Comprehension - Language Notes
A comprehension, in the CSEC examination, demands that the student is able to read a passage and locate the information that is asked. Some questions are simple recall, while others require some level of analysis. Types of passages used in the examination are:
*Literary
Persuasive
Expository
LITERARY PASSAGE: The literary passage is the most commonly utilized in the examination, therefore, it will be the focus of this forum. Excerpts for the examination are commonly taken from:
novels
short stories
Poems
Plays
Tone, mood and purpose are three important concepts around which many of the questions that are assigned to the literary passage is based.
Tone can be identified through the attitude that the narrator employs to tell the story, poem or play. Therefore, in order to identify tone, it is important that the student identifies words that carry negative or positive connotations within the passage. Examples of tone are: nice, disgusting, disappointing etc.
Mood/ atmosphere can be identified by observing the descriptive details, or feelings that are displayed in the passage. Examples of atmosphere are: sad, happy, gloomy, sunny. Please note that similar adjectives can be used to describe the mood and the tone. However, this is not always the case, eg. Tone = tense, mood = pensive. An individual might be in a pensive mood, therefore his/her's tone becomes tense as a result.
Purpose is gleaned by identifying:
(a) the speaker
(b) who is being spoken to
(c) what the conversation is about
(d) what the characters hope to achieve with the conversation
(e) the language that the characters use and why
Examples of purpose are: to persuade, convince, analyze, argue etc
TIPS: A few helpful tips for working ones way through a comprehension passage in the CXC Examination are as follows:
VOCABULARY: A list of words that might be helpful to know, in order to complete a comprehension exercise successfully, are as follows:
Allusion
Atmosphere
Comic Relief
Connotation
Denotation
Irony (verbal / situational / dramatic)
Persona
Point of view (first / third / omniscient)
Symbol
Tone
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Fraser, L. A. CXC Lecture Series: English Language. (2nd ed.) Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Observer Limited, 2001.
BACK
*Literary
Persuasive
Expository
LITERARY PASSAGE: The literary passage is the most commonly utilized in the examination, therefore, it will be the focus of this forum. Excerpts for the examination are commonly taken from:
novels
short stories
Poems
Plays
Tone, mood and purpose are three important concepts around which many of the questions that are assigned to the literary passage is based.
Tone can be identified through the attitude that the narrator employs to tell the story, poem or play. Therefore, in order to identify tone, it is important that the student identifies words that carry negative or positive connotations within the passage. Examples of tone are: nice, disgusting, disappointing etc.
Mood/ atmosphere can be identified by observing the descriptive details, or feelings that are displayed in the passage. Examples of atmosphere are: sad, happy, gloomy, sunny. Please note that similar adjectives can be used to describe the mood and the tone. However, this is not always the case, eg. Tone = tense, mood = pensive. An individual might be in a pensive mood, therefore his/her's tone becomes tense as a result.
Purpose is gleaned by identifying:
(a) the speaker
(b) who is being spoken to
(c) what the conversation is about
(d) what the characters hope to achieve with the conversation
(e) the language that the characters use and why
Examples of purpose are: to persuade, convince, analyze, argue etc
TIPS: A few helpful tips for working ones way through a comprehension passage in the CXC Examination are as follows:
- Read the questions first
- Read the passage through carefully, yet quickly
- Read the paragraphs / stanzas with sets of questions in mind, in descending order
- Continue reading and answering in descending order.
- Know a list of literary devices that you might be called upon to discuss in any of the three types of comprehensions.
- Answer in complete sentences.
- Answer only what is asked.
VOCABULARY: A list of words that might be helpful to know, in order to complete a comprehension exercise successfully, are as follows:
Allusion
Atmosphere
Comic Relief
Connotation
Denotation
Irony (verbal / situational / dramatic)
Persona
Point of view (first / third / omniscient)
Symbol
Tone
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Fraser, L. A. CXC Lecture Series: English Language. (2nd ed.) Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Observer Limited, 2001.
BACK