IF you have been following closely you notice that I have been covering critical highlights in Muchemwa’s Struggle for Land in Zimbabwe in the hope that our students could rest awhile before we embark on our usual journey of literary appreciation as we have done throughout the year in the past. From Muchemwa we now wish to begin on this year’s series of critical analyses.
As usual, now that schools have opened for the new year in earnest, for both Lower and Upper Levels I wish to introduce a series of critical commentary for our valued candidates for June and November 2016 examinations.
I, however, wish to begin by reminding our valued candidates of the Advanced Level Literature in English Syllabus as usual so as to be sure that we are starting the commentary series on the same footing. And may I call upon our active readership to feel free to make specific requests on any particular texts from across the spectrum provided below.
I am sure that by now you have been treated to Paper One skills and that you are now familiar with various approaches to this Paper. In fact, should you need more advice on Paper One (Comment and Appreciation), you no longer have to wait: all you have to do is call at number 92 McChlery, along Enterprise Road (opposite the KG VI Turn-Off) and buy your copy of the Introduction to Advanced Level Comment and Appreciation book which takes care of your Paper One needs as well as the newly published book An Africa-centred Approach to Literary Criticism which takes care of your critical needs in the rest of the Papers.
You can also contact Mr Masheka or Mrs Hasha on 04-782 789. Either of them will advise you as to which places in our 10 provincial centres you can conveniently access the two key texts. In this instalment, however, my pre-occupation is to present to you the remainder of the ZIMSEC syllabus focusing on the different Papers and respective texts that I will be commenting on throughout the year 2016.
Paper 2: Zimbabwean and African Literature – 3 Hours
This paper consists of two Sections: Section A – Zimbabwean Literature and Section B – African Literature. Candidates will be required to answer three questions: One from Section A where there are two set texts and two from Section B where there are four set texts.
Paper 3: Shakespeare and Other Dramatists – 3 Hours
This paper consists of two sections: Section A – Shakespeare and Section B – Other Dramatists. Candidates will be required to answer three questions: one from Section A where there are two set texts and two from Section B where there are four set texts.
Paper 4: Contemporary Literature (Post World War II) – 3 Hours
This paper consists of texts dealing with contemporary issues (e.g. gender, human and animal rights etc. in the Post Second World War period. Candidates will be required to answer three questions on any three of the five texts offered.
Paper 5: World Literature – 3 Hours
This paper consists of works on prose, poetry and drama by writers from all over the world. Candidates will be required to answer three questions on any three of the five texts offered.
NB: For Papers 2, 3, 4 and 5 an essay question and a passage-based question will be set on each text. The questions will be designed to assess candidates’ understanding of the relationship between form and meaning in literary texts and their knowledge of the contexts in which those texts are written and interpreted. Candidates will be assessed on their knowledge of texts, their imaginative and personal responses to them, as well as their ability to organise and present information, ideas and arguments clearly and logically, taking into account their use of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Texts and dictionaries will not be allowed into the examination room.
I am sure by now you are aware that Paper 1 is compulsory and that from the rest of the Papers you are expected to choose any two. What this means is that different schools may choose different Papers. Besides, even those who choose the same Papers may select different set texts. The implication of this on the order of texts to be commented on is that if I follow the order of the Papers and texts as they appear on the syllabus, some candidates will be prejudiced. For this reason I suggest that beginning next week I pick at random from Paper 1 then from Paper 2 and 3, 4 and 5 in that order in each successive instalment. This way we can take care of the needs of our candidates across the syllabus.
Notwithstanding, our readers (teachers and students alike) are urged to make requests about specific texts that they deem of urgent need so that we at The Patriot can respond to your burning concerns with briskness and alacrity.
For now, let me end by reminding the candidates of the assessment objectives of whichever Papers you have selected. As the syllabus specifies, candidates are required to show their ability to:
l Respond critically to texts and passages of different types and periods;
l Understand the ways in which writers’ choices of form, structure and language shape meaning;
l Appreciate the contexts in which literary works are written and understood;
l Discuss personal and other critical interpretations of literary texts;
l Produce knowledgeable, independent opinions and judgements on literary texts; communicate clearly and effectively the knowledge, understanding and insight appropriate to literary study.
Note that I have not listed the set books because schools do different texts. The idea is to cajole you to e-mail to us the texts you want covered so that our series will react to felt needs. That way we can meet the needs of you our customers more precisely. Feel free to send your suggested texts to atirivanganam@gmail.com.