Week 6- Lecture Exercise by Lam Xiao Ci

Task 1

Set off one voice against another - great potential for contrast, irony, and conflict enters the writing.

Dialogue, conversation and confrontation. 

Scene: After school, inside an empty classroom. The sun casts long shadows across the desks.

LINA (throwing her backpack on a desk): I saw your name on the sign-up sheet for class president.

TARA (leaning against the whiteboard, arms crossed): Yeah. So?

LINA (tight smile): You said you weren’t running. We agreed. Remember?

TARA: No, you said you weren’t ready. I just didn’t correct you.

LINA (voice rising): You let me believe we were doing this together — that we'd wait. And then you go behind my back?

TARA (shrugs): It’s not my fault if you’re afraid to step up.

LINA (bitterly): Wow. So now I’m a coward?

TARA (calm but sharp): No. You’re playing small because you think loyalty means holding each other back. It doesn’t.

LINA: I wasn’t holding you back — I was trusting you. Silly me for thinking we were still on the same side.

TARA (softening for a second): Lina, I want big things. And I’m not going to apologize for chasing them.

LINA (quiet but firm): Then don’t expect me to cheer you on from the sidelines.

Task 2

Write a short character sketch of someone in your family. Write a monologue in which that person tells you an anecdote from his or her childhood.

Character Sketch: My Father

My father is a man of quiet strength, shaped by both hardship and love. He is caring and patient, always putting his family first. Practical in his decisions, he never rushes into things, preferring to think them through carefully. He carries a natural decency in how he treats others, always fair and respectful. Despite the challenges he faced growing up, he has a humorous side—his jokes are never loud or exaggerated, but subtle and well-timed, making even the hardest moments a little lighter. His resilience and kindness make him the man I admire most.

Monologue: My Father’s Childhood

"Life was different when I was your age. My mother passed away when I was young, so I had to live with relatives. It wasn’t easy—losing a mother is like losing the warmth of home. But my relatives took me in, fed me, and even helped me apply to an educational institute. I was lucky in a way—though I lost one family member, I gained many who cared for me.

"I remember my uncle waking me up before sunrise to study. He would say, ‘If you want a good life, you must earn it with effort.’ I didn’t always like waking up early, but now, looking back, I understand what he meant.

"And of course, there were funny moments too. My cousins and I used to sneak extra food from the kitchen when no one was watching. We thought we were so clever—until one day, my aunt caught us red-handed! Instead of punishing us, she laughed and said, ‘Next time, just ask.’ It taught me that kindness is sometimes better than strictness.

"That childhood shaped me into who I am today. Life isn’t always fair, but with patience, care, and  the right people around you, you can make it through anything."