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- This question is intended to test the candidate’s ability to communicate in writing.
Communication is establishes at different levels of intelligibility, correctness, accuracy, fluency, pleasantness and originality - It is the linguistic competence shown by the candidate that should carry most of the marks
- It is important to determine first how the essay communicates and in which category A, B, C or D it fits
The following is a guideline on how to categorise essays:
D class (01 – 05) - The candidate either does not communicate at all or his / her language ability is so limited that the examiner practically has to guess what the candidate wants to say.
- Fails to fit the English words he knows into meaningful sentences
- Subject glances at or distorted
- Practically no valid punctuation. All kind of errors. Broken English.
C class (06 – 10) - The candidate communicates understandably but only more or less clearly. He is not confident with language
- The subject often undeveloped
- Some digressions
- Unnecessary repetitions are frequent
- The arrangement is weak and the flow jerky
- There is no economy of language
- Mother-tongue influence is felt
- Flat treatment of subject
B class (11 – 15) - This class is categorized by greater fluency and ease of expression
- The candidate demonstrates that he can use English as a normal way of expressing himself
- Sentences are varied and usually well-constructed
- Items of merit of the one word or one expression type, but not as good as in A class essays.
- A few errors
A class (16 – 20) - The candidate communicates not only fluently but attractively, with originality and efficiency
- He has the ability to make us share his deep feelings, emotions, enthusiasms
- Expresses himself freely and without problem
- he script gives evidence of maturity, good planning and often humour
- Many items or merit / margin ticks
- Candidate displays complete command of the language
- Vocabulary, idiom, sentence structure, links, variety are impressive
- A few errors that are felt as slips
TABLE OF CATEGORIES
CLASS
SCRIPT CATEGORY
MARKS RANGE
A
A+
A
A-
19 – 20
18
16 – 17
B
B+
B
B-
14 – 15
13
11 – 12
C
C+
C
C-
09 – 10
08
06 – 07
D
D+
D
D-
04 – 05
03
00 – 02
GROSS ERROR- Almost any error of agreement
- Serious tense erro
- Errors of elementary vocabulary, spelling and misuse
- Punctuation errors and missing punctuation which causes serious lack of communication
- Elementary errors of sentence construction
- Ridiculous use of idiom that affects communication
- Misuse of common prepositions
- Misuse of capital letters
KENYAN ENGLISH
A good number of words and expressions are understood and currently used by all Kenyans. They can be used in compositions without any need for quotation marks or explanations
Examples
Panga, rungu, shamba, matatu, ugali, wananchi, madarasa, harambee, matoke, askari, boma, sukumawiki, duka etc
AMERICAN SPELLING
Both American and British spellings are acceptable and no penalty should be given to such variations e.g Labor (American) Labour (Britain)
- This question is intended to test the candidate’s ability to communicate in writing.
- Points of interpretation
- As I said goodbye to her, little did I know that would be the last time I would be seeing her.
- Must be a story, if not deduct maximum 4 marks (AD)
- For minor irrelevancy deduct 2 mks (AD)
- The candidate must present a story in which the narrator’s girlfriend / mother / sister / aunt went on a journey and something happened may be an accident / kidnap / air crash that led to untimely death of failure to return permanently due to something that occurred.
- The candidate is expected to present a very captivating, interesting and likely story that elicits interest from the examiner
- If the candidate fails to begin until the statement deduct 2 mks (AD)
- Must be a story. If not deduct maximum 4 AS
Maximum 4 AD if saying is not tagged
Expect character to be disappointed having been overtaken by time leading to failure.
- As I said goodbye to her, little did I know that would be the last time I would be seeing her.
- The novel – The river and the source (20 marks)
Using The River and the Source by Margaret Ogola write a composition to illustrate the statement: Education is the key to success.
Introduction
The acquisition of knowledge and skills lead to successful life. In the novel, ‘The River and the Source’ by Margaret Ogola, Akoko’s family settles at Aluor Mission where the search for knowledge begins. The subsequent generations follow the footsteps of Owuor and Awiti. Any relevant introduction (2 marks)
Body- Awiti goes through education and becomes a teacher
- When she and her cousin settle in Aluor they start learning the Whiteman’s education, Awiti excels in primary school despite the fact that very few girls go to school
- She is enrolled in a teacher training college where she works hard and excels
- She becomes a teacher and lives a good life together with her family. Together with her husband they educate their children who become successful people.
- Vera works hard in school and becomes an engineer (electronics expert).
- In primary school she passed really well, she excelled in almost everything sports, debate, academics. She goes to secondary school where she also excels and joins university. She later becomes an engineer (An electronic expert) and gets a very paying job with many benefits
- Aoro goes through the education system and becomes a surgeon
- He is very bright and passes his C.P.E, ordinary level exams and advanced level exams with bright colours
- Becomes a doctor, and studies surgery, later becoming a surgeon with his own private practice
- Wandia works hard in school and she becomes the 1st female professor in the field of medicine at that time
- Passes her primary and secondary education
- Joins the university, she does her second degree and becomes a lecturer at the university
- She gets a scholarship abroad
- She is later awarded the highest accolade possible in medical academics
- She lives well with her famil
- Owuor also becomes successful because of education
- Works hard and passes his C.P.E
- He joins the seminary, works hard and does not give up despite many hardships
- Becomes a priest and later a Bishop Accept any 4 well illustrated points 3 marks each
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that Education is the key to success. Vera, Wandia, Aoro e.t.c become successful people in the society because of education Accept any optional conclusion (2 marks)
Introduction 2 marks
Body (3 x 4) 12 marks
Conclusion 2 marks
Language 4 marks
Total 20 marks
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- THE SHORT STORY: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Eccentric behaviour may make a person be unable to fit in his or society. Using from ‘Diamond Dust’ by Anita Desai. Show how Mr. Das is alienated.
Introduction
Societies have conventionally accepted code of conduct. Anybody who deviates from these convections is socially avoided and Mr. Das in the story of Diamond Dust’ by Anita Desai is avoided by people who see him as eccentric or a deviant.
Points in the body
His wife is not happy with him and his dog diamond. The dog bites her grandson and this leaves her livid. She is married for a long time but doubts whether she knows her husband or not. Das devotes a lot of his time trying to make diamond comfortable but does not show the same commitment to his children and grandchildren.
The friends and colleagues of Mr. Das whom he daily meets on their morning walks are shocked at how he behaves towards his dog diamond. They find him foolish and strange. The discussed his behaviour with a lot of disgust although they could not tell him. Cp Biswas is the most disgusted and he promise to tell him.
Mr. Das fails to dispose his dog even after it bites the postman. The postman decides to always leave the letters outside the gate. Das almost misses a crucial letter addressed to his daughter. Mrs. Das Bemoans the way her daughter’s letters disappear.
The telephone lines repairmen, the Board of Electricity officials and the garbage collectors are constantly harassed by the dog. The children coming from school are not spared either. Their parents angrily approach Mr. Das after this but he does not budge. He ignores them and this spoils the relationship with the neighbours more. 2.3.3.3.3.2 + 4 for language
Conclusion
The old behaviour isolate him from the society and makes him to be a social pariah or outcast. It is therefore evident that odd character traits can alienate an individual. - Betrayal in the city
Satire is a style of criticizing the weakness of institutions or individuals by mocking them, sometimes in a humorous way. Betrayal in the City is an attack on mediocrity and provides perfect examples of the use of satire.
Body
Mulili’s use of English language is an attack on mediocre governments. Every time he speaks, he evokes laughter with his broken English. Although he is a mediocre, and unfit to serve the state, he remains a key figure of government and is used to effect various government orders. He is a symbol of the myopic nature of dictatorial regimes, where unquestioning loyalty is more important than one’s qualification to serve.
Tumbo is another officer whose conduct is ridiculed. His reference to Wole Soyinka as a prime minister of some country is an indication of his lack of general knowledge in spite him being an important government officer.
The government tendering system is also satirized. The government has organized a play writing contest in which the best play will be staged to entertain a visiting dignitary. But Tumbo unilaterally decides to declare Jusper the winner even if he had not taken part in the competition.
The same thing happens when Boss has to intervene to have Kabito’s tender snatched and given to Mulili.
The killing of Doga and Nina also satirizes dictatorial regimes. The notion that a government can feel threatened by an old couple’s attempt to conduct a shaving ceremony is laughable. This government is portrayed as insecure and therefore suspicious of the citizen’s daily endeavors even when such acts bear no threat to the leadership. The same heavy handedness is seen in the killing of Adika, a mere university student. It is uncharacteristic of a head of state to try to force himself on Regina. When his wife complains of about it, she is locked up. Were called to laugh at such kind of leadership. A person of the status of the head of state ought to behave better.
Conclusion
The use of satire in this play highlights the weakness of governments of banana republics. The reader or the audience is called upon to witness the hopeless nature of officers who lead such establishments. We are able to appreciate the faults that characterize bad governance and mediocrity.
Accept any other relevant point.
Any four well illustrated point 3:3:3:4 = 12 marks
Introduction 2 marks
Conclusion 2 marks
Language use – 4 marks)
Even Boss’s character is satirized - The Whale Ride
What are the signs that Kahu is a whale rider according to Witi Ihimaera’s novel The Whale Rider?
Introduction
The society portrayed in Witi Ihimaera’s novel ‘The Whale Rider’ is very patriarchal and lopsided in favour of men. Koro Apirana busies himself looking for the next Whale rider when Kahu has all the requisite signs to be the heir. The following are some of the signs:
Body
Kahu cherishes the Maori food so much. As a child, one would expect her to be obsessed with baby’s food but this is not the case. She drinks cold water and eats Maori food. Unlike the other children at the age of eight, she abhors sugar. The whale rider, Paikea, originated from the people of Maori culture. Kahu adapts to the Maori culture like fish in the water even though she does not grow up with close links to the Maori people.
Kahu attends meeting meant for boys. She attends a tribal meeting, where only the boys were allowed to attend. Koroa Apirana told the boys how he received instruction on handing over the mantle. One of the tests she is to bite the toe of the king which Kahu ably does. She crawls into the room and bites Koro Apirana’s toe. This warrants her to receive the mantle of prestige as the whale rider.
Kahu has effusive emotion over the suffering of the whales which qualify her as a veritable whale rider, she is the apt communication link between the whales and man. When her uncle Rawili takes her to the movies, she sinks into deep sorrow when she hears sound of the whale in its death throes. As Koro Apirana recounts of how a whale would be killed, she is all tall tears. These events show Kahu’s understanding of the pain the whales go through.
Kahu has an inexplicable ability to communicate with the whales. When Rawiri and the boys were returning home from the movies, one of them spots a killer whale out in the sea. Kahu begins making strange throatily sound similar to the ones Rawiri had heard in the movie theatre. One morning, Rawiri sees Kahu on the beach chattering with three whales that leave the scene when Kahu runs towards him. The whale rider must be able to communicate with the whales and therefore, Kahu fits the bill.
Kahu retrieves the curved stones that Koro Apirana throws into the sea. She is guided by dolphins that help her to find the stone. This is a test of physical and psychological strength. All the young boys in Koro Apirana’s school fail to retrieve the stone. This test shows that Kahu qualifies to be the whale rider and the leader of the Maori people.
Conclusion
A person’s character can help determine what one would become in future. Sometimes, obscene signs reveal the purpose of one’s living on earth. Kahu, despite being a girls to the chagrin of her great grandfather proves herself worthy of the mantle of leadership.
Marks distribution
Introduction 2 marks
Body 3 : 3 : 3 : 3 = 12 marks
Conclusion 2 marks
Language 4 marks
Total 20 marks
- THE SHORT STORY: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
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