Describing Celebrations, Reading with Expression, Questioning the Author, Using Adjectives Well and Drafting Narratives

1. What to Include

2. Model Talk: Hogbetsotso

"The Anlo Ewe people celebrate Hogbetsotso at Anloga in the Volta Region. It remembers how their ancestors escaped from the cruel King Agorkoli of Notsie, in present-day Togo, by walking backwards out of the town so that their footprints seemed to lead inwards. During the festival, the people clean their towns, settle old quarrels and hold a great durbar. Chiefs sit under bright umbrellas while drummers pound out Agbadza rhythms. Seeing the old stories come alive filled me with pride."

3. Using Vivid Language

Replace general words with precise ones. Instead of "many people came", say "crowds filled every street". Instead of "the drums were loud", say "the drums thundered". Use comparisons: "The umbrellas spun like giant flowers." Remember to use the present tense for regular festivals and the past tense for one you attended.

4. Showing Respect

When you describe a culture, speak respectfully. Do not mock customs that are different from yours. If you are not sure of a fact, say so or check with an elder. Accurate, respectful description shows maturity and helps people of different backgrounds to understand one another.

1. Clues in the Text

2. Practice Passage

"Who ate the last piece of fish?" Mother asked quietly.

Nobody moved. Yaa stared at the floor. "It wasn't me," she whispered.

"It wasn't me!" shouted Kojo, jumping to his feet.

Grandfather coughed. "Well," he said, wiping his mouth slowly, "at my age a man must eat."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Mother burst out laughing.

3. Reading Together

Read the passage in groups, with one reader for each character and one for the narrator. The narrator reads calmly. Mother's question is quiet but firm. Yaa's voice is small. Kojo is loud and defensive. Grandfather is slow and amused. Pause before his line to build humour.

4. Improving Expression

Good expression comes from understanding. Before reading aloud, ask how each character feels and why. Practise a line in different ways and choose the one that fits. Do not overact; the voice should support the meaning, not distract from it. Reading aloud to younger siblings is excellent practice.

5. Reading to Younger Children

Reading stories aloud to younger brothers and sisters is one of the best ways to practise expression. Change your voice for each character, make the sounds of animals and pause at exciting moments to ask, "What do you think will happen next?" Children enjoy it, and you become a more confident reader.

1. Purposes of Writing

2. Questions to Ask

3. Reading Passage: Two Short Texts

Text A: "Buy Golden Palm Oil today! Pure, rich and full of natural goodness, it is the smart choice for every Ghanaian kitchen. Why settle for less?"

Text B: "Palm oil is produced from the fruit of the oil palm tree. Ghana's main oil palm plantations are in the Western, Central and Eastern Regions. The oil is used for cooking, soap-making and other industries."

4. Comparing the Texts

Text A is written to persuade. It uses praise words ("pure", "rich", "smart") and a command ("Buy"), and it asks a question to make readers doubt other brands. Text B is written to inform. It gives facts without trying to sell. Knowing the purpose tells you how much to trust the text: an advert will show only the good side, while a textbook aims to be balanced.

1. Intensifiers

Intensifier: A word such as very, extremely or rather that strengthens or weakens an adjective.

Some adjectives are already extreme, so in careful writing they do not usually take "very". Say "absolutely exhausted", not "very exhausted", and "absolutely freezing", not "very freezing". Other extreme adjectives include "huge", "terrible" and "delicious". Ordinary adjectives such as "tired" and "cold" take "very".

2. Replacing Weak Adjectives

3. Adjectives in Context

Choose adjectives that suit the meaning and tone. "Thin" and "slim" both mean not fat, but "slim" is a compliment and "skinny" may be rude. "Cheap" can suggest poor quality, while "affordable" sounds positive. These differences are called connotations. A careful writer considers them.

4. Before and After

Before: "It was a very hot day and we were very tired. We saw a very big tree and sat under it." After: "It was a scorching afternoon and we were exhausted. We collapsed under the shade of an enormous baobab." The second version says the same thing in fewer words, but paints a stronger picture.

5. Adjectives and Honest Description

Adjectives can flatter or mislead. An estate agent may call a tiny room "cosy", and an advert may call a sugary drink "refreshing". Careful readers notice when adjectives are chosen to persuade rather than to describe accurately. Careful writers choose adjectives that are honest and suit their purpose.

1. Starting Strong

Begin close to the action. Instead of "I woke up, brushed my teeth and had breakfast", start: "The first thing I noticed was the silence. The whole market had stopped to stare at me." You can fill in the background afterwards.

2. Writing the Middle

Follow your plan, but feel free to change it if a better idea comes. Use paragraphs: start a new one for a new time, place or speaker. Use time words such as "suddenly", "meanwhile" and "a few minutes later". Add dialogue at important moments, and show feelings through actions and senses.

3. Model Extract

"Where is Auntie?" I whispered. The crowd pushed past me, a river of baskets and elbows. A minute ago her green headscarf had been right there. Now there were a hundred headscarves, and none of them was hers.

I ran left, then right. My heart hammered. "Auntie!" I shouted, but my voice disappeared in the noise of the loudspeakers selling mobile phone credit.

Suddenly, a hand closed around my wrist.

4. Writing the Ending

A strong ending does not simply stop. It shows how things turned out and what the experience meant. Avoid "Then I woke up and it was a dream" and "That is the end". Try ending with a thought that links back to the beginning: "Today, whenever I visit Kaneshie, I hold on to that old lesson, and to my aunt's hand."

5. Drafting Tips

Write quickly in the first draft; do not stop to correct every word. Leave wide margins and spaces between lines for changes. Keep to your point of view and past tense. You will revise and edit next week.