Emerging Trends in the setting and the marking of the KCSE Paper three. 101/03 This paper focusses on sensitizing teachers of English handling the candidate class 2020 on the areas that need attention and emphasis during teaching and revision. Most candidates perform dismally in this paper because they lack the critical techniques on the ‘how’ of responding to questions. The following are the emerging trends in the setting and the marking of this paper. You need to keenly consider the grey areas below so that you are able to guide the learners appropriately. It pains examiners when they come across scripts with great answers but poorly presented and thus dismal grades! MARY MOUNT GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL- MOLO. ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT EXCEL IN ENGLISH IN THE REGION. This paper has the following questions: Question 1(a) and (b). This section has creative, argumentative, descriptive and expository composition writing. Question 2 is the compulsory set text essay while question 3(a)(b)and (c) are essays from the optional set texts. I wish to focus first on the questions based on the set texts and then follow it up with question 1 in the second series of this write-up. ( 1 )Question content Since 2016 the setting has focused more on the Moral of the stories ( in our case the set books) For example, the optional set texts reveal the following trend since then: a) 2016 question 3(b) Drama Francis Imbuga: Betrayal in the city. With illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the city show how corruption is dehumanizing. b) 2017 question 3(b)  Francis Imbuga, Betrayal in the city. Choices have consequences. Using Francis Imbugas  Betrayal in the city write an essay in support of the truth of the statement. c) 2018 question 3(c) John Steinbeck, The pearl. With illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay showing the evil nature of greed d) 2019 question 3(c) John Steinbeck’s, The Pearl. Desire without limit can be a source of agony both to ourselves and our family members. Using illustrations from The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement. Question 2. The compulsory set text a)  2019 Question 2. The Compulsory Set Text.H.R. Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R. Ole Kulet in Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement b) 2018 question 2 Bertolt Brecht, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Write a composition entitled: Self Centredness Does not Pay.[Not in syllabus anymore] c) 2017 question 2 Margret  A. Ogola, The River and the Source. Contentment and humility are the secrets to happiness. Write a composition in support of this statement, drawing illustrations from The River and the source. From the above many examples, it is correct to make an assertion that the teacher must not only understand the moral teaching of the texts being taught but also bring it to the attention of the candidates. It appears that any candidate who is well prepared on this ground is most likely going to do well! (2) Interpretation Take the students through the correct interpretation of the question. Keywords that carry the demands of the question must be singled out. This is a very crucial step in scooping marking essay writing. If the question is incorrectly interpreted then the responses following will be obviously wrong! Example( 1) [KCSE 2018 QUESTION 3(c)] John Steinbeck’s The Pearl,  with illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay on the evil nature of greed. The keywords here are the evil nature and greed. The candidate is tasked with the responsibility of bringing out the meaning of these keywords in his essay. The correctness of his interpretation is captured in the introduction and then subsequently in the ideas he discusses in the essay. Sample Introduction (1) Discontentment may make an individual engage in behaviour or actions that are really dangerous and inhuman. This is as shown in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. This is an example of a general -contextualized introduction. The phrases greed and the evil nature have been interpreted as discontentment and behaviour or actions that are dangerous or inhuman respectively. EXAMPLE (2) (KCSE 2019 Question 2) Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R Ole Kulet’s  Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement. Sample Introduction (2) Poorly thought or carelessly made choices may have far-reaching negative outcomes.  Some characters in the novel, Blossoms of the Savannah make these choices that affect them negatively as discussed. In the essay question above the keywords, irresponsible decisions and serious consequences have been interpreted as poorly thought or carelessly made choices and far-reaching negative outcomes respectively. [Developing the body to come in series two of this blog. Check out.]

Emerging Trends in the setting and the marking of the KCSE Paper three. 101/03

This paper focusses on sensitizing teachers of English handling the candidate class 2020 on the areas that need attention and emphasis during teaching and revision. Most candidates perform dismally in this paper because they lack the critical techniques on the ‘how’ of responding to questions. The following are the emerging trends in the setting and the marking of this paper. You need to keenly consider the grey areas below so that you are able to guide the learners appropriately. It pains examiners when they come across scripts with great answers but poorly presented and thus dismal grades!

 

 

This paper has the following questions:

Question 1(a) and (b). This section has creative, argumentative, descriptive and expository composition writing.

Question 2 is the compulsory set text essay while question 3(a)(b)and (c) are essays from the optional set texts.

I wish to focus first on the questions based on the set texts and then follow it up with question 1 in the second series of this write-up.

( 1 )Question content

Since 2016 the setting has focused more on the Moral of the stories ( in our case the set books)

For example, the optional set texts reveal the following trend since then:

a) 2016 question 3(b) Drama Francis Imbuga: Betrayal in the city. With illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the city show how corruption is dehumanizing.

b) 2017 question 3(b)  Francis Imbuga, Betrayal in the city.

Choices have consequences. Using Francis Imbugas  Betrayal in the city write an essay in support of the truth of the statement.

c) 2018 question 3(c) John Steinbeck, The pearl. With illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay showing the evil nature of greed

d) 2019 question 3(c) John Steinbeck’s, The Pearl. Desire without limit can be a source of agony both to ourselves and our family members. Using illustrations from The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement.

Question 2. The compulsory set text

a)  2019 Question 2. The Compulsory Set Text.H.R. Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah

Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R. Ole Kulet in Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement

b) 2018 question 2 Bertolt Brecht, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Write a composition entitled: Self Centredness Does not Pay.[Not in syllabus anymore]

c) 2017 question 2 Margret  A. Ogola, The River and the Source. Contentment and humility are the secrets to happiness. Write a composition in support of this statement, drawing illustrations from The River and the source.

From the above many examples, it is correct to make an assertion that the teacher must not only understand the moral teaching of the texts being taught but also bring it to the attention of the candidates. It appears that any candidate who is well prepared on this ground is most likely going to do well!

(2) Interpretation

Take the students through the correct interpretation of the question. Keywords that carry the demands of the question must be singled out. This is a very crucial step in scooping marking essay writing. If the question is incorrectly interpreted then the responses following will be obviously wrong!

Example( 1)

[KCSE 2018 QUESTION 3(c)] John Steinbeck’s The Pearl,  with illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay on the evil nature of greed. The keywords here are the evil nature and greed. The candidate is tasked with the responsibility of bringing out the meaning of these keywords in his essay. The correctness of his interpretation is captured in the introduction and then subsequently in the ideas he discusses in the essay.

Sample Introduction (1)

Discontentment may make an individual engage in behaviour or actions that are really dangerous and inhuman. This is as shown in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl.

This is an example of a general -contextualized introduction. The phrases greed and the evil nature have been interpreted as discontentment and behaviour or actions that are dangerous or inhuman respectively.

EXAMPLE (2)

(KCSE 2019 Question 2) Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R Ole Kulet’s  Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement.

Sample Introduction (2)

Poorly thought or carelessly made choices may have far-reaching negative outcomes.  Some characters in the novel, Blossoms of the Savannah make these choices that affect them negatively as discussed.

In the essay question above the keywords, irresponsible decisions and serious consequences have been interpreted as poorly thought or carelessly made choices and far-reaching negative outcomes respectively.

[Developing the body to come in series two of this blog. Check out.]

 

This paper focusses on sensitizing teachers of English handling the candidate class 2020 on the areas that need attention and emphasis during teaching and revision. Most candidates perform dismally in this paper because they lack the critical techniques on the ‘how’ of responding to questions. The following are the emerging trends in the setting and the marking of this paper. You need to keenly consider the grey areas below so that you are able to guide the learners appropriately. It pains examiners when they come across scripts with great answers but poorly presented and thus dismal grades!

 

 

This paper has the following questions:

Question 1(a) and (b). This section has creative, argumentative, descriptive and expository composition writing.

Question 2 is the compulsory set text essay while question 3(a)(b)and (c) are essays from the optional set texts.

I wish to focus first on the questions based on the set texts and then follow it up with question 1 in the second series of this write-up.

( 1 )Question content

Since 2016 the setting has focused more on the Moral of the stories ( in our case the set books)

For example, the optional set texts reveal the following trend since then:

a) 2016 question 3(b) Drama Francis Imbuga: Betrayal in the city. With illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the city show how corruption is dehumanizing.

b) 2017 question 3(b)  Francis Imbuga, Betrayal in the city.

Choices have consequences. Using Francis Imbugas  Betrayal in the city write an essay in support of the truth of the statement.

c) 2018 question 3(c) John Steinbeck, The pearl. With illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay showing the evil nature of greed

d) 2019 question 3(c) John Steinbeck’s, The Pearl. Desire without limit can be a source of agony both to ourselves and our family members. Using illustrations from The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement.

Question 2. The compulsory set text

a)  2019 Question 2. The Compulsory Set Text.H.R. Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah

Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R. Ole Kulet in Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement

b) 2018 question 2 Bertolt Brecht, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Write a composition entitled: Self Centredness Does not Pay.[Not in syllabus anymore]

c) 2017 question 2 Margret  A. Ogola, The River and the Source. Contentment and humility are the secrets to happiness. Write a composition in support of this statement, drawing illustrations from The River and the source.

From the above many examples, it is correct to make an assertion that the teacher must not only understand the moral teaching of the texts being taught but also bring it to the attention of the candidates. It appears that any candidate who is well prepared on this ground is most likely going to do well!

(2) Interpretation

Take the students through the correct interpretation of the question. Keywords that carry the demands of the question must be singled out. This is a very crucial step in scooping marking essay writing. If the question is incorrectly interpreted then the responses following will be obviously wrong!

Example( 1)

[KCSE 2018 QUESTION 3(c)] John Steinbeck’s The Pearl,  with illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay on the evil nature of greed. The keywords here are the evil nature and greed. The candidate is tasked with the responsibility of bringing out the meaning of these keywords in his essay. The correctness of his interpretation is captured in the introduction and then subsequently in the ideas he discusses in the essay.

Sample Introduction (1)

Discontentment may make an individual engage in behaviour or actions that are really dangerous and inhuman. This is as shown in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl.

This is an example of a general -contextualized introduction. The phrases greed and the evil nature have been interpreted as discontentment and behaviour or actions that are dangerous or inhuman respectively.

EXAMPLE (2)

(KCSE 2019 Question 2) Irresponsible decisions can lead to serious consequences. Referring closely to H.R Ole Kulet’s  Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of this statement.

Sample Introduction (2)

Poorly thought or carelessly made choices may have far-reaching negative outcomes.  Some characters in the novel, Blossoms of the Savannah make these choices that affect them negatively as discussed.

In the essay question above the keywords, irresponsible decisions and serious consequences have been interpreted as poorly thought or carelessly made choices and far-reaching negative outcomes respectively.

[Developing the body to come in series two of this blog. Check out.]