Prose 1 : get ready for SEC English literature

Abstract

Prose excerpts are challenging to handle - both for teachers and learners. The absence of the contextual help in the form of the novel itself, the front cover, and the blurb, at times requires the teacher to step in with some background information and requires the independent learners to look up the information themselves. Having said this, excerpts that are genre-specific expose learners to a range of types of fiction that serves the purpose not only of familiarising them with the choice of reading that is available, but also exposes them to language from a range of styles and lexical areas which are not normally afforded by a single set text. In addition, some excerpts are useful also for one's personal growth by virtue of the themes they touch upon, while others are valuable for the general knowledge they provide. The brevity of excerpts calls for close reading and the tasks in the workbook lead the user to first reading carefully at a basic but essential level to ensure comprehension, then rising to an appreciation of the literary features of the piece.

Each Unit is divided into two parts. Part A consists of a series of questions that deal with meaning, viewpoint and style. Part B is closely modelled on the SEC controlled paper which serves as preparation for both the SEC English Literature examination and classroom-based assessment.