KCSE SET BOOKS & ESSAY QUESTIONS: ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

ANALYZING KCSE SET BOOKS AND INTERPRATING KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS  

KCSE English paper 3 is vital for any candidate aiming to score highly in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

This article explores tips of analysis of KCSE set books and interpretation of KCSE essay questions.

We have 5 set books in English. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen and Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet are compulsory while Memories we Lost, Inheritance by David Mulwa and The Pearl by John Steinbeck are optional.

HOW TO ANALYZE KCSE SET BOOKS

 Excelling in English Paper 3

What are the secrets? 

There is no secret but there is one thing you need to do in order to excel.

Read and reread the set book until you have a firm grasp of the content (plot, characters-characterization and themes). It’s also important to understand how the author uses literary devices and language to explore his or her subject matter.

Critical analysis of any given set book demands that you make evaluations that help you come up with moral lessons based on the characters’ actions.

Literature punishes bad deeds and rewards good deeds.

What is critical analysis?

• Read the set books with a view of going beyond the surface meaning.
• Consider the author’s intention in relation to the physical and time setting of the play, novel and short story.
• Relate the events in the book with contemporary issues in society today. Is there any correlation?
• Identify the good characters and the bad characters and their actions. What are the outcomes of these actions?
• What moral values do you draw from the book? 

You can only analyze a set book critically when you read it and grasp the actual events and their outcomes.

This means you should avoid reading and cramming notes on themes and character traits or memorizing guidebooks.

After analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the set book, the next step is to understand how to interpret KCSE essay questions and answering them.

KCSE essay questions are pretty straightforward. They simply test the candidates’ ability to think critically and make evaluation with reference to the set book in question.

 They also test the candidate’s grasp of the content in the set book.  

ANSWERING A KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

• Read the question carefully.
• Identify the key words in the question.
• Come up with points of interpretation.
• Come up with supporting evidence from the text to qualify each claim you make.
• Remember the objective is to bring out the moral lesson.
• When writing the essay, keep glancing at the question to remind you of the objective.

Let us use some sample questions from past KCSEpapers.

 

KCSE ENGLISH PAPER 3 2019 ESSAY QUESTIONS

Drama

David Mulwa Inheritance

The key words are ill-gotten wealth and true happiness.

Show how Lacuna Kasoo acquires wealth by illegal or unfair means for personal satisfaction or pleasure and how he ends up being miserable instead.

Each point you give must have “ill-gotten wealth” and how it leads to “misery or suffering” or lack of happiness.

In order to score full marks in the introduction, simply support the assertion that happiness can never be derived from dishonestly obtained riches making reference to David Mulwa's Inheritance. 

In order to score full marks in each point, show how Lacuna Kasoo acquires wealth dishonestly e.g. by borrowing heavily for his own selfish needs and squandering the money and how he wallows in misery e.g. when the citizens organize an uprising/insurrection.

You should give at least one illustration from the book for each point. You will score full marks only if you fully/exhaustively illustrate your point.

Both the illicit acquisition of wealth and the resultant misery must come out clearly in order for you to earn full marks in KCSE essay questions.

You should also link these two situations. The misery should be seen as a result of acquiring riches dishonestly.

Awarding marks

1 mark-You mentioned either of the key phrases. You simply explored one of the sides of the two-sided question. You merely mentioned the point.

2 marks-You made a valid attempt to illustrate but left out some vital points. You captured both sides of the questions. You showed how ill-gotten wealth causes Lacuna misery.

3 marks-The two sides of the question were brought out clearly. You identified a situation, gave the background and gave the outcome of Lacuna’s action. You also brought out the moral lesson seamlessly. 

The conclusion sums up the argument.

You can read an Inheritance sample essay question here.

 

Novel

John Steinbeck The Pearl

The key words are desires without limit and source of agony.

The only character that has limitless ambitions (desires) and brings misery to him and his family is Kino so naturally the points should revolve around him.

Each point must show the different situations where Kino suffers due to his excessive desire.

You must describe the suffering fully in order to earn a full mark. A mere mention of the agony will attract the least marks in the event that the point is valid.

For instance, if you identify one point as “Kino loses his boat (canoe)” you should go ahead and identify specific examples from the text that show Kino’s pain as a result of this particular loss.

E.g. You must talk about the searing rage, evil music, the canoe of his grandfather (which gives a sentimental attachment to it), Kino thinks that the killing of a man is less evil; this turns Kino into an animal … etc.(pg 87)

The moral lesson here is we should have limits to our desires or ambitions or else we will suffer or hurt those we love.

Come up with at least four points that have both the desire and Kino’s grief.

What about the other greedy character’s like the doctor and the priest? 

Unlike Kino, their families do not suffer and the outcome of the excessive ambition is not profound. We do not see their agony. Therefore, all points must be based on Kino’s actions.

In brief, the key to passing English paper 3 is reading the actual texts on your own until you become confident enough to sit the exam. You may read bits of the book over and over again. Read the episodes as many times as you can.

The interpretation of the questions rests on the key words.

Scarcely illustrated points do not score any marks. In order to get a full score in any given point, you must richly add evidence from the text in question.

See an example of an essay based on The Pearl here.

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If you have any questions or comments on analysis of set books and answering KCSE essay questions you may ask in the comments section below.