MSCE ENGLISH I

11th September, 2024

MSCE ENGLISH PAPER I

ENGLISH PAPER I TEST ITEMS

English Paper I comprises two sections.
Section A (Multiple Choice Questions) and
Section B (Compositions)
When constructing these test items, one has to pay attention to the examination
syllabus developed by the Malawi National Examination Board. Previous past
papers should act as a reference material on what to dwell on.
SECTION A (30 MARKS)

Content and skills to be measured include:

 Prepositional structure
 Sequence of verb tenses (especially conditional sentences)
 Phrasal verbs
 Registers/ vocabulary
 Parts of speech (contextual)
 Order of adjectives
 Subordinate clauses and phrases
There’s a need to create a balanced paper. A table of test specifications has to
be followed in relation to National Examinations paper
SECTION B (40 MARKS)
COMPOSITION WRITING
➢ A composition is a coherent, well-developed paragraphs of inter-
linking ideas on a particular topic
➢ There are four kinds of compositions commonly examined at MSCE
level namely:
▪ Letter writing (business/formal)
▪ Report writing
▪ Speech writing
▪ Short story writing
Tips to writing a composition

➢ Candidates should compose either a short story, letter,

report or speech i.e they should choose one question.
➢ Candidates should expect a short story and one of the
remaining three.
Tips cont’d

 It is important to understand the question before

attempting it. The candidate has to plan the work. This
helps to reach the required word length. Answering a
composition question without proper planning is a recipe
for failure as chances are very high that the candidate
may run out of points/words in due course before
reaching the expected word length (350 and 500 words) as
well as coming up with a response which is off point. The
length of the composition also determines the marks
awarded. A full composition that has a minimum of 350
words attracts better marks.
Tips cont’d

➢ Candidates should understand the key concept in the

question. Normally the questions are derived from the
themes found in the teaching syllabus.
➢ In an exam, candidates must develop guidelines
➢ Each guideline must be developed in its own paragraph
➢ Each paragraph must have a topic sentence and
developers (supporting sentences)
Layout of a business letter
1. addresses
 A formal letter has two addresses; the sender’s address and recipient’s
address.
 The sender’s address is the first to be written and is written on the top right
corner of the page. The recipient’s address on the other hand is written on
the left below the date
 Letter writing questions do not include these addresses and candidates are
expected to invent them based on the question.
 Addresses should not be written in uppercase/capital letters
Addresses cont’d

 The only letters that are capitalized are those that begin lines and the first
letters of the key or major words in the address
 All the words that form the address must be written in full. For example,
candidates should not write Chimwang’ombe CDSS instead of Chimwang’ombe
Community Day Secondary School nor should they write P.O Box 1165 instead
of Post Office Box 1165
Formal Letter Layout cont’d
2. The date
 The date is written below the first address (the sender’s address) after
skipping one blank line. In this type (block style) the whole layout (the
addresses, salutation and valediction) is not punctuated
 The date must be written in full as 11th October,2024 and not 11/10/2024.
 The date must be that of the day the candidates are sitting for that particular
paper to check the temptation of writing awkward dates
Formal Letter Layout cont’d
3. The salutation (opening)
 The salutation must follow the second address (the recipient’s address) after
skipping a blank line.
 The salutation must not be Dear Sir/Madam. Just use one form either Dear Sir
or Dear Madam.
 Note also that “S” and “M” in Sir and Madam should be capitalized
Formal Letter Layout cont’d
4. The title/Heading
 It comes after the salutation. A blank line is skipped between the salutation
and the heading.
 The title should be underlined when written in small letters and should not be
underlined when written in capital letters (a school can adopt the most
convenient form and all students can be consistent)
 The title can be aligned at the centre or can begin from the margin. The title
must be a phrase and not a complete sentence and should capture the name
of the affected area. For example, candidates should not write “THERE IS AN
INCREASE OF THEFT CASES IN KAWALE” but simple write “INCREASED CASES OF
THEFT IN KAWALE”
Formal Letter Layout cont’d
5. The introduction
 After the title a blank line is skipped to write the introduction.
 The introduction must include the purpose of writing the letter. This
introduction can just be a sentence
For example
I would like to bring it to your attention about the problem of theft that has
made most people to live in fear.
Formal Letter Layout cont’…
6. The body
 After the introduction, follows the body. This is the main part of the letter
which contains details of the letter.
 It is substance of the letter. It contains a series of coherent paragraphs
exploring the topic of concern. Different points should be developed in
separate paragraphs.
 The paragraph style must be block. That is, all sentences must begin from the
margin and a new paragraph must be shown by skipping a blank line.
LETTER WRITING PATTERN OF POINTS
(25 marks-content)
1. Introduction (principal gist for writing the letter)
2. Location (Name of the area – i.e village, Traditional Authority, geographical
bearing, natural or man made features within the locality, estimated number of
residents, dominant occupation etc.
3. Nature of the problem
 description of the problem
 causes of the problem
 effects of the problem
Formal Letter Layout cont’d

4. Community initiative in addressing the problem

5. Assistance needed from officials responsible (recipient)
6. Conclusion (expectations)
This is the part that follows the main body. The conclusion may include general
summary of the main points or recommendations regarding the main points that
have been explored in the main body. One sentence can effectively conclude a
formal letter.
For instance
▪ I will be glad if you grant our request.
▪ I appreciate your assistance in advance.
▪ I will be very grateful if our plea is considered.
Formal Letter Layout cont’d
8. valediction
 The valediction comes after the conclusion but after skipping a blank line.
 In formal letters, the valediction is “Yours faithfully”
 Candidates should not write “Your’s”. After “Yours faithfully” a signature
follows. Below the signature, the full name of the sender follows.
Layout of a Report
1. The date
 Unlike in letter writing, a report starts with a date at the left top corner of
the page.
 The date is written as 29th May, 2024.
 The date in report is always punctuated with a comma between month and
the year, and a full stop at the end.
Report Layout cont’d
2. the sender’s address
 After the date, a blank line is skipped and the sender’s address follows.
 The sender’s address is introduced by “From:” and is written in a sentence
form.
 After “From:” a name or position of the sender is written followed by the rest
of the address in a sentence form. The address should be well punctuated.
Report Layout cont’d
3. Recipient’s address
 After the sender’s address, a blank line is skipped followed by the recipient’s
address which is introduced by “To:”. The recipient is always a position in an
office such as “The Director”, “The District Agricultural Development
Officer”, “The Manager,” etc.
Report Layout cont’d
4. The Title
 Following the addresses, a blank line is skipped to write the title. Underline
the title/subject when written in small letters and do not underline when
written in capital letters.
Report Layout cont’d
5. The Introduction
 After the title, a blank line is skipped to write the introduction. Just as in a
formal letter, the introduction must include the purpose of writing the report.
This introduction can be one sentence only. For example:
 I would like to report about an increase in defilement cases in my area,
Chimbiya.
Report Layout cont’d
7. The body
 This follows after the introduction.
 This is the main part of the report which contains details of the report. It is
the substance of the report. It contains a series of coherent paragraphs
exploring the topic of concern. Different points should be developed in
separate paragraphs.
Report Layout cont’d
8. Conclusion
 This is the part that follows the main body. The conclusion contains the
summary of the main points, general comments or recommendations
regarding the main points that have been explored in the main body.
Report Layout cont’d
8. Valediction
 Unlike in formal letters, the report does not end with “Yours faithfully” or
“Yours sincerely”. A blank line is skipped after the conclusion and a signature
follows. Below the signature which is in the bottom left of the page, the
name follows and the position if the report is written in that capacity.
SPEECH WRITING

 A speech has the following important elements:

▪ Title
▪ Introduction
▪ Body
▪ conclusion
Elements/structure of a speech
1. The Title/Heading
 The first thing to write in a speech is the title. The title must capture the
theme of the speech.
 The title must either be capitalized or underlined but not both.
 The title should not be wordy. Encourage students to be economical with
words.
 There are no marks allocated to the provision of a title. However, organized
work ought to have a title.
Elements/structure of a speech Cont’d
2. The introduction
 The introduction of the speech comprises the salutation and then the
introductory statement/sentence.
 The salutation is the list of dignitaries or positions of individuals present at a
given function in a descending order of importance or seniority while the
introductory sentence is the aim of the speech. It serves to let the audience
know what to expect and introduces the speaker.
 The names of positions must begin with capital letters
Elements/structure of a speech Cont’d
3. The body
 The body contains the speech’s main points, sub-points, all of which support
the speech’s main aim, striking firmly to the topics you have introduced.
 When preparing the body, the audience must always be in the mind of the
writer. The speech should be written as if the writer were literally speaking to
the audience.
 Signalling devices should be used when introducing each point.
Elements/structure of a speech Cont’d

FOOD INSECURITY

The Guest of Honour, the District Agricultural Development Officer, Mr Chawawa; the
Traditional Authority for this area, Senior Chief Chimutu; the Ward Councillor, Mrs.
Chapita; the group village head, distinguished invited guests, ladies and gentlemen , all
protocols observed, I welcome you to this gathering where we will talk about food
insecurity. We have gathered here this morning to join hands to deal with food insecurity
which has affected us for some years now.
Elements/structure of a speech Cont’d

 Formulation of points should follow the pattern discussed (earlier) under

letter and report.
 Ensure that there is an interaction with the audience by using …
❖ Question tags
❖ Rhetorical questions
❖ Quotations
❖ Wise words
❖ First person pronouns
Elements/structure of a speech Cont’d
conclusion
It must be a brief paragraph
Acknowledge the Guest of Honour in particular and the rest in general.
Appreciate the audience for listening.

Sample
The Guest of Honour, Mr Chawawa; distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen, this is all I had to share with you. I thank you all for being an
attentive audience.
SHORT STORY WRITING
INTRODUCTION TO SHORT STORY
WRITING
 Definition – A short story is defined as a brief prose narrative designed to be
read in one sitting describing a limited number of characters involved in a
single major event.
Important features of a short story

 Setting (especially geographical/physical)

 Characters (protagonist(s), antagonist(s), flat)
 Plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)
 Conflict
 Point of view
 Theme(s)
 Mood
 Style (metaphors, similes, irony, flashback, foreshadowing)
 Narration and dialogue (separated and well punctuated)
Samples of short story beginning
1. begin with the end
 Sharp thrills of laughter in the rain woke me up. I was cold and shivering, the
body felt like it was freezing. I sat up and pulled the remaining strands of the
blanket to myself. The floor felt much harder and smelt more terrible than
usual. I was pulling my feet closer when I knocked the bucket. It rolled over,
spilling the contents on the already moist floor. A strong offensive odour of
urea greeted by nose, threatening to suffocate me.
Samples of short story beginning cont’d
2. begin with descriptions of some characters

 Tall, thin and wallowing, the old man edged his way slowly but steadily
through the crowd of his fellow job seekers, feeling the way with his walking
stick in a blind man’s fashion. He finally placed himself in front of the crowd
that was standing before the closed company gate.
Samples of short story beginning cont’d
3. begin with description of the general
atmosphere
 Dark clouds hung in the sky, blanketing the earth with darkness. Thunder had
rumbled several times, lightening tearing the cloak of darkness at intervals.
For several days and nights the clouds had stubbornly hung in the sky crying
thunder but with eyes too dry to shed tears. People had been waiting for the
rain to mud the earth; even crops wilting in fields were prayerfully bending
their backs to the sky in silent prayer for a downpour.
Samples of short story beginning
4. Begin with a conversation
“I will be back shortly with fresh clothes for you to put on, and shoes.”
“Don’t bother,” said the prisoner, without raining her voice. “I don’t need to
change. It serves no purpose. I will go as I am.”
“I am under orders,” the sergeant disappeared almost immediately. She returned
soon with a crumpled parcel in her hands, which she hurriedly gave to the
prisoner.
Nature of short stories at MSCE level

 Short stories that criticize the ills of our society are the ones mostly
expected.
 Do not write stories that glorify or praise evil.
 Those that bring chaos in society should be condemned with the punishments
they get in the end.
 Collective conscience in short story writing is normally appreciated through
conflict and tension
Conflict and suspense

 Conflict is the fundamental element of fiction because in literature trouble is

mostly interesting hence anticipated.
 Conflict produces tension that makes the story begin. Tension is created by
opposition between the characters or characters and internal or external
forces or conditions
 By balancing the opposing forces, a writer motivates the readers to read as
they continue to wonder what happens next and how the story will end.
 That is the creation of suspense. The readers should not find it easy making
conclusions about how the story would end right from the first paragraph
 Motivate them read on to find out.
Conflicts in prose fiction

 The protagonist against another individual

 The protagonist against nature/technology
 The protagonist against the society
 The protagonist against himself or herself (internal conflict)
Dos and don’ts in Short Story Writing

 Do not start a short story with words like “Once upon a time” it ceases to be
a short story. It becomes a folktale. You lose marks.
 All conversations should be properly punctuated. If you are not very good at
punctuating constructions in direct speech, use minimal conversations in your
short story.
 Do not write short stories without clear characters.
 Write neatly, and observe all the basic rules of English, especially
punctuation.
 Be cautious with paragraphing, any statement in direct speech (depicting a
conversation) should begin in a new paragraph.
 Words in vernacular should not be used, except proper nouns.
Basic differences in compositions

Letter, Report Short Story

 The use of formal language is strict  There’s flexibility on the use of
formal language.
 Have well defined
layout/structures  Does not have a well defined
structure.
 Have addresses
 Has no addresses
 The use of contractions is not
permitted  Use of contractions is permitted in
conversations
 Level of creativity is minimal
 Calls for advanced level of
creativity
COMMON MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE
INCLUDE:
 Verb tenses  Combining two words- alot, inorder

 Spellings  Use of informal language

 Omission of words  Contractions (unless it is a speech or a

 Cutting of words- wel short story)

come
COMMON MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE
INCLUDE:
 Subject verb agreement

 Double subjects- people they think that

 Double past – she did not liked the idea

 Literal translation- she was given pregnancy at the age of fifteen

COMMON MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE
INCLUDE:
 Unnecessary capitalization
 Poor or lack of punctuation
 Writing numbers in figures for quantity words between zero and ninety-nine
 Cutting compound words: i.e bed room, can not, head teacher
 Wrong use of demonstratives; this problems, these student
 Beginning sentences with conjunctions/connectives; as, and, so, because, but