Study Hub for CXC English A & B

                                      A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” — Richard Bach Here's the undiluted truth: There is no way you can write effectively about something that you have  limited or no knowledge of. This is certainly the case when we consider writing a persuasive essay for CXC English A. Also, when we consider that the essay topic you will get on Section D of the paper is mandatory and you will not know until the day of the exam what this topic will be, it is prudent that you gather as much knowledge as you can about a range of topics leading up to the exams. You definitely don't want to be in the exam room screaming inside because you have no clue what the essay question is asking you to do. Bottom line :  The quality and quantity of the information you have stored in your mind determines the content you put on the examination paper. If you store...

Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802 Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty: This City now doth, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie Open unto the fields, and to the sky; All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. Never did sun more beautifully steep In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill; Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still! ~ William Wordsworth - 1770-1850 NOTE: This poem is in the public domain. Consider the following questions as you read the poem: What is the speaker looking at? Where is he making his observation from? What time of day is it? What effect does the view have on the speaker? Does the poem use specific literary devices to convey meaning? How so? What is t...

In the story “The Man of House” the protagonist assumes the responsibility of tending to his sick mother and taking care of household chores. This act of love on his part is remarkable because he is a ten year old boy who is taking on a role that is traditionally assigned to females. It is clear that he cares for his mother because he stops from school to ensure that she is taken care of. He displays responsibility when he lights the fire to keep her and the house warm, prepares breakfast and goes on errands for her. He does not allow his mother to do anything strenuous even though she expresses guilt for burdening him. At first she tries to hide her condition but he recognizes her weakened state and insists on taking over. Minnie Ryan, a lady who visits his mother, expresses admiration at Sullivan’s willingness to meet his mother’s needs.  His mother is quite proud of this fact and says he is as ‘good as gold’. Miss Ryan states that he is one of the few who are like that because t...

  The speaker in the poem is clearly a supporter of England who goes to watch a test match at Sabina Park. The poem focuses on his experience at this event. He proudly wears his white skin and expects to watch a match that he believes will display England’s superiority because the English team is well known for its dominance in cricket. They have well-known batsmen like Geoffrey Boycott and Dennis Amiss and they are present at this particular match. However, upon entering, he notices that something is amiss. Firstly, the match does not seem exciting and, secondly, he is not used to such a crowd at a match. He is clearly used to a much mild tempered event at Lords – not one where there are packed stands and noise. The West Indian supporters are described as ‘vociferous partisans’ which means they are loud in expressing their opinions and they are ready to assert their objections/dissatisfaction if something is said that they do not support/agree with (‘quick to take offence’). ...

One of the tasks you are to complete for your English SBA is an oral presentation . This is where you present creatively on your individual topic for  3-5 minutes .  This means if your specific topic is the factors that lead to domestic violence  then your presentation should focus on these factors in an interesting way. The oral presentation requires you to be: creative, confident and informative/persuasive . As you finalize your presentation, seek feedback and practise often. Your presentation can take the form of a: speech poem/dub poem skit/role play The presentation is worth 10 marks. Whatever the form of your presentation, it must: give an overview of your presentation. provide information on your chosen topic. This means if your chosen specific topic is the effects of drug abuse and you choose to say a poem, the poem should contain information on the effects of drug abuse using poetic language. be original. It should be something you wrote, not s...

  English B - Comparative Essay Writing Tips Paper 2 of the English B examination requires you to write your answer in essay form.  This means your response should be presented in well-developed, grammatically sound paragraphs. The question on the exam paper may be broken up into sections labelled a), b), c) to help you, but you should not write those letters in your response or respond as if you are answering short answer questions. Remember your essay should have an introduction, body and conclusion. Also, you should have at least five (5) paragraphs in your essay. Please note that although a word limit is not stated, y ou should aim to write no fewer than 400 words. The introduction:   Use the question to guide how you craft your introduction. It should mention both poems/stories, the poets/writers, shared themes and techniques/devices. Generally, the points to be discussed are included in the introductory paragraph. Sample Introduction # 1 The short stories “M...

  God’s Grandeur The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck* his rod*? Generations have trod*, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod*. And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs-- Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings. ~ Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844 – 1889 *reck – heed, rod – his authority, power, shod – covered with shoes, trod - walk 1. The word ‘grandeur’ (line 1) most likely means a. extravagance b. magnificence c. purpose d. presence 2. The words ‘seared’, ‘bleared’ and ‘smeared’ are used ...