Section B
Task Overview:
Section B includes two questions which you’ll only choose one of them to do. The total mark for this question is 25.
Question 3: Descriptive (Miêu tả)
Balanced discussion covering both sides.
Objective & neutral.
or
Question 4: Narrative (Tường Thuật)
Demonstrate a strong position.
Aim to educate/persuade the audience.
1) Question 3: Descriptive Writing
What you should aim for:
Create atmosphere/setting.
Use five senses: Feel, taste, scent, look, sound.
Use synonyms.
Use literary devices: Simile (so sánh), personification (nhân hóa), metaphor (ẩn dụ), metenomy (hoán dụ), idioms (thành ngữ), reduplication (từ láy).
Apply higher-level sentence structures.
Tips:
Not narrative/storytelling.
Focus on imagery.
Show off your language skills.
Imagine your work is like a camera, capturing different angles of an object.
2) Question 4: Narrative Writing
What you should aim for:
Clear story mountain.
Slowly building up to the climax.
1-2 settings.
2-3 characters.
More than 1 dialogue.
General Format:
Opening:
- Introduce setting, context, character(s).
- What, when, where, who.
Build-up:
- Introduce and build up conflict.
Climax/Dilemma.
Resolution.
Ending.
Structure: Cyclical; Flashback; Cliffhanger; Original story mountain…
Character(s):
Appearance.
Personality.
Hobby.
Social relationship.
Strengths/weaknesses.
Background.
Tips:
If the task is ‘tự sự’ instead of ‘tường thuật’, you must write in first person.
Create a clear story mountain in logical, chronological order.
You must have a climax/dilemma to demonstrate a clear story mountain.
The story must align with the task; it must include necessary lines or elements that the question asks for and circulate a specific theme.
Don’t go too deep into the characters’ emotions.
Unsuccessful story:
Too unrealistic.
No development.
Inappropriate language.
Lack of logic/abrupt ending.
Too many settings or characters.
Too much dialogue.
Written by Kaito Le
Edited by Quinn Luong