The Art of Advising, Suggesting and Recommending: Practical Scaffolds for SPM 1119/2 Article Writing

(This write-up is a continuation of two write-ups posted on 4^th of September and 12^th September 2026)

When teaching article writing for SPM 1119/2, it is equally important to equip average or intermediate pupils with ready-made language that supports the purpose of suggesting, recommending, or advising. Many ESL learners know what they want to say but struggle to express their ideas politely and convincingly. Providing a bank of useful phrases such as “I would strongly recommend…”, “Why not try…”, “You could start by…”, and “It would be a good idea to…” helps pupils give practical suggestions in a natural way. These expressions encourage a friendly, reader-centred tone, which is suitable for semi-formal article writing. Teachers can demonstrate how these phrases fit into different parts of an article so that pupils learn to guide readers towards positive actions rather than simply stating opinions.

To make this approach more effective, teachers should encourage pupils to practise using recommendation phrases through meaningful classroom activities before writing complete articles. For example, learners can be given topics such as Healthy Lifestyle, Reading Habits, or Protecting the Environment and asked to write three pieces of advice using expressions like “One simple step is…” or “I highly recommend…”. Pupils can then exchange their sentences with a partner and discuss which suggestions sound more convincing and reader-friendly. This guided practice helps them understand that effective articles do more than share ideas; they encourage readers to take action. By consistently using this scaffold, pupils gradually develop the confidence to write articles that are engaging, persuasive, and purposeful in the examination.

You saw the notice below on the school notice board.

Articles Wanted! Character Building

Family plays an important role in shaping who we are. We would like to hear your thoughts about building a person’s character.

Your article should include:

• examples of values taught at home

• the importance of family in shaping character

• ways children can further develop their character

The best article will receive an attractive prize! Write your article in 200–250 words.

For the SPM 1119/2 article question above, the third content point (ways children can further develop their character) requires candidates to suggest practical ways while keeping a semi-formal and an engaging tone. Average ESL learners often know the ideas but lack the language to express them naturally. The following phrase bank can be used as a classroom scaffold.

Language Scaffold for Suggesting and Recommending

1. Useful Phrases to Suggest Practical Ways

These expressions are simple, natural, and suitable for average ESL learners.

Sentence Scaffold for Suggesting Practical Ways

Purpose	Complete Sentence
Give a suggestion	One way to develop good character is to help with household chores because it teaches responsibility.
Give another idea	Another way is to spend quality time with family members so that children learn respect and love.
Introduce a practical step	A simple step is to say “thank you” and “sorry” sincerely in everyday situations.
Encourage action	Children can start by listening carefully when their parents or grandparents give advice.
Offer an option	They can also join community activities to learn about kindness and teamwork.
Suggest a habit	It helps to keep promises because this builds trust and honesty.
Give a possibility	They could read books with their family to learn valuable life lessons together.
Introduce a routine	Make it a habit to greet family members politely every day as a sign of respect.
Explain a benefit	This helps children become responsible, caring, and confident individuals.
Add another point	In addition, children should learn from their parents’ good examples because actions often speak louder than words.

2. Persuasive and Convincing Recommendation Phrases

These expressions help pupils sound more convincing while remaining semi-formal.

Sentence Scaffold for Recommending

Purpose	Complete Sentence
Recommend generally	I recommend that children spend more quality time with their families because it helps them learn important values.
Strong recommendation	I staunchly recommend joining community activities because they teach kindness, teamwork, and responsibility.
Practical recommendation	It would be a good idea to help with household chores every day because this builds responsibility.
Friendly recommendation	Why not thank your parents and siblings more often to show appreciation and respect?
Encourage readers	I encourage young people to learn from their parents' good examples because actions speak louder than words.
Give advice	Children should respect their elders and listen carefully to their advice because this builds good manners.
Offer a worthwhile idea	It is worth trying to read books with family members because they can learn valuable life lessons together.
Suggest regular practice	They should make time to volunteer in school or community programmes because these activities develop empathy and confidence.
Highlight usefulness	One effective way is to keep promises because this helps children become trustworthy individuals.
Recommend consistently	It is important/fundamental to practise honesty every day because small honest actions can build strong character.

Other Useful Phrases to be Convincing and Persuasive in Giving Recommendation / Advice / Suggestion

1.     It is of paramount importance for parents to set a good example because children often learn by watching their behaviour.

2.     It is fundamental to encourage reading because books can teach valuable life lessons and positive values.

3.     We can make a difference by showing kindness every day.

4.     The best way forward is to work together as a family.

5.     With consistent practice, children can become more responsible.

6.     Taking this step today can create a better tomorrow for everyone.

7.     A powerful way to make a real difference is to lead by example.

8.     A meaningful way to create positive change is to practise good values every day.

9.     It is absolutely essential for families to create a positive environment where children can develop good character.

10. It is of great significance for families to spend quality time together as this helps strengthen family bonds.

To help weak and average ESL learners structure their ideas effectively in SPM 1119/2 article writing, teachers can introduce a straightforward 3-step formula: Suggestion + Action + Benefit. This framework provides a clear roadmap for pupils who know what they want to say but struggle to organise their thoughts logically. By combining a practical recommendation phrase with a concrete action and a clear outcome, learners can construct well-developed points without feeling overwhelmed by complex sentence structures. For instance, a pupil can easily build a complete thought by stating, "One way is to help with household chores (Suggestion + Action), which teaches responsibility (Benefit)."

More examples:

• One way is to help is to wash their parents’ cars. This teaches responsibility.

• Children should spend time with their grandparents. As a result, they learn respect and gratitude.

• It would be a good idea to volunteer in the community. This helps them become caring and confident individuals.