The Breakthrough for Language II
In the fore place, the first section (A) deals with stylistics. To be frank, stylistics poses a great challenge to most of students of Literature, especially on its tricky questions. I think you have encountered in your solving with some extracts which belongs to more than one field, e.g, you may find a very short text of about a single para-cum-sentence like this: Things have not been well in the EAC to the extent that
some observers argues that each initiative in the organization should be carried out in a quid pro quo basis.
(The Citizen reports on 23rd April 2014 from EAC HQ)
From that extract, a candidate is puzzled when the following questions are asked:
1. Identify the field to which the text is extracted.
2.Explain three general stylistics features of the text and;
3.State the reasons for the use of such features.
Therefore, given the questions above; you need to do two important things. First, deduce the field of an extract (eg. is it legal or the journalism?) this may pose a great challenge, since it looks like legal, because it employs a Latin legal expression quid pro quo which means "nothing goes for nothing". However, mind you, that is only one feature, the rest of the features of the text shows that it is purely a journalism language. The answers to the above questions might appear like this:
1. The text is extracted from the Journalism field
2. The general stylistics features are:
(i) The text employs an acronym "EAC"
(ii) Simple present tense is used as in "...observers argues..."
(iii) The whole text is italicized.
3. The following are the reasons for employment of such features in the text:
(i) An acronym EAC is used to save space for an article in the newspaper, lest it is limited for few words.
(ii) A simple present tense is used to show liveliness of the text.
(iii) Italicization is meant to show uniqueness of the text in the newspaper or journal.
NOTE: Always be brief , precise and to the point, avoid long unnecessary answers!
After a thorough exploration of section A, now lets turn to Section B and C which is centered on Novels and Plays. The easiest ways to answer a prose question is reading the question and drawing general concept, never should you read it word by word, it is very difficult to grasp its intention. Now lets take an example of the question below:
With the aid two readings you have read, deny the fallacious statement that "African leaders
are just".
Now, you have a question like that in your exam. First of all read it quickly and generalize its concept, ask yourself what could the intention of the examiner? Is it centered on African leaders? If its on leaders what am I supposed to write about them? Bad or good things about them? After answering those few questions move on with the question like the following example illustrates:
A leader is a person who shows a way for others to follow. But, on the contrary, most of African leaders walk behind their followers, bulldozing them the way they wish. This is clearly shown in A Man of the People by Chinue Achebe (1966) and Beautyful Ones are Not yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah(1968). In his take, Chinua address the following injustice deeds committed by most African leaders:
In the first place, corruption is depicted as a means by African Leaders to obscure their horrible deeds. In the text, Chief Nanga, the minister of culture bribes the journalist so that he would write good things about him. This is very similar to what is happening in Tanzania today where some state-owned press are manipulated by the government officials to cleanse them off their misdeeds. Up next is oppression of opponents which is widely exercised during elections in Africa. Chinua depicts Odili, the opponent contender for MP at Anata who is badly beaten by Chief Nanga the leader in charge. This experience does not differ to what happened to Kiiza Besigye, the Ugandan opponent to the rulling regime, who was reported beaten by the police for his act of protesting against unfair election. ..........................................................................................................
(That is how the points are structured! Make sure you give a maximum of four
points from each book, and below is the way to switch to the next book:)
Equally important, Ayi K. A reveals that leaders exploit their subject mercilessly. It is depicted that Oyo and her mother are manipulated by Komsoon over the boat deal. Consequently, it is learned that the minister uses them to buy the boat which is later given to Princess who is Komsoon's daughter. The fact is that African leaders amass wealth and entitle them with names of their relatives to obscure the fact.
.............................................................................................................
Write a relevant conclusion!
Lastly but not list, Section D is on Poetry; this is the easiest of all sections, however very treacherous and disturbing if you are not careful. Make sure that you get in the examination room with a maximum of four mastered poems from either The Wonderful Surgeon and other Poems by Charles M. or Selected Poems, an anthology by Tanzania Institute of Education. Alternatively, you can take two from each reading. Otherwise you will surely find the poem right in the paper waiting for you. And you know what, that is the easiest of all. Just prepare yourself thoroughly with the theory of Poetry! However I won't let you go empty handed. Take a look at this point which shows how a poetry question can be attempted:
The metaphor is a literary comparison of two unrelated things without using conjunctions, it is depicted as a figure of speech in the given poem, in the first stanza, verse two, the poet writes:
The metaphor is a literary comparison of two unrelated things without using conjunctions, it is depicted as a figure of speech in the given poem, in the first stanza, verse two, the poet writes:
"I am the lion that roars in the forest, making elephants urinate"
The poet intends to show how tycoons (high class people) those with enough wealth are capable of intimidating everyone under their feet.
Generally, when writing your exam, try to be brief, go direct to the point. Once again, thank you for visiting.
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