ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE PAPER 3
GRADE 12
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE
NOVEMBER 2017

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
This memorandum must be used together with the attached English FAL assessment rubrics for SECTIONS A, B and C.
SECTION A: ESSAY
QUESTION 1
Instructions to Markers:

  • Candidates are required to write on ONE topic only.
  • The ideas listed below the topics are only some ways in which the topic could be interpreted.
  • Full credit must be given for the candidate's own interpretation.
  • Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
  • Use the 50-mark assessment rubric to mark the essays. The texts produced by candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria as set out in the assessment rubric:
    • Content and planning (30 marks)
    • Language, style and editing (15 marks)
    • Structure (5 marks)

NOTE:

  • Adhere to the length of 250–300 words as prescribed in the CAPS document. However, should the maximum word count be reached mid-sentence, read to the end of that sentence.
  • No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.

1.1 No one knows …
Narrative/Reflective/Descriptive

  • If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting ending. The essay is usually written in the past tense.
  • If reflective, the essay should convey emotional reactions and feelings the candidate experiences/experienced.
  • If descriptive, the writer should create a picture in words, trying to use as many senses as possible to make the description clear.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.2 'Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant.' – Steven Anderson.
Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive/Narrative

  • If reflective, the essay should convey emotional reactions and feelings the candidate experiences/experienced.
  • If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
  • If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting evidence for arguments. The candidate may come to a particular conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include recommendations.
  • If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting ending. The essay is usually written in the past tense.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.3 My music, my life
Descriptive/Narrative/Reflective

  • If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, trying to use as many senses as possible to make the description clear.
  • If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting ending.
  • If reflective, the essay should convey emotional reactions and feelings the candidate experiences/experienced.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.4 The world in 2050
Descriptive /Reflective/ Narrative

  • If descriptive, the writer should create a picture in words, referring to as many senses as possible to make the description clear.
  • If reflective, the essay should convey emotional reactions and feelings the candidate experiences/experienced.
  • If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting ending.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.5 You are not a victim of circumstances; you are a product of your decisions. Do you agree?
Argumentative/Discursive

  • If argumentative, the essay must reflect a specific argument or viewpoint for or against the topic. The candidate should give a range of arguments to support and substantiate his/her view. The conclusion should be a strong, clear and convincing statement of the writer's opinion.
  • If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting evidence for arguments. The candidate may come to a particular conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include recommendations.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.6 Teachers shape the future. Discuss this statement.
Discursive/Descriptive/Reflective/Narrative

  • If discursive, the arguments for and against must be well-balanced and clearly analysed in the essay. The candidate must provide supporting evidence for arguments. The candidate may come to a particular conclusion at the end of the essay, which should include recommendations.
  • If descriptive, the candidate should create a picture in words, referring to as many senses as possible to make the description clear.
  • If reflective, the essay should convey emotional reactions and feelings the candidate experiences/experienced.
  • If narrative, the essay must have a strong story line and an interesting ending.

NOTE: A candidate may write an essay which contains elements of more than one type of essay/any other essay type.
[50]
1.7 Interpretation of pictures
The candidate

  • must give the essay a suitable title.
  • may interpret the pictures in any way.
  • may choose to write any type of essay.
  • must link the interpretation to the picture.
  • may write in any appropriate tense.

1.7.1 Picture: Selfie
Narrative/Descriptive/Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive

  • Literal interpretations: taking selfies; a romantic relationship; memories.
  • Figurative interpretations: the effects of technology on our lives, modern life, joy.
    [50]

1.7.2 Picture: Keys
Narrative/Descriptive/Reflective/Argumentative/Discursive

  • Literal interpretations: safety; losing keys; locking/unlocking doors.
  • Figurative interpretations: career choices; making decisions; education is the key to success; confusion/uncertainty.
    [50]

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

SECTION B: LONGER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT
QUESTION 2
Instructions to Markers:

  • Candidates are required to answer ONE question.
  • Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
  • Use the 30-mark assessment rubric to mark the responses in this section. The texts produced by candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria as set out in the assessment rubric:
    • Content, planning and format (18 marks)
    • Language, style and editing (12 marks)

NOTE:

  • Adhere to the length of 120–150 words as prescribed in the CAPS document. However, should the maximum word count be reached mid-sentence, read to the end of that sentence.
  • No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.

2.1 FORMAL LETTER
Your local municipality has shown much improvement regarding service delivery.

  • Allow for acceptable variations of the format (address).
  • The letter should be addressed to the municipal manager.
  • The tone and register of the letter should be formal.
  • The letter should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
  • The following aspects of format must be included:
  • Address of sender
  • Date
  • Recipient: The Municipal Manager
    • Address of recipient
    • Greeting/Salutation
    • Subject line
    • Suitable ending
    • Signature
    • Name of sender
  • The letter must express gratitude.
  • The candidate must give details of the improvements.
    [30]

2.2 OBITUARY
A famous South African celebrity passed away recently.

  • The tone must be formal.
  • The following aspects of format must be included:
    • Full name of the deceased
    • Date of birth
    • Date of death
    • Birthplace
    • Where the person was living at the time of death
    • Key survivors (spouse, children) and their names
  • The following aspects may be included:
    • Biographical information
    • Cause of death
    • Date, time and place of funeral
  • A tribute must be paid to the deceased.
    [30]

2.3 MAGAZINE ARTICLE
An article for Teen Mag

  • The article must have a suitable heading.
  • Paragraphs should not be too long.
  • The article must provide suggestions to the reader on how teenagers can cope with teenage life in the 21st century.
  • The style should be personal, speaking directly to the reader.
  • The article should be stimulating to the reader.
  • The language may be formal/informal.
    [30]

2.4 SPEECH
Speech at a Grade 12 party

  • The speech should be written using a suitable salutation/greeting.
  • The tone and register should be appropriate for the audience.
  • The speech must include the following:
    • an introduction that attracts attention
    • well-developed points
    • a conclusion.
      [30]

TOTAL SECTION B: 30

SECTION C: SHORTER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT
QUESTION 3
Instructions to Markers:

  • Candidates are required to answer ONE question.
  • Marking must be objective. Give credit for relevant ideas.
  • Use the 20-mark assessment rubric to mark the responses in this section. The texts produced by candidates must be assessed according to the following criteria as set out in the attached rubric:
    • Content, planning and format (12 marks)
    • Language, style and editing (8 marks)

NOTE:

  • Adhere to the length of 80–100 words as prescribed in the CAPS document. However, should the maximum word count be reached mid-sentence, read to the end of that sentence.
  • No additional penalties may be imposed as the rubric itself imposes penalties.

3.1 ADVERTISEMENT
Transport service

  • The advertisement should:
    • have a catchy headline to attract the attention of the reader.
    • create interest in and desire for the service.
    • have the following details: service rendered, cost involved and contact details.
    • inspire action.
  • The target market should be clear.
  • The language may be formal or informal but not slang or colloquial.

NOTE: Do not award marks for illustrations.
[20]

3.2 DIARY ENTRIES
The candidate's feelings before and after attending the career guidance workshop.

  • There MUST be TWO diary entries with two different dates/ times.
  • The entries should express the candidate's feelings before and after attending the career guidance workshop.
  • The diary entries should be written in the first person.
  • The language should be simple and informal.
  • The tone must reflect suitable emotions.
    [20]

3.3 INSTRUCTIONS
Parent's instructions to study group

  • The instructions may be in point or paragraph form.
  • Instructions must be in a clear, logical sequence.
    [20]

TOTAL SECTION C:20
GRAND TOTAL:100

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR ESSAY – FIRST ADDITIONAL 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
  • Unorganised and incoherent
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 topicCompletely irrelevant and inappropriate
  • Unfocused and muddled
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 use 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 less appropriate to purpose, audience and context
  • Very basic use of language
  • Diction is inappropriate
  • Very limited vocabulary
  • Language incomprehensible
  • Tone, register, style and vocabulary not appropriate to purpose, audience and context
  • Vocabulary limitations so extreme as to make comprehension impossible
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
 
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 point lacking
  • Sentences an paragraphs faulty
    • Essay lacks sense


ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR LONGER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE [30 MARKS]

Criteria  Exceptional  Skilful  Moderate  Elementary  Inadequate 
CONTENT, PLANNING & FORMAT
Response and ideas;
Organisation of ideas for planning;
Purpose, audience, features/conventions and context
18MARKS 
 15-18 11-14 8-10 5-7 0-4
  • Outstanding response beyond normal expectations
  • Intelligent and mature ideas
  • xtensive 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
LANGUAGE, STYLE & EDITING
Tone, register, style, purpose/effect, audience and context;
Language use and conventions;
Word choice;
Punctuation and spelling
12 MARKS  
10-12 8-9 6-7 4-5  0–3
  • 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
MARK RANGE 25-30 19-23 14-17 9-12 0-7

 

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR SHORTER TRANSACTIONAL TEXT – FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE [20 MARKS]

Criteria  Exceptional  Skilful  Moderate  Elementary  Inadequate 
CONTENT, PLANNING & FORMAT
Response and ideas;
Organisation of ideas for planning;
Purpose, audience, features/conventions and context
12MARKS 
 10-12 8-9 6-7 4-5 0-3
  • Outstanding response beyond normal expectations
  • Intelligent and mature ideas
  • xtensive 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
LANGUAGE, STYLE & EDITING
Tone, register, style, purpose/effect, audience and context;
Language use and conventions;
Word choice;
Punctuation and spelling
8 MARKS  
 7-8 5-6 4 3  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
MARK RANGE 17-20 13-15 10-11 7-8 0-5
Last modified on Monday, 02 August 2021 09:42