Describe the obstacles that the main character faced.With close reference to the text, how did he or she overcome these obstacles? (Step by Wicked Step)

(a) Based on the novel you have studied, describe the obstacles that the main character faced.With close reference to the text, how did he or she overcome these obstacles?

             Support your answer with close reference to the text.

[15 marks]   (SBP 2013)

Nurin Jazlina binti Ahmad (saujana impian,kajang) Thank you Nurin for your contribution:

I choose the novel “Step by Wicked Step” written by Anne Fine as there are many main characters in the novel who have faced a lot of obstacles in their life. This novel is regarding  five British school children from Stagfire who had arrived ahead of their classmates for a week-long field trip at "haunted' Old Harwick Hall. They found a long-abandoned secret room containing a mysterious journal which uncovered a heart rending story of Richard Clayton Harwick, who runs away from the sinister influence of a loveless stepfather. This discovery made them reveal and share their own engrossing, heart-rending  stories filled with hurting and healing moments.The main characters that I choose is Richard Clayton Harwick because he faced a lot of obstacles in his life and finally managed to overcome them in the midst of sadness.

Analysing Form5/SPM novel questions from 2001-2011

After many years diving in the sea with my students ,in search of the PEARLS  in “The Pearl” by John Steinback, a novel that reveals the power of hope, love and determination… we have now taken the STEPS to leave the pearls which have taught us many valuable lessons and making us feel the waves of emotions in the sea of family love and unity. Since 2011, we have to change to “Step by wicked step” by Ann Fine…do I have a choice? Very well…life needs changes, so have faith that the changes are positive ones….as we go thru it, we learn new values in life especially about appreciating the power of family love which creates joy, peace, tolerance, understanding, gratefulness, forgiveness and beauty….blooming seeds of happiness, tranquility and attachment…as this novel managed to prove that strong family relationship sustains family bond and heals all the hurting moments through sense of love, devotion and loyalty. The power of family love leads to reunion and healing in a family. Therefore, we should appreciate and love our family unconditionally and be prepared to make sacrifices  as when there is strong sense of love, there is forgiveness , patience, loyalty and devotion growing without force under the shade of genuine family love. 

As the SPM examination is getting nearer, I’ve started to analyse the step by wicked steps novel, and created some sample answers in framework form so that you can understand better/ faster/ and make great effort to answer during your SPM English paper. Please share this literature notes with anyone in need as the more we share, the more we get…..Thank you God for Your Endless Blessings….

This is part of my literature notes prepared for SPM English Seminar (for my tuition students and those who are interested to join) which I will be presenting  on the 14^th and 21^st  October, 2012 at Kajang.

Analysing Novel Questions (2001-2011):

2001   A character you like/admire (character)

2002   What important lesson did you learn? (moral value)

2003   A character you sympathies. (character)

The theme of family love which is portrayed through the characters in Step by Wicked Step.

Write about the theme of family love which is portrayed through the characters in the novel that you have studied.

Support your answer with close reference to the text.

[15 marks]

The novel that I have chosen to portray the theme of family love is “Step by Wicked Step” by AnneFine. This novel is regarding  five British school children from Stagfire who shared their joys, sorrows and anxieties of their family life. It all begin when they arrived ahead of their classmates for a week-long field trip at "haunted' Old Harwick Hall. In the stormy wild night, Claudia, Pixie, Robbo, Ralph and Colin find a long-abandoned secret room containing a mysterious journal with the aid of flashes of lightning. They uncover a heart rending story of Richard Clayton Harwick, who runs away from the sinister influence of a loveless stepfather. This discovery triggers off each of them to reveal and share their own engrossing, heart-rending  stories filled with hurting and healing moments way through a minefield of embittered or uncommunicative or just plain immature parents, insecure or reluctant step parents and resentful step siblings. The implied themes in this novel are revealed through the characters thoughts, speech, actions, reactions and what others say about them. Thus, based on this novel, I have chosen to write on Richard Clayton Harwick’s family members who have portrayed the theme of family love amazingly and dramatically through sense of love, devotion and loyalty.

STEP BY WICKED STEP answering technique for SPM 2012

FRAMEWORK for answering literature component/

Outline/personal response (for Question 33 of Paper 2, SPM English 1119)

1)      Introductory paragraph (paragraph 1)

-  State your novel (plus a very brief synopsis of the novel)

- State your chosen element( plot/characteristics/ setting/themes/moral values)

-  State in brief the reasons of your choice.

2)      Content paragraphs

-  Reason 1 + elaborations (paragraph 2)

R1 + E1+E1+E1

-  Reason 2 + elaborations (paragraph 3)

R2 + E2+E2+E2

-  Reason 3 + elaborations (paragraph 4)

R3 + E3+E3+E3

3)      Concluding paragraph (paragraph 5)

- Summarize/ restate the reasons on why you have chosen the part/ character/ place/etc

-  State a lesson you have learnt from the element

-  Provide any personel experiences (if any) which is closely related to the chosen element.