MOKASA II, 2024

ENGLISH PAPER 3

MARKING SCHEME

Question 1:

Question one aims at testing the candidate’s ability to communicate. The linguistic mark should carry the day. Communication can be gauged at different levels.

Deciding the class and allocation of marks.

Read each composition and decide which class it falls in before assigning it a mark based on the following criteria. Then subject each of them to the deductions, if any.

General classifications

A – Class Essays (16-20 marks)

The candidate communicates not only fluently but also attractively with originality and efficiency. He has the ability to make us share his/her deep feelings, emotions, enthusiasms. He or she expresses himself/ herself freely and with no visible constraint. The script gives evidence of Maturity, good planning and often humour. Many items of merit which indicate that the candidate has complete command of the language. There is no stain, just pleasantness, clever arrangement, felicity of expression.

A- 16-17

The candidate shows competence and fluency in using the language. He may lack imagination or originality which usually provides the “spark” in such essays. Vocabulary, idiom sentence structure, links, variety are impressive. Gross errors are very few.

A 18

Positive ability. A few errors that are felt to be slips. The story or argument has a definite impact. No grammar problems. Variety of structures. A definite spark. Many margin ticks.

A+ 19-20

The candidate communicates not only information but meaning, but also and especially the candidate’s whole self: his /her feelings, tastes, point of view, youth, and culture. This ability to communicate deeply may express himself in a wide range of effective vocabulary, original approach, vivid and sustained account in the case of a narrative, well developed and ordered argument in the case of a debate or discussion. Errors and slips should not deprive the candidate of the full marks he deserves. A very definite spark (very memorable).

B – Class Essays (11-15 marks)

This class is characterized by great fluency and easy of expression without strain. The candidate demonstrates that he/she can use English as a normal way of expressing himself/herself. Sentences are varied and usually well-constructed. Some candidates become ambitious or even over- ambitious. There are many items of merit of one word or expression type. Many essays in this category may be just clean and unassuming, but they still show that the candidate is at ease with the language.

B- (11-12)

The candidate communicates fairly and with some fluency. There may be little variety in sentence structure. Gross errors are still found occasionally, but this must not be over punished by the examiner.

B (13)

The sentences are varied but rather simple and straight forward. The candidate does not strain himself in an effort to impress. There is a fair range of vocabulary and idiom. Natural and effortless. Some items of merit, economy of language.

B+ (14-15)

The candidate communicates his ideas pleasantly and without strain. There are errors and slips. Tenses, spelling and punctuation are good. A number of items of merit of the “whole sentence” or “whole expression” (margin ticks).

C  Class Essays. (06-10 marks)

Candidate communicates understandably but only more or less clearly. He or she is not confident with his/her language. Subject is often underdeveloped. There may be some digressions. Unnecessary repetitions frequent. The arrangement is weak and flow jerky. There is no economy of language. Mother tongue influence is felt.

C- (06-07)

The candidate finds it obviously hard to communicate his/her ideas. He/she is seriously hampered by his limited knowledge of structure and vocabulary. This results in many gross errors of agreement, spelling, and misuse of prepositions, tenses verb agreement and sentence construction.

C (08)

The candidate communicates but with not consistent clarity. His/her linguistic abilities being very limited, he/she cannot avoid frequent errors in sentence structure. There is little variety or originality. Very bookish English, links are weak, incorrect, repeated at times.

C+ 09-10

The candidate communicates in a flat and uncertain manner. Simple concept sentence forms are often strained. There may be an overuse of clichés, unsuitable idioms. Proverbs are misquoted or misinterpreted. The flow is jerky. There are some errors of agreement, tenses and spellings.

D – Class essays (01-05 marks)

The candidate does not communicate at all. His language ability is so minimal that the examiner practically has to guess what the candidate wants to say. The candidate fails to fit the English words he/she knows into meaningful sentences. The subject is glanced at or distorted. Practically no valid punctuation. All kinds of errors (“Broken English”) are evident.

D- (01-02)

Chaotic, little meaning whatsoever. Question paper or some words from it simply copied.

D (03)

Flow of thought almost impossible to follow. The errors are continuous

D+ (04)

Although the English is broken and the essay is full of errors of all types, we can at least guess what the candidate wants to say.

POINTS OF INTERPRETATION

1. Write a composition beginning with… “I tossed in my warm bed debating whether I should wake up or not…”
2. It must be a story
3. It must begin with the given words (If not -2AD)
4. The story must focus on an event that either has a positive or a negative outcome
5. If irrelevant deduct up to 4 marks
6. Proverb “Birds of a feather flock together
7. It must be a story illustrating the proverb. (If not -4AD)
8. The story must bring out a situation in which the character is in the company of a person/people who share similar characteristics. The outcome of such company can either be positive or negative

Question 2

Some leaders only care about their selfish interests and when such self-seeking leaders are elected, they abuse their powers and break the law with impunity. The citizens who vote them in are the ones who bear the brunt of such cruelty.

• Directs Harvester to buy all newspapers using public funds so as the members of the public don’t access them. The Samaritan crisis had snowballed into a huge nightmare because their secrets and dirty deeds had been exposed.  Mossi calls the other leaders to a meeting so that they discuss what they can do to protect themselves. He asks the members if they had read the newspapers and none of them had because he had asked Harvester to buy all the newspapers from the vendors as early as possible he did so because it was in their best interest. The newspapers had damaging information. In the Caribbean Watch “Municipal Leadership: A criminal Enterprise,” The Sentinel “Municipal Leaders stripped naked,” The Insight “Rot in the Maracas Municipal Council Exposed,” The Spotlight “Municipal Leaders face Imprisonment”. The headlines focused on the leaders and had been for a month daily. Mossi reports that the Samaritan is the source of what the newspapers get the information from and this is a cause for alarm as it exposes rot such as leaders supplying air to the municipal council and billing it, drug trafficking, grabbing of public land, inflation of the costs of municipal projects, use of proxies to secure municipal tender, undertaking shoddy public works, murder and gang warfare; and the lavish lifestyle the leaders live. This information can be very damaging if it gets into the hands of the public. A lobby group, The Samaritans, is calling upon people to volunteer and help in the prosecution of those involved in corruption and abuse of office in the municipality. The buying of newspapers denies the public information and as well misusing funds meant for the public.
• Refuses to launch the Samaritan app as it is a threat to his municipality.  Mossi and his entourage have been invited to Sagrada Secondary School to launch an app. Two students, Alvita and Montano, have come up with the Samaritan App where members of the public can share information about how public resources have been used, how tenders are awarded, who wins the tenders, whether those awarded the tenders deliver the goods and services supplied among other things. This information can be shared with the Crimes and Integrity Commission in case of abuse of the procurement and delivery process. Whatever is posted in the App has to be the truth and the people who post them take legal responsibility for what they post.  This makes the Mayor restless and he refuses to launch the App that day because Municipal leaders need time to reflect on the implications of the App and dismiss the students. To him, the App might be a platform for misinformation, lies and witch hunts. Also, he needs to launch it on his own time when his office gives further guidance. He is shocked that the President is scheduled to officially launch the App at the National level. He wants Ms Nicole to come up with lies to stop the launch because he knows the rot in the municipality will be exposed. He goes on to threaten Nicole which is a way of intimidating her. This makes Alvita and Montano worried about Ms Nicole’s life as she may be in grave danger, taking away the creativity of the two students and also denying the public a chance to share and receive information.
• Attempts to bribe Nicole to stop the launch of the App. When Ms Nicole refused to stop the launching of the App, it made Mossi and the other leaders very worried. Most of their secrets had been exposed: leaders supplying air to the municipal council and billing it, drug trafficking, grabbing of public land, inflation of the costs of municipal projects, use of proxies to secure municipal tender, undertaking shoddy public works, murder and gang warfare; and the lavish lifestyle the leaders live. Mossi meets up with Harvester and Bembe and agrees that the Samaritan App is the threat but the only way to stop it is through Ms Nicole. He decides to visit her in school to convince her to stop the launch.. he says he only wanted an honest talk as he feels the App will have false information. Nicole lets him know he can sue anyone who defames him. He says that everyone needs money. The young kids also need money and can always do something with some cash. He needed her to quote the figure, however big. Nicole is appalled and disappointed as he is the man entrusted with affairs of the Municipality including fighting corruption. She suggests posting that offer on the Samaritan. He gets scared and says that he can invest the capital in the technical expertise. When she refuses he threatens her life by saying he will destroy her 
• Plans to halt the vote of no confidence that will oust him from his seat and succeeds using his gang. When their rot is exposed, Mayor Mossi calls a meeting with the leaders but they fall out before coming up with a solution that favours them. Seymour and Ted walk out of the meeting. They later meet up with Ramdaye and Basdeo to come up with a plan to oust Mayor Mossi by holding a meeting with other Councillors and Alderman (vote of no confidence in the mayor). Mayor Mossi gets wind of this plan. He suggests that he mobilises his Red-Eagle Network (Gang) of young supporters to make the Municipal Headquarters a no-go zone for anyone. He needed to make sure no meeting to deliberate on the vote of no confidence ever took place anywhere on the face of earth. He is supported by Inspector Bembe, who offers Ghettoboyz and some undercover police to support the youth network ensuring it’s a neat exercise. He will send Black Man (the head of Red Eagle Gang) to Harvester. He will need money to pay the youths, buy tyres, mattresses, sacks and polythene papers that will be burnt at every corner of the town and especially in the vicinity of the Municipal Headquarters. He will also need money to fund this exercise of great significance to the welfare of our municipality. He instructs Bembe to get his undercover officers to shoot in the air severally to scare everyone. The mission was a success which scattered everyone. And a plan of regrouping, they will employ the same tactic. This causes unrest among the citizens. Ramdaye, Seymour and Ted says they have to run for their lives to be safe to save their lives.
• Has been forced by Seymour to misallocate public funds for useless committee meetings (p34) 
• Blackmails Justice Jaden to be his ally if the cases go to court and they are prosecuted (pp107-113)
• Accused of municipal capture, which is the worst form of crime (p69)
• Admits to stealing public resources when he alludes to taking three slices of the loaf for himself (pp.68-69)
• Threatens Nicole if she refuses to stop the launch of the app (pp. 72-73)

In conclusion, citizens who want their communities to develop must elect leaders of integrity.

Question 3

Introduction   (2 marks)

            Mbane is visually impaired and physically disabled and he find it difficult to navigate through life because of disability.  As a result, he suffers on the streets because of his life circumstances as shown in Silent Song.

            Content (12 marks)

Mi:       Mbane is confined by his disability.  He is a crippled and blind young man.  Restricted by his disability, all he can do is crawl weakly on his knees and elbows.  In the gloom of his eternal night, such things as time, day or beauty had no meaning.  His world only responded to what he could feel and hear and run away from.  Flat and almost imperceptible, they were for him impossible and lay beyond the bitter limits of darkness.  Clearly, he only gropes to get by since being blind and lame has impaired his freedom.

Mii:      Mbane is undergoing much pain and suffering because of illness.   It is said that the pain in his spine and stomach gathered violence.  Sharp pangs from his navel tore into his body paralyzing him.  The pain is excruciating as it leaves him cold with sweat.  The attacks are frequently even when Sarah administers the medication to him, another attack of pain tore through his stomach.  His strength wanes fast in his final moments and he dies at his brother’s house.

Miii:     Mbane lives in poverty begging from passers-by on the street.  He has come to understand that money is the essence of urban life.  Gay people mostly answered his plea.  Dull people, heavy, tired footsteps and voices, betrayed anxiety, empty pockets.  At Christmas processions of good men and women he received more money.  Some of these Christians cursed him.  They called him abled bodied, only crippled more everyday by the idleness of leisurely begging.  Observably, Mbane contends with mean urban dwellers as he begs to eke a living on the street.

Miv:     Mbane cannot enjoy life’s milestone – marriage because of his disability.  He is about fourteen years, the age that his brother married, yet he, himself would never be able to reach out his hand in fulfillment of his life in the same way.  He could only yearn importently beyond the reach of darkness and lameness.  Many a times, this reality drives him into self pity.

Mv:      Mbane is exposed to the vulnerabilities of urban streets.  The sun poured its heat to generously upon him and the flies crawled along the edges of his lips.  When the sun withdrew he retreated to the backlane, unsheltered to surrender his vulnerability to sleep and the basest of thieves.  As he sat on the pavement, he wished for his journey’s end.  He wished that his soul were free flowing everywhere and not incarcerated in a body which smell of sweat, unwashed excerpt in rain and which he could but feel.  Clearly, the hostile streets aggravate Mbane’s agony.

Mvi)    Psychological/ mental torture.

Mvii)   Loneliness

            Conclusion (2 marks)

In conclusion, people living with disability endure hardships that bring pain and suffering upon their lives.