Paul B Vitta's Fathers of Nations: Answering excerpt & Essay Questions: A Study Guide to Paul B. Vitta's Fathers of Nations, #3

By Jorges P. Lopez

This book is book is the third in a series that examines the novel, Fathers of Nations, by Paul B Vitta. The first booklet analyzes the plot and examines the characters and their roles. The second examines the important themes and the elements of style. This book looks at how to deal with questions set on this novel. It begins with how to interpret question words, recognizing that this is often the first hurdle standing in the way of a student's performance. This is because many students do poorly, not because of poor reading or lack of understanding, but because they do not present what they know properly. Literature often requires a specific way of communication. The book then examines the context question. It gives an example drawn from the novel with questions worth 25 marks set on it. Then it shows how to answer the questions in order to ensure that the candidate garners all the marks given to the various questions. The book the examines the essay question. It shows the reader how to plan and execute essays to ensure that what the examiner requires is done. It also gives a consideration of the time given and the number of questions. This book uses a practical examination for this - the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination, through which candidates qualify for midlevel colleges and universities. This makes the book most appropriate for high school and college students. It needs to be recognized here that the timing of exams may be different but the skiils taught here are easy enough for the candidate to adjust to other exams. Lastly, the book gives a catalogue of literary terms, explains what they mean, and gives appropriate examples from the novel. This makes the reading and interpretation of the novel easy while opening the reader's mind to the expecttions of critics of the novel. This is because such literary terms are used widely without explanation, meaning that any good literature student needs to fully understand them first. It advised that the reader reads the novel thoroughly, then examines the other two booklets before dealing with this one, if the reader specifically wants to understand Fathers of Nations and respond to questions on it well. However, this will help the reader perform better in literature in general. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jorges P. Lopez
• Release date: Dec 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223603900

Jorges P. Lopez

Jorges P. Lopez has been teaching Literature in high schools in Kenya and Communication at The Cooperative University in Nairobi. He has been writing Literary Criticism for more than fifteen years and fiction for just over ten years. He has contributed significantly to the perspective of teaching English as a Second Language in high school and to Communication Skills at the college level. He has developed humorous novellas in the Jimmy Karda Diaries Series for ages 9 to 13 which make it easier for learners of English to learn the language and the St. Maryan Seven Series for ages 13 to 16 which challenge them to improve spoken and written language. His interests in writing also spill into Poetry, Drama and Literary Fiction. He has written literary criticism books on Henrik Ibsen, Margaret Ogola, Bertolt Brecht, John Steinbeck, John Lara, Adipo Sidang' and many others.

Book preview

WRITING YOUR ANSWERS IN LITERATURE

This book uses questions from the KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION English Papers 101/2 – in which candidates answer questions based on an EXCERPT taken from a specific set text studied during the course to earn 25 marks – and 101/3 – in which candidates answer 3 essay questions (each with 20 marks) in two and a half hours. The skills taught here, however, are applicable to any examination. The only thing required is to examine the time and marks given in your own exam and make appropriate adjustments. Some College exams, for instance, require the student to answer a question in ONE HOUR to earn 25 marks. The candidate should adjust the time suggested here and paragraphing to fit this particular exam.

Literary writing is a well-thought-out process that you will have to cultivate yourself. Apart from practicing to write like others in the field, you need to adopt the right language, the correct diction and the appropriate styles. You need to know how to interpret questions, how to present answers and do a lot of practice before the final exam so that planning, timing and other such impediments do not come in the way of performance. This section takes you through a careful planning and writing out of your essay, teaches you how to interpret context questions and shows you how to tell in no uncertain terms whether you have done what your examiner requires at every stage of the question by considering the marks awarded and how to earn them. This is done in five stages; interpreting questions, how to approach the context question, planning and writing out your essay, revising your essay and timing your essay. 

I) Interpreting Questions.  

It is important to regard what certain question words mean seriously because it is not uncommon to find a student go through the motions of answering a question but end up not doing so because the answer does not address the question. Here are the most common question words that you will come across, especially in essay questions, with a considered opinion of what they require you to do. A sample question and the possible approach you might take to the question has also been given.

Analyze. Analyzing means examining systematically by separating constituent parts to see how they work together to form a unit. An analysis of a theme or a character, for example, will also involve an examination of the different aspects of that theme or character traits in order to show how they work together to form a writer’s complete opinion of a subject or how the traits reflect a complete image of the character as shown in the particular text.

Sample Question: Analyze the theme of power in Paul B. Vitta’s Fathers of Nations.

Possible Approach: Go through the novel and examine how characters regard power and how they use it. Examine the different types of power and characters’ motives, how they are presented and how they end up forming the author’s opinion on the subject. Write out an essay showing these aspects of power to show the author’s opinion of power as a theme.

Compare. To compare, draw similarities between things. You might be asked to compare characters, treatment of themes or use of two aspects of style. For characters, discuss how they are treated; which one is more central and what their roles are. For themes, discuss which is given more weight. For style, look at the way the two aspects of style are used; which one is more widely used/which one is more effectively used. Note that in some cases you may be required to compare and contrast.

Sample Question: Compare the treatment of African leaders in Paul B. Vitta’s Fathers of Nations.

Possible Approach: Draw a table with several columns. Put the various African presidents presented in the novel in each. Go through the novel noting how each is treated and suggesting the author’s intention at every stage. Using the evidence collated, discuss how the author treats the leaders clearly showing their