Responding in Discussion, Media and Information, Hyphens, Descriptive Sentences and Sequence of Events

1. A Pattern for Responding

PEEL keeps your answers organised. It stops you from wandering. It works in class, in interviews and in written examinations too. Before you speak, take a breath and identify what you are being asked. Then begin with a direct answer.

2. Handling Difficult Questions

3. Responding with Respect

Your tone matters as much as your answer. Speak clearly and calmly, and look at the person who asked. Do not attack anyone. If you made a mistake, admit it: "You are right, I was wrong about that." This shows maturity, and people will respect you for it. In Ghanaian culture, respectful language towards elders includes polite words and a calm manner, even when you disagree with them.

4. Practice

In a group discussion, keep your replies short, so that others can speak too. In a formal setting, such as a quiz or panel, follow the rules on time. Practising with friends or at a debate club helps you to get used to thinking on your feet. Over time, you will speak with more confidence and fewer filler words such as "um" and "like".

1. Types of Media

2. Text Types in the Media

3. Reading a News Report

News reports usually answer who, what, where, when, why and how. The most important facts come first. The rest of the report adds details in order of importance. Compare this with a story, which saves the ending until last. Headlines are short and try to catch the eye: "Floods Hit Accra" leaves out small words. A good reader knows that a headline only gives part of the picture.

4. Evaluating Information

Not everything in the media is true. Fake news is false information that is presented as real news. It spreads fast because it is often shocking. Before you share something, ask: Who wrote this? Is there a date? Do trusted sources agree? Does it use emotional language? Fact-checking organisations in Ghana, such as GhanaFact and Dubawa, check claims in the news. Sharing false information can cause real harm, particularly during elections or health crises. In Ghana's media, the National Media Commission promotes press freedom and responsibility.

5. Media and Society

A free press holds leaders accountable, and it informs the public. Article 162 of the 1992 Constitution protects freedom of the media in Ghana. Journalists such as those who have exposed corruption have played an important part in public life. Media also spreads health and education messages, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evaluate how well each text type does its job, and ask who benefits from the message.

1. What Is a Hyphen?

Hyphen: A short mark that joins words or parts of words.

A hyphen is shorter than a dash, and it has no space on either side. It shows that words belong together. It can also avoid confusion, as in the example above. You met the dash earlier this term. Remember that a dash separates parts of a sentence, and a hyphen joins.

2. Uses of the Hyphen

3. Compound Adjectives

When two or more words work together to describe a noun, they are usually hyphenated if they come before the noun: "a well-trained nurse", "a ten-minute walk". When they come after the noun, a hyphen is usually not needed: "The nurse is well trained." Note that "ten-minute" has no "s". We say "a ten-minute walk", not "a ten-minutes walk", and "a five-year-old boy", not "a five-years-old boy".

4. Words Without Hyphens

Do not hyphenate every compound. Many have become single words, such as "classroom" and "football", and others remain two words, such as "bus stop". Adverbs ending in "-ly" do not take a hyphen: "a newly built school", not "newly-built". If you are unsure, check a dictionary. At the end of a line, split a word only between syllables, and do not leave one letter alone.

1. Show, Don't Tell

Telling states a fact: "Ama was angry." Showing gives us evidence: "Ama slammed the door, her jaw tight." Showing lets the reader work out the feeling, and it makes the scene more alive. Use specific details, strong verbs and appeals to the senses. Avoid weak words such as "nice", "good" and "very".

2. The Five Senses

3. Describing Characters, Settings and Mood

Mood is the feeling created by a piece of writing. Words, details and sentence length all help. Short sentences build tension. Long, flowing ones can suggest calm. The choice of colours and weather can also set the mood, as when a grey sky suggests sadness.

4. Figures of Speech

Use figures of speech with care. Fresh images are better than worn-out ones, such as "as white as snow", which also means little in Ghana. Instead, try "as white as fresh cassava". Hyphens are useful here too, as in "sun-baked earth" and "sweat-soaked shirt". A single well-chosen image is better than several weak ones.

1. Plot and Sequence

Plot: The sequence of events in a story.

Events in a plot are linked by cause and effect. "The rains failed, so the crops died, so the family moved to the city." When you analyse a plot, do not just list what happened. Explain why each event led to the next.

2. Sequence in Narrative and Script

3. Time Words

Writers guide us with signals such as "at first", "meanwhile", "later that evening" and "by the time". In plays, a change of scene or a line of dialogue tells us time has passed. For example, "It has been three years since you left," quickly tells an audience what has changed. Reading closely for these signals keeps you from getting lost.

4. Analysing a Short Story

Read this summary. Kweku leaves his village for Kumasi to work. He sends money home at first, then stops. His mother falls sick. His sister finds him, ashamed and without work. They return home together, and his mother forgives him.

The sequence shows a rise and fall in Kweku's life, and the ending shows the theme of forgiveness. When you write about sequence, say how it creates suspense or supports the message.