Grammar, Oral, Comprehension, Vocabulary Development – SS3 English Lesson Note (First Term)

This note covers four SS3 English topics: reading silently to answer comprehension questions, words associated with travelling, the layout of a formal letter, and the schwa sound /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Comprehension is the ability to understand something. Silent reading means reading without speaking the words aloud.

Reading silently to answer questions

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define comprehension and silent reading,
2. state the importance of silent reading,
3. give examples of topical materials for reading.

What is silent reading?

Comprehension is the ability to understand something.

Silent reading is reading alone and silently, without speaking the words being read. Topical materials for reading are materials about a subject of discussion.

Why is silent reading important?

1. It improves students’ understanding.
2. It helps them concentrate on reading rather than pronunciation.
3. It helps children to read faster and improve learning.
4. It helps to develop reading skills.
5. It helps them concentrate on understanding the content.
6. It improves writing skills.
7. It builds vocabulary.

Examples of topical materials

1. Election
2. Education
3. Examination malpractice

Evaluation

1. What is comprehension?
2. What is silent reading?
3. State three reasons why silent reading is important.
4. Give two examples of topical materials for reading.

Words associated with travelling

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. briefly explain what travelling is,
2. list at least five (5) words associated with travelling,
3. state the meanings of those words,
4. form sentences with them.

What are the words associated with travelling?

Evaluation

1. Explain what travelling is.
2. List at least five (5) words associated with travelling.
3. State the meanings of some words associated with travelling.
4. Form sentences with them.

Assignment

Students are to do exercises 1 and 2 on pages 42 and 43 (New Concept English, Book 3).

Reference materials

• F. Ademola-Adeoye et al. (2012). New Concept English for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 3, Learn Africa Plc, Lagos.
• TeachingBanyan.com
• New Oxford English Language Book 3, Fourth Edition.

Revising letter writing

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define letter writing and formal letter,
2. state the features of a formal letter,
3. use the correct salutation for people in special positions,
4. write a formal letter to a local government chairman.

What is letter writing?

Letter writing is the art of communicating by writing one’s request, feelings, ideas, opinions and so on to someone, as if the person were physically present.

What is a formal letter?

Another name for a formal letter is an official letter. It is a letter we write to people in their official positions. Even when we know them personally, the rule demands that we still write to them in the formal, official style.

Formal letters can be applications for admission or employment, requests for casual leave by staff in offices, official queries and replies to them, and letters to local government chairmen, commissioners or the Minister of Education requesting changes in the school system.

Features of a formal letter

Writer’s address

This should be written at the top right hand corner of the page, like this:

Federal Government College
P.M.B. 1075,
Owerri,
Imo State
15th July, 2002.

Receiver’s address

This is written on the line following the date, on the left hand side of the page. Other names for the receiver are:

1. the recipient
2. the addressee

For example:

The Director,
Adebisi Associated Enterprises,
P.M.B. 10016,
Akure.

Salutation

The salutation is the greeting which comes after the receiver’s address: “Dear Sir,” or “Dear Madam,”.

Some people are greeted in special ways, like this:

Heading, topic or title

This comes directly after the salutation, but not on the same line. For example: Complaints about the lack of facilities in my area.

Body of the letter

Here, you go straight to what the question states you should do. There should be no room for an exchange of pleasantries, personal matters, slang or colloquialisms. Abbreviations and contracted words are also not allowed. Examples: won’t, I’m, You know, Yea, What’s up, US, NAFDAC.

Subscript (complimentary close)

The most correct way of ending a formal letter is “Yours faithfully,” at the right hand corner of the page, immediately after the letter. It is followed by the writer’s signature, with the full names written under the signature:

Yours faithfully,
(Signature)
EzeChima

Note: Write a capital letter “Y” and a small letter “f” in “Yours faithfully”. Your signature must come before your name.

Evaluation

Write a letter to the chairman of your local government complaining to him about the lack of facilities in your area.

Assignment

Reading assignment: Page 203 of Effective English.

The schwa /ə/ as final unstressed sound

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain that /ə/ is a neutral vowel sound,
2. give examples of words that contain the /ə/ sound,
3. identify words with the /ə/ sound in a short passage.

What is the schwa /ə/?

The best way to learn this is through examples. In the table below, the stressed syllables are written in capital letters.

/ə/: This sound is a neutral vowel. It is used to represent the weak form of other vowel sounds.

Examples: fever, manners, labour, breakfast, hundred, wonder, purpose, anxiety, future, etc.

Sentences for practising the /ə/ sound

The picture of William was a failure. The clever painter was not the right man to do the job. The nose was good and so was the mouth, but William’s handsome figure was made to look smaller and shorter. The painter was a man that made excellent pictures of children and girls, but not of men.

Evaluation

Identify the words which contain the /ə/ sound in the short passage above.

Assignment

Identify, write down, and answer related questions on the /ə/ sound from WAEC/NECO previous examination question papers.