ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE
PAPER 3
GRADE 12
NSC PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017
INFORMATION FOR THE MARKER
In assessing a candidate's work, the following aspects, among others, drawn from the assessment rubric, must be borne in mind:
- The overall effect of planning, drafting, proofreading and editing of the work on the final text produced
- Awareness of writing for a specific purpose, audience and context – as well as register, style and tone – especially in SECTION B
- Grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Language structures, including an awareness of critical language
- Choice of words and idiomatic language
- Sentence construction
- Paragraphing
- Interpretation of the topic that will be reflected in the overall content: the introduction, the development of ideas and the conclusion
MEMORANDUM
SUGGESTED APPROACH TO MARKING
SECTION A: ESSAY
Refer to SECTION A: Assessment Rubric for Essay, found on pages 7 and 8 of this memorandum.
CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT |
CRITERIA | MARKS |
CONTENT AND PLANNING | 30 |
LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING | 15 |
STRUCTURE | 5 |
TOTAL | 50 |
- Read the whole piece and decide on a category for CONTENT AND PLANNING.
- Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING.
- Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for STRUCTURE.
SECTION B: TRANSACTIONAL TEXTS
Refer to SECTION B: Assessment Rubric for Transactional Text, found on page 9 of this memorandum.
CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT |
CRITERIA | MARKS |
CONTENT, PLANNING AND FORMAT | 15 |
LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING | 10 |
TOTAL | 25 |
- Read the whole piece and decide on a category for CONTENT, PLANNING AND FORMAT.
- Re-read the piece and select the appropriate category for LANGUAGE, STYLE AND EDITING.
NOTE:
- Various formats of transactional/referential/informational texts have been taught/ are in current practice. This has to be considered when assessing the format.
- Give credit for appropriateness of format.
- Look for a logical approach in all writing.
NOTE: - The points given below each topic in this memorandum serve only as a guide to markers.
- Allowance must be made for a candidate's own interpretation of the topic, even if it differs from the given points or a marker's own views or interpretations.
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SECTION A: ESSAY
QUESTION 1
Candidates are required to write ONE essay of 400–450 words (2–2½ pages) on ONE of the given topics. Candidates may write in any genre: narrative, descriptive, reflective, argumentative, discursive, or any combination of these.
1.1 'Only from the heart can you touch the sky.'
(Rumi)
- Achievement is possible if you believe in your potential/dreams/wishes.
- Candidates could include aspects such as passion/sincerity/ determination/realising goals.
- Credit responses that have opposing or mixed views. [50]
1.2 The silence of my narrative
- Credit literal, figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.3 Messages in the streets
- Candidates could focus on narratives/messages/signs/omens/events actions/experiences.
- Credit literal and figurative responses. [50]
1.4 A bridge too far …
- Credit literal/metaphorical/mixed responses. [50]
1.5 'The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that is the essence of inhumanity.'
(George Bernard Shaw)
- Focus should be on ignoring the plight of others.
- Altruism versus complacency could be discussed.
- Credit responses that focus on human rights issues. [50]
1.6 NOTE: There must be a clear link between the essay and the picture chosen.
1.6.1 Baby with iPad/Boy eating scraps
- Candidates could discuss the juxtaposition of privilege and poverty.
- Interpretation should be figurative/symbolic. [50]
1.6.2 Prisoner in/of the mind
- Candidates could focus on either the prison bars or the prisoner, or both.
- Credit literal/figurative and mixed responses. [50]
1.6.3 Eye/Shattered glass
- Credit literal/figurative and mixed responses.
- Credit references to any part(s) of the image or image as a whole. [50]
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
SECTION B: TRANSACTIONAL TEXTS
QUESTION 2
Candidates are required to respond to TWO of the topics set. The body of the responses should be 180–200 words (20–25 lines) in length. The language, register, style and tone must be appropriate to the context.
2.1 SPEECH
- Candidates should deal with the health benefits of participating in sport/physical activity.
- Candidates could include suggestions/advice.
- Speech must be convincing and persuasive. [25]
2.2 FORMAL REPORT
- Report should contain realistic details regarding unemployment.
- Format: heading; terms of reference; findings; conclusion; recommendations; date and signing off [25]
2.3 OBITUARY
- Candidates must show an understanding of an obituary.
- Details of the person's life must be clear, e.g. his/her impact on/contribution to the lives of others. [25]
2.4 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
- Candidate's position on the headline must be clear.
- Format: heading and by-line [25]
2.5 INTERVIEW
- Candidate should highlight the different conservation campaigns.
- Dialogue should promote nature conservation.
- Format: dialogue format [25]
2.6 LETTER TO THE PRESS
- Candidate should highlight his/her dissatisfaction with the event (any aspect(s)) and suggest ways of improvement.
- Format: own address; date; The Editor, name and address of newspaper; salutation; subject line; signing off [25]
TOTAL SECTION B: 50
GRAND TOTAL: 100
NOTE:
- Always use the rubric when marking the creative essay (Paper 3, SECTION A).
- Marks from 0–50 have been divided into FIVE major level descriptors.
- In the Content, Language and Style criteria, each of the five level descriptors is divided into an upper and a lower level subcategory with the applicable mark range and descriptors.
- Structure is not affected by the upper level and lower level division.
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – HOME LANGUAGE [50 MARKS]
Criteria | | Exceptional | Skilful | Moderate | Elementary | Inadequate |
CONTENT & PLANNING
(Response and ideas) - Organisation of ideas for planning;
- Awareness of purpose, audience and context
30 MARKS | UPPER LEVEL | 28–30 | 22–24 | 16–18 | 10–12 | 4–6 |
- Outstanding/Striking response beyond normal expectations
- Intelligent, thought provoking and mature ideas
- Exceptionally well organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Very well-crafted response
- Fully relevant and interesting ideas with evidence of maturity
- Very well organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Satisfactory response
- Ideas are reasonably coherent and convincing
- Reasonably organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Inconsistently coherent response
- Unclear ideas and unoriginal
- Little evidence of organisation and coherence
| - Totally irrelevant response
- Confused and unfocused ideas
- Vague and repetitive
- Disorganised and incoherent
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LOWER LEVEL | 25–27 | 19–21 | 13–15 | 7–9 | 0–3 |
- Excellent response but lacks the exceptionally striking qualities of the outstanding essay
- Mature and intelligent ideas
- Skilfully organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Well-crafted response
- Relevant and interesting ideas
- Well organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Satisfactory response but some lapses in clarity
- Ideas are fairly coherent and convincing
- Some degree of organisation and coherence, including introduction, body and conclusion
| - Largely irrelevant response
- Ideas tend to be disconnected and confusing
- Hardly any evidence of organisation and coherence
| - No attempt to respond to the topic
- Completely irrelevant and inappropriate
- Unfocused and muddled
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ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – HOME LANGUAGE [50 MARKS] (continued)
Criteria | | Exceptional | Skilful | Moderate | Elementary | Inadequate |
LANGUAGE, STYLE & EDITING - Tone, register, style, vocabulary appropriate to purpose/effect and context;
- Word choice;
- Language use and conventions, punctuation, grammar, spelling
15 MARKS | UPPER LEVEL | 14–15 | 11–12 | 8–9 | 5–6 | 0-3 |
- Tone, register, style and vocabulary highly appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Exceptionally impressive us of language
- Compelling and rhetorically effective in tone
- Virtually error-free in grammar and spelling
- Very skilfully crafted
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary very appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Language is effective and a consistently appropriate tone is used
- Largely error-free in grammar and spelling
- Very well crafted
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Appropriate use of language to convey meaning
- Rhetorical devices used to enhance content
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary not appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Very basic use of language
- Very limited vocabulary
| - Language incomprehensible
- Tone, register, style and vocabulary less appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Vocabulary limitations so extreme as to make comprehension impossible
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LOWER LEVEL | 13 | 10 | 7 | 4 | |
- Language excellent and rhetorically effective in tone
- Virtually error-free in grammar and spelling
- Skilfully crafted
| - Language engaging and generally effective
- Appropriate and effective tone
- Few errors in grammar and spelling
- Well-crafted
| - Adequate use of language with some inconsistencies
- Tone generally appropriate and limited use of rhetorical devices
| - Inadequate use of language
- Little or no variety in sentences
- Exceptionally limited vocabulary
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STRUCTURE - Features of text; Paragraph development and sentence construction
5 MARKS | | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0–1 |
- Excellent development of topic
- Exceptional detail
- Sentences, paragraphs exceptionally well constructed
| - Logical development of details
- Coherent
- Sentences, paragraphs logical, varied
| - Relevant details developed
- Sentences, paragraphs well-constructed
- Essay still makes sense
| - Some valid points
- Sentences and paragraphs faulty
- Essay still makes some sense
| - Necessary points lacking
- Sentences and paragraphs faulty
- Essay lacks sense
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ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – HOME LANGUAGE [25 MARKS]
Criteria | Exceptional | Skilful | Moderate | Elementary | Inadequate |
CONTENT, PLANNING & FORMAT - Response and ideas; Organisation of ideas for planning;
- Purpose, audience, features/conventions and context
15MARKS | 13–15 | 10–12 | 7–9 | 4–6 | 0–3 |
- Outstanding response beyond normal expectations
- Intelligent and mature ideas
- Extensive knowledge of features of the type of text
- Writing maintains focus
- Coherence in content and ideas
- Highly elaborated and all details support the topic
- Appropriate and
accurate format | - Very good response demonstrating good knowledge of features of the type of text
- Maintains focus – no digressions
- Coherent in content and ideas, very well elaborated and details support topic
- Appropriate format with minor inaccuracies
| - Adequate response demonstrating knowledge of features of the type of text
- Not completely focused – some digressions
- Reasonably coherent in content and ideas
- Some details support the topic
- Generally appropriate format but with some inaccuracies
| - Basic response demonstrating some knowledge of features of the type of text
- Some focus but writing digresses
- Not always coherent in content and ideas Few details support the topic
- Has vaguely applied necessary rules of format
- Some critical oversights
| - Response reveals no knowledge of features of the type of text
- Meaning is obscure with major digressions
- Not coherent in content and ideas
- Very few details support the topic
- Has not applied necessary rules of format
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LANGUAGE, STYLE & EDITING - Tone, register, style, purpose/effect, audience and context;
- Language use and conventions;
- Word choice;
- Punctuation and spelling
10 MARKS | 9–10 | 7–8 | 5–6 | 3–4 | 0–2 |
- Tone, register, style and vocabulary highly appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Grammatically accurate and well constructed
- Virtually error-free
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary very appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Generally grammatically accurate and well-constructed
- Very good vocabulary
- Mostly free of errors
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Some grammatical errors
- Adequate vocabulary
- Errors do not impede meaning
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary less appropriate to purpose, audience and context
- Inaccurate grammar with numerous errors
- Limited vocabulary
- Meaning obscured
| - Tone, register, style and vocabulary do not correspond to purpose, audience and context
- Error-ridden and confused
- Vocabulary not suitable for purpose
- Meaning seriously impaired
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