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Form 5
Novel
ANSWERING
TECHNIQUE
FIT/SMKAM/2016
By:
Fitriah Hassan
SMKAM
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LEARNING	OBJECTIVES:
To	follow	and	understand	the	main	plots	
and	practise answering	the	questions
SUCCESS	CRITERIA:
i. State	the	allocation	of	marks	in	the	question
ii. Narrate	the	main	events	and	state	their	
significance
iii. Provide	content	points	and	evidence	to	
questions
iv. Write	introduction	paragraphs
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Marking	Scheme
Content -
Language -
Total	 -
3
10
5
15
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How	marks	are	awarded?
Answering	the	question	=	1	mark
(3	points	x	3	=	9	marks)
Language		→ Overall	grading	(5	marks)
♦Vocabulary
♦Sentence	patterns
♦Organisation of	ideas
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Point +	Evidence +	Opinion =	3
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IMPORTANT
EVENTS
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EVERY	MORNING	AT	HOME
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Event	1	:		EVERY	MORNING	AT	HOME
CHARACTER:
Newt	:	concern,	caring,	selfless,	responsible
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	love	our	family	members
- We	must	be	responsible	
THEMES:
- Family	love
- Being	responsible
- Selflessness
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Event	2	:		HALLOWEEN
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Event	2	:		HALLOWEEN
CHARACTERS:
CECIL	AND	JJ:	Helpful ,	true	friends	to	Newt
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	help	and	support	our	friends
THEMES:
- Friendship
IMPORTANCE	:	
this	event	has	made	Newt	to	realise his	inner	
strength	– the	costume	has	transformed	him	to	
someone	with	confidence	and	determination.
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Event	3	:		THE	DUMPSTER
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Event	3	:		THE	DUMPSTERCHARACTER:
NEWT	:	Helpful ,	brave,	selfless
CECIL	:	determined
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	be	brave	to	overcome	our	fears
- We	must	help	our	friends	
THEMES:	- Courage,	Friendship
IMPORTANCE	:	
At	first	Newt	was	hesitant	to	climb	up	the	dumpster	
as	he	is	afraid	of	height	but	later	when	he	managed	
to	climb	up	and	retrieve	the	drum,	he	gain	more	
confidence. FIT/SMKAM/2016
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Event	4	:		MR	CLAY
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Event	4	:		MR	CLAY
CHARACTERS:
NEWT	&	CECIL		:	Helpful ,	selfless
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	be	kind	and	help	people	in	need	
THEMES:
- Kindness,	helpfulness
IMPORTANCE	:	
Mr.	Clay	refer	to	Newt	as	Captain	Nobody	tells	his	
wife	that	Captain	Nobody	has	helped	him.	This	has	
made	Newt	to	gain	confidence	and	feel	please	
with	himself.	 FIT/SMKAM/2016
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Event	5	:		THE	ROBBERY	AT	SULLIVAN	JEWELRY	STORE
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CHARACTER:
NEWT		:	Helpful ,	selfless
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	be	kind	and	help	people	in	need
- We	must	be	brave	to	face	challenges	
THEMES:
- Friendship,	courage
IMPORTANCE	:	
Another	event	that	forces	Newt	to	be	a	
superhero	and	save	people.
Event	5	:		THE	ROBBERY	AT	SULLIVAN	JEWELRY	STORE
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Event	6	:		
THE	FERRET
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CHARACTER:
NEWT		:	responsible,	brave,	care	for	animals
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	be	responsible	
- We	must	be	brave	to	face	challenges	
THEMES:
- Responsibility,	courage
IMPORTANCE	:	
Another	event	that	forces	Newt	to	be	a	
superhero.	In	this	event,	he	not	only	saves	the	
ferret	but	also	the	passengers	of	the	plane.
Event	6	:	THE	FERRET
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Event	7	:	
APPLETON	WATER	TOWER
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CHARACTER:
NEWT		:	responsible,	brave
MORAL	VALUES:
- We	must	be	responsible	and	tell	the	truth
- We	must	be	brave	to	face	challenges	
THEMES:
- Responsibility,	courage
IMPORTANCE	:	
Proves	that	Newt	is	a	real	superhero.	He	succeeded	to	
overcome	his	fear	of	height	in	his	attempt	to	convince	
Reggie	Ratner	not	to	commit	suicide.	Every	one	knows	
who	CN	is	when	his	mask	is	hooked	on	a	nail	and	ripped	
from	his	face	when	he	is	climbing	up	the	tower.
Event	7	:			APPLETON	
WATER	TOWER
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ANSWERING
TECHNIQUE
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Answering	Techniques
Introduction
Point	1
Point	2
Point	3
Conclusion
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STEP 1
PLANNING
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SAMPLE	QUESTION	1
The following is the novel you have studied in
the literature component in English language.
Based on the novel, who do you think is the
most interesting character in the novel you
have studied? Support your answer with close
reference from the text.
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Captain	Nobody	– by	Dean	Pitchford
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Who	is	the	most	interesting	character?
CECIL	BUTTERWORTH
P1 P2creative determined
He	has	a	lot	of	new	ideas
EVIDENCE:
- Comes	up	with	the	idea	
of	creating	their	own	
Halloween	costumes
- With	JJ’s	help,	creates	
super	hero	outfit	from	
old	clothes	for	Newt
He	is	determined	to	become	a	
drummer
EVIDENCE:
- Practises whenever	he	has	
free	time
- Persistent	in	asking	Captain	
Nobody	to	help	him	
retrieving	the	old	drum	from	
the	top	of	a	dumpster.
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P3
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supportive
Who	is	the	most	interesting	character?
CECIL	BUTTERWORTH
He	is	a	true	friend	to	Newt
EVIDENCE:
- He	stands	up	for	Newt	when	Newt	is	threatened	
by	Ricky	Ratner	and	his	gang.
- encourages	and	supports	Newt	in	the	audacious		
plan	to	climb	Appleton	water	tower	to	persuade	
Reggie	Ratner	not	to	jump.
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STEP 2
INTRODUCTION
PARAGRAPH
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INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH MUST
CONTAINS
1.THE TITILE OF THE NOVEL
2.NAME OF THE AUTHOR
3.THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION
4.CONTENT POINTS
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How	to	write	your	INTRO?
• The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean
Pitchford.
+
+
• In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the topic
with close referencefrom the text.
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Introduction
ANSWER	THE	QUESTION
POINT	1 POINT	3POINT2
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SAMPLE	QUESTION	1
Based on the novel, who do you think is the
most interesting character in the novel you
have studied? Support your answer with close
reference from the text.
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• The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean
Pitchford.
+
+
• In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the topic
with close referencefrom the text.
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Introduction
ANSWER	:	Cecil	Butterworth
creative supportivedetermined
FIT/SMKAM/2016
The novel I have studied is Captain
Nobody by Dean Pitchford. In my opinion, the
most interesting character is Cecil
Butterworth. This is because he is creative,
determined, and supportive to his friends. In
the following paragraphs, I will discuss the
topic with close reference from the text.
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Introduction	paragraph
TITLE .		NAME .	ANSWER .	CONTENT	POINTS	
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STEP 3
CONTENT
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How	to	write	your	POINTS?
• S – Statement	(Topic	Sentence)	
• T – Textual	Evidence	
• O – Opinion	(Based	on	the	statement	in	
each	content	point)	
• R/E – RElate the	content	point	to	the	task	
given
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S		T		O		R		E
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CONTENT	POINT	1	:		creative	
S – Cecil	is	creative	and	has	a	lot	of	ideas.
T – i.	He	comes	up	with	the	ideas	of	
creating	their	Halloween	costumes
ii.	Creates	superhero	outfit	for	Newt.
O – his	creativity	has	helped	Newt	to	
have	a	costume	and	transform	him	into	
super	hero				
RE – This	shows	that	he	is	a	very	creative	
person
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SAMPLE	of	POINT(1)…
STATEMENT	.	TEXTUAL	EVIDENCE. OPINION.
RELATE
Cecil	is	creative	and	innovative	and	has	a	
lot	of	ideas.	For	example,	he	comes	up	
with	the	idea	of	creating	their	own	
Halloween	costumes.	He	also says	that	
he	can	wrap	himself	in	sheet	of	music	
and	‘come	as	a	symphony!’	He	then	
dressed	as	Mozart	on	Halloween.	[……	
continue	in	the	next	slide]FIT/SMKAM/2016
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POINT	1	continues…
…Not	only	that,	he	works	with	JJ	to	create	a	
superhero	outfit	from	old	clothes	for	Newt.	He	
successfully	turns	Newt’s	oversized	clothes	and	
immediately	connects	it	to	‘something	
Superman	would	wear’.	His	creativity	has	
helped	Newt	to	finally	has	a	costume	and	
transform	him	into	a	superhero.	This	shows	
that	Cecil	is	indeed	a	creative	person	who	has	a	
lot	of	witty	ideas	to	brighten	up	his	friends’	life.
STATEMENT	.	TEXTUAL	EVIDENCE.	OPINION.	RELATE
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Point	2
Next, I	find	Cecil	interesting	as	he	is	a	determined	
person.	He	works	hard	to	achieve	his	dream,	which	
is	to	be	a	drummer.	He	practises whenever	he	has	
free	time.	He	is	also determined	and	persistent	in	
convincing	Captain	Nobody	to	help	him	retrieve	the	
discarded	drum	from	the	dumpster.In	life,	we	
should	 be	determined	and	work	hard	like	Cecil	to	
achieve	our	dreams. This	incident	shows	that	Cecil	
is	determined	and	he	never	gives	up	until	his	wish	is	
fulfilled.	 FIT/SMKAM/2016
STATEMENT	.	TEXTUAL	EVIDENCE.	OPINION.	RELATE
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Point	3	- supportive
Cecil is a true friend to Newton (Captain Nobody)
and JJ. He is always supportive to his friends through
thick and thin. For instance, although Cecil is shorter
and skinnier than Newton, he stands up for Newt
when Newt is threatened by Ricky Ratner and his
gang. Similarly, Cecil encourages and supports Newt in
the audacious plan to climb Appleton water tower to
persuade Reggie Ratner not to jump. In a way, Cecil
helps Newt to overcome his fear of height. To me, he
is Newt’s true friend as he always fights alongside
Newt who is also known as Captain Nobody. This
proves to us that Cecil is a real supportive friend.FIT/SMKAM/2016
STATEMENT	.	TEXTUAL	EVIDENCE.	OPINION.	RELATE
STEP 4
CLOSING
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In	conclusion,	Cecil	Butterworth	is	
creative,	determined,	and	supportive	to	his	
friends.	These	interesting	qualities	of	Cecil	
and	his	role	as	the	side	kick	to	Captain	
Nobody	makes	this	novel	exciting.
Conclusion	:	
Question	– interesting	character
• Repeat	the	content	points	
• Relate	to	the	question
FIT/SMKAM/2016
LET’S PRACTISE !
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SAMPLE	QUESTION	2
Based	on	the	novel,	suggest	one	character	in	the	
novel	you	have	read	whom	you	think	is	a	good	
role	model	for	teenagers. Support	your	answer	
with	close	reference	from	the	text.
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STEP	1
PLANNING
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NEWTON NEWMAN
1.	Loves	his	family	members
2.	Selfless	and	kind
3.	Responsible
A	role	model	for	teenagers	:
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A	role	model	for	teenagers
NEWTON	NEWMAN
P1 Loves	his	family	members
he	loves	his	family	although	sometimes	he	does	
not	get	the	attention	he	deserves
EVIDENCE:
- Prepares	breakfast	for	his	busy	parents	even	
though	his	parents	are	too	busy	to	eat
- He	understands	when	Chris	is	too	tired	and	
has	no	time	for	him
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A	role	model	for	teenagers
NEWTON	NEWMAN
P2 Selfless	and	kind
EVIDENCE:
- Helps	Cecil	to	retrieve	the	old	drum	from	a	
dumpster	despite	his	fear	of	height.
- Helps	Mr Clay	who	is	lost	and	is	out	of	his	
medicine	to	return	home.
- Helps	JJ	to	inform	Mr.	and	Mrs Sullivan	about	
the	spelling	and	grammatical	errors	on	their	
signboards	althoughFIT/SMKAM/2016
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A	role	model	for	teenagers
NEWTON	NEWMAN
P3 responsible
EVIDENCE:
- He	makes	breakfast	for	his	family	every	day
- He	babysit	the	ferret	(Ferocious)	although	he	
is	not	happy	with	the	idea	– he	makes	sure	it	
is	fed	and	sometimes	he	even	talks	to	it
- He	dodges	the	incoming	traffic	and	waves	to	
stop	the	traffic	in	his	attempt	to	get	the	
ferret	back	when	it	escapesFIT/SMKAM/2016
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STEP	2
INTRODUCTION	
PARAGRAPH
FIT/SMKAM/2016
• The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean
Pitchford.
+
+
• In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the topic
with close referencefrom the text.
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Introduction
ANSWER	:	Newton	Newman
Loves	his	
family
responsible
Selfless	and	
kind
FIT/SMKAM/2016
SAMPLE	of	the…	
The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody
by Dean Pitchford. In my opinion, Newton
Newman is a good role model for teenagers.
This is because he is loving towards his family
members, selfless, kind and responsible. In
the following paragraphs, I will discuss the
topic with close reference from the text.
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Introduction
FIT/SMKAM/2016
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SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. “Determination is the key to success”
How far is this true in the novel you have read?
2. It is important for us to learn to forgive and
forget. Explain how this is portrayed by one of the
characters in the novel.
3. “A friend in need is a friend indeed”
How far is this true in the novel you have read?
4. With close reference to the text, what is the
most valuable message from the novel that you
have studied?
5. Suggest an alternate ending of the novel that
you have read. Provide reasons based on the
novel you have read. FIT/SMKAM/2016
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6. Write about one character which has shown
the value of perseverance in his/her life. Briefly
describe the character and give reasons for your
choice.
7. “In life we should be brave.” With close
reference to the text, explain how this quality is
shown by a character.
8. “No pain no gain”. How far is this true in the
novel?
9. Describe one action that is taken by a
character that you disagree with. Support your
answer with close reference to the text.
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Suggested	Answer
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Captain	Nobody	
(Newton	
Newman)
Brave
Responsible
Discipline
Hard-working
Independent
Loving
Obedient
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Captain Nobody : answering techniques