CXC ENGLISH

Hi there! Now that we’ve revised Julius Caesar with you, let’s take some time to remind ourselves how to gain full marks when writing about poetic devices. And to help you get ready for your English A exam, let’s take a look at persuasive writing. We hope you will enjoy your CXC page.

ENGLISH B—POETIC DEVICES

In both Papers of the English B exam, you will meet this type of question: Identify the poetic device used, and comment on its effectiveness. Most candidates are fairly comfortable with summarizing what goes on in a poem, but many get very flustered when they are asked to identify and comment on the effectiveness of a poetic device. Let’s see if we can make the project less scary! Here’s the key!

Something definitely needs to be done about the widespread problem of littering. Children in school should be trained to keep their surroundings clean. Litter bins should be placed in strategic locations. An advertising campaign should be conducted to discourage the practice of littering. And where all these persuasive methods fail, heavy fines should be imposed on those who persist in turning our lovely country into a large rubbish tip. (Count the suggestions for what “needs to be done”.)

FOR YOU TO DO

Imagine now that your Mum is complaining about the noise made by dogs in your neighbourhood. She asks you to write a letter to the newspaper to raise awareness of the problem. Using the paragraph above as a model, write ONE PARAGRAPH (70-80 words) on what ‘needs to be done’ about these dogs.

Here’s a list of hints (feel free to include other points too):

* People should keep pets locked in their own yard. * Stray dogs should be impounded by the authorities. * People should get their dogs neutered to keep the dog population down. * People should have to have licences for their dogs and then they would

keep them under control.

STYLISH SHIFTS

Look at these two sentences: A Everyone was impressed because Sammy was so B Sammy’s honesty impressed everyone.

Change all these Type A sentences into Type B ones:

1. Everyone was irritated because Sara was so rude. (Sara’s…) 2. Everyone was pleased because Andrew was so successful. (Andrew’s…) 3. Everyone was depressed because Mum was so anxious. (Mum’s…) 4. Nobody was worried because Pat was so lonely. (Pat’s…) 5. Everyone was amazed because Solomon was so wise. 6. The whole village was struck by how generous the old man was. 7. The entire school was disgusted at how selfish Savita was. 8. All of us were displeased because the new teacher was so lenient. 9. No one was impressed at how sarcastic the major was. 10.No one was deceived by how familiar he was.

SPELLING

Here are 15 words that are frequently misspelt. Ask someone to test you and see if you can spell all of them correctly. Write out any words that you couldn’t spell, and make sure they will never catch you again! Ridicule, heroic, violence, portray, coherent, column, commemorate, committee, concession, condemn, confer, conference, conferred, congested, congratulate.

ADDING ADVERBS

Fit these adverbs into the appropriate blanks in the sentences below. Breathlessly, dexterously, promptly, fervently, grudgingly, casually, confidently, justifiably, apologetically, soberly

1. 2. 3. 4.

We watched in amazement as the doctor————stitched up the torn skin. Please come on time so that the meeting can begin————-at 6.30. “I’m afraid we’ve sold out all the copies of that book,” he explained——— The children watched——————as we fixed the sparkling star to the topmost branch of the Christmas tree Mandy opened the letter from the university, praying————that they had offered her a place. Dad was —————angry when my brother borrowed the car and scraped the fender. 7. When we asked the members to make a donation, Philip—————-gave $100. 8. ————the priest turned to the mourners and warned them that they, too, would have to meet their Maker. 9. Savita walked————— into the room and flung a smile at the interviewing panel. 10. We’d been friends for years, so you can imagine how hurt I felt when Cindy remarked quite———— that she had decided to marry Sammy instead of me.

5. 6.

ANSWERS

Stylish Shifts

1 Sara’s rudeness irritated everyone. 2 Andrew’s success pleased… 3 Mum’s anxiety depressed… 4 Pat’s loneliness worried… 5 Solomon’s wisdom… 6 The old man’s generosity… 7 Amanda’s selfishness…8 The new teacher’s leniency… 9 The major’s sarcasm… 10 His familiarity….

Adding Adverbs honest.

1 dexterously, 2 promptly, 3 apologetically, 4 breathlessly, 5 fervently, 6 justifiably, 7 grudgingly, 8 soberly, 9 confidently, 10 casually.