ENGLISH PAPER 1 DYNAMICS

2 OCTOBER 2018
nd
 Approach
• What is tested?

• Examination Skills

• Tips

• Penalties
 What is tested?
• Listening and Speaking Skills- covered in 3
broad areas:

Functional Writing- 20 Marks

Cloze Test- 10 Marks

Oral Skills- 30 Marks

 FUNCTIONAL WRITING- TOPICS
SOCIAL WRITING
 Informal letters
 Invitations
 E-mails
 Fax
 Telegrams
 NOTES of
Thanks
Congratulations
Condolence
 Instruction to family and friends
PERSONAL WRITING
 Addresses
 Packing lists
 Shopping lists
 Reminders
 Recipes
 Personal journals/diaries
STUDY WRITING
 Questionnaires

 Report
Survey
Newspaper

 Reviews-book

 Synopsis
INSTITUTIONAL WRITING
 Minutes
 Speeches
 C.V’s
 Business letters/ Official/ Formal
 Advertisements
 Inventory
 Posters
 Notification of meetings
 Memorandum
 Public notices
PUBLIC WRITING
 Letters of application
 Telephone messages- (SMS, While you were
away)
 Letters on inquiry
 Letters of apology
 Letters of request
 Filling forms
 FUNCTIONAL WRITING-20Marks
• How it is tested?

 One question- 20marks

 Split questions- (a) and (b)= 20marks

 (Use 2011/ 2017 Exam to illustrate)

 OBJECTIVES
 Candidate’s ability to communicate using the
correct format
 Candidate’s ability to respond correctly on the
items asked in the question
 Candidate’s ability to communicate fluently
and effortlessly
 Candidate’s ability to use the correct tone.
 KEY AREAS- TESTED
 The format

 Ability to respond to items asked

 Language ability(given prominence e.g. 2015 exam)

 Tone e.g. Formal letters, synopsis (use present tense). All topics use formal tone
except informal letters and notes of thanks, condolences and congratulations.

 Common sense aspect (some issues one will be expected to highlight though they
are not in the question) e.g. In application letters, you must state your age, gender
and level of education. In speech writing, you must give a background say of day or
event.

(Use Post Mock 1 to illustrate areas)

 Sample Question
You are a student at Elimu Academy. You have
just attended a workshop on corruption and
its effect on national development. You would
like to make other students aware of the
negative impact of corruption on society and
how to curb the menace. Write a letter to the
editor of Daily News, through your principal,
giving your views. (20 Marks)
 Sample Scheme
• Format- 8marks.formal letter- include 3rd address for Through
The Principal-
• Content- 7marks
Paragraph 1- introduction- attending workshop/ intention of
writing
Paragraph 2- effects of corruption- at least 2
Paragraph 3- how to curb menace- at least 2
Conclusion- must discourage students from engaging in corruption
• Tone- 1mark formal/ official and objective
• Language – 4 marks spelling, tense, punctuation, sentence
construction.
 TIPS
 Use simple official language (formal tone)

 Use borderlines-frame

 Respond to items asked in question

 Elaborate content- not merely state

 Write legibly

 Be informed on details of functional writings .e.g. what to include in a synopsis, a letter, a notification of meetings, report ,titles
e.g. of minutes, speech, reports etc

 Apply common sense esp. in application letters, request letters, notices, titles say of report, clubs like drama, publishing
companies etc

 Follow order of items as the format of the writing dictates e.g. reports

 Use designations not names e.g. chairperson, patron, secretary etc.2015 exam, deputy principal and patron in attendance
(candidates must have included the designations to score)
 PENALTIES
 Blatant Irrelevancy 00.eg.writing a synopsis or review on a different book from one tested. e.g 2011 exam.

 Minor irrelevancy- up to 4AD e.g. mixing up characters in say book reviews or synopsis. One may mention a
character who is in a different book…writing a review on a book that is already published

 Mixed format – up to 2AD e.g. ending an informal letter that begins with Dear Ann(name of a person) with
“Yours faithfully”.

 Using wrong format but including items asked e.g. Writing a notification of meeting instead of Agenda- up
to 4AD or Minutes instead of Agenda(2008)

 Denial of Marks- failing to use borderlines where required e.g. notice, failure to respond to item asked in
question. Using CAPS in email address

 Change of order while formatting e.g. report writing (bringing Recommendations before Conclusion), memo,
email (from, to :) both marks on format and content are denied. Candidates must be keen on order in
formatting.
 KNEC TESTING SINCE 2006
 2006-Report writing-on a trip attended
 2007-Offcial letter +Book review
 2008-Notice+ Agenda
 2009-Letter of inquiry
 2010-Speech- on environment
 2011-Notice (play performance) + Synopsis
 2012-CV +Letter of application
 2013-Notice (child lost) + Thank you note
 2014-Friendly letter (citing memorable experiences)
 2015-Minutes
 2016- Letter of application + CV
 2017-Speech- on drugs and substance abuse
 2018- ???
 CLOZE TEST- 10 Marks
 What is it?

 How is it revised?

 Learners Attitude

 How is it tested?

 What is tested?
 CLOZE TEST Cont’
• What is it?
A form of written examination in which
candidates are required to provide words that
have been omitted from sentences thereby
demonstrating their knowledge and
comprehension of the text.
• How is it revised?
???????
• Learners Attitude
An area hardly revised by students/ Dismissive??
• How is it tested?
Through a passage- learners need to
demonstrate not only meaning but also
continuity of the text.
 What is Tested?
Broadly- Mastery of Language use through:
 Collocations- words that go together
 Parts of speech-word classes
 Punctuation
 Tense
 Spelling
 Lettering
( Use 2014 KNEC Exam)
 TIPS
 Read passage noting the twists and the turns. Whichever word you use, it must add
continuity.
 Familiarize with day to day language of communication
 Exposure to media language –TV, Radio, Newspapers, and Magazines
 Be keen on Lettering (i)(l)(f)(g)(o)(z)
 Avoid options in answers
 Observe punctuation marks e.g. question marks (WH or Yes/No questions), comma
before word would suggest a conjunction, semicolon before word would suggest a
connector etc
 Check out for collocations….in every cloze test there must be 2 or 3 collocations
 Test your answers on the parts of speech used
 Empathize with the passage ( ensure you feel the twists and turns in the story)
 Try to find out what the missing words in the remaining gaps are. Think about the part
of speech which may fit in each gap (is it an article, Noun, Adjective, conjunction, Verb,
Adverb) while at the same time paying close attention to the grammar around the
words in each gap
 TIPS Cont’
 A preposition following a noun, adjective or verb e.g. good at football
 A connector for example first he stood up, then he walked up towards the door
 A prepositional phrase such as in case of
 An adverb for example he came to the meeting early.
 A conjunction for example though he is a stranger here he is friendly with
many people
 An auxiliary verb may be what is required if for instance a main verb is already
in place for example the team will win this match
 An article or a determiner example: this house was built last year
 A relative pronoun such as: I met the man who drives the school bus
 A pronoun functioning either as a subject of the verb or the object of a verb; It
fell down
 Find out whether the gap requires a comparative or a superlative adjective; this
vehicle moves faster than a motorcycle
• Some sentences may seem to be complete and
contain gaps that appear to be unnecessary. If
you find such gaps you will probably require to
fill them in with:
 An adverb; he was never early
 A modal verb; they could sing well
 A word to change the emphasis of the given
sentence
The tasks are quite easy to handle
 PENALTIES
 Inappropriate punctuation- beginning in
capital letters mid-sentence.
 Alternative answers if one is wrong, then no
score
 Incorrect spelling, no score
 Poor Lettering
 Blank Spaces
 ORAL SKILLS- 30 Marks
What is Tested?
 Pronunciation -vowels, consonants,
diphthongs, long and short vowels, silent
letters, homophones, stress and intonation in
words/sentences/in poems, tongue twisters,
rhyme, puns, alliteration, assonance etc.
 (2011, 2012, 2013,2014- homophones)
 (2015, 2017- vowel sounds)
 INTONATION
Intonation refers to variation of spoken pitch that is
not used to distinguish words; instead it is used for
a range of functions such as indicating the attitude
and emotions of the speaker, signaling the
difference between statements and questions and
between different types of questions, focusing
attention on important elements of spoken
message and also helping to regulate
conversational interaction.
• Rising
• Falling
• Rising- Falling
• Falling- Rising
(Arrows may be used to express Intonation)
(2011,2014)
• In a nutshell intonation refers to how we say something
rather than what we say.
• Intonation helps one to understand the expressions and
thoughts that go with words.
• Usually WH words questions are spoken with a falling intonation.
What are you doing?
• YES/ NO answer questions are spoken with a rising intonation.
You are a student?
• General statements are spoken with a falling intonation.
That lady is a doctor.
• Statements with question tags are spoken with a falling rising intonation.
You should read more books, shouldn’t you?
• When reading a series of items in a list, a rising intonation is used
When you go to the market, buy a kilo of sugar, a packet of salt, a note book, a
pen and a pencil.
• Conditional statements are spoken with a rising falling intonation
If I were a genius, I would be happy.
• When giving orders or expressing surprise, a falling intonation is used.
Don’t step on the grass. (Order)
What a wonderful gift this is. (Surprise)
• When expressing excitement or joy, a rising intonation is used.
 Non-verbal communication
Use of gestures, facial expression, dressing/costume and
décor, body posture, maintaining eye contact, touch,
space and body movement etc. (answers must be
qualified DON’T USE General answers like appropriate
gestures, appropriate facial expressions
etc……..candidates must identify the exact words to use
which must be clear. E.g. open arms to welcome not
open hands, raised hands).
(Use 2011/ 2014)
 Verbal Communication
Voice projection/audibility, pitch, intonation,
tone variation, tone, word stress, dramatic
pauses, mimicry, silence, whisper. (2011)
 Negotiation Skills
(win-lose approach and win-win approach)-
Features/ Characteristics and Effects. Usually
tested in dialogues (2015)
 Sound patterns-in poetry
Consonance, assonance, rhyme,
onomatopoeia, refrain, and alliteration, rhyme
scheme (Candidate must understand their
meanings and identify and illustrate them as
they are in the poem- use 2013/2014/2015
KCSE to illustrate)
 Dialogue-Guided or for Analysis
Fill in parts of a dialogue- Guided- Be keen when
filling gaps on preceding speech, stage directions
and observe etiquette. (2014,2017)

 Dialogue for Analysis- Identify varied

conversational skills- Strengths or shortcomings,
turn taking, etiquette etc.(2011)
NB. Observe use of hesitation markers…
 Etiquette /Correct register
Teacher-student register, Parent-child register, Counselor-
student register, legal register, hospital register. (Could
be tested in a Dialogue or Cloze Test) (2006, 2010)
 Oral narratives
Tests on performance. How would you say…? Use verbal
and non- verbal. Capture and maintain attention. How to
make narration interesting. Be elaborate in answer. Do
not give general answers…e.g.(tested 2014) Check on
use of songs in narratives (question on
accompaniments/ costume and décor)
 Oral poetry/ Songs/ Chants
Tests on performance, features of oral poems, sound
patterns, rhyme scheme, tone, Stress and intonation,
punctuation-use of semi-colon, dashes, and full stops.
(2006, 2015, 2017)
 Short forms
Tests on proverbs, riddles, tongue twisters, pun. Tests on
sound patterns, characteristics and functions/ role e.g. Role
of riddles: Build character, culture discovery, education,
entertainment and develop communication. (2017)
 Open Ended Questions
Interviews- before, during, after- Focus on
interviewer not just interviewee. (2012)
Oral reports- details (2014)
Discussion Groups- how to make discussion
effective? Role of participants
Impromptu Speeches- preparation/ delivery(2011,
2012)
Vote of Thanks- Features/ Elements( 2013)
Directions (2015)
Expressions to use in different situations (2012)
Debates- how to deal with fear and anxiety
Good listening/ speaking/ delivery skills (2012)
Description of rhythm in a paragraph (passage)
(2015)
Ways to know audience is participating in talk/
performance? ‘observe….”
 TIPS
• Be keen on mark distribution
• In the oral narratives/poetry- Candidates must read and understand the passage/ poem.
There must be identification/illustration
• For pronunciation-spelling of words say in homophones must be correct, in silent letters,
single out the silent letter enclose letter in slants//
• For guided dialogue-check mark distribution. Response must be given in accordance to
proceeding speech. Politeness/courtesy-must be exhibited in writing dialogue responses
• In complete dialogues, check asides or stage directions. They more often than not carry
the answers.
• In poetry answer vertically/not horizontally i.e. how a poem is written…
• Differentiate between tone and intonation…Do not describe tone as slowly/ intonation
as lowered
• Do not give answers in the Negative- Not
• Be guided be common sense-always be positive in you
• Sometimes answers are right in question
 TIPS Con’t
• Verbal and non- verbal cues MUST be stated appropriately and
qualified
• How to perform/say- Candidates must state at what point a
gesture/ facial expression should be used and why
• Sound pattern- Candidates must isolate the sounds
• Syllables to stress- must be properly underlined
• Rhyme scheme description in a poem- state whether regular or
irregular
• Intonation- Differentiate between rising and rising/ falling and
low(pitch)
• Interviews/ debates-avoid general answers- psyche myself, rush
to washrooms, pray etc
 Tips Con’t
• Avoid negative answer- Why did Peter fail to get the message?
He did not pay attention. Peter was inattentive( 2013)
• How to capture and maintain attention- avoid general answers:
tap a glass, bang the table, whistle, use jokes(inject humour)
• Differentiate between onomatopoeia and ideophones
• Question misinterpretation- focus on demand of question
• Words to stress in a poem- all words must be captured in the
order they are in poem. Example:
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!
• Reasons why pronouns would be stressed in a poem
(2017,2013)
 PENALTIES
• No marks for identification without illustration
• In oral narrative/poetry question-if asked to explain 2 ways
(they must be 2)
Examiner marks 1St two points-draws a line others not marked
If 1st two points are wrong-other correct candidates loses out
• Rhyme, assonance, consonance, alliteration- must be
presented as it appears in poem if not, no score
• Wrong spelling for homophones, no score
• Inappropriate underling of stressed syllables no score
• Failure to underline/ isolate sound in sound patterns, no score
• Giving answers in negative, no score
 2018 PROJECTIONS
• Functional Writing- 2 questions.
• Cloze test- on register- school set up/ student-
counselor
• Oral skills- Oral Narrative- Performance(probably with
a song), consonantal sounds, silent letters, stress in
sentences (meaning of stressed words in sentences)
Dialogue for analysis- Conversational skills-strength
and weaknesses. Kind of person/ personality, open-
ended questions- expressions to use in different
situations, interviews…focus on interviewer
THANK YOU