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Primary 4 English Composition: Common Errors When Writing Using Picture Prompts

Writer's picture: AGrader Learning CentreAGrader Learning Centre
Oct 21, 20245 min read
Common Errors When Writing Using Picture Prompts

Picture composition writing plays a significant role in Primary 4 English Composition. Students are often tasked with composing stories based on picture prompts, which challenge their creativity, storytelling abilities, and grammatical skills. While these tasks are exciting, there are several common errors students make when writing such compositions, particularly when tackling popular topics like A Holiday Mishap. Understanding these common pitfalls can help students improve their writing, making their stories more engaging and error-free.


This article will highlight some common errors in English composition pictures for Primary 4, provide useful tips for students, and explain how to create compelling narratives from picture prompts.


Table of Contents



Understanding Picture Composition for Primary 4


Primary 4 English composition pictures typically involve students being given one or more images to base their story on. The images serve as prompts that should inspire the story’s setting, characters, and plot. However, writing a composition based on pictures is not just about describing what’s happening in the images. Students need to weave the events in the pictures into a cohesive story that is both engaging and well-structured.


Understanding Picture Composition for Primary 4

For example, in the case of the "A Holiday Mishap" composition prompt, students are asked to write a story about a holiday that did not go as planned. They are encouraged to answer the following questions:


  • Where did the holiday take place?

  • What happened during the holiday?

  • How did the character(s) feel?

  • What happened in the end?


With these guidelines in mind, let’s explore some of the common mistakes students make when writing this type of composition.


Common Errors in Primary 4 English Picture Composition


1. Listing of Events Without Details


One of the most frequent mistakes students make when writing a Primary 4 English Composition is simply listing events without providing any depth. They often fall into the trap of narrating what is happening in the pictures without adding meaningful details or descriptions.


For example, students might write: “First, we went to the beach. Then, it started to rain. We got wet and went back to the hotel.”

To improve, students need to focus on making the story more vivid and detailed. They should describe the atmosphere, characters’ emotions, and how the mishap impacted the holiday.


2. Lack of Emotional Engagement


Emotional engagement is key to good composition writing. In a holiday mishap, students should show how the characters felt during the problem and resolution. However, many forget to include or elaborate on emotions.


For example, if a rainstorm ruins a beach day, they might write: "We were excited for the beach, but when it rained, we felt disappointed and frustrated. Our perfect holiday was ruined." Adding emotions makes the story more relatable and helps readers connect with the characters.


3. Neglecting Problem and Solution in the Story


Another common mistake in English picture composition for class 4 is leaving out a clear problem and solution. Students often focus on describing events without including a conflict that needs resolving, making the story flat. 


For a topic like "A Holiday Mishap," the problem could be a rainstorm, getting lost, or an accident, with the solution being how the characters adapted. For example: "The rain soaked us, but instead of sulking, we played indoor games and laughed at our bad luck." This adds a challenge and resolution, making the story more engaging.


4. Lack of Dialogue


Dialogue is a great way to bring a story to life, yet many students fail to incorporate it into their picture composition for Primary. Dialogue helps convey the emotions and relationships between characters, making the narrative more dynamic and interesting.


For example, instead of just narrating the events, students can include dialogue like: “Mum sighed, ‘Looks like our beach day is ruined!’ ‘Don’t worry,’ I said, ‘Let’s make it fun indoors instead!’”


This short dialogue adds personality to the characters and makes the story more engaging for the reader.


5. Weak Sentence Structure


Many students struggle with sentence structure in compositions, often using short, choppy sentences that disrupt the flow. Instead, they should combine simple sentences into more complex ones. 


For example, rather than writing, "We went to the beach. It started raining. We got wet. We went back to the hotel," they could write, "We planned to spend the day at the beach, but dark clouds gathered, and a heavy rainstorm soaked us. Disappointed, we rushed back to the hotel." Varied sentence structures make compositions more dynamic and engaging.


Common Errors in Primary 4 English Picture Composition

Steps to Writing a Strong Picture Composition


To help students avoid these common errors, here are some steps to writing an effective Primary 4 English picture composition:


1. Study the Pictures Carefully


Before writing, students should take a moment to analyse the pictures thoroughly. They should identify what’s happening in each picture and how they can connect the images into a single narrative.


2. Create a Storyline


Using the pictures as inspiration, students should develop a clear storyline with a beginning, middle, and end. The story should include a problem or conflict, such as the holiday mishap, and a resolution.


3. Include Emotions and Details


Instead of simply listing events, students should describe the setting, characters’ emotions, and reactions. Adding details helps paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.


4. Use Dialogue


Incorporating dialogue can make the story more lively and engaging. It allows the reader to see how the characters interact with each other during the mishap.


5. Revise and Edit


Once the composition is written, students should read through their work, checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. They should also make sure that the story flows well and that the events are clearly connected.


Steps to Writing a Strong Picture Composition

Writing an English picture composition for Primary 4 can be a fun and creative process. However, students often make common mistakes, such as listing events, neglecting emotions, and failing to include dialogue or a clear problem and solution. By focusing on creating a well-rounded narrative with engaging details and emotions, students can improve their composition writing and avoid these pitfalls.


With practice, students can transform their stories from simple descriptions of pictures into captivating and well-structured compositions that showcase their creativity and command of the English language.


Parents can give their Primary 4 students a head start by enrolling them in AGrader Creative Writing Tuition Programme, where lessons are expertly aligned with the current MOE syllabus. Every lesson is thoughtfully designed to not only match what they’re learning in school but also to build essential writing skills progressively. By learning ahead of the school curriculum, your child will gain a competitive edge, staying one step ahead while boosting their confidence in the classroom.


Weak Sentence Structure

AGrader also provides high-quality in-house worksheets that reinforce weekly lessons, ensuring consistent improvement. Plus, with complimentary access to the EverLoop Improvement System, your child can continue developing their writing skills at home with no extra cost. Whether it’s Primary 1 to 5 tuition or PSLE preparation, AGrader's dedicated teachers and unmatched after-class resources make it the perfect choice to help your child excel. Enrol today and set your child on the path to writing success!


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