adminCharles Dube
A COUPLE of weeks ago I talked about writing situational essays but left out bits on the answering of that type of questions. A lot of English questions ask learners to write articles for different kinds of magazines, newsletter or reports for a particular group of people. The style of an article should fit the situation. They should know that they are marked on two things here — how well they answer the question, and how well they write in the style of a real article.
Grab the reader’s attention like in a real article. You also have to get to the point quickly. Think about who you are writing for, that is the audience — people at school or colleagues. Note that reports are about giving facts and opinions. Make sure your answer fits the question when starting an essay.
As has always been emphasised in this column you should grab the attention of anyone reading your essay. Never start your essay with a long introduction.
If you want high grades you have to show the examiners you are getting to the point right away. Your first sentence is important, just as the rest of your opening paragraph. It needs to kick-start your essay, showing that you are really going to answer the question. The examiners start judging your work as soon as they read it. You have got to show you understand the question and you are giving a clear answer.
The basics of comparing things. Comparing is finding similarities and differences or is all about looking at two or more things together. When comparing things, do not just write about one thing and then the other. This is discouraged and is the big mistake people make with comparisons. The whole point is to write about both things together. It is about making links between them. Compare the language used. You need to say whether the language is similar or different.
Examine ideas used in both articles. When you do this, you are trying to make links between ideas that are similar and ideas that are different. You have to write about the layout of the two articles for this bit of the question. You must make your comparisons clear — give the similarities and differences and try to explain why the two things are similar or different. You have got to write about both of the things at the same time — looking for what they have in common and what they do not. You will be fine as long as you write about the similarities and differences when you answer the question.
Writing comparisons applies mainly in Literature essays which include poetry as well. We will discuss answering literature questions in the coming episodes. Remember we also dealt with description. Keep your description interesting and you need to be careful how you use words. Do not use the same words all the time as that creates monotony. Do not use too many vague describing words, like interesting or beautiful. Do not use them on their own — always add extra information to back them up. Never use the word “nice” — it does not really mean anything. Think of some other word to use instead.
The same applies to “good” especially when describing characters. It does not mean anything. Make sure you use specific words or phrases which will make clear what you are saying about that particular character. Remember your essays or compositions should have characters. A story without characters is dead, but they should not be too many as to confuse the reader as stated before. Some learners believe that characters are only talked about in Literature only.
To improve marks on describing, try using images to bring your writing to life. Images are word pictures. They make your writing more fun. You can compare things using as — “as fat as”, “as ugly as”. You can write that something actually is something else (metaphor) Avoid using clichés. Clichés are phrases or images that have been used so often they have become boring. For example, as blind as a bat. However, this is not to say these expressions are totally banned from use as there are some which have not been over used.
Some of these expressions come in various forms, for example, we can say as calm as a summer sea, as glass or as death. All these are comparisons or similes learners are encouraged to use to improve their essay writing skills. When writing examinations the objective is to get the highest grades, so make sure that you work for them. You read this article when schools have already closed for term one vacation. You should have been at various dropping off points when learners from boarding schools disembarked from buses and kombis as early as 5:00 am in the morning on Wednesday.
While the majority of learners were calm showing signs of being drowsy from waking up early to catch transport to town there were a few who came in high spirits dancing to music from kombis while perilously seated on the windows wedding style before the police put a stop to it. Uniforms had been removed for casual attire. This leads me to encourage learners to value their school uniforms. Behave well all the time regardless of whether you are in school uniform or not.
Bad behaviour in public tarnishes the image and integrity of the school you come from. Despite many challenges the schools face, they are trying the best to produce responsible citizens. Parents go all out to get you learners to school, so go there and learn to complement those efforts than embarrass them at the end when you have failed. Learners should work hard to achieve success fairly than resort to cheating. Surely, no one likes to be linked with cheating.
Those who pass through cheating should know that the working world will eventually find out as individuals concerned will fail to perform to expectations. Do not spoil your reputation and the integrity of the examination body by resorting to unorthodox means to achieve success. Work for excellence and you will get without using unconventional means. Learners writing examinations in June your work is cut out. You have no holiday, study hard.
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derick.khumalo