Composition and Extended Writing
This domain tests extended writing: narrative, descriptive, argumentative and expository compositions. You are marked on relevance, structure, paragraphing, cohesion, vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.
Planning and structure
Choose a clear central idea, then outline introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. Each paragraph should have one topic sentence and supporting detail. A plan saves you from repeating yourself.
Genre moves
Narrative: setting, characters, conflict, climax and resolution; keep past tense. Argumentative: thesis, reasons, evidence, counterargument and conclusion. Descriptive: sensory detail and figurative language, not a list.
Cohesion
Use pronouns and conjunctions such as ihe, onghee hano and nokuli; link paragraphs with time or reason markers. Avoid repeating the same noun in every sentence.
Worked example
Topic: a journey you remember. Plan: introduction sets the scene; body paragraph 1 describes the departure; body paragraph 2 describes the problem; conclusion states the lesson. Reasoning: each paragraph has a job; the past tense is consistent; the conclusion reflects rather than simply stopping.
Traps that cost marks
- Going off topic after the first paragraph.
- Writing events without a conclusion or reflection.
- Shifting tense without reason.
- Direct translation from English idiom.
- Dialogue without correct punctuation.