CXC CSEC English A exam: Past paper type summary writing question 1


Here is a CXC CSEC past paper type summary writing question.

This is the type of summary writing question that has been on
CXC CSEC English A past papers

 

NB: CXC suggests spending no more than 40 minutes to answer the summary writing question in Section one, paper 2 of the English A exam.

Read carefully the following conversation between Ross and Susan and then answer the question below it.

 

Ross:
Susan Charles, a fine secretary you are! Don't you know that the students from Guadeloupe arrive on September 15th?
   
Susan:
Both the boys and the girls. So what else is new?
   
Ross: None of your wisecracks. That's only a month away and we haven't found accommodation for them as yet. The hotel says there won't be any room at that time. As secretary of the club, it's your responsibility...
   
Susan: I know, I know. I'll arrange for them to stay in private homes. I'm sure the villagers won't mind taking them in for a small charge. It's only for two weeks. Our visitors are booked to leave on the 30th.
   
Ross: Not a bad idea. Why don't you write to all the villagers asking them to write to us if they are interested in putting up these students? I wonder how much they'll charge.
   
Susan: I'll ask them to give their rates. We'll have to insist, though, that the villagers who are interested must be able to speak French. The Guadeloupans speak no English.
   
Ross: At least not the six who are coming. Should the villagers provide meals?
   
Susan: Breakfast and dinner, except on Sundays when they must include lunch as well.
   
Ross: I think we should let the villagers know that two club members will want to inspect homes and chat with the applicants before making the selection.
   
Susan: Agreed. Letters from those who are interested should reach us by August 26th. Then our members can visit on the 28th.
   
Ross: After six p.m., I suppose? Should the villagers write to you as secretary?
   
Susan:

Right on both counts; I'll tell them to write to:

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village.

   
Ross: But suppose a villager can put up more than one student?
   
Susan: All the better, my friend, all the better.
   
 

Imagine that you are Susan. In not more than 150 words, write the letter to the villagers.

Marks will be given for (1) content, (2) organisation and (3) expression

 
30 marks
 
 

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Fivestar

Alexxia (not verified) 22 May 2009 - 7:45pm

Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village

May 22, 2009

Dear Villagers of Arroyo,
I am writing to inform you that our sport club will be having students of Guadeloupe visiting us on September 15 for two weeks, however the hotel is all booked out and so I am asking if anyone is willing to accommodate one student each at a reasonable cost. You will be ask to provide breakfast and dinner except for on Sundays you also provide, person's that are interested are ask to send in a letter by August 26th. Then two members of the club will visit and converse with applicant on the 28th after 6pm before making a selection, we would appreciate if anyone can and willing to accommodate more that one students. Your consideration greatly appreciated. Again I say thank you.

Sincerely Yours

Susan Charles
Club Secretary

(words 131)

Hi,
It seems that there is information missing from your letter. You didn't say anything about the villagers needing to provide lunch on Sunday. You also didn't say anything about the villagers needing to speak French. And I would make my sentences shorter if I were you.

Hope these comments are helpful.

sheries (not verified) 22 May 2009 - 11:22pm

Sad to say, your grammar is pretty poor, to put it mildly. The sentence structure is also sticky: you have run-on sentences. This happens when you have a lot to say and forget to pause. Oh, you also missed details such as the age group of the students, purpose for visit, and more. I hope this helps. All the best, and as long as I can help, I will.

guest (not verified) 23 May 2009 - 1:28am

In reply to by sheries (not verified)

I think you should write the letter to show us how it should be done. Along with saying what is bad, its a good idea to show what is the better thing/way. I feel that is better than just pointing out what is bad. What do you think?

admin 23 May 2009 - 5:40am

In reply to by sheries (not verified)

Hello, we in Caribexams believe that in order to encourage members to continue to contribute postings and to help each other to improve for exams, a good help strategy is to suggest areas for improvements where necessary, and to commend the positives.

We believe that this approach is more helpful rather than simply pointing out the negatives. One way to think of it is, how would you like someone approach you, if you were in the same position.

Thank you for taking the time to help.

sheries (not verified) 23 May 2009 - 12:12pm

In reply to by sheries (not verified)

I am sorry for sounding harsh. I hope you accept my apology. In the future, I promise to give more uplifting comments. I in no way intended to make you feel bad; I just wanted to give the honest opinion you expected. Keep working though, and you will succeed. All the best.

Please comment on my summary with Ross and Susan.

Denby Sport Club
P.O. Box 36
Arroyo Villager

Dear Villagers,

The members of the Denby Sport club are sincerely asking any villagers who are interested in accommodating a group of students from Guadeloupe for two weeks. The students are expected to arrive on September 15 and depart on September 30. Interesting applicants must be able to provide breakfast and dinner on Monday-Saturday and lunch only on Sundays.
On the 28 of September two of our club members would like to inspect the house and talk with the applicant before making a selection. Please, attach your rates for the accommodation of the visitors. Any applicants who are interested must submit their letters by the deadline date August 26. All applicants must submit their letters to the secretary at the address listed above. Thanks for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely,
Susan Charles
Secretary

Not "asking any villagers".. "asking for any villagers who would be interested....."

"Interested applicants" not "interesting applicants"

You didn't include "All applicants must be able to speak french."

other than that, very well written.

Tech boy (not verified) 21 September 2009 - 1:18am

Denby Sport Club
P.O.Box 63
Arroyo Village

March 24, 2oo9

Dear:Madam/ Sir
This letter is for all who are interested in hosting students from Guadeloupe,They will arrive on September 15,and are staying for two week and then leave on the 30 of the same month we are asking for villagers who are able to speck french because none of them speak English.
The members of the club are also asking persons interested give us your rates please so we can make our selection, and Breakfast, Dinner and Lunch on Sunday are asking you to provide persons from the club will be visiting all interested villages After the date of all letters most come in on August 26,for interested persons send letter to the above address thank you.

your Sincerely
Susan Charles
Club Secretary

bugsbunny (not verified) 20 October 2009 - 2:17pm

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O.Box 63
Arroyo Village

May 24th 2009

Dear Sir/Madam
This is a letter regarding all villagers interested in accommadoting one or more Guadeloupan students for two weeks.Requiments are,meals breakfast and dinner,on sunday lunch must be included.All interested villagers must be able to speak french.Rates for accommadoting students must be included in reply letter which must be sent in by 26th.On the 28th two of our members will visit interested villagers homes to inspect an chat before selections are made.

Yours Respectfully
Susan Narcis
Club Secretary

Susan Nacis? I thought the person's name was Susan Charles?

Also, is this a letter "regarding villagers" or is it a letter "to villagers"? I think it should be "to villagers".

You say the 26th and the 28th but you don't say of what month. You say breakfast and dinner are required but you don't say on what days.

I also suggest you work on improving your spelling.

Otherwise, a good attempt.

Kathy Ann G (not verified) 24 October 2009 - 5:47pm

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village

July, 27, 2009

To all Villagers

Dear Villagers

I am Susan Charles, Secretary of Denby Sports Club and I write seeking your assistance in accommodating students from Guadeloupe, who are expected to arrive on September 15, 2009.

These students will be here for a period of two (2) weeks so we ask that you provide breakfast and dinner, except on Sundays, where you include lunch as well. Please bear in mind that these students can only speak French, so only villagers who are able to speak the language will be selected.

All interested Villagers must write to the above address, stating their rate. We also want to know if anyone will be able to cater for more than one student.

Two (2) of our club members will be inspecting homes and talking with those who are selected.

Interested persons should write to us no later than August 26th, 2009.

Best wishes

Sincerely

___________
Susan Charles

Hi Kathy, ;)
This is a very good summary except for a couple of things: You used the year 2009 in writing. Nowhere in the passage is the year given. Since you include information not given, you would definitely lose marks for that.

It is a good idea to include the date and time when the club members were going to inspect: 28th September, after 6.00pm. This would be considered essential information as the villagers would have to be available at that date and time if they wanted to be inspected.

It would also be a good idea to include more specific information from the passage, e.g. the exact number of students needing accommodation and the exact date on which they would be leaving.

Other than that, very, very good.

Hope these comments are helpful.

Shadeed (not verified) 30 October 2009 - 6:52am

hello i just want to find out if the fully blocked letter style is the only format that CXC will mark or if a student uses the modified blocked format (will this be acceptable too?)...is the modified blocked format a wrong format to use ...let's say even in teaching?

Hi,
I was hoping that someone else would answer this question. However, since no one has picked it up, I will give it a shot.

As far as I understand it, CXC accepts the modified block format: meaning the address, salutation/greeting and closing are on the left side of the page, with paragraphs having the first line indented.

In a strictly block format, the paragraphs are not indented.

Hope this helps.

sarah s (not verified) 22 November 2009 - 2:44pm

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O.Box 63
Arroyo Village

Dear Villagers,
I Susan Charles,secretary of Denby sports club,is kindly asking interested persons
to accomadate students of both boys and girls from the Guadeloupe of private rooms
for two weeks starting from september 15th.
This is being asked because the hotel will be occupied at this time.Breakfast
and dinner must be provided ,except on Sunday lunch must be included. Students are
French speakers,hence only french speakers will be selected.
If you are interested kindly reply me to the above address by 26th August,2009.Before selecting two club members will have an inspection and chat with the villagers,then the students can inhabit by 28th August,2009.
You can include your charges as well. They will return to Guadeloupe by september 30th
Well be pleased if you accomadate more than one student.

Yours sincerely,
-------------------
Susan Charles

you did not mention that interested persons must state their interest of pay/salary

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village.

Dear Villagers,

Our club will be having students from Guadeloupe arriving on September 15th. Hotels wont accommodate the students because of lacked of rooms. Our solution that we will have to accommodate in Private Homes, providing Breaksfast and dinner except on Sundays that there must be Lunch as well. Villagers will have to speak French. Our visitors will be leaving on September 30th. Two club members will want to inspect homes before making the selection. Applicants who are interested should reach us August 26th that our members can visit on the 28th. Your corporation will be very appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Susan Charles
Secretary

shantel1339 (not verified) 23 November 2009 - 1:34pm

The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village.

To all Villagers

Dear villagers,
My name is Susan Charles, Secretary of Denby Sport Club. I am writing to you all seeking accommodation for students from Guadeloupe, who will be arriving on September 15th for weeks. Our visitors are book to leave on September 30th.Villagers who is interesting in housing any of these students should be able to speak French as our visitors speak no English. You are required to provide them with meals which include Breakfast and Dinner except on Sundays which includes lunch. I must inform you that two members from the Club will want to inspect your home and speak with you before making any selection.
Letters from those who are interested should reach us by August 26th. Then our members can visit on the 28th, you can write to me at the address mentioned above including your rates.

Yours sincerely,
___________________
Susan Charles
Secretary

Hi Brayan,

This is just a suggestion to get (hopefully) get things moving here. I think one way to encourage other members to comment on your answer to the question is to take the time to comment on their answers.

Generally, I believe that members may be more willing to take the time to review your work, if you show them that you are willing to take the time to do the same for them.

This is just a thought. What do the rest of you think?

F.A.T.T.A (not verified) 2 December 2009 - 9:20pm

Denby Sports Club
P.O. Box 63
Arroyo Village

Dear : Villagers
On September 15,there will be a group of student consisted of both male and female arriving from Guadeloupe.Our hotel the Denby Sports Club is currently without vacancy and will be so upon till September 30,Until then we are asking for some assistance from the villagers on accommodating these students.For those with interest it's highly recommended for you to be able to translate withing bout languages(English,French);and to provide breakfast and dinner from Monday through to Saturday except on Sundays were lunch is to be included.
A letter is require to be sent to the secretary of the Denby Sports Club stating how many student will be accommodate and the rate of which will be charged,all letter should meet the deadline of August 26 so that it would be possible to inspect all houses on August 28.

Yours sincerely
Susan Charles/
Secretary

(WORDS 142)

gsr2 (not verified) 3 January 2010 - 8:59pm

Denby Sports Club
P.O Box 63
Arrayo Village

02 January 2010

Dear Villager,

The students of Guadelope will be arriving on September 15th in our country for two weeks until September 30th. There is no accommodation for these students both male and female at the hotel. We request that they stay at private homes. Interested persons must be able to speak French and also provide breakfast and dinner except for Sundays, lunch must be included. You can write to us at:
The Secretary
Denby Sports Club
P.O Box 63
Arrayo Village
Deadline submission for applicants will be on August 26th so that two Club members can inspect home on August 28th after 6pm. Please include in the letter your rate for accommodation and how many can be accommodated. Thanking you in advance.

The Secretary,
Denby Sports Club

137 words

tweetie21 (not verified) 4 January 2010 - 11:42am

if i do a piece of work can it be summit to someone to be marked and send back to me.

Hello,
You seem to be asking about a teacher or tutor. Sorry, we do not provide tutorial services. The support that we provide for community members is the provision of multimedia resources and the opportunity to work with other learners who are also preparing for the CXC exams.

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