CSEC English A 2023 Paper 2 Study Guide

SECTION A – Summary Writing (120 words)

A summary is a shortened version of writing in which you use your own wording to
express the main idea of a longer piece of information.

When learning summarizing skills, three points should be emphasized:

(1) summaries are shorter than original texts,

(2) they contain the main ideas of a text, and
(3) they are written in reported speech and present tense.

The process can be broken into these steps:

STEP I – Analyse the INSTRUCTIONS to make sure you understand how to answer.

…what to focus on? Relevant details

… how to write? Continuous prose

… word limit? 120 exact

STEP II – Read the passage ONCE to get a general understanding; TWICE to start making
notes.

academichelp.net
STEP III – Make NOTES of the main ideas in the text.

1. Identify theme/topic that is mentioned throughout passage (what is extract talking about?)
2. Create a topic sentence that summarises main

points
3. Ask yourself, what is writer trying to tell me about topic?

*list FIVE main points

*use your own wording as far as possible to paraphrase in sentence form what you found

(these become the main points/relevant info.)

*ensure you do not have any MORE FEDS

4. Organise main points sentences logically, which means they do not have appear in order
presented in passage

STEP IV – Add transitions to make coherent

Use appropriate transitions to join and transition sentences.

STEP V – Read over and proofread

● Your range of vocabulary is helpful as you condense a number of words/details

● Change any direct speech into reported speech
● Keep the language: (SC²)
Simple – easy to understand
Clear – easy to see
Concise – brief and to the point

EXAMPLES – Click on the link to view up to 27 sample with

answers

https://www.caribexams.org/node/842
 SECTION B – Expository Writing

Please note the difference in format of the various pieces of

writing in this section

Topics: Email, Formal Letter, Reports, Notice & Memorandum.

Email

An Email is short for ‘electronic mail‘. Similar to a letter, it is sent via the internet to a recipient.
An email address is required to receive email, and that address is unique to the user. Some people
use internet-based applications and some use programs on their computer to access and store
emails.

The format for an email is:

● From: (Who is sending the email- John@yahoo.com)

● To: (Who you are sending the email to- live@gmail.com)
● Cc: (Who you want to send a copy of the email to- mark@live.com)
● Bcc: (You add someone you want to sent the email to but you do not want everyone to see
who this person is)
● Subject: (What the email is about- Requesting an English Class)
● Greeting - – find below
● The body of the email – find below
● Closing (Yours truly,) – find below

NB: Cc means carbon copy and Bcc means blind carbon copy. For emailing, you use Cc when
you want to copy others publicly, and Bcc when you want to do it privately. Any recipients on
the Bcc line of an email are not visible to others on the email.
 Business Letter
A Letter Defined

A letter is a written correspondence between two persons or a person and a company or between
two companies. Letters can be formal or informal. Informal letters are also known as friendly
letters. Whereas, formal letters are also known as business letters.Today were are only going to
focus on business letters.

Types of Business Letters

They are many types of business letters. These include but are not limited to:

1. Letter of Complaint
2. Letter of Requests
3. Letter of Apology
4. Application/Cover Letter

These are the four major types that might occur in Section B of the CSEC English A Exam.

Examining the Four Types of Letters

Letter of Complaint

A letter of complaint is written to deal with a problem situation when other attempts have failed
to rectify the situation.

Letter of Request

A letter of Request is a formal way of asking a person or company for something. It would be
that you are asking for sponsorship for an event or you are asking your principal to permit an
event.

Letter of Apology

There are formal or informal letters of apology. However,a formal letter of apology is a way of
expressing regret towards a past action or occurrence. This can be done to or by a manager,
teacher, principal or a company to a client.

Application/Cover Letter

An application/cover letter is a written document submitted with a resume’ which explains the
position the applicant is applying for as well as highlight skills and traits that the applicant might
have that is not highlighted in the resume’.

Structure of the Business Letter

1. The Block Format

At all times remember to check to ensure that all of the following is present in your business
letter.

● The sender’s address (your address)

● Date
● Receiver’s address
● Greeting
● Subject Line
● Body of the report
● Closing

DON’Ts

I have noted with increasing worry the following errors being made by students. The following
are things that you should not do when structuring your business letter:

1. Do not abbreviate addresses, names, and other words.

2. Do not put a colon (:) between dear and the name of the person.
3. When using the block or semi block format do not put a date after the receiver’s address. 4. If
you are using the indented format the closing should be on your right. 5. If you are using the
 block or semi block format the closing should be on the right. 6. Use Dear Sir/Madam when you
do not know the name of the person you are sending the letter to.
7. The receiver’s information should be structured as follows:

Mr. John Brown, (Name of the Receiver’s)

Manager, (Position of the Person)
Brown’s Auto King, (Name of the Company)
17 John’s Road, ( Address)
Spanish Town, ( Address)
St. Catherine. ( Address)

Greeting - Same for email

Dear Sir:

Dear Madam:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Dear Sirs:

Dear Mr. John Doe:

Subject -

Should be 8-10 words, underlined and centered.

Should tell the purpose of the letter

Body Paragraphs – Same for email

Paragraph 1 – Say why you are writing the letter. Identify the

issue. Paragraph 2 - Give details surrounding the purpose of the

letter.

Paragraph 3 – State the inconvenience it has cause and the

challenges you faced.

Paragraph 4 – Recommendations. Be clear and specific.

Paragraph 5 – Include your contact information, thank the person

for the time and state that you look forward to hearing from them

Closing - Same for email

Yours truly,

(Signature)
John Doe

Best regards,

(Signature)
Jane Doe

Yours sincerely,

(Signature)
John Doe
 Memorandum
DEFINITION

A Memorandum is a written message in business or diplomacy.

Sometimes in organisations, reports are written in the form of memoranda (commonly called
“Memos”) to the persons who have to make decisions or take action.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MEMOS
Memos are meant to:
1. be brief
2. be factual
3. improve flow of information

PURPOSE
They are used to:
þ send announcements
þ send instructions
þ send requests
þ document incidents in writing

IN WHICH SETTINGS DO WE WRITE MEMOS?

● Memos are written within organisations. It is the method of communication between: ●

employer and employee in businesses
● staff and administration in schools,
● et cetera
NB: Once individuals are part of the organisation, they communicate with each other through a
memorandum.

FORMAT
þ To whom it is being sent and position in company
þ From whom it is sent and position in company
þ Date on which it is written (month, day, year)
þ Subject of memo (preview phrase; not a sentence)
 SAMPLE

MEMORANDUM

To: Mr V. Anglin, Dean of Students

From: Mr R. Smith, Head of Biology Department
Date: September 21, 2004
Subject: Student Indiscipline in Canteen

On Wednesday, September 20, 2004, I received a report that Paul Harvey of 5B had taken
two plates of food for lunch.
I spoke to Paul and he denied the charge claiming that he had given the second plate of
food to an unnamed student.
A few minutes later I made a surprise check at the table where he and his friends were
eating. I discovered the extra plate of food which no one on the table claimed. I am asking you to
consider whether disciplinary action against Paul Harvey is appropriate.

Notice

DEFINITION
A notice is a written announcement in a place where everyone can read it. (Collins Dictionary)

A notice is a formal means of communication.

PURPOSE
The purpose of a notice is to:
● announce or display information to a specific group of people
● be pinned up on specific display boards whether in schools or in public places
● invite to a meeting
● announce any event
● issue certain instructions
● make appeals, et cetera

GUIDELINES

A notice should contain information regarding an event that is going to happen or that has
happened.

● It must provide complete information: short and grammatical sentences.

● It must have a title which should preferably be a phrase, not a sentence.

● The language should be impersonal – passive voice is preferred.

● The notice should mention the name of the person / body organizing the event.
● The notice must be dated and it must answer the questions: when, where, why, what and
how.

FORMAT
1. Name of the issuing agency/authority
2. The word: “NOTICE”
3. Date of issue/Release of the notice
4. Title/Subject of the Event
5. BODY (Date/time/duration/Place/Venue)
6. Authorized signatory (Name, Designation and signature)
 Simple Report

DEFINITION:

A report is an account usually presented in details

EXPECTATIONS:

Reports are expected to be:

Objective – not based on personal feelings or opinions; unbiased

Accurate – factual/based on facts

Comprehensive – including required details

Helpfully organised – information is placed in logical order/sequence

TYPES OF REPORTS

● Eyewitness
● News
● Incident Report
● Statistical Report

SIMPLE REPORTS OUTLINE:

Introduction Introduces account with the 4Ws in reasonable order (who, what,
when, where)

Body Gives details of the what and sometimes why

Conclusion Explains the outcome or may give recommendations/suggestions for

an outcome

SAMPLE:

Scenario:
There was an incident on the school’s recreation ground during a friendly cricket match
between female students when two male students interrupted and one’s action caused the
injury of one of the players. As the head prefect of the school, write a formal report to be sent
to the principal.
 Report on incident on the recreation ground on 15 June, 2004

The incident on the school’s recreation ground occurred on 15 June, 2004 at midday. The
girls of Form One were engaged in a friendly cricket match with the girls of Form Two when two
male students interrupted the match and one caused injury to one of the players.
In the middle of the match, Shane Williams, a student of Form Four and Gary Moore, a
student of Form Three entered the field and began heckling the girls. As Sasha, one of the
players, ran to take a catch, Shane ran towards her, tripped her and caused her to fall. Her mouth
struck Shane’s boots and began to bleed. Gary tried to stop the bleeding with his handkerchief but
he failed.
Mr Roger Paine, the Physical Education teacher was called to assist. He took Sasha to the
hospital where she was treated by a nurse in the Casualty department. Mr Paine then took Sasha
home to her parents. There, an explanation was given to the parents as to the cause of the
incident. The Physical Education teacher, Mr Paine, is conducting an investigation of the
incident.

Link to statistical Report writing -

https://csecenglishmadeeasy.com/2018/05/how-to-write-a-statistic
al-report-2/

Newspaper Report

What is a newspaper report?

There are two definitions to consider:

1. News reports are found in newspapers and their purpose is to inform readers of what is
happening in the world around them.

2. A newspaper report is a news story found in newspapers and is designed to provide people
with information about what is happening in the world. News is new information and is
usually about something that has just happened. All news reports follow a certain structure
and have the same key features
Section C – Narrative Writing (400-450 words)

Elements of a Story

Plot:
The sequence of events that happen in a story. The plot usually happens in the order of
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Denouement.

Setting:
Where and when the story takes place. The setting is the geographic location of the story. When
a character walks from one part of a neighbourhood to the other, the scene changes, but the
setting always stays the same.

Characters:
The people, animals, or creatures in the story.

Protagonist:
One character who is central to the story and all the major events in the story.

Antagonist:

The character who opposes, or goes against the main character or protagonist. The antagonist
tries to prevent the main character (protagonist) from succeeding or being happy.

Conflict:

Conflict is a problem that happens in the story. Usually, the conflict happens toward the
beginning of the story, at the beginning of the Rising Action. There are different types of
conflicts:

(1) Person versus Person

(2) Person versus Self
(3) Person versus Nature
(4) Person versus Society
(5) Person versus Circumstance

Theme:
The message that is in the story. Common themes are love, friendship, loyalty, faith, hope,
forgiveness, sacrifice, honour, justice, truth, and freedom.
Plot

Essentially, a story plot is what happens in the story. More specifically, the plot is the
series of events that take place. It is the action of the story that drives the narrative
forward
 Each
paragraph in your story must represent a section of the plot
Paragraph 1 – Exposition
Paragraph 2 – Conflict
Paragraph 3 – Rising Action
Paragraph 4 – Climax
Paragraph 5 Falling action
Paragraph 6 - Resolution

Here are CXC past paper-type short story questions.

These are the types of short story questions that have been on
CXC English A past papers

NB CXC suggests spending no more than 45 minutes to answer the short story question on
Paper 2 of the English A exam. They also suggest 400 – 450 words as the short story length

1. Write a story entitled, “The decision that saved my life.”

2. “Jamila turned and walked away. I knew then that I had lost a friend.”
Write a story in which this sentence plays an important part.

3. Write either a story entitled,

“The village where nobody lives anymore”.
 4. Write a story which leads up to the following ending:
“To this day, people passing through Coconut Grove still stop to ask for Waspie.”

5. Write a story entitled: “The Dream That Came True.”

Click on the link below to find samples -

https://caribexams.org/cxc_sstories

Section D – Persuasive Writing (200-250 words)

The Structure of a CSEC English A Persuasive Essay

This type of Writing may be developed as follows:

Introduction
A. Thesis Statement (The writer’s opinion on a topic)
· Reason 1
· Reason 2
· Reason 3
B. The Body
· Reason 1: supporting details
Connecting words and phrases
· Reason 2: supporting details
Connecting words and phrases
· Reason 3: supporting details
Connecting words and phrases
C. The Conclusion
· Summing up of the three reasons
· Why they support the thesis statement
CXC suggests spending no more than 30 minutes to answer the persuasive essay question on
Paper 2 of the English A exam. They also suggest 250 - 300 words as the length of the
persuasive essay.

Persuasive Essay Question: Write an article to the local newspaper expressing your concern
about the high rate of traffic accidents in your country. Suggest three measures which would help
to reduce this high rate of accidents

Please click on link below to find additional samples

https://caribexams.org/node/1705
Click on the link to find Sample Past Papers -
https://documents.gcfc.edu.jm/wl/?id=t8pOUsvSunStPFvI1yUFULIRaUXgSANp&path=CXC%
20CSEC%2FEnglish%20A%2FCXC%20CSEC%20Many-June%202019%20-%20English%20
A%20Paper%202.pdf&mode=grid
https://www.csecpastpapers.com/eng-a-1