CARA'S TIPSEssays: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, expository, speeches & articles
WAECNECO
What the syllabus asks
WAEC: narrative, descriptive, argumentative/debate, expository, speeches, articles for publication, reports, creative writing; marking by Content, Organisation, Expression, Mechanical Accuracy
NECO: narrative, descriptive, argumentative/debate, expository, speeches, articles for publication, reports, creative writing; marking by Content, Organisation, Expression, Mechanical Accuracy
What you will learn
- Explain how WAEC/NECO marks the essay and what earns marks.
- Analyse an essay question for type, audience, purpose and task words.
- Plan and write narrative and descriptive essays with vivid, controlled language.
- Plan and write argumentative essays and debate speeches with clear reasoning.
- Write expository essays that explain causes, effects and processes.
- Use the correct format for speeches, articles and reports.
- Edit your work for expression and mechanical accuracy.
Key points
- The essay is worth 50 marks: Content 10, Organisation 10, Expression 20, Mechanical Accuracy 10.
- Read the question for type, audience and every task part; write at least 450 words.
- Plan: introduction, 4–6 body paragraphs (one point each, P-E-E), conclusion; link with transitions.
- Narrative: setting, characters, conflict, climax, resolution, consistent past tense.
- Descriptive: precise detail, the five senses, clear spatial or logical order.
- Argumentative/debate: one clear stand, reasons with examples, brief rebuttal; debates need salutation and stand.
- Expository: explain fairly (causes, effects, processes, solutions) in a formal, objective tone.
- Speeches: salutation by rank, speak to the audience, end with thanks; articles need a title and writer's name.
- Expression: precise words, varied sentences, formal register, no clichés or slang.
- Proofread for concord, tense, uncountable nouns, spelling and run-on sentences.
Start here: The essay section and how it is marked
In WAEC and NECO English Language Paper 2, Section A is the essay. You are given a list of questions (usually five) and you answer one. The choices typically include a letter, a speech or debate, an article, a story and an argumentative or expository essay. Letters are taught in the lesson “Letter writing”; this topic covers the rest.
The essay carries 50 marks, more than any other single question in the paper. The examiners mark it under four headings.
| Heading | Marks | What the examiner looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Content (C) | 10 | Relevant, well-developed ideas that answer every part of the question |
| Organisation (O) | 10 | Correct format, good introduction and conclusion, paragraphs that each have one main idea, logical order |
| Expression (E) | 20 | Rich, accurate vocabulary, varied sentence structures, appropriate tone and register |
| Mechanical accuracy (MA) | 10 | Grammar, spelling, punctuation; marks are deducted for errors |
Two things follow from this table. First, Expression is worth twice as much as anything else, so how you write matters as much as what you write. Second, mechanical accuracy is marked by deduction: every grammatical slip, wrong spelling or missing capital costs you. Careful proofreading is not optional.
The question usually asks for about 450 words. Write at least that; a much shorter essay cannot develop enough content. A very long essay wastes time and creates more chances for error. Between 450 and 600 words is a sensible target.
Show solution
Continue this lesson in the free app →
Practice questions
- persuade the reader to accept a point of view
- tell a story
- describe a place
- explain a process only
Show answer
A: persuade the reader to accept a point of view
It presents arguments.
- an argument
- a description of a place
- a letter
- a story of events
Show answer
D: a story of events
It tells what happened.
- law
- imagination only, with no detail
- senses
- emotions only
Show answer
C: senses
Sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.
- describes feelings only
- explains or informs
- tells a personal story
- argues one side only
Show answer
B: explains or informs
For example, "How to prepare for an examination".
- appropriate greetings to the audience
- the conclusion
- a list of complaints
- a story about yourself only
Show answer
A: appropriate greetings to the audience
For example, "The Chairman, the Principal, …".
Key words
- Essay
- A continuous piece of writing on one subject, in paragraphs.
- Narrative
- Writing that tells a story: events in time order.
- Descriptive
- Writing that creates a picture of a person, place, thing or event using detail and the senses.
- Argumentative
- Writing that supports one side of a debatable issue with reasons and evidence.
- Expository
- Writing that explains or informs, e.g. how something works or the causes of a problem.
- Debate
- A formal speech arguing for or against a motion before an audience.
- Motion
- The statement being debated, e.g. "Social media does more harm than good".
- Register
- The vocabulary and style suited to a subject and situation.
- Topic sentence
- The sentence (usually first) that states the main idea of a paragraph.
- Cohesion
- The way sentences and paragraphs are linked, e.g. by "however", "furthermore".
- Tone
- The writer's attitude shown by word choice: formal, friendly, serious, humorous.
- Audience
- The people the writing is meant for.
The Cara's Tips app teaches every topic from the very basics, with quick checks, worked examples and exam practice. It works offline.
Open this lesson in the free appDownload for Android