CHEAT!

FORM 2
SHORT STORY
MARCH 11, 2016 4SKILLSACADEMIC 47 COMMENTS

Originality is very important when you are doing

innovative and creative work. However, every new
idea we produced might be inspired from
somewhere. So, the question is that, does
originality really exist in this world? What do you
think?

Notes on Cheat! by Allan Baillie

Author: Allan Baillie

Setting: The story took place in various places of an

Australian school (e.g. hall, library, classroom,
corridor, principals office). It set in the modern and
educated social background where people were
appreciate talent in writing.

(p.102) how do you create a character

from a one-eyed, dumb red kelpie
From the word kelpie, which is a type of Australian
breed dog, we made a guess that the story took
place in Australia.

Step by step guide in understanding the story

Announcement winner for the Holmes Walkins
Medal

Lynne opened her eyes and gripped her

seat
1. How was Lynne Webbings feel while she was
waiting for the result?
Geoff Bolder and Lynne Webbings both
wrote very fine short stories for the
medal Lynne felt her mouth moving
Lynnes story about a sheepdog in a flood
was both exciting and moving. Geoffs
story of a circus elephant running loose in
Albert Park
2. What is Lynnes story about? And what is Geoffs
story about?
She made her way to Geoff as he came
down from the dais with the medal and
congratulated him. She went home and
everything tasted of cardboard that
night
3. Who won the medal?
4. How did Lynne feel after the result has
announced?
Lynnes discovery

She read it again. And again. The tips of

her ears prickled with anger He did not
write it at all, he just copied it down.
1. Why did Lynne feel angry?
Please sir, Geoff beat me in the short
story competition and I hate to lose. So I
am telling you how he cheated so you can
give the medal to me
2. What was Lynne thinking to do?
Lynnes explosion of anger

or Bradburie. The words exploded from

Lynnes mouth in a sudden burst of anger.
1. Why did Lynne suddenly shout Bradburie in
the class?
Later Lynne saw that all the Bradburie
books had been taken from the school
library
2. What happens to the Bradburies book in the
library?
3. Who has taken the book?
4. Why was the book taken?
In the principal office
I read the book. Theres a story there
about an elephant escaping in a park. It is
not much like Geoffs story, but Geoff feels
he took the idea from the book without
realising it. He wants me to disqualify him
for cheating
What do you think? A story of similar idea but a
different story, is it consider cheating?
 your story, Lynne, being entirely
original, must be considered a little
better
So, is Lynne considered as the winner of the medal
now?

She began to wonder where it was that

she had read a story about a sheepdog in a
flood.
Why is she doing that?

1. Themes
Explanation and textual
Themes evidence

Being judgemental Explanation

The short story is revolved
around the theme of being
judgemental. There are a few
characters can be related to
this theme. They might jump
into conclusion too soon and it
caused misunderstanding.

Examples

Lynne is one of the characters

who is judgemental. After she
read about the book written by
William Bradburie in the
 library, she was filled with
anger. She said that Geoff is
cheating in the short story
competition even though she
has never read Geoffs story
before.

Another person related to the

theme is Marge. She is the
classmate for Geoff and Marge.
When Geoff mentioned that he
wanted to be a barrister or
lawyer, Marge labelled him as
money minded. It can be
hurtful when we labelled
someone.

Creative writing is not Explanation

always original A creative idea or innovation
like is not always original
because we will take idea and
inspiration from different
resources to make
improvement. The same goes
with story writing, the
originality does not really exist
because our storys idea will
come from the story that we
read, our experience and our
surrounding.
 Example

Lynne emphasised the

importance of originality in the
writing. When she realised that
Geoff is not cheating, she was
wondering whether she had
read any story related to the
sheepdog in flood.

As for Geoff story, although his

story idea is similar to William
Bradburies story, Mr Velos told
Lynne that the story is still
consider original and Geoff is
not cheating.

2. Moral Values
Moral Values Explanation Examples

Honesty and Honesty and We consider that

courage courage are about Geoff is an honest
being brave to tell person. After Lynne
someone the truth. shouted at Geoff,
We must take Geoff went to Mr
responsibility to the Velos office to
mistakes that we confess that he
have done. might be cheating
due to the similarity
of his story and
William Bradburies
 story.

Lynne used weeks

to complete the
miserable story.
She spent time to
draft and rewrite
the story. Although
in the end, she won
If we are
the second place in
perseverance, we
the competition, I
will not give up
personally consider
easily even the job
that it is a good
is challenging or
result from her hard
difficult. We will
work.
keep on trying until
we achieve
Perseverance success.

After she read

about the book
We must not be written by William
judgemental Bradburie in the
because the truth library, she was
might be different filled with anger.
from what we think. She said that Geoff
If we do not know is cheating in the
the detail of the short story
situation, we should competition even
not make the though she has
Avoid being conclusion too never read Geoffs
judgemental soon. story before.
3. Characters
Lynne Webbings Textual evidence
 Lynne had a big dream to win
the Holmes-Watkins medal in
the short story competition.
When the result announced,
Ambitious she felt really disappointed.

Lynne was jealous and

vengeful when Geoff won the
competition. After she
discovered that William
Bradburies story was similar
to Geoffs story, she wanted to
take revenge by reporting to
Mr Velos so that she could win
back the medal.

Jealous and vengeful

Lynne used weeks to complete

the miserable story. She spent
time to draft and rewrite the
story. Although in the end, she
won the second place in the
competition, I personally
consider that it is a good result
Persevering from her hard work.

Geoff Bolder Textual evidence

Humorous Geoff tried to cheer Lynne by

telling her a joke. Geoff joked
about how Mr Velos picked the
winner by climbing up to his
lovely special mahagony desk
and dropped both papers, and
the papers that hit the floor
first wins.
 Although Geoff has potential in
writing, he wants to be a
barrister because he says that
there is more money in law.

Realistic

Geoff confessed to Mr Velos

that he had read a book by the
American Humourist, William
Honest Bradburie three years ago.

COMPREHENSI
ON SHORT
WRITING (PT3)
MARCH 9, 2016 4SKILLSACADEMIC LEAVE A COMMENT

In the non-linear text comprehension question of

your PT3 examination, you will need to complete
one short writing task. Most of the time, it requires
you to write a friendly invitation. This is one of the
example question.
You intend to encourage your friend to join you in an
English camp which will be held soon. In about 50
words, write an invitation card to your friend.
In your invitation card:

Encourage him/her to join you

Give reasons why he/she should join you
Add any other relevant information to make
your writing interesting.
How to do the short writing?
1. Make sure you read and underline what the
question wants.

So in this letter, you need to encourage your friend

to join you in English Camp and give reasons why
your friend should join you.

2. Try to make your writing without copy from the

text

3. You can make your own event. (you dont have to

follow the text unless the question ask you to follow
the text)

4. Usually we use the 5W1H to plan the writing:

What, when, where, who, why and how.
For Example
a. What is the event?
b. When is that?
c. Where is that?
d. Who will be there?
e. Why we need to join? Is it good?
f. How we go there?
Here is the writing structure that you can follow.
Always remember the following things when you do
short writing:

1. Imagine that you are talking to your friend and

you want your friend to somewhere with you, you
have to make sure they know the details.
2. Follow this process to start your writing
with (greetings) (what events) (when is
that) (where is that) (who will be there?)
(gives about 3 reasons) (tell them how to
join) (Closing with see you or bye bye)
(your sincerely, and sign your name)
Writing Structure
Dear ___________,

How are you? My school is organising (what event).

I would like to invite you to join me. The event is
held on (when is that) in (where is that). (who
will be there it can be teachers. Friends, or
your favourite idol?). Im sure that this event will
be very interesting.
We should join this events because (reason 1). At
the same time, we can also (reason 2). Besides,
this event can help us to (reason 3).
I really hope that you can join me in (what
event). Please give me your reply by this Friday so
that I can submit our name to the teacher in-charge.
See you soon.
Your sincerely,

(signature)