. First, he cut the yellow one. It slowed the time down. He only had one chance left – should he cut the red or blue wire? If he cut the wrong one, the time would go faster. After lots of thinking, he decided to cut the blue wire. Luckily, the timer on the bomb stopped!
Everyone was so relieved especially Ms Nava. A special prize was given to the defuser for his bravery. Fortunately, after that incident, there were no more such incidents.
Sample 6
Which animal fascinates you the most and why? – by Byun Wan Joo, Year 10, Sayfol International School
There are about 8.7 million different kinds of marine life, from the gigantic blue whale to the tiny plankton that causes the sea water to become green. Marine life fascinates me as we know little about it. Most unexplored places on earth are beneath the sea. As a matter of fact, marine biologists have only just started to understand the environment of the very deep seas. From the 8.7 million different kinds of marine life we know so far, the Mantis shrimp intrigues me the most.
First of all, the Mantis shrimp is able to see more than any other kind of animal. Human eyes can only produce two images and merge them to form a single picture, but a Mantis shrimp can produce six images. Each of the shrimp’s eyes is capable of producing three images and the shrimp can also clean its eyes with two cloth-like arms. These six images can merge to form two pictures. Additionally, humans can only see in three colour lengths, while these creatures can see in nine colour lengths. Imagine six more colours you have never seen before! Therefore, the Mantis shrimp’s ability to see interests me a lot.
Secondly, Mantis shrimps have the most unique way of hunting their prey. They have two limbs with wrecking-ball-like structures at the end of them. With these, they can crack open the shells of crabs, lobsters and even clams. They have the fastest punch in the world with speeds that are the same as a 22 calibre bullet travelling through the air. These punches are so fast that they cause cavitational bubbles to form, creating a shockwave. Thus, their unique way of hunting interests me.
Lastly, Mantis shrimps live in one of the most-feared and mysterious places on earth. Found on the ocean floors of the Mediterranean, they have adapted to life in harsh conditions. They have learnt ways to dig holes with their limbs and stay motionless for days to conserve energy. They are prehistoric creatures that are believed to have existed since the ice age. Moreover, they have a colourful shell that can withstand enormous pressure. Scientists say that the colourful shell helps them hunt as it will momentarily stun fishes. Therefore, the Mantis shrimp’s generations of evolution makes it a fascinating creature.
Because of their unique way of seeing things, its powerful punches and their years of adaptation, the Mantis shrimp has easily become my favourite animal.
Sample 7
Why did Sewol Sink? – by Park Woon Yong, Year 9, Sayfol International School
A few days ago, there was a huge disaster in South Korea. It shocked many people. The thing that made people most upset was the fact that it was not a natural disaster but human error. There are several reasons why Sewol sank.
Firstly, they used a dangerous route. The government suggested using a safer way but they used a different one because the one that the government suggested was longer. They chose a shorter way because they had departed late and wanted to make up for lost time. They wanted to shorten the journey even though they knew that the route was dangerous because the sea was shallower along that way. There were many strong waves in that area too. This route goes in between two islands and is not suitable for a big ship like Sewol.
Secondly, the captain and crew were unskilful and irresponsible. The captain slept most of the time during the journey. It was a twelve-hour journey but he spent seven hours in his room. He passed the steering wheel to an unskilful navigation officer. Even worse, when the ship started to sink, the captain ran out of the ship first, leaving the passengers behind. He told the passengers to stay where they were. They wasted a lot of time which could have been used to escape.
Thirdly, Sewol was carrying too much freight. The crew members didn’t secure the freight properly. The law states that all freight is to be checked every two hours but they didn’t. The ship couldn’t remain stable because it was heavy on the right side due to the weight of the freight. The owners were only interested in making profit by carrying as much freight as possible. They didn’t think about the safety of the passengers.
The disaster has already happened. The only thing we can do now is to do our best to rescue the people who were on board, even if the possibility of survival is small. We must make sure that these things do not happen again in the future.
Sample 8
Trapped – by Andy Jeong Yu Ho, Year 10, Sayfol International School
My friends and people who knew me well called me a possessed boy who had a ‘Hand of God’. This nickname was given to me when my friends saw me playing online games. They were surprised by the fast movement of my fingers that were pressing the keyboard and clicking the mouse. It was all very normal to me because my dream was to be the best programmer in the world. I loved to play computer games and I could play them the whole day, if I was allowed to. As I loved playing computer games so much, I had to change the worn-out keyboards and mouse to new ones very often. I had analysed most of the games and computer systems in the world. One day, as usual, I was playing computer games after school when there was no one at home. Suddenly, the screen and lights blinked several times and I was drawn into the computer screen.
I looked around the surroundings and my body. I realised that I was standing in the middle of a desolated dungeon with only green grass and rough rocks around me. I was wearing odd clothes and holding a magic stick. Because of this ridiculous situation, I was so confused that I became speechless. Suddenly, a monster appeared and attacked me. I could not move and thought I was going to die. However, I soon revived without experiencing any pain. I became curious about my ability inside the computer. So, I imagined using magic spells. A fireball came out from the stick I was holding and killed the monster. I was surprised once again. Later, I realised that I could do whatever I wanted to do in this world. I could participate in the games, open or close any programmes and even create new things. For example, I was able to run a military game and shoot other characters with the gun I made. I was so pleased with the computer world that I forgot I was trapped inside it.
After playing lots of games, I became bored and wanted to do other real activities. So, I tried to go out from the screen by shutting down the computer. I thought that if I turned off the computer, I would disappear from it without any trace. However, it did not work and there was no way to escape. I panicked. All of a sudden, I heard a voice from the outside world. It was my mother. When I tried to shout for help, the screen turned blue and everything changed. I realised that a virus had infected the system. I could just stare at my mother who had come closer to the computer to use it. Then, I came up with a brilliant idea. I believe that, as I could do anything and go anywhere in the computer, I was able to find viruses in the computer and remove them. So, I went deep inside the computer. Before the fight, I created the strongest armour and weapons such as a magic stick and light-sabre. When I reached the dark-red cube box, I saw that there were a number of black viruses floating in the air. They started to attack me by spreading their sharp tentacles. I moved forward, blocking them with my magic shield, and eliminated them by exploding and cutting them. At the end of the box, a huge black tree was producing new viruses. I killed all the new viruses and burned the root of the virus.
When the fight was over, the blue screen turned back into a normal screen. As soon as the monitor of the computer got back to normal, my mother noticed that her tiny son was trapped inside the screen. First, she was not sure that I was her real son and not just an image. I yelled for help and when she realised that I was real, she was as shocked as I was when I entered the screen. As I kept shouting and hitting the screen, she recovered and tried to help me get out. But neither of us knew what to do. After a few minutes, I told my mother to print me out with the printer. I thought this was the only way to get out of the computer, although it might be dangerous. She pressed the button and printed me out. I was transferred to the printer and dyed onto a piece of paper. When the paper came out of the printer, I jumped out of the paper and returned to my real shape. I hugged my mother tightly and gratefully.
Because of this interesting and arduous affair, I learned many things. I was able to understand more intricately how computer games worked. As I came in real contact with the characters in the games, I could figure out all the details about the characters. This gave me an advantage that made me a league above other players. Moreover, after I eliminated the viruses by physically killing them, I became interested in the computer protection system. So, I studied diligently about computers and became an expert on solving computer problems. Thus, this valuable experience helped me to get one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming the perfect programmer!
Sample 9
Today’s world is a dangerous place in which to live – by Christine Park Jeong In, Year 9, Sayfol International School
Do you think the world is a safe place for you and your family to live in? Are you happy and satisfied with your life? Nowadays, when you watch the news, there are always one or more articles about crime, disasters and anything which makes you frightened and worried. People often think these problems are caused by religious disputes or international arguments. These thoughts are partly true. I believe this world is a dangerous place for us to live in and here are my reasons.
Firstly, the world has become too advanced. Our highly developed technology helps some people to commit crime more easily. The most successful inventions, the computer and the internet, are the main causes of this. We do a lot of things on the computer like internet banking, shopping or downloading music. To do all these, we need to key in our credit card number or important information about ourselves. This enables hackers to steal our information and get us into trouble. Additionally, too much stimulation by the internet and television can make people mentally unstable. People can get addicted to gadgets and devices and neglect their duties. Sometimes, people cease to distinguish between reality and fantasy, which can lead them to behave dangerously. So, a technological world may benefit us but it can also put us at risk.
Moreover, crime rates are increasing very quickly in many countries, especially in poorer ones. In some impoverished countries, those who are desperate for money form a group to commit crime in order to obtain money. In richer countries, people are less desperate but they still commit crime such as rape and drug abuse. The biggest problem is that not enough is done to stop these crimes. In some countries, the police are too afraid to pursue the criminals. In many cases, the police are also involved in organised crime. Even in richer countries, crime has become so common that it is difficult for the authorities to control. Offenders have become younger and display less conscience. Therefore, the world is an unsafe place in which to live.
Finally, nowadays, many disasters are affecting human and animal life. Natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions are frightening and killing many people. Unfortunately, there is little we can do to prevent these disasters caused by Mother Nature. The only thing we can do is to slow down our activities that cause some of these and other disasters. For example, if we stop cutting down trees, we could prevent landslides, deforestation, destruction of habitats and messing up of the food chain. If we stop open burning, we could prevent acid rain and global warming. Thus, our activities, which cause calamities, make the world dangerous. When these calamities occur, the effect is so great that it takes a long time to recover and a lot of people’s lives are sacrificed in the process.
In conclusion, a world that is too technologically advanced, full of crime and plagued by disasters makes us feel that that world is a dangerous place in which to live. Most of these things are caused by humans. Since we caused it, we should solve it. It is now our turn to make the world a safer place to live in.
Sample 10
The Trip – by Lee Enoch, Year 9, Sayfol International School
All the Year 9 students in our school went on a trip to Australia. Our plane stopped at Indonesia to refuel so we were given four hours to do whatever we wanted at the airport. After four hours, three of my friends and I went to the place where we had promised to meet but none of the others were there and no plane was to be found. I saw a similar plane but I was wrong. There was no plane to take us to Australia.
We all calmed down and tried to find the plane and the pilot. We looked for the other students for two hours but we couldn’t. At that moment, we saw our suitcases coming towards us. A tall man was carrying it. I took my suitcase and we were all in a panic. Where did our plane go? Why did they leave us? What are we supposed to do now? All bad possibilities crossed my mind.
Ten minutes later, I could see a plane ready to depart. It was our plane! We all ran toward the plane. We had to catch that plane to go to Australia. Right before my eyes, I saw it flying away from us. I wanted to cry at that moment.
I went to the service counter quickly and asked what plane was next to go. They said there would be a plane in two hours’ time but we did not have any money to buy the tickets. At that moment, I felt really upset so I went to the toilet. At the toilet, I met one of our teachers. She said that she had been looking for us because the departure time had been changed. She bought us some new tickets.
We got the tickets and arrived in Australia. We met our school friends and teachers; we hugged one another. They were waiting for us at the airport. We promised to enjoy our trip and never lose each other again.
Sample 11
Do people place too much emphasis on winning? – Sandy, Year 10, Canadian International School
What does ‘winning’ mean to people? Does it mean being the best or much better than others? People today like to emphasize on winning. They think that winning is the only way to be recognized. However, is that true? There is a story about a student from Gangnam High School in Korea which proves that too much emphasis on winning can bring tragic results.
In Gangnam, which is well-known as the center of education in Korea, there was an honor student. Since he graduated from primary school, he always achieved the first place in school. He was excellent at all his subjects. However, he had a problem. It was his mother. He could withstand any stress caused by his studies but he could not tolerate his mother’s excessive pressure on him. Although he was the best student in his entire school, this was not enough for his mother. She wanted him to be the best in the whole country. To achieve his mother’s goal, he could not get enough sleep and he had to be watched by his mother every day while he was studying. If his grades did not satisfy his mother, she could punish him by hitting him with a golf club.
He tried to understand his mother’s situation. She was divorced and lonely. She tried to fill the void with his grades. One day, the unbearable stress reached its limit. On January 18, 2012, the body of his mother was discovered by his neighbours. The boy was arrested and sent to jail. Two years later, reporters went to the prison to interview him. He told them he didn’t regret what he had done. If given another chance, he would do the same thing all over again.
As this story shows, a lot of people today place too much emphasis on winning. They think that being the ‘first’ is the only way to win. In this story, the pressure that the mother put on her child turned him into a murderer and destroyed his life. What would his life have been like if his mother hadn’t forced him to ‘win’? We don’t know whether he would have done well or not, but we can be sure that he would not have become a ‘monster’ and commit such a violent crime. Through this story, people should realize that not all ‘emphasis on winning’ is good. Sometimes, too much of it could lead to a disastrous ending.
Sample 12
Taking the wrong bus in error – by Henry Hong Seok Min, Year 7, ELC International School
It was a gloomy day. I felt kind of depressed when I woke up at five o’clock in the morning and looked out of the window. I looked in the mirror on the bedside table and saw that my face looked horrible. Before I slept, I hadn’t dried my hair properly so now, it was all standing up. I looked kind of funny. I took my first step out of bed. I felt so tired. I walked very slowly to the toilet, took my toothpaste and brushed my teeth. I put my clothes on slowly and walked out of my house.
I felt a breeze on my face and I could hear birds chirping and cars’ engines roaring. As usual, the shops were open and people were walking around. I walked to the bus stop. I saw many people waiting for the bus. I must have waited for about five minutes. Then the clouds started to disappear. A small ray of sunshine brightened my face. I was starting to feel better than I did when I first woke up. The bus came. It looked very unusual. The bus was very big and it was rainbow coloured. I took a seat which had a pink cushion on it. After a few minutes, I looked out of the window. The place outside looked very unfamiliar. So, I asked the driver the number of the bus. He said it was 221. Suddenly, I felt terribly depressed. This bus was going to the airport! The driver said he couldn’t stop the bus as we were on the motorway.
When I was going to call the work manager, I realised that I had left my phone at home! I borrowed the bus driver’s phone and called my manager. When I told him what had happened, I was so nervous that I nearly vomited. Luckily, the manager was very understanding. I felt so relieved that my legs were shaking and I almost fainted. In a relief, I sat on my seat. I heard classical music playing. The bus driver had switched the radio on. I could hear violins, cellos, double bases and violas. My eyes started to close. When I opened them and looked out of the window, I could see the airport.
The driver said that he had completed his shift and would drop me off at my workplace on his way back to town. When the bus stopped at my workplace, I thanked him and alighted. However, the place looked very suspicious. There should have been a shop beside my office but there was a clinic instead. When I ran into my office building, I saw that the people who came in and out looked different. I asked one of them the name of the building. Unfortunately, the building was KB Building and my building was BK Building. I’d given the bus driver the wrong direction.
I walked very slowly in despair. I felt like tears were about to burst from my eyes. I found a public phone. So, I called my manager. He shouted at me asking me if I was stupid. I apologised and cried. The sun started to disappear and clouds started to appear. Then, tiny droplets of water started to fall from the sky. The water was cold and heavy. I sat at the bus stop and waited from bus 212.
Sample 13
A Narrow Escape From Death – Lisa Kim Ye Won, Year 6, ELC International School
My name is Kiara Hoverd. I was the only girl with such a beautiful name. My school friends’ names were disgusting and spooky, like Nick Booger or Shamila Blood. Even my best friend, Grimy Spookster had a terrible name. Therefore, I was the luckiest one in school.
Last week, my school was going on a school trip. I packed my lunch and some drinks for the trip. On the bus, our teachers called our names to ensure that we were all on board. On the way, the bus stopped somewhere scary-looking and we all started screaming. We got off to see where we were and the teachers looked terrified. We had lost our way and had gone somewhere dangerous. The birds were singing a doom song and it seemed we were close to the ‘Land of Doom’.
“If you enter the field of Doom, you will have bad luck,” Grimy told me. I didn’t believe him. Grimy was not clever enough to know things like that. But soon, I noticed that Lena, our class monitor, was whispering to Grimy. Suddenly, the sky went dark and it started to rain. We all ran for shelter. I got disoriented and ended up inside the Land of Doom! I saw a big, fat, brown bear staring at me!
I wanted to retreat but I couldn’t. There was a steep cliff behind me. Suddenly, thunder roared and the bear, who was surprised by the thunder, started to run towards me. The angry bear was running and I had a plan that was extremely risky. But I had to do it. The bear was close. When it leapt towards me, I quickly leapt to the side!
The bear ended its life at the foot of the cliff. My teachers found me and we went home. The next day, I went to school and got a medal for my bravery! I wasn’t that lucky but I was quite clever. But I was quite lucky too, wasn’t I?
Sample 14
A Camping Trip – Byun Wan Joo, Year 7, Sayfol International School
Last week, while I was on a camping trip with my classmates, I spotted a squirrel running away from us. Out of curiosity, I followed it. Unfortunately, I wandered too far. Before I knew it, I couldn’t see the campsite anymore. I tried to retrace my steps but it was impossible for me to remember which way I had come from.
At that time, I only had my watch and pocket knife with me. I knew I had only roughly an hour or so to return to the campsite or they would leave without me. I walked for a long time until I saw the campsite. The only problem was that there was a fast-flowing river between me and the campsite. It was strange as I couldn’t remember having crossed the river in the first place. I looked at my watch and saw that I only had about a quarter of an hour left to get back to the campsite.
I then spotted a dead tree lying across the river. The tree looked old and dark; it was also covered with parasites. I decided to use it to cross the river as it was my only chance. As I was crossing the river, step by step, a crackling sound began to be heard. Before I knew it, the tree broke in half and I was sent flying into the river. The river was fast and there were huge boulders in it. And then a roaring sound began to frighten me. As the roaring became louder, towards the horizon, I could spot a huge waterfall at the end of the river.
I panicked for a moment, but then I saw a vine hanging from a tree. I knew I had only one chance to grab it. Now, I had only less than a minute. I launched myself and hoped that I would catch it. As I opened my eyes, I saw myself dangling from the vine of the tree. From where I was, I could see how deep the waterfall was.
I then climbed down to safety and sprinted to the campsite. As I was approaching the campsite, I noticed that it was very quiet. When I reached the campsite, I saw that everyone had left. I stood there crying for a moment. Then a strong, husky voice spoke to me, asking if I was lost. I looked up and saw a ranger in his uniform. Eventually, he gave me a ride home.
Sample 15
A Day In The Life Of A Pen Owned By A Student – Chung So Won, Year 6, Sri Utama International School
I was a black pen. I was from a factory but was sent to a stationary shop. One day, I was arranged on a display shelf with my friends. They were black pens, red pens, blue pens, rulers, erasers and gluesticks. A boy picked me up and bought me. My friends were left there on the shelf.
He became my owner. I was very happy to have an owner. That night, he used me to do his homework. Then he kept me in his pencil box for school the next day. When we arrived at school, he showed me off to his friends. Then he put me down and went for an activity.
Suddenly, my owner’s friend picked me up and put me inside his pocket. I was scared when I realised that I had been stolen. After the activity, my owner kept looking for me. I wanted to shout, “I’m here!”
However, my owner couldn’t hear me so he asked his friends if they had seen me. The friend who stole me said, “I don’t know.” My owner felt suspicious. Suddenly, my owner saw me in his friend’s pocket and took me out. My owner was very angry that his friend had stolen me. His friend said, “Sorry, my mistake.”
My owner said, “I think you took my pen on purpose. Am I right?”
“No, I didn’t,” his friend replied.
“Okay, I believe you,” my owner said.
I felt relieved. I knew the truth but I was sad that I couldn’t speak.
I loved my owner. He used me very softly and he took good care of me. I felt that my owner was the best owner in the world. I hoped that my friends would also meet nice owners, like I did.
Sample 16
A friend – by Reina Jeon Yeong Seo, Year 9, Sayfol International School
Patrick is a wonderful person who has a great personality. He is a special person to me as he is someone I will never forget. He spends a lot of time with me and we have a lot of magnificent memories. He always helps me when I’m in trouble and advises me if I’m in despair. He is like an energiser to me. Patrick is a treasure, a person who is extremely precious. I like him for three main reasons.
Firstly, Patrick is kind to everyone. He tries hard not to make people dislike him. He is a helpful person. In particular, Patrick has helped me a lot. Whenever I feel like giving up on something, he advises me to persevere and to put in my best. He also stayed by my side when everyone turned their backs on me. He encouraged me and assured me everything would turn out fine. Patrick is kind even to strangers. Once, I saw him on the street pushing the wheelchair of a person who had a disorder. He could have looked away but he offered to help instead. Moreover, Patrick helped an old lady to her house because she had lost her way and she was carrying a heavy bag.
Secondly, Patrick is humble. He is never arrogant and always thinks about other people’s feelings first. He shows great respect for other people. Patrick did very well in his exam but when everyone congratulated him, he just said that he was lucky. He could have been arrogant about his good results but he wasn’t. Patrick often says he is not good enough so he needs to improve more. When people compliment Patrick, he says that he doesn’t deserve the compliments. He says he will always work hard to improve and become a great person. He says he hasn’t even gotten halfway to where he needs to go and still has a long way to go.
Thirdly, Patrick is a great singer. He is very passionate about singing. He loves singing and tries really hard to achieve his dream of becoming a singer one day. Patrick is very enthusiastic. When he sings, it seems like he has wings. It feels like he has magical powers to attract people with his voice. Moreover, he can sing anywhere. He can sing under any condition and at any place. He practises very hard to improve his singing step by step. Because he practises so hard, even adverse conditions do not affect his singing. Anywhere he sings, he has a great voice.
In conclusion, I think Patrick is a splendid person and he will become an even better one in the future. If everyone knows Patrick the way I do, they would surely like and admire him the way I do too!
Sample 17
A Love Story – Jinny Lee Hyo Jin, Year 5, ISKL
Victoria Owen was the most beautiful lady in Great Britain. Her skin was pearl white, smooth and soft. She had no pimples or wrinkles. Her eyes were ocean blue and crystal clear. They seemed to descend into the depths of her soul. Her nose was straight and high, and there were no freckes on it. Her lips were plump and a cute cherry pink in colour, set in a small and egg-shaped face. Her long, light-brown hair was shiny, beautiful and elegantly curled.
Victoria was tall and slim. She was 24 years old and she had just graduated from the University of Oxford. Her family was rich and full of love and laughter. Her own heart was very warm and loving. She was always kind to others. Her only problem was that she was loved by lots of men, but she herself had nobody in her heart.
“Victoria, Sir Witte has invited our family to a dance party he is having at ten o’clock tonight, which is only 4 hours way. Take a bath, dress up and put on some make up. Do your hair and put on some accessories. And please take Scarlette and Violet with you. I’m sorry but your father and I cannot go. Please take good care of your sisters. Remember, they are already 18 but this is only their second time at a dance party. I believe you’re mature enough to know what to do. I trust you,” advised Victoria’s mother.
That night, stunning Victoria and her two pretty twin sisters, Scarlett and Violet arrived at Sir Witte’s great and glorious mansion. As they were enjoying the luxurious party by dancing and tasting the sumptious food, a delightfully handsome man named Joseph Ketterson stepped into the mansion. Every woman there, including Victoria, fell in love with Joseph. As the days passed, Victoria and Joseph fell deeper and deeper in love. Finally, Victoria had found her first and true love!
Since Victoria’s parents only wanted Victoria to be courted when she was 22, Victoria had to meet Joseph in secret. Joseph didn’t mind but Victoria was tired of having to sneak out at midnight when it was pitch-black and cold. So, on the 99th night they met, she complained to Joseph about the situation and suggested begging her parents to allow them to marry. All of a sudden, Joseph’s face turned pale white with a tinge of purple. Then icy tears rolled down his face. It looked as if he was sorry for an enormous and unforgivable sin that he had committed. Slowly, Joseph started to explain to Victoria that he was not human, but a rose - a purple rose – and that he had been lying to her all the time. Victoria became all confused. Then her mind went completely blank. Joseph continued to explain that he would be able to live and marry her but not have a child as the child would be seen to be a freak. It would have a purple head and the rest of its body would be almost as thin as a chopstick. Joseph also said that there is a possibility he may turn back into a purple rose and if he did, he would not be able to transform to human form again. The second Joseph finished explaining, he started to fade away.
Victoria Owen was found lying in her garden. Many clever and excellent doctors visited to try to revive her but they all failed. Finally, at exactly 5.13 one morning, Victoria Owen’s short and lovely life ended. Great Britain fell into deep sadness. Nobody talked about her or her death. The country became dark, moody and silent. Everyone was sighing everywhere. Victoria turned out to have died of love-sickness. Nobody had a clue who the mysterious and unknown lover was, until a day after her death. A news reporter spotted a stunning rose and letter in Victoria’s room. He opened the letter and it said ...
Victoria Oh Victoria,
I am so sorry that I made you ill. I felt so guilty and sinful I was beside you, so I had to leave you. The reason I turned myself into a handsome human is because I feared scientists and researchers might take me away, rip my body into pieces and discover the many secrets in me. Victoria, I apologize for my lie and your suffering. I hope that death will let you, Victoria Owen, and I, Joseph Ketterson love again, but this time, let us experience a more peaceful and deeper love, in another world.
Sample 20
A quiet life can be just as satisfying as an adventurous life – by Ashley Lee Joo Yeon, Year 10, Taylor’s International School
Is your life satisfying but not exciting? Every one of us in this world has their own unique colours. Different people have different personalities and crave for different things. To one person, skiing the Alps or slack-lining in Mount Everest spices up their life. To another, spending their relaxing Sundays on a beach with a cup of tea and some chocolate cookies in their hands give them more contentment. They are content living a quiet and simple life. Therefore, I agree to a large extent that a quiet life can be just as satisfying as an adventurous life.
Firstly, challenges and adventures like extreme sports have a high risk of serious injury. People might never have a normal life again. For instance, BMX dirt rider Stephen Murray, suffered a career-ending injury to his spinal cord and vertebrae and is paralyzed below the shoulders. Murray took a catastrophic fall attempting a double back flip on the final jump but he couldn’t rotate the bike in time and crash-landed on his head, breaking his neck. He now has limited movement in his toes but is gaining more mobility in his hands. However, it still seems impossible for him to recover completely and enjoy his most-loved sports again. Moreover, not only are the injured people irresponsible towards themselves, but they are also irresponsible towards their family. Take Murray for example. He was a father of two young sons. His love for the sport was greater than his love for his family which led his wife and sons to leave him. Thinking about his sons having to live in this cruel world without a father evokes pity. Why start a family when he can’t take responsibility? Thus, living a simple life and finding joy and satisfaction in small things is sometimes better.
Secondly, in order to live an adventurous life, people need to keep their wallets open. Can you imagine leaping off an airplane for a wing-suit flight without a parachute? People need hundreds and thousands of dollars for travelling, training and equipment. For example, high altitude climbing is a very expensive pursuit because of the cost of equipment and services needed to keep a climber alive. Fees include $30,000 for oxygen canisters, special glacier glasses and sleeping bags for freezing temperatures that could cost almost $1000 each. The sport also requires a lead guide and several assistants who cost about $10,000 to $25,000 per person. In addition, people also require money to travel from place to place. For instance, if you live in California and you want to go mountain climbing in Mount Everest, you can’t just go straight to Mount Everest and start climbing. You need money to fly to Nepal and then make your way to Everest base camp. Every single thing requires money. Hence, if you are not a billionaire, an exciting life might be too costly for you.
However, challenging activities build character. Extreme sports can help people to learn how to cooperate with others, working together towards a goal. It also helps people to grow in virtues such as courage, humility and patience. To touch on courage, my cousin used to be really shy and quiet in school. She was the type who couldn’t step forward to speak. However, after trying out bungee jumping, she became a completely different person. She became confident and determined. She felt that if she could bungee jump, she could do anything. Whenever she faced difficulties, she would think of the moment she bungee-jumped. Therefore, such activities push people to go further in life. They motivate people to do more than what they think they can. For instance, when people ski, they gradually progress from the lowest slopes to the steepest ones. People can then apply this process to other aspects of their lives. So, an adventurous life can help people to put one foot in front of the other in their own personal development journey.
In conclusion, I believe that a mixture of both a quiet and an adventurous life is most satisfying. In the end, you are the one, the only one, who will ever live your life. So live it in a richly rewarding way that most satisfies you. It doesn’t matter if it’s boring or reckless as long as you feel gratified. You only live once, so live it in the best way possible!
Sample 21
A Taste of Freedom – by Chris Kim Seung Yeon, Year 7, Sayfol International School
There was a boy called Jonnaes Beh who was in Year 9 in Sayfol International School. He was always very kind to his friends. Many of the teachers liked him because he was very lively and polite. He played football whenever he had time because his favourite sport was football. He didn’t like to study so he didn’t study for his exam.
One week before the exam, he was still playing football with his friends. He had so much fun with them. He almost forgot there would be an exam the following week because he was too focussed on playing football. When he was playing, he became very fierce and tough. After playing football for two hours, he went home. When he entered the house, he could feel his mother’s anger. He feared for his life.
Jonnaes didn’t know what was happening or why she was angry with him. So he just said to his mother, “I am home.”
Suddenly, his mother exploded and threw her bag at him. She said, “Do whatever you want!” She almost cried when she said it.
Jonnaes thought he was free because he didn’t really know what his mother meant. He started playing all the time and doing only some of his homework. But he felt that something was wrong. He failed most of his subjects but his mother didn’t even care.
At that time, Jonnaes realised that his mother didn’t really mean to give him freedom. He felt sorry and decided to study hard. So he started studying again and playing only in his free time. He felt good that he was achieving something. His mother was surprised that he was studying hard. He, himself, was surprised.
Jonnaes and his mother’s relationship became better again and his family was happy that Jonnaes got 100 marks for all his subjects. Jonnaes was pleased that his studying skills as well as his football skills had improved.
Sample 22
Advertising aimed at children and young teenagers under 16 should be banned. Do you agree? – by Kim Sung Won, Year 11, Sayfol International School
Advertisements are everywhere all the time. Our children live their lives surrounded by uncontrolled advertisements. There are many types of commercials. There are strong, interesting, impulsive or informative types of advertisements shown everywhere. I think that uncontrolled promotions are dangerous to our children. Therefore, I believe to a large extent that advertising aimed at children and young teenagers under 16 should be banned.
Firstly, children cannot control their desires. They will waste all their pocket money on useless things. Commercials aimed at children will seem very interesting to them but makes them impatient to open their purses to purchase the thing being promoted. Children don’t know the value of money. The pocket money obtained from their parents is much more valuable that they think. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Parents have to work hard to earn the money but children don’t know that and spend money carelessly. Therefore, advertising aimed at children and teenagers is very dangerous.
Secondly, children are gullible. They are not mature enough so they believe everything they see or hear. Commercials always give attractive information and explanation about a product. However, our children will accept everything they see or hear without much thought and harass their parents to buy the things for them. Children are not mature enough to think discriminatingly so they will make mistakes. Advertising gives a lot of misleading information. However, children cannot differentiate between truth and deception. They do not consider the disadvantages of the products in the commercials.
Some people argue that being exposed to advertisements will teach children to think more discriminatingly. It is true that commercials give us a lot of information - some true and some not. Children and young teenagers can learn to sort this information. As a result, children will grow up more quickly and become more mature. Their thoughts will become deeper. While this is true, I still believe that uncontrolled advertising is dangerous to children and young teenagers.
In conclusion, I don’t think companies should be allowed to advertise to children and young teenagers. They will waste a lot of money as they are too young to think deeply. No doubt commercials give us a lot of information and provide children a chance to mature more quickly but the disadvantages definitely outweigh the advantages.
Sample 23
Are there benefits to be gained if we avoid the use of modern technology? - Wee Su Kyung, Year 11, Sayfol International School
Modern technology has improved our lives. However, as I have seen on television, there are some people who avoid the use of modern technology. Here are some of the benefits to be gained.
Firstly, avoiding the use of modern technology can reduce pollution and improve the state of our environment. Cars, airplanes and other forms of transportation involve the use of modern technology. If we avoid such modes of transportation, all sort of pollution can be reduced. Harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from cars cause air pollution. This will lead to global warming and acid rain. Furthermore, acid rain will lead to water pollution. In addition, reducing the number of factories, another product of modern technology, and promoting cottage industries can help reduce pollution. Toxic wastes from factories are one of the major causes of river and sea pollution. Furthermore, poisonous gases from the chimneys of the factories contribute to global warming and acid rain which pollutes the environment. Products from cottage industries which require less technology are more unique and could benefit us by producing less pollution. Therefore, our environment would become a healthier place to live in if we avoid the use of modern technology.
Secondly, our health will improve if we try to be less reliant on modern technology. Dependence of modern household appliances cause people to become lazy. As household appliances such washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and garden sprinklers do most of the household chores for us, people’s movement has greatly reduced. Coupled with the fact that people do not exercise enough these days, many are now experiencing health problems caused by obesity. Furthermore, our sources of entertainment can be found easily in the home due to improved technology and so we do not need to go out for entertainment. In the past, when there was no television, computers or game players, people went outside to find entertainment, which usually involved physical activity such as playing football or swimming. However, most forms of entertainment in the present can be enjoyed without moving out bodies. We need just one finger to press the button on our remote control to get the channel we want to watch. Thus, many people nowadays lack exercise and become unhealthy. In my opinion, our health can be greatly improved by avoiding the use of modern technology.
In conclusion, reducing pollution and becoming healthier are the two benefits which can be gained by reducing the use of modern technology. We should sometimes try to go back to the simple ways of the past even though modern technology provides us many conveniences.
Sample 24
An Exciting and Enjoyable Party – by Choi Bu Yong, Year 10, Sayfol International School
As the sun glided down the horizon, I could feel my heart beating in my ribcage. Never had I felt this excited before. It was the day I could show my hidden talent. My feet were dancing by themselves and I couldn’t stop humming. I picked out the best clothes I had - my dark brown jeans and a bright red silk shirt. I was ready to enjoy the thrilling party!
As I opened the main gate of the party hall, I could feel that the hall was filled with heat and passion. I calmed down my trembling heart and moved forward step by step until I reached the centre of the main hall. I raised my hand in the air to get the attention of everyone. I was right. Everyone stopped dancing and watched me. At first, I regretted my action but on the other hand, I enjoyed the unstoppable excitement. My heart started to beat furiously again. Numerous pairs of eyes concentrated on me and I could feel that my body was becoming hotter and hotter like well-cooked rice. Then I just left my body to the beat of the music.
At the beginning, I moved my body only a little but as the music went on, my steps became faster and faster. I felt as if my heart was sealed with some unknown energy. I could hardly bear it anymore as my heart was pumping as if it was going to burst. At the same time, the music went up to a climax. The unknown seal which covered my heart broke. Without thinking, I became a passionate dancer. My body was totally controlled by the beat and I could hear people shouting and cheering. Some of them were dancing along with me. When I was dancing, I felt like I was out of my mind. I was unable to control myself.
I stopped my movements after realising that my shirt was drenched in sweat. I took a deep, sweet breath. I looked around and people were grinning at and waving to me. I couldn’t stop feeling the joy. I was deeply satisfied with life and everything. Some people approached me and gave me kisses. I felt like I had become a big star of the fabulous party. Then I enjoyed the rest of the party with my admirers.
After the party, I went home. It was 3 a.m. I kept smiling to myself as I thought about the party. I still couldn’t forget the passion and heat which filled the party hall as well as the beat of the music flowing all over my body. Without letting go of the great excitement, I fell sweetly asleep.