A supported reading stays within what the text shows. An invented detail adds something the text never says, and it puts the whole answer at risk because the marker cannot credit it.
This lesson is part of evidence-led KOMSAS revision. It works together with connecting an event to a stated value.
How do I sort a claim?
Ask three questions about every sentence you plan to write.
- Can I point to it in the text? If yes, it is supported.
- If not, does it follow reasonably from something I can point to? If yes, it is an inference, and I should say why.
- If neither, it is invented, and I should remove it.
Worked example with an original scene
This scene is invented. In chapter 4, Pak Kassim refuses a developer’s offer for his boat and tells his grandson Adi that every scratch is a memory. The text says nothing else about the developer.
| Claim | Sort | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Pak Kassim refuses the offer | Supported | It happens in the scene |
| Pak Kassim values his past | Inference | He says every scratch is a memory |
| The developer threatened Pak Kassim | Invented | The text never says this |
| Pak Kassim is angry with Adi | Invented | No sign in the scene |
A safe answer uses the first two rows. It cites the refusal and explains the value of the past from his own remark.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is to fill a gap with a dramatic detail. A student writes “the developer threatened him, so he stayed firm”, because it makes the story tidier.
The repair is to write only what the scene supports: “Pak Kassim menolak tawaran itu kerana baginya setiap calar pada bot ialah kenangan.” If you want to say more, phrase it as an inference and tie it to his words.
Check yourself
Sort these claims about the same scene: (a) Adi asks why his grandfather refuses. (b) Adi is worried about the family’s money. (c) The boat has scratches.
Answer
(a) is supported, because the scene says Adi asks why. (b) is invented, because the scene gives no sign of money worries. (c) is supported, because Pak Kassim himself mentions the scratches.
When you cannot point to a line, the safe choice is to leave the claim out.
What to study next
Now keep what you have verified in a compact record, using building a short revision record without reproducing the novel. Test your sentences on the claim, evidence and explanation revision desk.
For a teacher to check your answers sentence by sentence against the text, see online one-to-one Bahasa Melayu tuition.