Consonant /s/ and /z/ – JSS2 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

The consonants /s/ and /z/ are alveolar fricatives that differ only in voicing: /s/ is voiceless and /z/ is voiced.

Lesson one: consonants /s/ and /z/

Behavioural objectives

1. Describe how /s/ and /z/ are produced.
2. State the difference between /s/ and /z/.
3. List the common spellings of /s/ and /z/.
4. Give words with /s/ and /z/ at the initial and final position.
5. Pronounce the plural ending -s correctly as /s/ or /z/.

What are the key terms for /s/ and /z/?

• Consonant: a speech sound made by blocking or narrowing the airstream in the mouth.
• Alveolar ridge: the bumpy ridge just behind the upper front teeth.
• Fricative: a consonant made by forcing air through a narrow gap so that friction is heard.
• Voiced sound: a sound made with the vocal cords vibrating, as in /z/.
• Voiceless sound: a sound made without vibration of the vocal cords, as in /s/.

How is /s/ produced?

/s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

1. The tip and blade of the tongue make light contact with the alveolar ridge.
2. The airstream passes through the narrow groove left by this partial obstruction.
3. The vocal cords stay apart, so there is no vibration.
4. A hissing sound is heard, as in “sss”.

What are the common spellings of /s/?

The sound /s/ is written in four common ways.

• S: as in seat.
• SC: as in science.
• C: as in cease.
• X: as in axe, where the letter stands for /ks/ and ends with /s/.
• SS: as in miss.

What are examples of /s/ at the initial and final position?

Initial position means the beginning of a word, and final position means the end of a word.

How is /z/ produced?

/z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative.

1. The tongue takes the same position as for /s/, touching the alveolar ridge lightly.
2. The airstream passes through the same narrow groove.
3. The vocal cords vibrate while the sound is made.
4. A buzzing sound is heard, as in “zzz”.

What are the common spellings of /z/?

The sound /z/ is written in four common ways.

• Z: as in zip.
• S: as in has, nose and bees.
• X: as in exact.
• ZZ: as in buzz.

What are examples of /z/ at the initial and final position?

What is the difference between /s/ and /z/?

/s/ and /z/ have the same place and manner of articulation, and only voicing separates them.

• Throat test: touch your throat and say “sss”, then “zzz”. You feel vibration only for /z/.

What are some minimal pairs of /s/ and /z/?

Minimal pairs are two words that differ in one sound only.

• sip and zip: /s/ and /z/ at the initial position.
• sink and zinc: /s/ and /z/ at the initial position.
• bus and buzz: /s/ and /z/ at the final position.
• rice and rise: /s/ and /z/ at the final position.
• price and prize: /s/ and /z/ at the final position.

How is the plural ending -s pronounced?

The plural -s is said as /s/ or /z/ depending on the sound before it.

Evaluation

1. What is the difference between /s/ and /z/?
2. State the three common spellings of /z/.
3. Is the final sound in “ice” /s/ or /z/? Is the final sound in “bees” /s/ or /z/?
4. Give two words that begin with /s/ and two words that begin with /z/.

Assignment

Write three words for /s/ and two for /z/, showing the two sounds at the initial and final position.

Lesson two: what are punctuation marks?

Behavioural objectives

1. Define punctuation marks.
2. State the uses of the comma, full stop, question mark, colon and semicolon.
3. Use these marks correctly in sentences.

What are punctuation marks?

Punctuation marks are signs used in writing to divide sentences and phrases.

What are the uses of the comma (,)?

The comma marks a short pause within a sentence.

• After “Yes” and “No”: No, they never go to church. Yes, we have done the assignment.
• In lists: Ade plays tennis, volleyball, and football.
• After linking words: Augustus, therefore, became an unlucky man.

What are the uses of the full stop (.)?

The full stop marks the end of a statement and the end of an abbreviation.

• In abbreviations: U.S.A, U.K, M.A, B.A and so on.
• At the end of a sentence: Abu came to Lagos yesterday.

What is the use of the question mark (?)?

The question mark is used at the end of a direct question.

• What is your father’s name?
• Where are the thieves?

What is the use of the colon (:)?

The colon is used to introduce quotations, lists and similar items.

• Example: Baba said: “People who are well, do not need a doctor but only those who are sick.”

What is the use of the semicolon (;)?

The semicolon is used between two closely joined principal clauses.

• The sun was setting; the shadows were long.
• The book is not mine; it is my uncle’s.

What are the punctuation marks at a glance?

Evaluation

1. Name the punctuation mark used after “Yes” and “No”.
2. State two uses of the full stop.
3. Write one sentence that uses a semicolon.

Assignment

Refer to Oxford English Book 2, page 25. Replace the asterisks in the following sentences with capital letters, full stops, question marks and commas (a to e).

Lesson three: how do we read and summarise a passage?

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a summary.
2. Pick out the main points of a passage.
3. Write a short summary in complete sentences.

What is a summary?

A summary is a short account that gives only the main points of a passage in your own words.

• Title: Reading to summarise a selected passage.
• Reference: New Oxford Secondary English Course for Junior Secondary Schools, Book 2, pages 115 to 117.

What are the steps for writing a summary?

1. Read the whole passage carefully once.
2. Read the question to see what points are asked for.
3. Underline the main point in each paragraph.
4. Leave out examples, repeated ideas and small details.
5. Write each point as a complete sentence in your own words.
6. Check your spelling and punctuation.

Evaluation

1. What is a summary?
2. In three sentences, state the three uses of the dog to man as discussed in the passage.

Lesson four: how do we write a narrative essay?

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a narrative essay.
2. State the parts of a narrative essay.
3. Write a narrative essay about a past event in paragraphs.

What is a narrative essay?

A narrative essay is a piece of writing that tells a story or an event in the order in which it happened.

• Introduction: says what the event was and when it happened.
• Body: tells what happened, step by step, in separate paragraphs.
• Conclusion: ends the story with a short closing remark.
• Tense: past tense is used for events that have already happened.
• Person: the first person (I, we) is used when you write about yourself.

Sample essay: my last birthday

A birthday is the day in each year which has the same date as the one on which you were born. My last birthday was on 23rd June 2015. It was a memorable day that I will not forget.

My parents, in their strength, celebrated it in a very big way. My friends, family and relatives were invited. In preparation, food and assorted drinks, with a cake, were made available.

At exactly 2:00 pm, the ceremony commenced. I looked so pretty in my beautiful attire. A friend came around to congratulate me. The MC and DJ worked hand in hand as the MC introduced different activities in the party, for example going around the table, the hide and seek game, and “Who will be the first?”, and so on.

Item seven (7) soon followed and everyone ate to their satisfaction. Almost everyone in attendance presented their gifts. I was so happy, just as my parents were. After the presentation of the gifts, the DJ opened the floor for appreciation through dance. I danced happily with friends and relatives, and the whole ceremony came to an end around 7:00 pm.

It was a memorable day, and I will live to remember it.

What does the sample essay show?

• Paragraph 1: introduces the birthday and gives the date.
• Paragraph 2: describes the preparation and the guests.
• Paragraph 3: describes the start of the party at 2:00 pm and the activities.
• Paragraph 4: describes the food, the gifts, the dance and the end at 7:00 pm.
• Paragraph 5: closes the essay in one sentence.

Evaluation

1. What is a narrative essay?
2. Name the three parts of a narrative essay.
3. At what time did the ceremony in the sample essay begin?

Assignment

Write a narrative essay of four paragraphs on “The happiest day of my life”.

Lesson five: how do we summarise a recommended literature text?

Behavioural objectives

1. Give the title of the recommended text.
2. Name the main characters and the setting.
3. Retell the story briefly in correct order.

What is the recommended text?

• Title: Summary of recommended text.
• Text: Dangerous Reward.

What should a summary of a text include?

• Setting: where and when the story takes place.
• Characters: the people in the story and what each one does.
• Plot: the main events in the order they happen.
• Theme: the main lesson or message of the story.

Evaluation

1. Name two main characters in Dangerous Reward.
2. In five sentences, summarise the story of Dangerous Reward.