Reviewing The CSEC English B Exam Paper 2

Welcome to Day 4 of our exam countdown. I hope you have been reviewing and studying hard for your upcoming exams.

Today I wanted to walk you through the English B Paper 2 exam.

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Julius Caesar Summary and Study Questions

Today is day three of our CSEC English A and B Exam Countdown 2017. I must apologize for the late post. Here are a couple of study questions that are taken from a resource text.

This play is one that contains political intrigue and drama. It opens with a group of commoners celebrating Julius Caesar's triumphant return to Rome. This is met with scorn by some Tribunes, who tell them to leave the area. This is the premise to scenes that reveal an ambitious Caesar who is beloved by Roman citizens, but is the envy of many of his friends. It is this envy that leads a group of conspirators, one of them being his best friend, to plot and execute his murder. This is followed by scenes of war, all in the name of revenge, for Caesar's murder. The tragedy closes with the deaths of Portia, Cassius, Titanius and Brutus.

CHARACTERS
Julius Caesar
• He is a Roman statesman and general.
• He is very powerful and ambitious.
• He is respected, so much so that he is offered the thrown three times by Marc Antony.
• The common people love him and the tribunes are afraid of his power and ambition.
• Many Roman nobles and senators also fear his ambition because they want Rome to remain a republic.
• He is wise, because he does not trust Cassius.
• He is arrogant because he disregards Calpurnia's warning about his possible death based on pride.
• He is easily flattered, as is seen when Decius easily persuades him that Calpurnia's dream reveals his upcoming triumph.
• He is very superstitious. Examples of this can be seen when he tells Calpurnia to let Antony touch her while he's running his race because this can relieve her of her fertility issues.
• He is husband to Calpurnia.

Marcus Brutus [Brutus]
• A trusted friend to Julius Caesar.
• Ironically, he is one of the main members of the conspirator's against Julius Caesar.
• He loves Caesar, but believes that he is bad for Rome due to his ambitious nature.
• He is respected and loved by everyone.
• Caesar admires him and he is respected by his enemies; Antony and Octavius.
• He is very noble, as can be seen in the fact that he could not take money from the poor, but had to ask Cassius for money to pay his soldiers.
• He is brother-in-law to Cassius.
• He is husband to Portia.
• He loves his wife and respects her wishes, as is seen when he confides in her, and grieves her death.

Cassius

• He is brother-in-law to Marcus Brutus.
• He is a very passionate person, quick to anger and very proud.
• He has a strong personality, but he always concedes to Brutus' wishes.
• He is very perceptive because he did not trust Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral.
• He is one of the conspirators.

Marcus Antonius (Antony)
• Initially he was seen as a fun loving individual who was very loyal to Caesar. The conspirators, therefore, did not see him as a threat.
• He changes to a calculating ruler who can heartlessly kill in the name of justice and revenge.
• He is an excellent orator who fires the crowd to a frenzy at Caesar's funeral.

Calpurnia
• Wife of Caesar.
• She has a bad dream regarding Caesar going to the Capitol on the Ides of March and begs him to stay home with her, he does not listen.

Portia
• Brutus' wife.
• There is a lot of love between them.
• Brutus listens to her and shares his secrets with her.
• She commits suicide near the end of the play.

Artemidorus
• A friend of Ceasar.
• He tries to warn him about the treachery of his friends.

Soothsayer
• He warns Caesar about the Ides of March.
• Caesar disregards the warning.
Cinna
A poet

Pindarus
• Servant of Cassius.
• He assists Cassius to commit suicide, then ran away.
Senators
• Cicero
• Publius
• Popilius Lena
• Tribunes
• Flavius
• Marullus

Conspirators against Julius Caesar
• Marcus Brutus [Brutus]
• Cassius
• Casca
• Trebonius
• Legarius
• Decius Brutus [Decius]
• Metellus Cimber
• Cinna
• Friends of Brutus and Cassius
• Lucilius
• Titanius
• Messala
• Young Cato
• Voluminius
• Servants of Brutus
• Varro
• Clitus
• Claudius
• Strato
• Lucius
• Dardanius

Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare

1. ‘Caesar never really dies in this play. In fact he is stronger at the end than he is at the beginning’.
a) Making close reference to the text:

i. Give TWO examples of Caesar’s political strength at the beginning of the play;  (8 marks)
ii. Relate THREE incidents which show that, after his death, his influence is still powerful. (9 marks)
b) Based on your examples, discuss the statement and show to what extent you agree with it. (8 marks) (2015 Mock Exam Question)
 

2. Think carefully about Brutus and Cassius say, what they d and what is said about them.
a. Making Close reference to this, identify
i. TWO ways in which their reasons for being a part of the conspiracy against Caesar are similar.  (8 marks)
ii. TWO ways in which they are different. (8 marks)
b. Discuss the significance of these similarities and differences.  (9 marks)

           

Resource: www.forum.visionitesmagazine.com  and English B for CSEC        

Summary Writing Tips 2

Simple Summary Writing Guidelines

1. Read the texts quickly for main ideas (skim)
2. Look again at the passages to ensure you have all the main ideas (scan).
3. Underline the most important words (marking).
4. Write down the key words in simple sentences.
5. Compare the original text with yours to ensure that you have all the essential information.

Things to Remember

1. Stick to the word limit.
2.  Use your own words
3. Avoid Repetition
4. Avoid examples, statistics and other Persuasive Techniques
5. Avoid descriptive words and phrases (including figures of speech).
6. connect the points suitably and write proper paragraphs.

Summary Writing Practice 

Summary Writing 1  (disregard the mark scheme)

Answer

Here are some additional tips. You can start your video at 2:55 for the summary writing information.

Reference Text: A Complete English Course for Secondary Schools

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A Layout of the 2017 English A & B CSEC Exam

We are kickstarting out CSEC English A and B Exam countdown. I wanted to start by reviewing the layout of the English A and B Exam; so that you remember exactly what will come on the paper. Remember to come back EACH day for tips and an overview of each section of the English A and B exam paper.

English A 

English A  Paper 1 The duration of the exam is 1 hr, 30 mins	English A Paper 2 The duration of the exam is 2 hrs, 30 mins
60 Multiple Choice Questions Questions 1-20 These questions can be a combination of the following questions: ü  Synonyms, ü  Antonyms, ü  Sentence Completion, ü  Error Recognition, ü  Usage, ü  Construction shift, ü  Equivalent Sentences Questions 21-60 Comprehension Passages These passages can the following types of writing: ü  narrative, ü  expository, ü  persuasive or ü  descriptive  You might also receive a poem.	Section A- Summary 1 Compulsory Summary Writing Question 30 marks
	Section B- Comprehension 2 Compulsory Short Answer Comprehensions 2 comprehension passages OR 1 Comprehension passage & 1 poem 30 marks
	Section C 2 Short Story Questions & 1 Description Writing Question Answer 1 question from this section 35 marks
	Section D 2 Argumentative Essay questions Answer 1 question from this section 35 marks

Click the links below to review the following sections:

Paper 1

Summary

Comprehension

Narrative Writing

Argumentative Essay 

English B

PAPER 01 Duration: 1hour and 30 mins

PAPER 02 Duration: 2 hours

This paper consists of three questions (a drama extract, a poem and a prose extract). All questions are compulsory (must be answered). Short Answers Each section is worth 20 marks

This paper consists of twelve questions, arranged in three sections SECTION A: DRAMA v  Questions 1 and 2 : Shakespeare v  Questions 3 and 4: Modern Drama SECTION B: POETRY v  Questions 5 and 6 SECTION C: PROSE FICTION v  Questions 6 and 7: Novel v  Questions 11 and 12: Short Story You are expected to answer THREE (3) questions, ONE question from EACH section. Each question is marked out of 35 marks. 25 marks are allotted for content and 10 for grammar and organization.  You MUST write in the essay format and develop all responses fully. Only texts that are on the prescribed list for the examination must be used to answer the questions.

Click the title of the play, novel, short story or poem to see additional information.

The English B exam is based on the following texts, poems and short stories:

DRAMA The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka	DRAMA Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
PROSE FICTION Frangipani House by Beryl Gilroy	PROSE FICTION Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

SHORT STORY 1.      ‘Mom Luby and the Social Worker’ by Kristin Hunter 2.      ‘The Man of the House’ by Frank O’Connor 3.      ‘The Day the World Almost Came to an End’ by Pearl Crayton 4.      ‘Raymond’s Run’ by Tony Cade Bambara 5.      ‘Berry’ by Langston Hughes

SHORT STORY 6.      ‘Shabine’ by Hazel Simmons- McDonald 7.      ‘Emma’ by Carolyn Cole 8.      ‘To Da-duh, in Memoriam’ by Paule Marshall 9.      ‘The Two Grandmothers’ by Olive Senior 10.  ‘Georgia and Them There United States’ by Velma Pollard

POETRY

1. ‘Dreaming Black Boy’ by James Berry
2. ‘Theme for English B’ by Langston Hughes
3. ‘A Stone’s Throw’ by Elma Mitchell
4. ‘Once Upon A Time’ by Gabriel Okara
5. ‘It is the constant Image of your Face’ by Dennis Brutus
6. ‘Test Match Sabina Park’ by Stewart Brown
7. ‘Le Loupgarou’ by Derek Walcott
8. ‘Ol’ Higue’ by Mark McWatt
9. ‘This is a Dark Time, My Love’ by Martin Carter
10. ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen
11. ‘The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed Her Son’ by Lorna Goodison
12.  ‘Forgive My Guilt’ by Robert P. Tristram Coffin
13. ‘West Indies, U.S.A.’ by Stewart Brown
14. ‘Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ by William Wordsworth
15. ‘South’ by Kamau Brathwaite
16. ‘Orchids’ by Hazel Simmons-McDonald
17. ‘A Contemplation Upon Flowers’ by Henry King
18. “A Lesson for this Sunday” by Derek Walcott
19. ‘Because I could not stop for Death’ by Emily Dickinson
20. “Death came to see me in Hot Pink Pants” by Heather Royes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Click the title of the play, novel, short story or poem to see additional information.

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