Do you know that learning how to approach questions in an examination is very important, A lot of my students have become torn in their flesh that examiners don’t give them the correct score after they must have filled up the whole pages of their booklet with answers. Not knowing that they are doing the wrong thing and feeling their effort should be rewarded, in life what matters is doing the right thing at the right time.
This became a very big issue to me as my students especially those who sat for literature in English in their NECO examination 2023. So I decided to share a gold mine on How To Answer NECO Literature in English Questions 2024. The question remains, Why do we have mass failures in Literature exams in Neco mostly? Read carefully and learn.
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Read The Recommended Textbooks
Do you know that NECO, the National Examination Council which is responsible for conducting the Senior Secondary Examination SSCE always recommends Novels, dramas, and poems? You don’t just rely on summary notes or summarized texts.
If you want to ace your NECO Examinations with good grades then you must study the Neco-recommended textbooks very well, there is no need for you to start reading summaries from different books and authors that weren’t recommended by Neco.
Try to Understand The Questions
The very first approach to any question is to first understand what the examiner is asking to you do, most students are victims to this, they end up approaching a question immediately without properly understanding what they are asked to do, and they end up Answering out of point, i.e For example, Examine the theme of cultural conflict in Wole Soyinka’s,” The Lion and The Jewel .” The keywords are * examine, *theme,* Cultural conflict. When you know the keywords, then you will answer accordingly.
The question “Examine the theme of cultural conflict in Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and The Jewel'” prompts an in-depth exploration and analysis of how the play addresses the central idea of cultural conflict. It requires a comprehensive examination of instances within the text where clashes between different cultural values, beliefs, or practices are portrayed.
The student is expected to examine the nuances of the characters’ interactions, dialogues, and situations that highlight cultural conflicts. Through scrutiny and insightful analysis, the goal is to uncover how Wole Soyinka explores and develops the theme of cultural conflict in the play, shedding light on its significance and impact on the narrative and characters.
Do Not Go Around Summarizing the Whole Plot
One of the major mistakes these students make is that they go about summarizing the full plot of a story, while you can in two or three sentences do a little summary and then, go to the main point of the question. The examiner already knows the story. Don’t waste two or three pages narrating the plot when you have yet to touch the question. You will surely fail if you are doing that.
Try to Know the Poems Stanza by Stanza
While the emphasis is on poems, there is also a suggestion to quote accurately when analyzing novels or dramas, implying a need for precision in referencing specific sections of the text. This approach underscores the importance of detailed exploration and proper citation in the interpretation of literary works.
Make sure your Introduction is Catchy and Captivating.
If you want your examiner to have so much interest in reading your summary, then you have to make sure that your introduction is catchy and captivating, so that you will be able to draw the examiner’s attention to whatever it is you wrote on your page.
The instruction underscores the importance of structuring responses to literary analysis questions by including essential details such as the genre, author, playwright, or poet’s name. It also encourages a succinct introductory statement that highlights the specific focus or theme of the analysis.
For instance, when addressing a novel, the response should begin with a clear declaration of the novel’s title and author, followed by a concise presentation of the main theme or point to be discussed.
This initial statement serves as a guide for the subsequent paragraphs, where the analysis is expanded and supported with claims and examples from the text. This approach ensures a well-organized and focused exploration of the literary work.
Mind You Literature is Not History
Make sure you don’t attack literature questions the same way that you do to other questions from other subjects.
try to make proper references from the text. If you pick up a point that there’s racism in a novel as a theme, try to back up your claims about where and how it happened in the book. You can quote incidents where racism took place as well.
Write in Correct English.
Make sure you narrate using simple perfect tenses or in progressive tenses and not past tense. For example, Lakunle who is a village teacher is not forthcoming when the issue of bride price is mentioned by Sidi. He refuses to pay the bride price.
More Guidelines
When tasked with comparing and contrasting two characters, the expectation is to analyze both their similarities and differences.
In addressing questions about diction or language, it is essential to go beyond the binary assessment of simplicity or difficulty. Instead, focus on explaining the challenges posed by the language by incorporating a thorough analysis of the various figures of speech employed in the poem and elucidating their impact on the overall composition.
When tasked with character analysis, consider three key aspects: what the writer communicates about the character, what other characters express about them, and your personal opinions based on their roles in the narrative.
Please be aware that there is a recent shift in the pattern of answering literature questions, effective from 2021. While previously three points were sufficient, now responses should encompass five points. Ensure your answer covers at least five points, touching upon two themes from the story or novel—a valuable insider tip.
Take the time to review your work, ensuring a neat and readable presentation. Opt for clear and bold handwriting, avoiding unnecessary repetitions. Maintain well-constructed grammar and adhere to the rules of concord.
Structure your responses to reflect a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Treat literature analysis as an essay, organizing your thoughts logically and coherently.