FUNCTIONAL WRITING�KCSE QUESTIONS SINCE 1991-2017�

KCSE QUESTIONS SINCE 1991

1991: Write a short report for your school magazine on any of the following:

(a) A school trip in which you participated.

(b) The various activities carried out during the year by the club you belong to.

(c) Developments that have taken place in your school during the year.

1992: A friend from another country is coming to Kenya for the first time. He/she would like to visit your school and wants to know how to get to your school from the point of entry into Kenya. He/she would also like details about the physical layout of your school.

Write a letter to the friend including BOTH brief directions on the easiest way to reach your school, and a brief description of the layout of the school compound.

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1993: As the secretary of your school’s Drama Club, you wish to invite Furaha Drama Society in Nairobi to give a performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at your school, followed by a talk on the play.

Write a letter of invitation to the chairman of the above society, including details of the following: venue, dates, times and accommodation arrangements for the actors/actresses.

1993/2: You are taking part in a debate on the motion: “Kenya’s social problems are caused by population pressure.”

Write a short speech either supporting or opposing the motion.

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1994: Imagine that you have been asked to write a short report on the state of the natural environment around your school. Write the report, examining briefly the various environmental problems you see around the compound, such as: Pollution, care of trees and bushes, litter, soil erosion, general cleanliness, and any other areas. Make recommendations as to how the natural environment can be improved by the school authorities.

1995: You have read a letter in one of the national dailies, the voice, in which the author argues that reading novels is a waste of time. Write a reply to the editor, The Voice, P.O. Box 3000, Nairobi, and refer as closely as possible to your own experience in reading novels.

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1996: You are the Patron/Patroness of the Student’s talks Club. You wish to recommend to the head teacher three guest speakers who could be invited to address the school on different topics.

Write an Internal memo to the head teacher of your school giving details of the following:

-the three speakers that the committee has identified and wishes to invite;

-the reasons why each speaker has been selected.

-the topics(s) that each of the speakers will cover,

-the dates when you want each speaker invited.

1997: Imagine that your class recently went on a five-day school trip to various places of interest in Kenya. Write out the diary you kept during the journey, describing for each day what you saw and experienced, and your reactions.

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1998: On your way back to school from the holidays, you swop boxes by mistake with a student from the neighbouring Sky view secondary school. You are unhappy because your box contains some of your most precious items. However, just before you write to the owner of the box you have, you receive a letter from the student who took your box asking you whether you might have taken his/hers by mistake.

Write a reply to the letter, expressing your gratitude and saying when and where you should meet to exchange the boxes.

1999: You have invited five friends to your home, and have decided to cook your favourite dish for them. Describe in detail the different ingredients, the amounts required of each ingredient and the stages in the preparation of the dish until it is ready for serving.

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2000: You are one of the senior students in Matumbo Secondary School. Some of your school mates have expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of cleanliness in the school. The head has asked you to investigate whether the complaints are genuine or not. Write a report explaining clearly how you went about gathering information, what you discovered, your conclusions and recommendations.

2001: Imagine you have gone to a shopping centre where you meet a friend who, four year ago, used to be very close to you in primary school. Write out the dialogue you hold from the time you meet to the time you part.

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2002: The chairperson of the Debating club in your school has called a meeting to discuss the following agenda:

Apologies

Confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting

Matters arising

The visit of the Nyang’wa secondary school Debating club

End of year party.

A.O.B

As the secretary of the club, write down the minutes of the meeting. In the previous meeting the financial report was tabled and discussed and elections of new officials held.

2003: The Utamaduni Theatre Company is staging Francis Imbuga’s Aminata in your provincial capital. You and your classmates want to watch this performance, and you are individually prepared to pay for the tickets which cost kshs.100.00 each. As the class prefect, write a memo to Mrs. Fatuma Juma, your teacher of English, explaining why the class feels it is important to watch the play and asking her if the school could provide transport.

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2004: Two of your classmates who happen to be your best friends wish to visit your home during the December holidays. Give them detailed and usable directions on how to get to your home from the school. Remember to describe the landmarks and any other features that they will come across on their way to your home. Include a brief description of the home.

 2005: You are the chairperson of the Drama Club at Rafiki Secondary school. The club has staged a successful dramatization of Chinua Achebe’s A man of the people at the school. You now want to take the performance to three other schools in your district. The Head teacher is offering the school bus, but he wants you to look for a sponsor who would pay for the fuel and other expenses. You then decide to contact the Kenya Ant-corruption Authority. Write a letter to the director and ask if the agency can sponsor these performances. Briefly explain to the director why you think A man of the people presents a strong argument against corruption. Remember to write through the Head teacher.

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2006: You are the chairperson of your school’s Wildlife Conservation Association.(WICA). Your group has just come back from a visit to a national park in a neighbouring country.

 Write a report to the patron of WICA about the trip. In your report indicate what you accomplished, the problems you experienced and what cautionary measures you would take during future trips.

 2007: You are the chairperson of the Creative Writing Club in your school. The club would like assistance in publishing the winning entry in a recent competition. Write a letter to a publisher asking them to consider the book for publication. Remember to write through the Head teacher.

In your letter, include the following:

• The title of the book and name of the author
• A brief description of what the book is about
• Why it is important for he book to be published.

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2008: You are the secretary of the drama club in your school. The chairperson has asked you to send out a notice of the second meeting to plan the staging of Shakespeare’s play, the Merchant of Venice. During the meeting, you will need to appoint the director of the play, and the dates of rehearsal and the final performance.

 (a)Write the notice of this meeting, which you would send to the members of the drama club.

(b) Write the agenda that you would attach to the notice.

2009: You are waiting to join college after your KCSE Examination. While reading a newspaper, you see an advertisement for a volunteer worker at a children’s home. Write a letter of inquiry to the manager. Express your interest and inquire if they will pay any allowances and whether they can provide accommodation. Remember to quote the reference number of the advertisement.

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2010: You are the Chairperson of the environmental club which has just been newly introduced in your school. There is going to be an official launching of the club. Write a brief speech that you will deliver at the launch. Your speech should include the following: introduction, club officials, the objectives (aims) of the club, the activities to be carried out, conditions for membership, enrolment and any other relevant information. (20marks)

2011: Your Drama Club is organizing to stage a performance of Henrik Ibsen’s play. An enemy of the people. You are inviting neighbouring schools and the general public to the event.

(a)Write the notice announcing the event and inviting other schools and the public to attend.(8mks)

(b) In not more than 200 words, write a synopsis of the play to accompany the notice.

(12marks)

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2012: The Electoral Commission is currently seeking to recruit 800 clerical officers, who will work closely with the commission for two months to register voters in preparation for elections. The clerks will be expected to prepare a voters’ register.

Applicants must be:

-Citizens of Kenya

-in possession of a KCSE grade C- and above

-18 years and above

-computer literate

-In possession of a national identification card

-able to work with little or no supervision

-Fluent in English and Kiswahili

  Interested candidates are required to send their application to the following address so as to reach the commission by 30th November 2015. The Chief Executive Officer, Electoral Commission, P.O. BOX 679439-010 NAIROBI.

(a) Write an application letter in response to the advertisement.

(b) Write an accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2013: (a) Imagine that you are the caretaker of Fahari children’s Home in Bahati. There is a heavy storm one evening. After the storm you discover that one of the children is missing. The child is hearing impaired (deaf). Write a notice appealing to the Public for help to trace the child. There will be a handsome reward for information that will help locate the child.

(b) Three days later, you receive a telephone call from the local police station informing you that the child has been found. Write a thank you note to the person who found and brought the child to the police station, giving details of how he/she will receive the reward. (10marks)

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2014: You have recently visited a schoolmate during the holidays and thoroughly enjoyed yourself. Write a letter to the schoolmate, thanking him or her for the invitation. Describe the experiences that made your stay memorable. (20marks)

2015: You are the secretary of the Young Farmers Club in your school. The club has just held its meeting. The patron of the club and eight of its ten members attended. The deputy principal also attended. During the meeting the issue of starting a fish pond was revisited. Members also discussed the following issues:- Club’s financial status, members’ annual trip and sale of club’s farm produce.

Write down the minutes of the meeting. (20marks)

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2016: The Ministry of Health is seeking to recruit Form Four graduates to serve in a campaign aimed at creating awareness among young people on the importance of healthy eating.

Applicants must be:

Citizens of Kenya

• 16 years and above
• In possession of a National Identification card.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and experience on issues of healthy eating.
• Creative and innovative.

Interested persons are required to send their applicant to the following by 30^th November, 2016.

The Principal Secretary,

Ministry of Health

P.O. BOX 6789-001000

NAIROBI.

 (a) Write a letter of application in response to the advertisement. (12marks)

(b) Write Curriculum Vitae to accompany your application letter. (8marks)

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2017: Imagine that you are a former drug addict who has recovered after spending three months in a rehabilitation centre. You have been invited to a youth forum to talk about ways of preventing drug and substance abuse among the youth. Write down the speech you would deliver during the occasion. Students, the county Director of Education, teachers and the principal will attend. (20 marks)

SAMPLE FORMATS

Formal letter

…………………….. 1 Sender’s

……………………. address

………………………2. Date

……………………….. 3. Addressee’s title

………………………..

………………………… 4. Recipient’s address

………………………...

THRO”

………………………… 5. Forwarding address

………………………..

ATT:…………………. 6.Attention of

Dear Sir/Madam, 7. Salutation

RE:______________________________________________________________ 8.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours faithfully,

_________________________ 9. signature

__________________________ 10. Name

C.C. 1.________________________________________

2.________________________________________

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Notice

• It must bear the logo i.e. name of institution or school at the top followed by the label ‘Notice’
• State name of the club
• Must bear indication of who issued the notice, that is, secretary(need not be signed)
• Set out the borders/inset to give it an enhanced/attractive appearance.

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Body: Name of group

date/time/venue

designation

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Language: 1-3 marks

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2013

• Notice√ ½
• Institution √ ½
• Date √ ½
• Subject: missing child √ ½
• Borders/capital letters √ ½
• Sender’s name √ ½
• Total marks 3 marks

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CONTENT

• Description of the child (2 marks)
• Deaf D1 asterisk- compulsory √ ½
• Age/sex/gender A or G √ ½ compulsory

Any other two

• Height H √ ½
• Complexion co √ ½
• Clothing c√ ½
• Reward stated or implied R1 √ 01
• Contact- phone number

-email

-contact address N1 √ 01

• Language

03 A

02 B/C

01 D

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Penalties

• If it is not a notice, if it is either a memo or official letter etc deduct up to 2 marks for wrong format(WF)
• For a mixed format of one to three items, deduct 1 mark.

Summary

F 03

C 04

L 03

10

16. Informal letter- if not deduct up to 2 marks

format: sender’s address √ ½

Date √ ½

Dear + name But not (Sir) √ 01 mk

Signing off: Yours sincerely √ ½

• No signature allowed
• Signature constitutes a mixed format- 1AD
• As for Dear sir, withhold/deny a mark
• Four wrong items- 2AD
• Less than four items-1AD

Content: Appreciation A1, Reward R1 where, when , how

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E-mail

…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

To: vinbulani@yahoo.com

From: mykwanjala@gmail.com

c. c

Subject: manuscript.

date:

time:

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Dear Viv,

Hallo, sorry you did not find me. I have been delocalized to Kisii county a school in Kisii south sub -county .

I know you were eager to look at the manuscript of the novel I am writing. Meanwhile I’ve attached a one –page synopsis of the novel to whet your appetite. Waiting for feedback.

Regards

Mike

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FAX

ST. VINCENT’S OMWARI

P.O BOX 3049

Phone: 0722 929 675

Fax: 526-3-732091

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To: WEKO EXAM SUPPLIERS

Fax no: 526-4-694371

Number of pages: 1

Attention of: Mary Akinyi

From: Michael Wanjala

Date: 26 May 2018

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Dear Ms Akinyi,

Thank you for your fax dated 20^th May 2018. We are pleased to learn that the third series of exams is ready. We will really be happy to start on the series next week 30^th May 2018.

we are looking forward to a fruitful working relationship.

Thank you.

Sincerely.

Wanjala Michael

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Invitation to a formal occasion such as prize-giving day

The Board of Managers, the parents Association, the Principal, staff and students of Borabora secondary school request the honour of the presence of Mr. Hussein Mohammed during their Prize-giving day on Saturday 12^th may 2018 at 10.00 a.m.

Guests are requested to be seated by 9.45a.m

RVSP

The principal

Borabora sec school

P.O box 222

Borabora

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Writing a synopsis

A synopsis is an invitation or a summary of a book, play etc. it is written in the present tense, using the third person. A synopsis is extremely concise. Writing it demands thorough knowledge of the story.

A synopsis includes the major points of the story in a chronological order. It highlights the major character(s) showing the conflict facing them, their intentions and motives. It includes the crisis and the resolution of the story. Thus a well written synopsis ought to be a condensed version of the work itself.

Words ought to be carefully selected so as to capture vividly yet briefly and as concisely as possible the required atmosphere e.g the threatening darkness, mind-numbering terror etc. a synopsis should not include details such as physical description of names of secondary characters. Secondary characters are defined by the roles they play .

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P101/1 QUESTION 2

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CLOZE TST

This is a test in which the candidate is asked to fill in words that have been left out from a given text to show that he/she understands it.

The following information is worth remembering

• Fill each blank space with only ONE word.
• Punctuate your words well.
• Where there are various options, use only the most appropriate word.
• If a word appears at the beginning of a sentence, it should begin with a capital letter
• If you discover that the word you intend to use must be accompanied by an article, a preposition or an adverb that is not already provided in the text , then it is wrong. Look for another option.
• Spell your words correctly.

English 101/1

Question 3; oral skills

 The following areas are examinable in question three.

1. Pronunciation;

Identification of problematic sounds

Stress and intonation in words and sentences

Rhyme in poetry: Rhyme. Rhyme scheme

Word play (puns)

Rhythm in poetry

Alliteration and assonance in poetry

Use of tone to reveal attitude

2. Etiquette

1. Use of courteous language e.g. thank you, excuse me, sorry please
2. Telephone etiquette
3. Appropriate choice of register
4. Interrupting and disagreeing politely
5. Turn-taking
6. Paying attention;- listening actively, empathetically critically
7. Barriers to effective listening

  3. Non-verbal cues that enhance listening and speaking

1. Importance of respecting personal space
2. Facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact Bowing/Curtsying
3. Appearance and grooming

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4. Performance/paralinguistic features in oral literature; facial expression, gestures or body movements, posture, voice and tonal variation, eye-contact, mimicry, proximity to the audience.

5. Listening, responding and performing: myths, legends, dilemma, ogre, trickster and etiological narratives, riddles, tongue twisters, jokes and puns.

6. Performance of oral poetry: recitation, chant and declamation, song and epic.

7. Oral literature field work: preparation, How to go about collecting materials/methods/writing out the materials./other requirements.

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8. Skills of attention and turn-taking through use of dialogues:

(a) interviews:- Job interview/journalistic interview/radio interview

Interviewer Viz I interviewee

N/B preparation, conduct during an interview etc.

(b) Negotiation skills i.e. bargaining between seller and buyer, auctioneer and broker. N/B Rules/principles/Short comings.

(c) Oral reports; Principal/class teacher/police/defense lawyer Viz prosecutor etc. Check content/discourse markers and sign posting.

 (d) Public presentations and speeches:

Pauses/body language i.e. a raised eye brow, a wave of the hand, nodding, eye contact.

N/B How to deal with stage fright.

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9. Giving and receiving instructions.

10. Giving directions:- Simple and clear

Specific and exact

Step by step

Accurate vocabulary

Landmarks; traffic lights,

Parks, gas stations, bill boards, etc.

11. Taking messages and using a telephone i.e. a telephone conversation.

 12. Parliamentary procedure: Robert’s Rules of order/Debate (preparation and conduct during debate).

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13. Introductions: Courtesy, full name, etc.

14. Making announcements: about an upcoming event/audience/event/ date/time/venue.

N/B making sure everyone is quiet before you begin to speak/look over your audience to get attention/ conduct while speaking/how to finish etc.

15. Participating in discussions/holding conversations/taking turns.

  Listening

Looking

Asking

Etc.

THE END

THANK YOU

GOD BLESS YOU