ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
GRADE 12
ANSWERING CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
PAPER 2
LEARNER WORKSHOP
NALEDI LOCAL EDUCATION OFFICE
AUGUST 2023
SES: C. VAN STADEN
WORKSHOP CONTENT
1. Structure of Paper 2
2. Contextual questions
3. Decoding of questions
4. Collectable marks
5. Don’t …
STRUCTURE OF THE PAPER
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
 Contextual Questions are those which are based on a
particular context or situation.
 Before you start answering, read the text AND the
questions carefully.
 The questions can include one, two or three texts.
 Work out where the text fits into the novel/drama/short
story/poem.
 Not all the questions will relate directly to the text. For
some you will need to show that you know the whole
novel/drama/short story/poem.
 Extracts in literature cannot be used as a
comprehension passage. Not all the answers will be
derived from the passages.
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
1. Setting of the story
- TWO marks
- Place answer in context of the extract
- Always give PLACE and TIME
2. Figures of speech
- THREE marks
- Identify and explain
- What is the figure of speech and what does it mean
(what does it tell you about the character/ place/
setting/ object, etc.
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
3. Tone
- TWO – THREE marks
- What is the character’s state of mind /?
- What is the character’s attitude at that specific
time?
- What emotion can you identify in his words?
4. TRUE / FALSE
- TWO marks
- Why is the statement true/false?
- Determine the focus point of the statement to be able to tell what is true or
what is false.
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
5. Characterisation
- TWO marks
- Explain what the extract reveals about the character
- Remember the answer MUST address the question. Do not
give a general description of the character.
6. Stage directions (Drama)
- THREE marks
- ALWAYS include the following aspects in your answer
Tone (How does the character say it [emotion words]?)
Mood (How does the character feel?)
Action (What must the character do?)
- Example: He should bang with his fist on the table
(action) because he is angry (feeling) with resentment
(tone) in his voice.
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
7. Multiple choice and match the column
- ONE mark
- for multiple choice questions, a distractor is always given as
one of the possible answers.
- look for the most relevant answer and check if there are any
limitations to one of the choices given.
8. Diction (poetry)
- TWO marks
- why poets choose certain words and what the effect are on
the general analysis of the poem.
- show the link between diction and tone and how diction
influences the meaning of the poem.
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
9. Character or speaker’s state of mind
- TWO to THREE marks
- this question must be addressed by using descriptive words to identify the
state of mind, and then moving on to elaborate on why the
character/speaker’s state of mind is that way.
- The state of mind is usually linked to the character/speaker’s feelings at
that instance.
10. Irony
- TWO to THREE marks
- the usage of words that are the opposite of what one really means, often
in order to be amusing. situation that is unusual or amusing because
something strange happens, or the opposite of what is expected happens
or is true
- “this was expected, however, that happened”
DECODING OF CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
11. Theme based (IN your experience …)
- THREE to FOUR marks
- Identify the theme and write it down
- Indicate what did the character say/do that relate
to the theme
- State how does it correspond with your
experience (do not only write about your
experience, but it must also be based on the
extract and the novel/drama/poem/short story
you have studied.)
- Provide specific examples from the text.
COLLECTABLE MARKS
1. Multiple choice
2. Match the column
(NB: Know the characters!)
3. Identify and explain the figure
of speech
4. Stage directions
DON’T
1. Predict which poems and short
stories will be examined.
2. Study only condensed notes
or only watch a movie on a
genre without reading the text
in totality.