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KCSE setbooks REVISION ESSAY QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Enjoy free KCSE revision materials, essay questions and answers and comprehensive analysis (episodic approach) of the set books including The Pearl by John Steinbeck,

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet, Inheritance by David Mulwa, Memories we Lost,

A Silent Song & An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro.

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SET BOOKS GUIDE NOTES AND TOPICAL QUESTIONS

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English Set Books Essay Writing Skills – Latest Guide

101|3. ENGLISH PAPER 3.

WRITING  ESSAYS BASED ON THE SET TEXT

• Interpreting the question
• Making an outline of your points
• introducing your essay
• Writing the body
• Concluding your essay
• The Dos and Dontsin essay writing.
• Episodes in A Doll’s House
• Questions for discussions.

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Essays on set text are questions that add up to 40 marks in paper three.

Students have met a lot of challenges scoring these marks.

Among the reasons that account for this is poor/inadequate reading of the set books. Without a thorough grasp of the thematic concerns of the set books, you will score less marks. This is because you need a lot of details in your discussion to score mark. Obviously, you cannot get these details without reading the set books at least six times.

Secondly, our attitude towards writing on one hand and paper three on the other also puts the kibosh to our great performance here. We must therefore love writing and be positive.

Lastly, most students don’t understand the writing techniques required here.

It is in lieu of this that we have organized this lesson to take you through essay writing skills.

1.Interpretation of the question

In order to write a good essay, you must first understand what the statement means. Interpretation of the question is pivotal here. You will have failed once you misinterpret the given statement.

➡️The current KCSE setting trends are characterized by questions which encompass two sides. The action(virtue or vice) and the reaction( reward or punishment).

➡️When responding to KCSE essay questions in A Doll’s House and or any other text, always try to point out the *keywords* by *underlining* them. This will help you to have the correct interpretation of the question. Once this is done, you will find writing the essay a walk in the park.

➡️Since the question is two sided, the answer should also bring out the two sides fully.

For instance,

“A selfish individual who only cares about his reputation causes pain to himself and others. Basing your illustrations on Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; write an essay to validate this statement.”*

While responding to the question above, you ought to first underline the key words; *selfish* and  *pain* then identify selfish individuals and how they only careabout their reputation* Then, you should illustrate *how this selfishness causes pain to the said individual and others.*

➡️ For a candidate to interpret the question well s/he must have a wide range of vocabulary without which the task will be tedious. This will help in writing the introduction/paraphrasing the statement.

2.Making an outline of your points

Planning is key in all our undertakings for it will determine the end results. Therefore, you should master the art of planning as it sets precedence for a good essay. If you get it right from the onset, that is interpretation and planning, you are on the way to great performance.

🔷Come up with at least four characters that will support your argument, this will enable you to plan your essay. This stage helps you come up with complete topic sentences.

In reference to our question on “A selfish individual who only cares about his reputation…, you may sketch down something like this👇🏻 as your outline/plan on the question paper.

a)Helmer doesn’t listen and understand Nora’s sacrifice/predicament

• b) Krogstad is mean towards Nora
• c) Helmer’s selfishness towards Krogstad

d)Mrs Linde’s selfishness towards Krogstad.

You should go a head and brainstorm on the details for each point before you begin writing your essay.

3.Introducing your essay.

🖊️The introduction falls on the first paragraph.

🖊️It earns you 2 marks.

🖊️It should address both sides of the question.

🖊️Should be drawn from within the text.

When writing your introduction you ought to take note of the following;

 🖋️Demonstrate your understanding of the question (What are you going to discuss?)

*what to avoid*

 🖋️Do NOT define terms

 🖋️Do not rewrite any words or phrase in the question; instead paraphrase (use your own words e.g. if the questions says materialism you should use the word greed. Or when the question says sacrifice you may use the word selflessness in your introduction)

*What an introduction should be*

🖊️Should be brief(not  more than 4 lines)

🖊️Should have:

➡️Name of the text

➡️Outline at least 2 points

*Types of introductions*

You can use any of the following ways to write your introduction.

• *Contextualized introduction* which involves using examples from the text.

For example

Helmer’s meanness cause Nora so much stress to the extent that she decides to sever a marriage that she had so much hope in.

• *General introduction*

*For example*

Most citizens suffer when the leaders they voted for forget about their needs and focus on working for their own stomachs. This is brought out clearly In Henrik Ibsen’sA Doll’s House.

• *A paraphrasing*

Focusing on your own individual interest at the expense of others causes so much suffering not only to himself but also others.

• *Listing the points that the essay is going to address*

Krogstad, Helmer and Mrs Linde are so mean in the text that they cause a lot of anxiety and torture to Nora, Mrs Linde and themselves as discussed below.

4.THE BODY OF YOUR ESSAY.

With the outline in mind, consider getting details that will buffer your topic sentence.

The body should include the following:

*The topic sentence(situation)*

*Background information*

*clincher sentence*

*Betrayal leads to disintegration of relationships.*Discuss the validity of this statement with illustrations from A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen.

You need to get details of the following in your paragraphs :

✔Identify who betrays the other

✔Describe the relationships between the two friends or couple

✔Give finer background details on the circumstances/ reason(s) that led to the betrayal.

✔Identify the *action* of the traitor/actual betrayal

✔The *reaction*/ result of the betrayal.

✔ The clincher sentence.

In this case, breakage of/ strain in relationships. ( Betrayal being a vice can only lead to distraction/suffering)

That is the direction we should take when writing essays based on set texts.

*Helmer betrays Nora her husband who she believes loves us so much.* *She tells Dr Rank how devotedly, how inexpressively deeply Torvald loves her and that he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for her.* *Following Helmers diagnosis of fatigue by doctors and the need for him to go to Italy to rest as a form of treatment, Nora decides to sacrifice to help him get well.* *She takes a loan of 250 pounds without her husband’s consent and against societal norms.* *She has to forge her dad’s signature to get this money.* *Indeed, she feels proud of her deed telling Mrs Linde that her husband has never been sick since then saying that he has been as sound as a bell.* *However, upon realizing the secret, Helmer disowns her criticizing her for being immoral and not mother enough to instill morals in their children.* *He even tells her things will not be alright going forward between them.* *Nora feels so disappointed and decides to leave their marriage.* *Helmer is left begging for forgiveness in vain*. *It’s catastrophic to betray your spouse*.

This is a complete paragraph since it identifies the idea(betrayal), goes ahead to give background details about the relationship between the couple, circumstances surrounding the betrayal, the actual action of betrayal, the reaction and the clincher that summarizes the paragraph.

*Situation*: (The point/betrayal)Topic sentence 1

*Supporting sentences*

• *Background*: Sentences 2, 3 4 and 5 provide background information on the betrayal.
• *Action*:Sentences 7 and 8
• *Reaction*: 9 & 10

* Clincher sentence* 11.

*“Self sacrifice must be rewarded. Citing illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; write an essay to validate this statement.”*

*Situation* : Nora’s sacrifice to save her husband is rewarded.

*Background* : When they get married, Torvald leaves his office work because there is no prospect of promotion. With a view of providing for his family, he works early and late. In the process he overworks himself and falls dreadfully ill. The doctors tell Nora his wife that the only remedy is for him to take a rest in the south (Italy). The trip would cost a tremendous amount of money(250 pounds). Torvald is not willing to borrow. Nora’s cries and entreaties doesn’t change his decision. To make matters worse, he would not accept help from a woman.

*Action* : Nora is forced to borrow 250 pounds from Nils Krogstad and forge a name because a woman is not allowed to borrow without her husband’s consent. She takes Torvald to Italy. They stay there for a year.

*Reaction/ outcome /Values/ reward*

Outcome: Torvald comes back from the trip and he is as sound as a bell.

Clincher sentence: They stay happily without anxiety.

It should be written in continuous prose.

5.CONCLUSION.

The conclusion should be done in the last paragraph.

You can do this by:

• Doing a recap of your points Summary of your points
• Using a relevant proverb
• Or giving a comment

Avoid introducing new points here*

In conclusion, for us to enjoy our relationships, we must never disappoint. OR

Helmer, Mr Linde, Krogstad and Dr Rank suffer because of betrayal.

In conclusion, Nora and Mrs Linde find joy in denying themselves for the sake of others.

6.*The DOS AND DONT’S IN WRITING AN ESSAY BASED ON A SET BOOK*

• Do interpret the question correctly.
• Do always start discussing your points with a topic sentence based on characters, events/activities and episodes from the directed text.
• Do always write your paragraphs in a logical and coherent manner. Tie your points together in a paragraph.
• Do paraphrase or quite your illustrations from the given text. Here, you pick activities related to the question from the text in the exact way they appear.
• Do mention one or two examples of content points in your introduction.
• Do write your essay in well structured and connected paragraphs.
• Do write your introduction as the first paragraph of your essay.
• Do capture the two sides of the question by interpreting the key terms in the question, for example, correctly interpret the terms betrayal and mistrust or disintegration by using synonyms or a paraphrase if the meaning.
• Do write the name of the text and author in the introduction.
• Do write your essay in continuous prose (prose form)

*THE DONT’S*

• Do not write your essay in point form.
• Do not define key terms from the question but rather interpret the question.
• Do not use obscene or vulgar /impolite language
• Do not repeat writing the question or any part of it as it is.
• Do not underline your topic sentence.
• Do not narrate events as they are in the book.
• Do not introduce a new point or idea in the conclusion.
• Do not exceed the required number of words which is usually 450 words.
• Do not get personal or sentimental
• Do not write headings and subheadings in your essay.
• Do not include irrelevant or out of context information in your essay.

Now keenly go through the following essay and take note of the depth of details you are required to give as illustrations in your paragraphs.

*SAMPLE ESSAY*

*Self sacrifice must be rewarded. Citing illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, write an essay to validate this claim with close reference to female characters.*

In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, women are portrayed as being *selfless.* They give up their valuable time, comfort and possessions in order to help other people. This does not go *unrequitted.* An example would be Anne, the nanny, who half-heartedly leaves her own child in order to help Nora and her three little children. By so doing, she gets an income and a good place to live.

Nora borrows 250 pounds from Nils Krogstadin order to save her ailing husband’s life (topic sentence). When they get married, Torvald Helmer leaves his job because there is no prospect of a promotion. He then works early and late to provide for his family and soon falls dreadfully ill because of overwork (ill 1). The doctors tell Nora that the only thing that could save her husband’s life is to live in the south (ill 2). Nora then makes a tremendous sacrifice when she borrows a huge amount of money without her husband’s consent. Since her husband would not allow her to borrow the money, she takes this risk for the sake of love. (ill 3) After a year of staying in Italy, Torvald is as sound as a bell and has never be ill since then. Indeed self sacrifice is always rewarded (closing statement).

Nora also sacrifices for the sake of her three little children (topic sentence). At the end when Helmer decides that Nora is not worthy even for her little children, she decides to leaves the home fearing she might corrupt her children. Due to societal expectation, she is convinced that she is a corrupt person as a result of the lies that she has had to exhibit in her marriage (ill 1). She has lied about little things like eating macaroons to serious issues like borrowing money from Krogstad and lying to her husband that she got it from her father (ill 2). Helmer argues that such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home thus she chooses to leave. (ill 3). Leaving her children is an incredible act of self sacrifice. Ultimately she achieves her independence from a suffocating male-dominated society and thus moves out to try and understand her role in society (closing statement).

Mrs Linde also plays a sacrificial role in the lives of her mother and siblings (topic sentence). She abandons Nils Krogstad, the man she loves, and marries a rich man who she does not love for the sake of her family (ill 1). Her mother is bedridden and helpless and her bothers depend on her so she has no choice but to leave her penniless love-Krogstad and marry a man of means (ill 2). She is glad that she makes the end of her mother’s life almost free from care. She is also proud that her brothers are now fully grown and independent (ill 3). These sacrifices made for her family qualifies her selflessness and the fact that her mother is afforded good care and her brothers are now fully grown is a reward to Mrs. Linde (closing statement).

Lastly, Anne is also portrayed as a selfless woman who sacrifices her happiness for the sake of Nora and her children (topic sentence). To do this, Anne leaves her own child among strangers (ill 1). Nora wonders how she could leave her child but Anne indicates that she was obliged to if she wanted to be Nora’s nurse since Nora had no mother and indeed Nora confesses that indeed Anne was a good mother to her when she was little (ill 2). As a result, Anne gets a salary and a good place to live (closing statement.

In conclusion, it is true to say that most women are selfless and thus play sacrificial roles in the societies in which they live. There acts never go unrewarded as seen in A Doll’s House.

7.Episodes in A Doll’s House.

How to identify episodes in a text

• a) What is the event?
• b) Who are the characters involved?
• c) What actions or activities are they involved in?
• d) How do the characters react to those events?
• e) What is the moral lesson in that episode?

Preparation for Christmas 1-9

Nora’s reunion with Mrslinde 9-23

Krogstad’s intention of seeing Helmer 23-24

Moral corruption 24-28

Helmer to give Mrs Linde a job 28-31

The blackmail 31-42

Nora’s effort to have Krogstad retained 42-48

Nora’s anxious mood 49-51

The misunderstanding 51-56

Nora begs Helmer again 56-62

Dr. Rank’s confessions 62-71

Letter to Helmer 71-77

Nora’s secret 77-79

Helmer’s mailbox 79-82

The crazy dance 82-84

Mrs. Linde &Krogstad’s second chance 85-91

The borrowed money 91-94

Romantic Helmer 94-96

After the ball 96-100

Helmer goes for his letters 100-102

Nora’s decision 102-120

8.ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR REVISION

1) Women play key roles in the society but more often than not their roles are never recognized.Using illustrations from “A Doll’s House,” support this assertion.

2)The playwright of ADoll’s House communicates that a formed perception about someone is normally too far from reality. Use appropriate illustrations to support this.

3)Many homes are built on lies. Support this using Helmer’s home as presented in A Doll’s House.

4)Choices have consequences. Support this with illustrations from A Doll’s House.

5)Circumstances and situations surrounding an individual have a great effect on the individual’s character. Using Nora and Krogstad in ADoll’s House, support this assertion.

6)Selflessness should have limits, drawing illustrations from the play A Doll’s House, write an essay showing to what extent you agree with this assertion.

7)One needs friends to support him or her in times of need. Support this with illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s ADoll’s House.

8)Using illustrations from the play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, show how lies and deceit are exposed in the play

9)”Money is the source of all evil.“Support this statement with illustrations from the play, A Doll’s House byHenrik Ibsen.

10)”Never judge a book by its cover.” Using illustrations from the play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen,support this statement.

12)’Women are portrayed as loving and self-sacrificing in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House,’ Write an essay toshow the truth of this statement.

12)Write an essay to show that appearances can be misleading. Draw your illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s ADoll’s House.

13)Drawing illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, write an essay to justify the statement: All her life, Norah has been treated like a doll to be petted and shown off.

14)Relationships are bound to disintegrate where one party feels superior,’ Using examples from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, justify this statement.

15)Preserving the respect of the community preoccupies the characters in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Drawing illustrations from the text, write an essay to show the truth of this statement.

16)Women are generally loving and self-sacrificing. Validate this statement basing your illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

2 thoughts on “English Set Books Essay Writing Skills – Latest Guide”

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KCSE SET BOOKS ESSAY QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Enjoy free KCSE revision materials on imaginative compositions, essay questions and answers and comprehensive analysis (episodic approach) of the set books including Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta, The Samaritan by John Lara, A Silent Song, An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro and Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang'. This blog is useful to Kenyan students preparing for KCSE; and their teachers.

Monday 10 April 2023

The samaritan set book essay questions and answers, john lara's the samaritan essays questions and answers.

THE SAMARITAN ESSAYS QUESTIONS

Despite facing many difficulties, people who strive to bring positive change usually succeed. Using Nicole in John Lara's The Samaritan , write an essay in support this statement.

Nicole, the Ethics and Innovation teacher at Sagrada Secondary School, is the embodiment of an unwavering moralist determined to bring positive change to Maracas Municipality. Despite facing serious resistance from the leaders, her effort bears fruit when the corrupt leaders are apprehended. Resoluteness in doing the right things brings victory.

Nicole stands firm when the Mayor of Maracas Municipality orders for a halting of activities related to the Samaritan App and her firmness pays off. The aim of the Samaritan App is to expose corruption and agitate for the prosecution of the culprits. When he realises that the App may expose his failures, ineptness and corrupt deeds and possibly lead to his prosecution, Mossi-oa-Tunya declines to launch it or award Alvita and Montano, the brains behind the innovation. He alleges that the App may turn out to be a platform for misinformation, lies and witch-hunt. Although he acknowledges that the school is doing a good job in nurturing visionaries and innovators, he has jitters about giving the Samaritan App the green light. The skit by Nicole, Alvita and Montano clearly demonstrates that the App can be used to share sensitive information like the Municipal Procurement Process. The Mayor is hesitant to allow its commissioning. In an attempt to stop the operations of the App, he claims he needs time to think, and will launch the App at his own convenient time. He orders Nicole and Principal Narine to halt all activities regarding the App until his office gives them the clearance. He demands that they write to the Ministry of Education citing fundamental errors. Nicole firmly rebuts that the App passed all tests done by senior officers at the Ministry of Education and skillful software engineers. The Mayor tries to intimidate Nicole when he states that he is Mossi-oa-Tunya: the smoke that thunders and a Mayor with express mandate by the people of Maracas. He raises his voice and points his walking stick at Nicole. He demands that she pens the letter and send a copy to him in an hour’s time. Nicole is adamant that the matter is beyond her since the App was taken over by the National Information and Communication Technology Corporation and she determinedly says that she will only do what is right. Madam Principal confirms Nicole's resolute nature when she claims she is bound to ignore the Mayor’s orders since she usually doesn’t compromise on what she thinks is right. In the long run, Mayor Mossi fails to intimidate Nicole and operations of the App are not halted. Mossi is exposed as a corrupt leader and is eventually arrested. Nicole’s determination pays off.

Moreover, Narine, the principal, admonishes Nicole hoping that   she would abandon her quest for a better Maracas but Nicole remains steadfast until the end when her effort bears victory. The principal acknowledges that the Samaritan App has sent shockwaves across the municipality, driving leaders into terrible panic. She advises Nicole to think long and hard about the Samaritan App. Narine says she is single-handedly focused on providing students under her care with quality education. She vows that she will not allow any teacher to deviate from this course. She appears to be persuading Nicole to stop the operations of the Samaritan App. She advises her, as a senior administrator and her mother’s age mate , to know which battles to wage, which ones to avoid, and those to defer. She avers that a young girl like Nicole cannot battle against an elephant like Mossi. Standing firm, Nicole tells her boss that an elephant that kills a rat is not a hero. She also wonders if the principal would rather that they abandon the Samaritan, an ingenious innovation, with great potential of improving the Municipality to appease an egocentric political class. The principal offers no support for Nicole. She instead chooses to step back. This does not dampen Nicole's spirit. The principal feels Nicole is a headstrong girl. She is fed up. She says she is not a house help or a secretary to keep receiving calls on behalf of Nicole. She also feels threatened when the leaders call saying that they are visiting Nicole at school. The principal feels that the App will not change anything and counsels Nicole with the wise words that, “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists”. Nicole does not heed even when Narine adds that, “If you can’t turn the wind, turn the sails”. Nicole stays firm. She cannot give in and allow the plunder of public resources. Her resoluteness pays off when the leaders including Bembe and Mossi are arrested by Tajo, the head of Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau. Surely, resoluteness results in victory.

Thirdly, Nicole chooses to stand firm when the Inspector General of police, Bembe, tries to unnerve her by arresting her on trumped-up charges. When Mossi and Bembe realise that the Samaritan App was being used to air their dirty linen in public, they plan to visit and talk to Nicole. Mossi correctly points out that Nicole may be a very difficult person. Nicole is determined to do the right thing. Bembe insists that he has a way of making people switch allegiances. Bembe has a ploy to accuse Nicole of theft of school furniture, a computer or a generator. He plans to get people to steal the school   generator and accuse Nicole of the crime then ask the judge to put her in. True to his word, Bembe goes to Sagrada Secondary School to arrest Nicole citing a wide range of accusations including disobeying authorities, being located at the scene of a murder and stealing the school generator. Nicole is not intimidated. She knows that her obligation is to do what is right, not to obey leaders blindly. A leader cannot compel her to do the wrong things. Her choice to do the right thing is not negotiable. Even in the face of an impending jail term, she is not subdued by Bembe's preposterous fabricated charges. She tells him that it will get him nowhere and that that will be the darkest day of his career. Bembe orders the police to handcuff Nicole and the strong-willed teacher resists until she is overpowered. Bembe is only but trying to intimidate Nicole to stop pursuing the activities of the Samaritan App claiming it poses grave danger to society. Nicole replies that she is but a simple teacher trying to do what is right. While Bembe posits that Nicole has an evil plan, she insists that The Samaritan App has no personal agenda and is a people’s platform of protecting and promoting public good. When she is arraigned in court, thousands of protesters from all walks of life mob the court precincts in solidarity with Nicole, leaving Bembe with an egg on his face. Furthermore, his bosses summon him over the impropriety. Eventually, Bembe is arrested for his involvement in a wide array of crimes and abuse of office. Nicole’s determination to do good ends in victory.

Apart from that, Alvita and Montano try but fail to plead with miss Nicole to give up the Samaritan App and she tells them to stand firm with the App and this pays off when the corrupt leaders are arrested. When the unscrupulous leaders are whisked away by the police, Alvita cries triumphantly that, “You can never escape from the consequences of your actions”. These are the exact words of the resolute miss Nicole. The apprehensive students are the brains behind the Samaritan App. But they are now worried that as a result of the Mayor’s ultimatum, the App may get their beloved teacher in trouble. Nicole insists that the Samaritan App is an excellent platform for them to speak out against wrongdoing and share ideas that will make their lives better. The leaders of Maracas municipality are like the priests and Levite who ignore the injured Samaritan. They do not care about the people. Neither do they come to their aid. They only pursue their own selfish interests. The students still think that miss Nicole is in grave danger. The teacher is determined to stand for a cause that can bring a better tomorrow for everyone. The Samaritan has been all over the media platforms and Alvita thinks it has grown so big that it is no longer good for them anymore . The two students suggest that she transfers to a different school. Nicole asks them not to chicken out at every trial or threat. They must stand firm and demand that their leaders do the right thing. She demands that they are not discouraged and that they stay brave. This is not an effort in futility. The corrupt leaders including Mayor Mossi are eventually arrested.

Also, Nicole remains steadfast when the Mayor approaches her and tries to beg for mercy seemingly penitent of his evil acts and attempting to sway Nicole to eliminate some negative information about him from the Samaritan App. The Mayor starts by apologizing to Nicole for being a bit hard on her earlier. He wants to have an honest talk with her. He concedes that he made some mistakes and is ostensibly there to make the clean breast of everything and to seek Nicole’s   understanding and help. Nicole is taken aback by the change of heart from the initially overbearing Mossi-oa-Tunya, the untouchable smoke that thunders. He even offers Nicole a bribe. He asks her to quote her figure. Looking straight at him, Nicole affirms in a firm voice that she can never be part of such a scheme. She is disappointed that a man entrusted to fight corruption is instead the chief perpetrator. Stuttering, the penitent leader claims he was offering to invest in the Samaritan App. Mossi feels he is being wrongly accused on the Samaritan. Nicole reminds him that as the overall leader the buck stops with him. Mossi tries to exonerate himself by slinging mud at his fellow politicians for instance Ramdaye, deputy Mayor, for misappropriation of funds; Ted King, the secretary of Health and Environment; Seymour, the secretary in charge of Planning and Development and Judge Ian Jaden. The Mayor claims that he cannot do anything about the rot in the municipality, inadvertently admitting his ineptness. Nicole notes that the whole Municipal Council is a criminal enterprise. Mossi admits that he steals at most three slices of the loaf meant for the people. He points fingers at everyone else for eating the whole loaf including the wrapping and the vendor where applicable. Nicole resolutely suggests that all those he accuses are answerable to him. When he realizes that Nicole wasn’t going to be swayed by his emotional pleas, he turns to threats. He demands that she deletes every post that cast him in the negative light or else she will discover why he is called Mossi-oa-Tunya: the smoke that thunders. Nicole remains resolute to do the right thing. Eventually, Mossi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders, is arrested by the anti-corruption police. Indeed, standing firm in doing the right thing brings positive results.

Lastly, the leaders of Maracas Municipality attempt to appease Nicole by playing power politics and offering her a high office in the Municipality but she declines the offer, standing her ground until the felonious leaders are arrested. The eight leaders meet at the Chamber of the Principal Judge with the aim of saving their skins from The Samaritan. They have assembled to figure out a way to escape being thrown behind bars at Baneta Express Prison. Basdeo suggests that they talk to Nicole. Mossi warns him that she is very firm. He tried appealing to her mercy, she couldn’t budge. He tried intimidation and still she couldn’t yield. Basdeo suggests that they give her a powerful position at the municipal council. They plan to let her tell them the position she wants and voila! she becomes part and parcel of the municipal leadership. Jaden suggests that they bring her a box of chocolate as an incentive but Mossi cautions him that she won’t take it. When they meet Nicole, they all grovel. Jaden seeks for forgiveness for intruding into Nicole’s busy schedule. Bembe apologizes profusely for arresting Nicole. Mossi also apologizes for treading on her toes. Although she is puzzled, Nicole accepts the apologies and also expresses regret in the event that she offended any of them. She politely declines Ted's offer of a golden ring. The leaders admit serious mistakes in the leadership that have brought the Municipality to a crisis. They avow that the ship is sinking. They request Nicole’s contribution in enhancing service delivery to the people and she accepts. They ask her to name the senior position she would like to occupy. Jaden proposes that she should assume the role of Director General. Nicole declines the offer telling the gentleman that they don’t need new laws, contracts or positions but a change of spirit among the people and especially among the leaders. Nicole tells them that to salvage the bleak situation they should do the right thing; that is, make a U-turn about dipping their fingers in the public till and pursuing personal gains. At this point, her efforts bring good tidings when the corrupt officials are arrested and escorted to the Anti-Corruption investigation Bureau.

In conclusion, triumph is a result of an unwavering spirit especially when we champion for good. Nicole's determination to stamp out corruption in Maracas Municipality and to have the disreputable leaders brought to book ends in a jackpot when they are all arrested signaling a new dawn.

When citizens elect selfish leaders, they end up suffering. Write an essay in support of this claim basing your illustrations on John Lara's The Samaritan .

Some leaders only care about their selfish interests. When such self-seeking leaders are elected, they abuse their powers and break the law with impunity. They engage in vices such as corruption, drug trafficking, murder, gang warfare, misappropriation of public funds etc. The citizens who vote them in bear the brunt of such cruelty, lack of integrity and inefficiency.

Ramdaye, the Deputy Mayor of Maracas municipality, is a selfish man whose corrupt ways lead to the suffering of many citizens of Maracas. Despite knowing that he has never accomplished anything in his life other than swindling people, the people overwhelmingly vote for him. He is in charge of the Department of Physical Infrastructure. He uses this position to award his companies and those of his relatives tenders for construction of roads, bridges, pavements, drains and water courses. They misappropriate the funds and do a shoddy job. He is also in charge of construction and maintenance of secondary roads. Due to his ineptness, the workers do such a shoddy job that the poor quality roads look like abandoned battlefield destroyed by bombs. Even tractors get stuck on such roads! Moreover, citizens still elect him even when they know him as a conman who prints fake title deeds and sells the same plot to as many as ten people. He sold Bembe, the Inspector General of police, land that belongs to Maracas university. That is how he has earned his livelihood all these years. He has destroyed lives of countless people because of his greed (P42). When he learned about the “Rodengate Affair”, in which justice Ian Jaden was rearing rats and introducing them into farms to undermine local production in order to import corn through his company, Prime Orchard Limited, he is silenced by bribery. He is given money and shares in the company. His family is also doing all Municipal Council projects that fall under his Department denying deserving citizens a chance to offer their prowess and earn an honest coin. Thus, residents continue to suffer under his watch. Indeed, citizens suffer when they elect rogue leaders like Ramdaye.

Ted King is also a self-seeking leader who causes anguish to the citizens of Maracas Municipality owing to his selfish nature. He is the Municipal Secretary for the Department of Health and Environment. Despite his infamous reputation as a pirate and a nuisance to the public, people vote for him overwhelmingly into the Municipal Council. The youth and all are excited by his evil hairstyle, ripped jeans, bangles, necklaces and other adornments. After inviting bids for construction of health centres, Ted ensures companies associated with his relatives and friends win the tenders. He conspires with them and steals all the money allotted for the project and ends up putting up site offices that resemble cowsheds. A former DJ, Ted was responsible for noise pollution and pirating other people’s music. Citizens, tired of the nuisance and agony, complained ceaselessly. Furthermore, he is illiterate and spews gibberish on the floor of the chamber. He reeks of illicit brew like one who sleeps in a brewery or a nightclub. Together with Seymour, he is responsible for supplying air to the Municipal Council. This means that their companies receive huge sums of public funds without rendering any service. He further supports Seymour’s rallying call that they reallocate the budget in order to use public funds to fight the corruption cases against them. Citizens who vote in leaders like Ted end up in anguish since the self-seeking leader does not deliver services to them instead they embezzle funds for their selfish interests.

Thirdly, Seymour, is the self-seeking secretary to the Municipal Department of Planning and Development. In spite of his moral failings, the people elected him overwhelmingly. He bribes people using his drug money to buy his way into office. To get building plans approval in Maracas municipality, people simply bribe Seymour and the rotten Inspectorate Unit under him. Proper building standards are not adhered to thus putting the lives of the people living in such buildings at great risk. Never mind that Maracas is in a seismically active area. The people have also suffered under his callous leadership since anyone who dares bat an eyelid ends up disappearing mysteriously. He runs a murderous gang known Black Swan Gang which is responsible for shootings and violence. People read about this in the papers but they still elect him. Apart from that, he demands that Mossi justifies reallocation on the need to address the issue of the terrible waste disposal system in the town. It is a serious health hazard for the citizens since the garbage is strewn all over the place and the drains are broken. Instead of fixing the problem, he wants them to use the funds to fight off the imminent corruption cases against them. Seymour is also known for drug trafficking. He has ruined the lives of many children who have dropped out of school because of drugs, some have become cabbages, some roam aimlessly or have lost their minds and worse still others have died because of drugs. He also has a fake law certificate that he uses to intimidate people with. His whole family including his two children and wife have been ruined by drugs. Surely, people who vote for such evil leaders can only blame themselves for the agony their leaders put them through.

The mayor of Maracas municipality, Mossi-oa-Tunya, is also a selfish leader whose avarice results in untold suffering for the subjects under him. He claims that he was voted in by hundreds of thousands of people. All these people voted for him in spite of his iniquity. Using his powers, he tries to halt the operations of The Samaritan App, an innovation used to fight corruption and other vices in Maracas Municipality. He tries intimidate Ms. Narine, the Principal, and Ms. Nicole the Ethics and Innovations teacher at Sagrada Secondary School. In the past, he has been forced by Seymour to misallocate public money to fund unnecessary demands like sitting allowances for useless committee meetings. He is also responsible for the municipal capture; the worst form of corruption and abuse of office. His private interests determine the direction of public policy. He asks Mr. Harvester to use public funds to buy all newspapers that portray the Municipal leaders in bad light and to organize daily press conferences to clear their names and save their skin. Apart from that, he runs a gang of riotous youth known as the Red Eagle Gang. He admits stealing public resources when he alludes to a loaf bread meant for the people from which he takes three slices for himself. Although the buck stops with him, he points fingers at other leaders like Ramdaye and Seymour, completely refusing to admit blame. He is only keen on protecting his political career. Under his watch, the citizens suffer a den of leaders who participate in corruption, murder, stealing, dishonesty and sexual perversion. Electing such leaders is a sure way to end up in the quagmire of agony.  

In conclusion, citizens who want their region to develop with expediency must elect honourable leaders of integrity. Supporting inept leaders who only care about their own interests results in agony for the citizens.

Immoral people try to hide their misdeeds but when the truth comes out, they face the consequences of their actions. Making reference to John Lara's The Samaritan , write an essay to support this statement.

Some people are dishonest or unethical. They go to great lengths to conceal their immorality or wicked deeds. Inevitably, the truth comes out and they pay for their sins. Characters like Mossi, Jaden and Bembe in The Samaritan learn this the hard way.

Mossi tries to conceal his immoral acts but when the truth is revealed, he faces the consequences. Mossi is exposed for being corrupt. He is accused of municipal capture - the worst form of corruption and abuse of office(P38). He is also accused of inflating the cost of projects and presiding over shoddy municipal projects(P62). He fails to call his municipal secretaries to order and rebuke them despite having information about the corrupt and inept leaders. He admits that he has some skeletons in the closet and he goes to great lengths to keep these misdeeds a secret (P29). First, he refuses to launch the Samaritan app claiming it may have far-reaching implications (P15,23). He orders Ms. Nicole to write to the ministry officials expressing his reservations about the Samaritan app. He also threatens the principal Ms. Narine. This is because the aim of the Samaritan App is to promote the public good by exposing corruption and other vices in the municipality and agitating for the prosecution of the culprits(P23). Secondly, he convenes an urgent meeting to try and avert the adverse effects of the exposure. He orders Mr. Harvester to buy all the newspapers in an effort to conceal his misdeeds. The headlines of the newspapers   such as ‘The Caribbean Watch', ‘The Sentinel’ and ‘The Spotlight’ are extremely damaging for him and the other leaders. He supports Bembe's idea of banning the Samaritan app and orders Harvester to issue a circular to that effect (P27-28). Mossi wants computer experts to hack and mess up the app.   He calls for a meeting of his dependable allies and asks Harvester to prepare a comprehensive press statement to counter the allegations against them(P43). He intends to hold a press conference daily. The mayor visits Ms Nicole and admits his mistakes and begs her to help her by eliminating incriminating information about him from the app. He even offers her and the innovators, Alvita and Montano, a bribe. Nicole declines(P60-61). When his remorseful approach fails, he orders Nicole to delete all negative posts about him from the app, trying to conceal his wrongdoing (P73). He later on apologizes to Nicole and even offers her a post at the municipal council. He shakes her hand vigorously when he mistakenly thinks that she had accepted the offer. The truth about his unethical deeds is, however, all over the app and mainstream media. Mossi tries to hide behind Nicole when he and others are accosted by Tajo, the National Anti-corruption Investigation Bureau boss. He is arrested and cuffed and escorted to the National Anti-corruption Investigation Bureau headquarters. Indeed, no one can escape from the consequences of their actions.

Secondly, Inspector Bembe tries to hide his unscrupulous deals but when the truth comes out he faces the music. Inspector Bembe has always been very discreet about his private affairs. His face is covered with an expression of horror when it is revealed that people are demanding for information about the source of funds he used to build Madingo Golf Club. Mossi reminds him that there is nothing you can do on earth without someone knowing about it(P26). The secretive policeman is exposed on the Samaritan app and accused of an array of illegalities including; corruption, drug peddling, violation of human rights and extortion(P38). ‘The Caribbean Watch’ newspaper reports that his hotel and his home are built on Maracas University land - which is public land. A lobby group has moved to court to have the land restored to the university(P40). He is also exposed for gang involvement - being a member of Ghettoboyz. His hotel is famously known as Motorist Highway Hotel since it was built using proceeds of corruption; bribes from motorists. His officers collect bribes from the guilty and innocent alike. The police force has been converted into his own personal outfit(P41). To conceal his immoral deeds, Inspector Bembe suggests that they threaten some of the reporters(P22) and that they ban The Samaritan app in Maracas Municipality. He is ready to enforce the law(P27). He then tries to intimidate Nicole by accusing her of stealing the school generator, being at a scene of a murder, disobeying authorities and being too strong-willed for a school teacher (P94-95). He then arrests her on trumped up charges while demanding to know where The Samaritan is hidden. When this fails, he tries to apologize to Nicole as they attempt to lure her with a job offer(P131). When faced by Tajo, the anti-corruption police boss, he staggers and almost falls as he seeks cover(P138). He is then arrested and handcuffed. As a diabetic, he is bound to face a rough time in prison (P99). When evil deeds come to the light, the perpetrators suffer the consequences.

Justice Jaden tries to strategically conceal his dirty deals but he suffers when his secrets are divulged. Mossi reveals that judges in Maracas municipality are worse than temple robbers. He tells Jaden that they all have some skeletons in the closet. Jaden thinks of himself as a strategic schemer. He posits that what matters is not what you do, but how you do it. He claims that you can fly into forbidden territory and get away with it, provided you do it under the radar(P29). Indeed, he is part of the syndicate just like Mossi insinuated. A company linked to him - Prime Orchard Farm - was involved in the “rats and other rodents scandal”. He is a shareholder in the company(P105). He gives biased rulings in favour of Ivy, his mistress, considering single sourcing for her company as opposed to a competitive bidding and also in favour of Prime Orchard Farm when the company is sued for being the source of destructive rodents. The farm rears rats that are released into farms to undermine production of grains in order to increase demand for imported grain since Prime Orchard Farm is one of the largest importers of corn in the municipality. The specially trained cats at the farm eat chicken instead of rodents. Jaden also uses his public office to amass a fortune for himself. He is also corrupt since he takes money from litigants to determine cases in their favour. When he realizes his evil deeds have been exposed, he beseeches Harvester to organize a meeting with Mossi, Basdeo and others with the view to saving their skins from their Samaritan app and concealing their unethical acts. He also plans to apply the principle of double jeopardy, that is initiating prosecution in order to preempt any legal move against them. He then suggests temporarily halting activities of the Samaritan app citing intrusion of privacy(P123). To further conceal his misdeeds, he is part of the schemers offering Nicole a lucrative post in the municipal council. His exposure causes him immense suffering. He experiences hallucinations when he sees rats and other rodents and catches the smell of sewer rats, nausea and stomach ulcers. When accosted by Tajo, the National Anti-corruption Investigations Bureau chief, he crouches under the boardroom table. He is then arrested and cuffed. Indeed when misdeeds are exposed, the miscreants suffer adversely.

Seymour insists on reallocation of budget items or submission of a supplementary budget in order to use the money to fight the impending cases against them when his misdeeds are exposed. When his fraudulent acts are exposed, he suggests that they talk to the people posting on the Samaritan app and pay them to stop(P24). Companies linked to him are exposed on the Samaritan app and the newspapers for supplying air to the municipality then bill the municipal council huge sums of money without rendering any service. He supports Bembe’s idea of banning the Samaritan app, and justifies this by claiming it is a suspect spy app. He also cites absurd reasons like theft of confidential information like bank details, cyber bullying and pornography in schools(P27). Seymour suggests that they should rely on Justice Ian Jaden should the issue escalate to court(P29). In addition to that, he posits that the leaders should talk to Alvita and Montano(P30) or use money from the municipal council coffers to bribe witnesses as they fight the cases(P31). In a bid to further hide his wickedness, he proposes that Mossi should allow reallocation of funds, ostensibly to manage the waste disposal system. In real sense, some of the money would be used to fight the cases against him. He has been a culprit in such misallocation of funds in the past by compelling the mayor to irregularly part with funds for regular travel with enhanced allowances, unnecessary committee meetings and loans and mortgages. He pushes the mayor to the wall in an effort to compel him to approve the supplementary budget in order to conceal his wrongdoing. Seymour was once a poor, jigger-infested hoodlum. Now he lives in grandiose villas and mansions, indulges in sumptuous delicacies in classy hotels and drives swanky state-of-the-art vehicles(P35) thanks to his corrupt ways. He is behind protracted delays in the issue of building approvals, bribes to get a building plan, and gang violence with Black Swan gang, selling drugs and ruining the lives of the youth in Maracas municipality. Eventually he is arrested, cuffed and escorted to the anti-corruption headquarters by Tajo. He shuffles around Nicole on his feet in confusion. Surely, when ones evil deeds come to the light, they regret the consequences of their actions.

In conclusion, indeed unethical people attempt to conceal their misdeeds albeit unsuccessfully. Eventually, they face the music when their sins are exposed.  

Selfish leaders create many problems that affect citizens. Making reference to John Lara’s The Samaritan , write an essay to support this statement.

Many issues facing citizens of Maracas Municipality are a creation of self-seeking leaders. Leaders like Mossi, Bembe, Jaden, Ramdaye and Seymour lack consideration for the citizens and are only concerned with their own selfish ambitions. These result in many problems for the citizens.

Mayor Mossi creates many problems for the citizens of Maracas as a result of his selfishness. He selfishly declines to either award Alvita and Montano, the innovators of the Samaritan app, or launch the app. He cites far-reaching implications. He orders Ms. Narine and Ms. Nicole to halt any activity regarding the app(P16). Nicole was to write a letter to the officials expressing the mayor’s reservation about The Samaritan(P17). The Samaritan had been approved by senior officials at the Ministry of Education and experienced software engineers(P16). Mossi later misuses his power when he threatens Nicole and Narine(P19). Mossi is accused of municipal capture which is the worst form of corruption and abuse of office. He later owns up his mistakes and seeks Nicole’s help(P60). Owing to his selfishness, he wants her to eliminate some negative information about him on the app. He even offers to bribe Nicole and the kids(P61). Mossi is also accused of inflating costs of projects and presiding over shoddy municipal works(P62). Later, he orders Nicole to delete every post that casts him in negative light(P73). When Ramdaye and others plan to move a vote of no confidence against him, he asks justice Jaden to jail Basdeo, Ramdaye, Seymour and Ted only because he wants to save his skin. Never mind that earlier on he did not bother to have them convicted, despite having intel about their wrongdoing, accusing the judges of being worse than temple robbers(P67). As the overall leader, Nicole notes that the buck stops with him(P62). Everything Mossi does is motivated by his selfish interest rather than public interest. Thus, the municipality is rife with problems such as corruption, murder, theft, deceit and sexual perversion(P90). These problems affect the citizens thanks to Mossi’s avarice. Surely, uncaring leaders create problems which affect the citizens.

The deputy mayor Ramdaye is a selfish leader who creates a myriad of problems for citizens of Maracas Municipality. He is the municipal secretary in charge of infrastructure. Under his watch, the citizens have to make do with terrible roads in the municipality. The council pays a lot of money for the roads but only a few kilometres of roads are dug up. The contractor pours old black oil and claims the road is tarmacked. The roads look like abandoned battlefields ruined by detonated bombs and are so terrible that   even tractors get stuck on them(P62). He fuels nepotism since only his companies and those of his relatives win tenders for construction of roads, constructions of bridges, drains and waterways. They misappropriate funds and do not do any meaningful work(P63). He also prints fake title deeds and sells ten plots to ten different unsuspecting people. He swindles many people including Bembe, the Inspector General of police, to whom he sells grabbed land that belongs to Maracas University. He has ruined the lives of countless people through his greed(P42). The citizens are adversely affected because of the substandard infrastructure. Ramdaye is a self-seeking leader since his family is involved in municipal projects and it does business with the municipal council. Such selfish leaders initiate serious problems that burden the citizens.

Ted King is also a leader that creates problems that adversely affect the citizens. Ted is the secretary in charge of health and environment. The healthcare sector in Maracas is in disarray. Hospitals today barely have any medicine(P9). There are no drugs in hospitals because of theft(P91). He invites bids for construction of health centres but due to his selfishness, only companies associated with his friends and family win tenders. Ted steals all the money budgeted for healthcare. He puts up site offices that look like cowsheds. It is said that he “ate” a whole hospital(P64). People also complained of noise pollution when he worked as a deejay. Apart from that, he also pirates other people’s music(P65). For his selfish interests, he tries to whip up racial and class prejudice in a bid to ouster Mayor Mossi. Many problems experienced by citizens are created by selfish leaders like Ted King.

As a result of Seymour’s selfishness, the plight of citizens of Maracas is aggravated. He is the municipal secretary in charge of planning and development. There is a public outcry over companies that bill the municipality huge sums of money without rendering any services. Thus, Seymour is accused of supply of air(P24). In order to exonerate himself, he proposes that they have a conversation with those posting damaging information about him on The Samaritan app and they pay them to stop(P24). He selfishly suggests that they get money from the municipal fund through the reallocation of budget line items. They can justify the reallocation of funds on the alleged need to address the problem of poor waste disposal since there is garbage all over the place and the drains are broken, leading to a serious health hazard. In reality, the public funds would be used to fight off the impending cases against them(P33). In the past, he has misused public funds through regular travel with enhanced allowances, sitting allowance for unnecessary committee meetings, loans and mortgages(P34). He insists on approval of a supplementary budget to selfishly obtain the cash or else they eject the mayor from office(P35). When elected, he was dirt poor but now he swims in stolen public money(P35). As an incompetent self-seeking secretary of planning and development, he is behind protracted delays in building approvals in Maracas. One needs to part with dollars to get building plan approvals. The inspectorate unit under him approves improper buildings because of corruption(P66). He is also involved in gang violence as the head of the Black Swan gang that is responsible for shooting, violence and disappearance of people. He also sells narcotics and has ruined lives of many children who have dropped out of school, become cabbages, roam aimlessly, lost their minds and even some have died(P67). He was voted in overwhelmingly after bribing voters using drug money. Indeed, citizens are affected adversely by the selfish actions of self-serving leaders such as Seymour.

Bembe, the Inspector General of police, is a self-seeking leader and as a result he creates many problems for the citizens of Maracas Municipality. Ironically, the Inspector General of police is accused of an array of crimes ranging from corruption, violation of human rights, drug peddling and extortion(p38). His hotel, Madingo Golf Club, is built on Maracas University land which is public land(P40). Bembe is corrupt since the hotel was built with money obtained from proceeds of corruption. He has transformed the police force into his own outfit for collecting bribes from the guilty and innocent alike. His hotel is now known as Motorists Highway Hotel owing to the fact that his officers collect bribes from motorists every day(P41). He is also involved in gang violence as a member of Ghettoboyz gang. Together with Mossi, he organized the senseless chaos and violence, in a bid to avert the vote of no confidence motion against Mossi who had promised to help him concerning his grabbed land(P45). Bembe also arrests an innocent Ms. Nicole on baseless trumped up charges of disobeying authorities and stealing the school generator. He alleges her phone signal was located at the scene of a murder(P94). On his order, two police officers violently arrest Nicole, cuffing her and dragging her on the floor. All this unnecessary harassment is an effort to conceal his criminal activities and avoid prosecution and possible conviction. She is later acquitted and released unconditionally. Lastly, Bembe misuses his power when he assigns a consignment of officers to support Mossi’s Red Eagle Network to cause violence and chaos in the municipality. They burn mattresses among other things thus degrading the environment. Surely such selfish leaders like Bembe cause any problems which affect citizens.

Jaden is the principal judge in Maracas Municipality but many citizens suffer because he is selfish. The justice system in Maracas is flawed. Ted King insinuates that with enough money, one can easily influence investigators, lawyers, prosecutors and judges( P33). The courts in Maracas are undependable since they follow the money more often than they follow justice(P44). The courts cannot prosecute the corrupt inept leaders since the judges are part of the syndicate. In fact, they are worse than temple robbers!(P67). Because of selfish leaders like Jaden, Maracas is undergoing destruction because there is no justice in the law courts(P91). Justice Jaden claims that he does not operate in a vacuum hence his thinking and action is influenced by the ethos operating in the society(P116). A company linked to him - Prime Orchard Farm - is linked to the rats and other rodents scandal. He is a shareholder in the company(P105). He sends his mistress Ivy to Mossi to secure a contract of killing rats and other rodents ravaging rice and cornfields in the municipality. When members of the municipal council reject the contract and insist on a competitive bidding, Jaden rules in the favor of Ivy's company, Vertebrae Pest Control, a subsidiary of Prime Orchard Limited(P106-107). He says single sourcing was permissible in the public interest but in reality, it is only due to his avarice. His company Prime Orchard Farm, reared rats to undermine the production of corn in order to increase the demand for imported grains. Prime Orchard Farm is one of the largest importers of corn in the municipality. When Prime Orchard Farm is sued for being the source of rodents, he rules in favour of the company claiming that rodents are a normal phenomena. The cats they rear at the farm become wild and they eat chickens instead of rodents. Jaden also uses his office to amass a fortune for himself. Surely, selfish leaders like Justice Jaden create an array of problems that affect the citizens.

In conclusion, many of the problems facing citizens are creations of self-serving leaders like Mossi, Bembe and Ramdaye among others.

People who engage in wrongdoing cannot escape from the consequences of their actions. Write an essay to support this claim basing your illustrations on John Lara’s The Samaritan.

Some people take part in illegal or dishonest deeds hoping that they will get away with it. Such misconduct usually leads to serious consequences. Characters like Bembe and Jaden engage in crime but when their sins are exposed they face repercussions and try as they may, they do not escape the long arm of the law.

Inspector Bembe takes part in an array of criminal activities including corruption and violation of human rights among others but eventually he pays for it. When he learns that he has been exposed on The Samaritan, he suggests that they should threaten some of the journalists(P22). Bembe is an evil man who is always secretive about his private affairs, so he is shocked to learn that people know about his hotel, Madingo Golf Club(P28). He suggests that they ban The Samaritan App(P27). He is accused of corruption, violation of human rights, drug peddling and extortion(P39). This exposé makes him drift into a coma since he has issues with his blood sugar(P38). ‘The Caribbean Watch' newspaper claims that Bembe’s hotel and home are built on Maracas University land - which is public land. A lobby group is moving to court to have the land restored to the university. When Bembe learns of this, he breathes heavily while trembling. He sunk all his life savings in putting up the hotel and the home, and he is retiring in a few months time. Apart from that, Bembe is also a member of a shadowy gang - Ghettoboyz - that robs people. His hotel is called Motorists Highway Hotel since it was built with bribes collected from motorists. He has converted the municipal police force into a personal outfit for collecting bribes from the innocent and the guilty alike. Furthermore, he arrests Ms. Nicole on fabricated charges of stealing the school generator and disobeying authorities(P95,100). He orders his two officers to arrest Nicole. They cuff her and drag her on the floor. She is, however, released and the case dismissed. Bembe tells Mossi that they are doomed. He prefers to die than to be a derelict or an inmate. He asks the lord to have mercy on him. He suffers from a runny stomach. He cannot last a week in prison because he is diabetic. These are his last days, he says(P99). When she’s arrested, Nicole gets support from touts, hawkers, students, women and men of all walks of life.(P100.) Later, he apologises to Nicole. Claiming the arrest was a misunderstanding he admits his mistake and begs for forgiveness (131-132). He is later arrested. Trying to escape the dragnet, he staggers and almost falls as he struggles to take cover (P138). Clearly, no one can escape from the consequences of their actions.

Justice Ian Jaden pays for his sins after abusing his office and engaging in a number of unethical acts. He is a corrupt judge who thought he could get away with his misdeeds for he posits that you can fly into enemy territory and get away with it provided you do it below the radar. That what matters is not what you do but how you do it. He thinks that since he is educated and strategic he can beat the system and escape Scot free(P29). Jaden is unethical since his relatives are involved in doing business with the municipal council(P69). Jaden’s company, Prime Orchard Farm, is involved in a fraud case dubbed the ‘grain scandal’(P102). He is fraudulently awarded a contract for killing rats and other rodents ravaging rice and corn fields in the municipality(P106). He gets the contract through single sourcing rather than competitive bidding. Jaden then rules that given the urgency to safeguard the grains, single sourcing was permissible in the public interest(P107). He also rules in the favor of prime orchard farm when the company is sued for being the source of destructive rodents in the municipality(P108). Jaden takes bribes from litigants to determine cases in their favour and uses his office to amass a fortune for himself. When he is exposed, he suffers stomach ulcers and hallucinations when he starts seeing huge smelly sewer rats. He also helped some friends by making biased rulings in their favor as an interested party and he was given shares in the company as a reward for this illegality. He is now in a dilemma since the mayor is suing the said company. He suffers a myriad of challenges including seeing rats and other rodents running all over the place, catching the smell of sewer rats, wanting to throw up, stomach aches and having more severe ulcers(P116). He organizes a meeting with other leaders hoping to escape the risk of prosecution. His suggestions about double jeopardy or a temporal ban of the Samaritan app also hit a snag(P123). His attempt to lure Ms. Nicole with the promise of a plum position as the director general in the municipality is also futile(P134). He is arrested by Tajo, The anti corruption boss. He tries to crouch under the boardroom table to avoid arrest(P138). Indeed, no one can escape from the repercussions of their actions.

Mayor Mossi involves himself in dishonest deeds and inevitably faces the ramifications with actions. He is accused of many crimes including municipal capture - which is the worst form of corruption and abuse of office, in which his private interests determine the direction of public policy(P39). When he learns that The Samaritan app could be used to expose the rot in the municipal procurement process, he declines to launch it claiming that the municipal leaders need time to reflect on the implications of the app(P15). He even instructs Nicole to write to the officials concerning his reservations(P18) and oders Ms. Nicole and Ms. Narine to halt any activity concerning the app in a bid to conceal the illegalities the leaders are engaged in(P16). He convenes meetings with other leaders in an effort to escape the consequences of his actions(P20). He also asks Harvester to buy all newspapers from all vendors using public funds, since they contain damaging information about the leaders(P21,41). After a disagreement, Seymour and others want to move a vote of no confidence in Mossi. Mossi loses consciousness when he learns that he may end up in the uninhabitable Baneta Express Prison(P38). He also plans to use press conferences to fight the allegations against him(P43). Mayor Mossi admits taking part in an ethical deeds(P60). However, he tries to downplay his role in the plunder of public resources when he says that unlike other leaders who gobble up the loaf meant for the people, he only takes a slice or two or three(P68-69). He wants Nicole to prevail over the kids who made the Samaritan to eliminate some negative information about him on the app(P60). The corrupt mayor even has the audacity to offer Nicole and the children a bribe claiming that everybody needs money(P61). On the issue of development, he is accused of inflating the cost of projects and overseeing shoddy municipal works. When Nicole refuses to budge, he accuses the people of electing evil people into public office and later on whining(P71). He also orders Nicole to delete every post that casts him in negative light on the Samaritan App(P73). Mossi tries to lure Nicole with a plum job and promises of changes in the municipality for example; that public resources will no longer be stolen, justice will be served and not preserved for the rich, the police will stand with the innocent and not the crooks or lawbreakers and lawmakers will promote public interests rather than feathering their own nests(P133-134). Mayor Mossi pays for his immorality when he is arrested by Tajo, the anti-corruption chief. He tries to hide behind Nicole, when Tajo declares that he was there to escort them to the anti-corruption headquarters(P138). Indeed, wrongdoers cannot escape the ramifications of their actions.

Hon. Seymour also engages in a number of criminal activities and ultimately faces the consequences of his actions. He is the municipal secretary in charge of planning and development(P20). He is accused alongside Hon. Ted of supplying air. Their companies bill the municipal council huge sums of money every month but they do not render any services. This illegality is exposed on the Samaritan app(P24). Springing to his feet with clenched fists, Seymour declares that no one can write that kind of stuff about him. In a trembling voice, he says that those are fake documents and declares war against those behind the allegations(P25). He suggests that they think creatively about a way to stop the Samaritans App(P27), or the need to rely on Justice Jaden should the matter escalate to court(P29). He also suggests that they persuade Alvita and Montano to drop the matter(P30) or simply use public money from the municipal fund through reallocation of budget line items to fight the cases(P32-33). This money, according to Ted, could be used to take care of investigators, lawyers prosecutors and judges(P33). Seymour makes it clear that the money will be used to fight off cases against them, but they can justify the relocation on the ostensible need to fix the problem of the terrible waste disposal system, which is a serious health hazard(P33). This is illegal. Seymour was elected as a poor and jigger-infested hoodlum but now he lives like a king in grandiose villas and drives swanky cars thanks to stealing public money(P35). In the department of planning and development, he is behind the protracted delays in the issue of building approvals, and one needs to part with dollars in order to get building plans. They rotten inspectorate unit under him approves improper buildings as long as you part with dollars(P66). His law degree was printed downtown(P66). He also leads the murderous Black Swan Gang which is responsible for shootings and violence and disappearance of people. Seymour takes part in the selling of narcotics and this has ruined the lives of many people(P67). As a result, his eldest son is always at the rehab, the other one is always inebriated at the casino and the wife is a perpetual drunk(P70). He faces the consequences of his actions when he is arrested by Tajo, the head of the Anti-corruption Bureau. He shuffles on his feet in confusion when the policeman introduces himself. He is handcuffed by uniformed police officers, bundled out and escorted to the anti-corruption headquarters(P138). Clearly, an ethical people cannot escape from the ramifications of their misdeeds.

Ramdaye, the deputy mayor, is a leader that takes part in dishonest deeds but eventually pays for his imprudence. Despite being a leader, Ramdaye is a notorious swindler. He sells Bembe public land that belongs to Maracas University. That is how he has earned his livelihood for all these years. He has ruined the lives of countless people through his greed(P42). Only his companies and those of his relatives win tenders for the road construction, construction of bridges, drains and water courses. They misappropriate the funds and do a shoddy job(P63). Ramdaye also swindles people by printing ten title deeds for the same plot and selling it to ten different people(P63). He is a corrupt and dishonest leader since he is bribed by Ivy in order to keep mum about the rodent gate affair. He is also made a shareholder of Prime Orchard Limited. Eventually, he faces the consequences of his actions when he is arrested by Tajo, who is in charge of anti-corruption. Ramdaye shuffles around on his feet in confusion before two uniformed officers handcuff him and bundle him out of the room. Truly, one cannot escape from the consequences of their actions.

In conclusion, it is clear to see that when one engages in unethical acts for example corruption, gang involvement, nepotism etc. they cannot escape punishment. Ultimately, they pay for their sins.

Those who unite only for selfish reasons are bound to fail. Making reference to John Lara’s The Samaritan , write an essay to support this statement.

Some people only come together for the common purpose of pursuing their selfish interests. Such people are always unsuccessful in achieving their goal. In The Samaritan , Mossi and other leaders only unite in an effort save their skins from the exposé on The Samaritan app in order to avoid possible conviction but their meetings end in disarray and ultimately they fail to achieve their common goal.

Mayor Mossi unites with other key leaders in the municipal administration with the aim of saving their skins in the wake of damaging revelations about them in the media but this unity proves futile in the long run. The mayor convenes an urgent meeting when he learns that the leaders had been exposed on the Samaritan app and newspapers such as “The Insight” whose headline screams: ‘Rot in Maracas   Municipal Council Exposed’(P21). Mossi refused to launch the Samaritan app when he figured out the innovation may be a problem for the leaders(P23). The app can be used to expose corruption and other vices and agitate for prosecution of the culprits(P23). The main aim of this unity is to attempt to avert possible prosecution and conviction. Seymour suggests that they have a conversation with those posting on the app and pay them to stop(P24). He also suggests that Jaden helps them in case the issue escalates to court.   Mossi insist that they must work together since they all have some skeletons in the closet(P29). Seymour insists they should mobilize enough money to fight any impending cases(P31). He avers that they should get their money from the municipal fund and Ted says they can use it to pay investigators, lawyers, prosecutors, and judges(P33). He says they could justify the reallocation by claiming it would be used to fix the waste disposal system which poses a health hazard but Mossi dismisses him saying it was against the law. The meeting degenerates into a spat pitting Mossi against Ted and Seymour. They accuse each other of several crimes. Seymour and Ted threaten to hound Mossi out of office but he cautions them that he is “The smoke that thunders”. Eventually, they fail to stop the Samaritan app or the prosecution since they are arrested in the long run. Clearly, coming together for selfish reasons bears no fruit.

Mossi brings together his dependable allies so that they could agree on the handling of the Samaritan crisis which had snowballed into a huge nightmare for them (P37) but this unity of convenience proves futile. Mossi, Bembe and Harvester meets in the Jungle room at the Madingo Golf Club. Each one of them is accused of many misdeeds and the purpose of their unity is to try and escape the dragnet. Bembe is accused of countless cases of corruption, violation of human rights, drug peddling and extortion(P38). Harvester is accused of many crimes of abuse of office including doing letters banning the use of apps and directing the ICT officer to take steps against suspect apps(P38). On the other hand, Mossi is accused of many crimes particularly municipal capture which is the worst form of corruption and abuse of office where private interests determine the direction of public policy(P39). Harvester is also accused of using public funds to purchase all newspapers following Mossi orders(P40). “The Caribbean Watch” newspaper alleges that Bembe’s hotel and home are built on Maracas University   land and a lobby group is moving to court to have the land restored back to the university(P40). He is also accused of being a member of Ghettoboyz gang which robs people. He has further converted the municipal police force into his personal outfit for collecting bribes and his hotel which is now dubbed ‘Motorists Highway Hotel’ was built with bribes collected from motorists(P41). This trio convenes for several selfish reasons: Saving Bembe’s land from his repossession, saving Mossi from being ejected from office through a vote of no confidence, and escaping retribution following the exposure on the Samaritan app. They plan to arrange for press conferences to give the impression that the municipal council is running normally(P43). The most important and urgent problem according to Mossi is dealing with the vote of no confidence in him(P43). They raise a number of solutions including arresting the sponsors of the motion, stopping the move in court, mobilizing Mossi’s political base to defeat the motion on the floor, and funding gangs - Red Eagle Network and Ghettoboyz - and undercover police officers to disrupt the meeting at the municipal headquarters(P44-47). They plan to deal with the Samaritan by either talking to Ms Nicole or blackmailing her by accusing her of stealing school property including a computer or a generator(P47). They also plan to talk to Jaden to jail Ramdaye, Seymour and Ted(P47). They fail terribly. They are unable to stop the Samaritan, the judge dismisses Nicole’s case and sets her free(P100), Bembe is badly embarrassed when the fools he sent to steal the generator are unsuccessful in their endeavour, and he has been summoned to the headquarters in the capital by his bosses. The vote of no confidence is still on as Ramdaye and his group are regrouping to have a massive rally at Atobold stadium(P101). Also, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau is on to them(P102). Ultimately, they fail to stop the prosecutions as they are all arrested. Surely, coming together only for selfish reasons is pointless.

Hon Ramdaye, Hon Seymour and Hon Ted also meet to mobilize the entire municipal council to pass the no confidence motion against Mayor Mossi(P75). Ramdaye was also in talks with Basdeo who was is to work with them(P80). The purpose of this unity is to form a coalition for their own selfish reasons and also to avoid prosecution after being exposed on the Samaritan app. They meet in the Sky Room at the Madingo golf club. Seymour and Ted are accused of supplying air; there is public outcry over companies that bill the municipal council huge sums of money every month but do not render any services. These companies are linked to Seymour and Ted(P24). In order to fight the impending prosecution, Seymour suggests that through a reallocation of budget line items, they get money from the municipal fund. Ted says the fund can be used to take care of the investigators, lawyers, prosecutors and judges(P32). They end up disagreeing with Mossi who accuses them of notoriety over misallocation of funds: from regular travels with enhanced allowances, sitting allowances of unnecessary committee meetings, to loans, and mortgages(P34). Seymour and Mossi trade accusations over questionable deeds committed by either of them. Seymour insists that Mossi approves the supplementary budget or be ejected out of office(P35). This group is meeting to advance the no confidence motion. Ted is tasked with talking to councillors and Aldermen   to seek their support. Basdeo is interested in forming a coalition with the trio and all members of the mixed ethnicity. His condition is that when Seymour becomes mayor, he should immediately appoint him the deputy mayor(P80). The group is planning to have a massive rally on Wednesday at the Atobold Stadium to rally the people against Mossi. Their alliance is a big failure since Ted is on the phone all night but gets very little support from the councillors and aldermen (P76). Even after canvassing, his overall assessment is that the situation is not very good. It is difficult to know which direction the vote would go(P79). The rally does not take place and they also fail to stop the Samaritan. They are arrested by Tajo, the head of Anti-Corruption investigations Bureau.   They are all handcuffed bundled out and escorted to the anti-corruption headquarters for questioning. Indeed, uniting for selfish reasons is bound to end up in failure.

Mossi and Bembe come together with Jaden with a view to fight back against Ramdaye and company who are trying to remove Mossi from office but this unity is fruitless in the end. Mossi desperately tries to stop the move to eject him from office. He manages to send his goons from Red Eagle Network to abort a meeting of the conspirators at the municipal headquarters and plans to use the same method to stop a rally his enemies are planning(P101). When he leads the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau is also involved, he posits that Justice Jaden holds the key out of the mess. He intends to use the grain scandal to make the stiff-necked judge to cooperate(P102). Mossi informs Jaden that he needs him to help him initiate cases against Ramdaye and his team quickly and secure convictions as soon as possible, preferably in a day, in order to derail the plan to remove him from office(P103). Bembe adds that the judiciary is core in dealing with The Samaritan and Mossi is willing to grease Jaden's palm(P104). Jaden is unwilling to play ball but they force his hand by alluding to the rats and other rodents scandal. They remind Jaden that he is also in the mess just like they, thanks to The Samaritan. They remind him of how rats were reared in Prime Orchard Farm and released into corn and rice fields(P105). The idea was to undermine the domestic production in order to increase demand for imported grains because Prime Orchard Farm was one of the largest corn importers in Maracas (P107). Mossi blackmails Jaden into an alliance with them by ordering Bembe to arrest the owners of Prime Orchard Farm(P105). Jaden and his mistress Ivy own the company as shareholders. Mossi and Bembe will only spare him on condition that he convicts Ramdaye and Basdeo for the involvement in the grain scandal and he jails Ted and Seymour for supplying air to the municipal council(P112). All this is a selfish attempt to stop his removal from office and possible conviction. They fail eventually since as much as Jaden eventually agrees to work with them, their union bears no fruit since they fail to stop activities of The Samaritan and are arrested by the anti-corruption boss Tajo. They are handcuffed and manhandled by two uniformed officers accompanying Tajo(P138). Surely, uniting in pursuit of selfish goals is clearly futile.

Justice Jaden sets up a meeting with Harvester for his own selfish reasons but he fails in the end.  He is in a mess and it concerns The Samaritan(P114). He insists that they must find a way of helping each other since each of them is in hot soup(P115). Mossi has instructed the municipal council to file cases against Ramdaye, Seymour, Ted and Basdeo in order to forestall the vote of no confidence(P115). Jaden is in a dilemma because he is also entangled in the case(P116). He made a biased ruling and was paid using shares of a company the municipal council is suing. Jaden proposes an alternative dispute resolution. He says that Mayor Mossi, Basdeo and others come together to talk to one another since none of them is clean. He suggests that they secure a truce in order to deal with The Samaritan as a united force(P118-119). The leaders meet at the Chamber of the principal judge for a meeting convened by Jaden purposely to save their skins from the Samaritan(P120). Each of them is exposed on The Samaritan for engaging in a number of crimes. The leaders fail to agree on the real problems facing them and most of them give selfish responses, for example: Mossi says the problem is his impending removal from office, Seymour talks of Mossi’s refusal to give them municipal funds, Harvester blames the Samaritan, Bembe talks about the school kids, Basdeo alludes to the skeletons in the closet while Jaden says the problem is the risk of persecution(P121). The leaders come up with several suggestions in pursuit of redemption for example double jeopardy, temporal halting of the use of The Samaritan app(P123) and even offering Nicole a powerful position in the municipality(P125). Jaden is picked to speak to Nicole on their behalf(P127). To their dismay, their plan is unsuccessful since Nicole declines to take up the position of director general(P134-137). She says they don’t need new laws, positions, or offices but a change of heart or spirit among the people and especially the leaders. She blames the leaders for breaking the law and pursuing the selfish interests at the expense of their people(P137). A commotion ensues when the anti-corruption chief walks in. Their ploy fails because they cannot not stop The Samaritan despite their best efforts instead they are arrested and frog marched to the anti-corruption headquarters for questioning. When people unite for the sole purpose of securing their selfish needs they fail.

In conclusion, coming together for selfish reasons is pointless. The self-seeking leaders come together for their own selfish reasons but they fail. Despite their endeavour, their chickens come home to roost.

Change can be initiated through the effort of ordinary citizens. Closely referring to Nicole in The Samaritan by John Lara, write an essay to support this statement.

Some people may come off as normal and not different or special in any way. However, through their determined attempts such people are capable of bringing change. In John Lara’s The Samaritan, Nicole, a simple teacher, ignites change in Maracas Municipality when she midwifes the idea of The Samaritan app.

Ms Nicole inspires Alvita in Montano to invent the Samaritan app, an innovation that helps to institute change in Maracas Municipality. She is the teacher in charge of innovation and a mentor to the two students(P55). She midwifes the students’ idea and also guides them, in her role as a teacher and a mentor(P56). Alvita and Montano are to be awarded a prize for creating the winning innovation at the Secondary Schools’ National Innovation Competition(P1). The official launch is graced by the mayor Mossi-oa-Tunya, other distinguished leaders, members of the school board, the principal and teachers(P2). Nicole’s efforts in mentoring the students who invented The Samaritan app is invaluable since the innovation can be useful in initiating change by protecting the environment. People can provide details of the location and people involved in illegal activities that degrade the environment by sharing photos and videos. Officials can then log in and see the reports(P11). The Samaritan can also bring about change by ensuring proper use of public resources. People can share information about the municipal procurement process that is what the municipal is procuring, how the tenders are awarded, who wins the tenders et cetera. This can bring change since the information is pigeonholed with the Crimes and Integrity Commission(P12). Ordinary people volunteer information that advances public good(P13). Although the mayor declines to launch The Samaritan, it will still be launched by the president when schools reopen(P16). The app was assessed by senior officials at the Ministry of Education together with experienced software engineers and given a clean bill of health(P17). Although it was the brainchild of the two school children guided by Ms. Nicole, the ethics and innovations teacher, it has been taken over by the National Information and Communication Technology Corporation(P18). Indeed, the efforts of ordinary citizens can bring about change.

As a result of Ms Nicole’s effort, the Samaritan app is used by the people to expose the rot in the municipality and help in prosecution of the culprits and this sends the leaders into a panic. People can share information on the conduct of municipal affairs(P23). It is also used in promoting public good by exposing corruption and other vices and agitating for the prosecution of the culprits(P23). It has been used to expose vices such as supply of air, drug trafficking, grabbing public land, inflation of cost of municipal projects, use of proxies to secure tenders, undertaking shoddy public works, murder and gang warfare. The information on the people and companies involved is very detailed(P25). The information includes the culprit’s personal details for example the lifestyles of the individual municipal leaders, where they live and the properties they own like houses, vehicles and businesses(P26). A lobby group, comprising of lawyers, called The Samaritans is calling upon people to volunteer as witnesses and helping the prosecution of those involved in corruption and abuse of office. They are also trying to petition the local government minister, the prime minister and the chief justice to take action(P26-27). Because of Ms Nicole’s tireless effort, people have an excellent platform to expose corrupt leaders, leading to their prosecution and conviction. Surely, change can be instigated through the efforts of ordinary people like Ms Nicole.

Ms Nicole’s effort help the reporters and editors in the mainstream media to gather enough information on the municipal leaders setting in motion the wheels of change. The focus of the local newspapers is on the municipal leaders and the stories are extremely damaging(P21-22). Mossi asks Harvester to buy all newspapers from the vendors as early as possible for it was in their best interest. Newspapers like The Caribbean Watch, The Seninel, The Insight and The Spotlight all talk about the municipal council as a criminal enterprise, the leaders being stripped naked, the rot in the municipality and a call for imprisonment of the leaders. Such headlines have been published every day for the last one month. Ted wonders if such headlines are unusual, Jaden suggests that they should give the reporters more boxes of chocolates while Bembe avers that they should threaten some of them. The Samaritan app is the source of the information in the newspapers(P22). There is a damaging story about Harvester in the newspaper about the misuse of public funds when Mossi instructed him to buy all newspapers using public funds. The Sentinel highlights a vicious  duel between Mossi and Seymour. The Caribbean Watch has damaging information about Bembe. They claim his hotel and his home are built on public land, he is a member of Ghettoboyz,  a shadowy gang that robs people, he has converted the municipal police force into his own personal outfit and he collects bribes from motorists(P40-41). All this information in the mainstream media is sourced from the Samaritan app. It is through Ms Nicole’s effort that such rot is exposed. Surely, ordinary people can be agents of change through their tireless endeavor.

Ms Nicole initiates change in Maracas Municipality through her lessons on morality, ethics and the perils of disobedience at Sagrada Secondary School . She is the ethics and innovation teacher at the school(P3). She always does what she thinks is rights(P18). Teachers like Ms Nicole try their best to mold the characters of their learners. They teach them to uphold the moral and civic virtues without which society can never prosper, be fair, just and peaceful. She teaches them virtues of honesty, truthfulness, generosity, integrity and transparency. This can help bring change since it is the lack of virtue that is ruining the society. Teachers also strive to develop virtuous creative thinkers and innovators(P72). She also teaches the learners to be organized. She tells her learners that everything has to be well-organized and neat since a disorganized mind cannot plan. She teaches her class about the heart having two spirits - the good and the bad. The good spirit obeys while the bad spirit disobeys and leads to destruction(P87-88). She cautions the students about the perils of disobedience. The fall of Jerusalem and the temple were as a result of the people disobeying the Creator. This happened in the Ancient Near East in 587 BC(P90). The acts of disobedience in society today include corruption, murder, theft, lies and sexual perversion(P90). The evil spirit is prevalent in society today and Maracas Municipality is undergoing destruction as a result of lack of drugs in hospitals because of theft, bribery in the police force and travesty of justice in the law courts(P91). Ms Nicole asks the students to reject the spirit of the beast and resist all those being controlled by this spirit since consequences of disobedience are inescapable for both the society and the individual who disobeys(P91). Ms Nicole’s effort to guide the learners to be morally upright is laudable. This will help change the behaviour of the citizens of Maracas Municipality. Indeed, efforts of ordinary people can cause change in the society.

Nicole’s effort jolts the leaders into talking about change in the municipality. Ms Nicole is an ordinary teacher but she wields massive influence because of her determined effort. Mossi visits her in school and begs her to help him regarding The Samaritan. Bembe also tries to intimidate her by arresting her on trumped up charges of stealing the school generator and disobeying authorities. People from all walks of life including touts and hawkers show up to support Nicole when she is arrested. They were mobilized through the Samaritan app. Nicole is a force to reckon with since people displayed the solidarity never before witnessed in Maracas Municipality. Bembe is also summoned by his bosses for this folly. Bembe and Mossi later visit Nicole and apologise. Nicole rejects Ted’s offer of a golden ring. The leaders now claim that there is need for drastic change. Ms Nicole says that her role in the new order is that she owes the municipality and the country is civic duty. She is ready to work with patriotic citizens to enhance transparency and accountability(P133). Mossi claims that the municipality was going to embrace change whereby public resources will never be stolen, justice will be served, police will stand with the innocent and law makers will promote public interest(P133-134). Due to Nicole’s influence, she is offered a new position as the director general in the municipal council where she will be a consultant with oversight powers over all the departments in the municipality and will be answerable only to the mayor(P135). Nicole says that they do not need new offices or positions. She says that the change they desire is the change of heart and spirit among the people but mostly among the leaders(P135). That is taking responsibility for the well-being of the municipality and abiding by the laws(P135-136). She blames the leaders for being interested in personal gains, dipping their fingers into the public till and breaching the law. When the leaders are arrested, Alvita echoes Nicole’s sentiments that you can never escape from the consequences of your actions(P138). Surely, an ordinary person’s effort can initiate change in society.

Lastly, Ms Nicole champions for change when she advises her students to ape the Samaritan in the Good Book by standing up for a cause that can bring a better tomorrow for all of them(P52). When the Samaritan saw the injured Jew, despite holding a different view on religion and the hostility that existed between Jews and Samaritans, he treated the man with compassion, dressed his wounds and took him to a safe place. This is unlike the priest and the Levite who did not stop to help the man. Ms Nicole rightly posits that the leaders and public officials cannot come to the aid of the people. They are like the priest and the Levite who ignored the injured Jew. They talk about pursuing public interest but they are not committed. They are shepherds who have turned against the sheep. Ms Nicole points out that it is up to all of them, ordinary citizens, without any claim to any office, to be one another’s keepers and to take care of one another(P51). Ordinary citizens can be there for one another through the Samaritan app which is an excellent platform(P51). It gives everyone an opportunity to speak out against wrongdoing, share ideas that would make life better, do the right thing and take responsibility for the progress of the municipality. She assures Alvita and Montano that the Samaritan will change the course of history and urges them to strive to improve their lives and not chicken out at every obstacle or threat(P52). Surely, through the efforts of ordinary people we can witness change.

In conclusion, ordinary people like Nicole can institute change. She inspires others like Alvita, Montano, the reporters and editors, the hawkers and touts to agitate for change. Although she is a simple teacher, she is a beacon of change in Maracas Municipality.

Using public funds to enrich oneself cannot bring true happiness. Write an essay in support of this statement, citing illustrations from John Lara's The Samaritan.

Some people use money meant to be invested in the public sector to make themselves wealthy or wealthier. This does not give them the fulfilling or satisfying feeling that comes with true happiness. They may have the riches but they lack the peace and harmony of body, mind and soul. In The Samaritan by John Lara, leaders like Ted and Seymour use public funds to enrich themselves but this does not give them true happiness.

Jaden uses public funds to enrich himself but this does not give him true happiness. Justice Ian Jaden is the principal judge in Maracas Municipality. He has countless mistresses and relatives doing business with the municipal council(P69). Together with his mistress Ivy, he is involved in the grain scandal. He uses his position to compel Mossi to award Ivy a contract for killing rats and other rodents ravaging rice and cornfields in the municipality(P106). His company, Prime Orchard Farm, was rearing rats which were let loose into the farms. They would then kill and parade some but the whole idea was to undermine domestic production in order to increase demand for imported grains. Prime Orchard Farm is one of the largest corn importers in the municipality(P107). To Jaden, using his public office to amass a fortune for himself seemed a normal thing since everybody else was doing it. Litigants gave him money and he ruled kisses in their favour. It worked and he accumulated wealth. He looked forward to retiring soon and enjoying the fruits of his labour. He is like the foolish rich man in the good book who also prepared to retire and enjoy his wealth(P112). Instead of enjoying, he suffers. He holds his stomach with both hands while bending down. He suffers from stomach ulcers and hallucinations. Mossi wants him to jail Ramdaye and his team but this puts Jaden in a dilemma because he helped some friends by making a biased ruling and they paid him by giving him shares in a company the municipal council is suing. He claims the ethos operating in society influences his thinking and action as a judge(P116). He does not enjoy true happiness even after amassing wealth. He has been tormented by the issue of the rodents. He has been seeing rats and other rodents running all over the place and he has been catching the awful smell of sewer rats which makes him want to throw up. His stomach aches. His ulcers have since worsened(P117). Justice Jaden crouches under the boardroom table when accosted by Tajo, the anti-corruption boss(P138). Together with others, he is handcuffed and bundled out by the police officers(P139). Truly, true happiness cannot be found by stealing public wealth.

Bembe also uses public funds to make himself wealthy but this does not give him satisfaction or fulfillment. People are wondering where he got the money to put up Madingo Golf Club. He is shocked when he learns that people know it belongs to him having kept his private affairs discreet(P26). He says that this is his worst nightmare. This exposé comes at a time when he had just finished putting up his hotel and is as broke as a church mouse(P31). He informs Mossi and Harvester about the high likelihood of his untimely death anytime soon(P38). He found out from The Samaritan that he is accused of corruption, violation of human rights, drug peddling and extortion. This gives him the willies - a strong feeling of nervous discomfort - and his blood sugar is not good. At one point he drifted into a coma(P38). His hotel and home are also built on public land - Maracas University land. A lobby group is moving to court to have it restored back to the university (P40). With a dreadful expression on his face, Bembe says that that would be a very unfortunate joke(P40). He breathes heavily and trembles. He also gets a little bit hard of hearing. He had put all his life savings into the hotel and home since he is retiring in a few months time(P41). The hotel was built with bribes collected from motorists. The municipal police force is his personal outfit for collecting bribes from the guilty and innocent alike. The officers do not enforce law and order. They collect bribes for Bembe(P41). His foiled attempt to intimidate Nicole puts him in more trouble. She is acquitted but he is summoned to the capital by his bosses to explain the folly(P100). He tells Mossi that they are doomed. He prefers to die than be an inmate or a homeless person. His stomach has been running since The Samaritan came to town. He cannot last a week in prison since he is diabetic(P99). He has run out of ideas and wants to flee into the mountains, dig a hole and live there(P100). He does not enjoy his ill-gotten wealth since he is eventually arrested by the anti corruption police. He staggers and almost falls as he seeks cover but he is still handcuffed and bundled out like a criminal. Indeed, stealing public wealth causes misery not true happiness.

Seymour, the secretary in charge of planning and development, uses public funds to enrich himself but this does not give him true happiness. Mossi calls him a senseless thief. He was elected just the other day as a poor and jigger-infested hoodlum. Now he is living like a king in grandiose villas and mansions, eating delicacies in classy hotels and driving state-of-the-art vehicles. He cannot justify his current financial status. Mossi wonders who doesn’t know that he has stolen the money(P35). Seymour is accused of supplying air to the municipal council. Their companies bill the municipal council huge sums of money every month without rendering any services(P24). To cover up, he suggests they get money from the municipal fund through reallocation of budget line items(P33). They could use the problem of the waste disposal system which is in a terrible state to justify the reallocation but use the money to fight against the prosecution(P33). In the past, he has misused public funds through regular travel with enhanced allowances, sitting allowances for unnecessary committee meetings, loans and mortgages(P34). In his department of planning and development, one has to part with dollars to get building approval. The inspectorate unit under him is also riddled with corruption(P66). Seymour does not get true happiness from his illicitly acquired wealth. His eldest child is always at rehab, the other one is inebriated permanently at the casino and the wife is total garbage and a perpetual drunk(P70). He is also arrested by the anti-corruption police. He is handcuffed and bundled out of the room. Surely, ill-gotten wealth can never be a source of true happiness.

Ted King acquires wealth illegally by stealing public funds but this does not bring him true happiness. Mossi calls him a senseless thief. Ted is the secretary, Department of Health and environment. He was elected just the other day as a poor and jigger-infested hoodlum. Now he lives in grandiose villas and mansions like a king, indulging in delicacies in classy hotels and drives state-of-the-art vehicles. He cannot justify his financial status. He stole public money(P35). He is accused alongside Seymour of supplying air to the municipal council. Their companies bill the municipal council huge sums of money without rendering any service(P24). He supports Seymour’s suggestion of using municipal funds to take care of investigators, lawyers, prosecutors and judges(P33). He is infamous for forcing Mossi to misuse public funds for regular travel with enhanced allowances , sitting allowances   for unnecessary committee meetings, loans and mortgages(P34). Despite having stolen a lot of public funds, he cannot raise a meaningful amount to fight the cases that may be brought up against them(P31). Ted is accused of “eating” a whole hospital. He ensured his companies and those of his friends won the tenders for bids for construction of health centres. He stole all the money budgeted for health centres and put up site offices that looked like cowsheds(P64). Ted is now sickly despite accumulating wealth illegally(P65). When he offers Nicole a golden ring, she declines and says that she doesn't wear them. This is awkward and embarrassing (P132). Ted is later arrested by the anti-corruption police. Indeed, stealing public funds to make one wealthy does not make one truly happy.

Lastly, Mossi also enriches himself using proceeds of corruption but this does not make him truly happy. Seymour tells Mossi that he will never get away with the crimes committed under his watch. He says that Mossi knows how much he has stolen(P34). When he learns that people can use the app to share information about the municipal procurement process, he scratches his head thoughtfully, sips some water and turns uncertainly towards the school principal and then Harvester. Mossi refuses to launch the app(P21) and convenes   a meeting of key leaders to fight the app instead because the information posted casts the leaders in bad light(P23). Mossi admits that all the leaders have some skeletons in their closet(P29). In the past, he has conceded to endless demands of misallocation of public funds ranging from regular travel with enhanced allowances, sitting allowances for unnecessary committee meetings, loans and mortgages(P34). He temporarily loses consciousness when he learns that his deputy, Seymour and Ted are working to bundle him out of office. He fears they will send him to prison. He sees Baneta Express Prison any time he closes his eyes. He can even smell the revolting stench in the cells though he has never been there(P33). Mossi is accused of many crimes including municipal capture, which is the worst form of corruption and abuse of office in which once private interests determine the direction of public policy.   Mossi is forced to own up his mistakes and seek understanding and help from Ms Nicole, a simple school teacher(P60). He even offers her and the students a bribe in his desperation(P61). Mossi admits that he steals public wealth when he says that a loaf of bread for the people comes through him and he takes three slices for himself because he is part of the people(P69). He is also accused of inflating costs of municipal projects and presiding over shoddy municipal works(P61). He is forced to apologize to Nicole for treading on her toes(P132). He is also humiliated when she turns down the offer of the prestigious position of director general in the municipal council(P135). When confronted by the police officers arresting them, he tries to hide behind Nicole(P138). Clearly, stealing public funds to make one wealthy does not bring true happiness or satisfaction.

In conclusion, those who steal public funds do not find joy or fulfillment, instead they constantly worry about how they can protect their ill-gotten wealth.

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120 comments:

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Themes used in the book of Samaritan

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can i get one concerning change as depicted by Nicole

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What are some of the characteristics of Nicole

Judgemental

Is there any evidence of Nicole being judgemental?

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Fathers of nations

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thanks for the above essays ...can you please help me in writing an essay about "conflict in the society is inevitable" using john's lara's ,the samaritan ,for examples ,write an essay to validate this assertion

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Conflict please

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Hope is the mother of success is proven to be true statement in john lara The Samaritan write an essay to justify this statement

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“What followed?”

“Disaffection is what followed.” Comrade Melusi had finished his sadza. He was washing his

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d) Comrade Melusi had finished his sadza. (Begin: His sadza…) (1 mark)

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Last Updated: March 17, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci . Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 643,393 times.

Answering essay questions on an exam can be difficult and stressful, which can make it hard to provide a good answer. However, you can improve your ability to answer essay questions by learning how to understand the questions, form an answer, and stay focused. Developing your ability to give excellent answers on essay exams will take time and effort, but you can learn some good essay question practices and start improving your answers.

Understanding the Question

• Analyze: Explain the what, where, who, when, why, and how. Include pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
• Compare: Discuss the similarities and differences between two or more things. Don't forget to explain why the comparison is useful.
• Contrast: Discuss how two or more things are different or distinguish between them. Don't forget to explain why the contrast is useful.
• Define: State what something means, does, achieves, etc.
• Describe: List characteristics or traits of something. You may also need to summarize something, such as an essay prompt that asks "Describe the major events that led to the American Revolution."
• Discuss: This is more analytical. You usually begin by describing something and then present arguments for or against it. You may need to analyze the advantages or disadvantages of your subject.
• Evaluate: Offer the pros and cons, positives and negatives for a subject. You may be asked to evaluate a statement for logical support, or evaluate an argument for weaknesses.
• Explain: Explain why or how something happened, or justify your position on something.
• Prove: Usually reserved for more scientific or objective essays. You may be asked to include evidence and research to build a case for a specific position or set of hypotheses.
• Summarize: Usually, this means to list the major ideas or themes of a subject. It could also ask you to present the main ideas in order to then fully discuss them. Most essay questions will not ask for pure summary without anything else.

• Raise your hand and wait for your teacher to come over to you or approach your teacher’s desk to ask your question. This way you will be less likely to disrupt other test takers.

Forming Your Response

• Take a moment to consider your organization before you start writing your answer. What information should come first, second, third, etc.?
• In many cases, the traditional 5-paragraph essay structure works well. Start with an introductory paragraph, use 3 paragraphs in the body of the article to explain different points, and finish with a concluding paragraph.
• It can also be really helpful to draft a quick outline of your essay before you start writing.

• You may want to make a list of facts and figures that you want to include in your essay answer. That way you can refer to this list as you write your answer.
• It's best to write down all the important key topics or ideas before you get started composing your answer. That way, you can check back to make sure you haven't missed anything.

• For example, imagine that your essay question asks: "Should the FIFA World Cup be awarded to countries with human rights violations? Explain and support your answer."
• You might restate this as "Countries with human rights violations should not be awarded the FIFA World Cup because this rewards a nation's poor treatment of its citizens." This will be the thesis that you support with examples and explanation.

• For example, whether you argue that the FIFA World Cup should or should not be awarded to countries with human rights violations, you will want to address the opposing side's argument. However, it needs to be clear where your essay stands about the matter.
• Often, essay questions end up saying things along the lines of "There are many similarities and differences between X and Y." This does not offer a clear position and can result in a bad grade.

• If you are required to write your answer by hand, then take care to make your writing legible and neat. Some professors may deduct points if they cannot read what you have written.

Staying Calm and Focused

• If you get to a point during the exam where you feel too anxious to focus, put down your pencil (or take your hands off of the keyboard), close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Stretch your arms and imagine that you are somewhere pleasant for a few moments. When you have completed this brief exercise, open up your eyes and resume the exam.

• For example, if the exam period is one hour long and you have to answer three questions in that time frame, then you should plan to spend no more than 20 minutes on each question.
• Look at the weight of the questions, if applicable. For example, if there are five 10-point short-answers and a 50-point essay, plan to spend more time on the essay because it is worth significantly more. Don't get stuck spending so much time on the short-answers that you don't have time to develop a complex essay.

• This strategy is even more important if the exam has multiple essay questions. If you take too much time on the first question, then you may not have enough time to answer the other questions on the exam.

• If you feel like you are straying away from the question, reread the question and review any notes that you made to help guide you. After you get refocused, then continue writing your answer.
• Try to allow yourself enough time to go back and tighten up connections between your points. A few well-placed transitions can really bump up your grade.

Community Q&A

• If you are worried about running out of time, put your watch in front of you where you can see it. Just try not to focus on it too much. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you need more practice, make up your own questions or even look at some practice questions online! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Look up relevant quotes if your exam is open notes. Use references from books or class to back up your answers.
• Make sure your sentences flow together and that you don't repeat the same thing twice!

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• ↑ https://www.linnbenton.edu/student-services/library-tutoring-testing/learning-center/academic-coaching/documents/Strategies%20For%20Answering%20Essay%20Questions.pdf
• ↑ https://www.ius.edu/writing-center/files/answering-essay-questions.pdf
• ↑ https://success.uark.edu/get-help/student-resources/short-answer-essays.php

About This Article

To write a good answer to an exam essay question, read the question carefully to find what it's asking, and follow the instructions for the essay closely. Begin your essay by rephrasing the question into a statement with your answer in the statement. Include supplemental facts and figures if necessary, or do textual analysis from a provided piece to support your argument. Make sure your writing is clear and to the point, and don't include extra information unless it supports your argument. For tips from our academic reviewer on understanding essay questions and dealing with testing nerves, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Incident in the Park Question

Lack of courtesy between the police and civilians leads to lethal conflicts. Justify the validity of this statement using illustrations from Meja Mwangi’s incident in the park.

Lack of courtesy between the police and civilians leads to lethal conflicts. justify the validity of thisstatement using illustrations from meja mwangi’s incident in the park. (20 marks).

• Across the world, over centuries, the behaviour of some of the police officers has caused dire repercussions. Sometimes this happens due to excessive use of force or simply wrongful application of the law and policies, but majorly this occurs as a result of impolitel interactions between the two parties.
• Incident in the Park shows how city dwellers, hawkers and loafers find themselves in conflicts with the police over flimsy and petty reasons often ending unpleasantly. When the two constables accost the fruit peddler, he gets startled and confused. They demand for his licence and identity card which he obviously doesn’t have. Then he offers five shillings which doesn’t seem good enough as one constable shrugs. This means that at times if the offer were attractive, they would have accepted it and left him.
• The police refuse to listen to the fruit merchant and harshly shove him along the street to the city telling him he will explain to the judge. This complicates matters even more because the fruit- seller fears the judge more, It throws him into more panic as he has a case that is coming up the following week and the judge is a “tyrant”. He explains further that he is selling this time so that he can afford a fine but all his entreaties fall on deaf ears They remain unimpressed saying nothing until he breaks away and flees into the crowded city.
• The situation escalates when the constables chase the fleeing man shouting for help from the passers-by. They actually betroth him unto the mob. A city man intercepts him and another man lunges for him as shouts increase. Tossed here and there as a suspect, the desperate fruit peddler stumbles and falls into a ditch, No one seems to care to find out what really is happening before taking action. No one listens as he pleads for mercy, This is where he meets his Verdict’ which is death. According to the crowd, ‘justice’ is administered. The mob universally condemn him without plausible evidence.
• ​By the time the police arrive at the scene, it is too late. Their action is irreversible and fatal. The mob has already killed him for being a “thief”. They who are supposed to ensure public safety and security have aided the killing of a hardworking hawker by their silly mistake. This should not have happened if they had treated the man politely. An innocent life is so unnecessarily lost. This makes the public lose confidence in the police. After investigations the truth will come out and it will be hard to trust the police.
• ​In a nutshell, wanton conflicts and deaths of innocent citizens could be averted if the police handled matters with courtesy and sobriety

Drawing illustrations from Meja Mwangi's an incident in the park, write an essay to discuss the problems of urbanization

Points of interpretation

• Unemployment
• Overpopulation
• Social injustice/mob justice
• Conflict between the constables and the hawkers
• Unhygienic condition

A man of Awesome Power Question

“When one is given power, he/she should use it only for good but more often than not, people use it for wrong purpose.” Support this statement basing your argument from Nagulb  Mahfouz’s A man of Awesome Power.

• When one is given power, he/she should use it only for good but more often than not people us it f or wrong purposes. Support this statement basing your argument from Naguib Mahfouz’s ‘A Man of Awesome Power’ Many people who are in powerful positions or who have been gifted with some sort of power tend to abuse it. Instead of utilizing it for improvement of the society at large, they use if for their own selfish interests or to punish those that have wronged them, scenario is seen it ‘A Man of Awesome Power through a number of illustrations. We see Tayyib al-Mahdi utilizing the power given to him for revenge. This is not a good a way of power utilization as it causes harm to others. Tayyib realizes that he has power to order things to be and he sets out to utilize the power to change’ his country. However, the first episode where he utilizes this power shows that he is utilizing it to hit back at a person who offends him. The driver of the taxi that he hails suffers his wrath for refusing to stop. When Tayyib is on his way to the heart of the town, he hails a taxi but the driver simply waves a hand at him in haughty refuses. Tayyib’s irritation makes him stare at the rear wheels of the taxi and the two explode suddenly.
• Revenge:   He ignores the voice that reminds him that he should only use his power for good and lets his anger control him. This act of revenge was deliberate since as Tayyib bypasses the driver he feels that he has taught the man a lesson. By utilizing his power to hit back at the taxi driver. Tayyib shows that people with power use it for wrong purposes .
• Stomach pain:  We further see wrong utilization of power where Tayyib causes the man in the bus to suffer stomach pains. Although the man had physically attacked a woman, causing him to suffer stomach cramps not justified. Tayyib encounters a confrontation between the man and a woman in a public bus and the man ends up slapping the woman. Just like the incident with the taxi driver. Tayyib lets his anger control him where he focused it on the man’s stomach and immediately the man suffers severe cramps that cause him to moan and scream in pain. The pain is so intense that an ambulance had to be called to fetch him.
• Slap paisn: Allowing his anger to control him and causing pain to the man who had slapped a woman is a vengeful act which is wrong thus showing how people with power use it for wrong purposes.
• Radio: Beside. Tayyib uses the power bestowed on him to interfere with the radio presentation by causing the presenter to start sneezing. While seated in the café, he hears a radio announcer expounding on the developments that were to be expected in the future. Tayyib feels that the announce should report on what has been achieved yet instead of giving false hopes to the people. Tayyib thus decided to cause some sneezing to attack the announcer since it was the only way to stop him. Soon after, the announcer develops massive sneezes that prevent him from carrying on with the presentation. Tayyib feels happy and victorious after the unexpected conclusion of the announcement. Although his desire is to purify the broadcasting sector, the approach of causing massive sneezing to the presenter is harmful and thus wrong.
• Passion: Lastly , Tayyib is seen to sue the power given to him to satisfy his sexual passion and desires Tayyib utilizes the power to make a woman that he is attracted to notice him. While he is seated at the tea garden planning how to effectively use his power Tayyib notices a beautiful woman approaching the entrance of the garden. The woman does not notice him at first and Tayyib thinks of how through his powers he can cause her to be head-over-heels with him. He then send her a hidden message and she responds to him. He sees nothing wrong with satisfying his desires as a way of repairing himself. He closes his note book and they surrender to fate. This is an immoral act since Tayyib is married to Haniya whom he had remained faithful to throughout their marriage. People gifted with power should strive to use it only for good purposes and not to cause pain suffering to others or for immoral deeds like Tayyib did.

The Neighbourhood Watch

People living on the streets apply wisdom in order to survive the difficult conditions. Write an essay to qualify this statement citing illustrations from Rem'y Ngamije’s The Neighbourhood Watch.

On the streets, conditions are challenging. One needs experience, knowledge, and sound judgment in addition to dedication and effort to survive.

To endure the harsh conditions on the streets, Neighbourhood Watch members use wisdom.

They  are  shrewd  enough  to  get  up  early  in  the  morning  to  go  food  hunting.  Before  the  full  dawn,  Elias,  Lazarus,  and  Omagano  leave.  They  depart  early  so  they  can  find  the  overflowing  trash  cans  behind  eateries,  which  are  the  true  rewards. One  can  purchase  palatable,  semi-fresh  morsels  in  the  early  morning. The  food  begins  to  spoil  in  the  late  morning.  "The  early  bird  does  not  catch  the  worm,"  the  neighborhood  watch  is  aware.  Elias,  Lazarus,  and  Omagano  prolong  their  strides  in  order  to  arrive  on  time. They  are  aware  that  in  the  streets,  time  is  of  the  importance.

The crew is aware that maintaining strong relationships with other people is essential to their survival. The vast majority of the city's kitchen personnel like working with Elias. They call him "Soldier" or "Captain," respectively. For him and his crew, they occasionally leave produce that is nearly rotting away. Elias occasionally found himself lucky enough to receive rotting mangoes, wrinkled carrots, and potatoes with broken skins due to the positive relationship. The employees would be kind enough to provide them the night before's smushed leftovers, such as half-eaten burgers, sauce-drenched chips, or salads. Since the majority of the kitchen staff is underpaid, they frequently have to carry leftovers home to their own families. It is It is amazing that Elias manages to get some food from them.

Because the Neighbourhood Watch team is so clever, they have divided into specialized units. While Silas and Martin are charged with looking for additional necessities, Elias, Lazarus, and Omagano are always on duty. Elias had previously been living alone, but when he met Lazarus, he suggested that they form a partnership because it was exhausting to scavenge for food and other necessities of life on the streets. Lazarus first resisted. The chilly evenings compelled him to cooperate. Since two individuals could cover more ground, it worked for them.

When not out on a foraging mission, the crew is wise enough to secure a safe haven where they can sleep or simply hide. The Neighbourhood Watch considers the underside of the bridge to be valuable real estate. When it rains and on chilly winter evenings, it provides a crucial shelter. The letters NW painted on the columns have the same impact as a leopard's territory bordering musty pee.Other crews are wise to avoid intruding there for fear of bloody vengeance. Additionally, it provides a secure location to store their supplies so they won't have to carry their sparse belongings with them wherever they go. They would move more slowly if they had more luggage while they searched their neighborhoods for food and other necessities. Elias dials their regional command center. He wakes up the rest of the team in the morning, and they all share a can of water to wash their faces. A safe area is essential to a street family.

They might accomplish more in a day if one searched for food and the other for other necessities. They are aware now that women and children make excellent recruits. Some obstinate guards demand a 10 or 20 dollar bribe before allowing them to go through gated containers. Elias typically pays them, but when he is strapped for cash, Omagano takes care of business alongside a guard behind the garbage. On the other hand, the treasures team offers discarded blankets, beds, clothes, reusable shoes, trolleys, etc. While trolleys are practical, they can also be exchanged for more helpful items. Separately working, the two crews come together in the late afternoon. Bread, mashed potatoes, grapes, and water are shared as food. The valuables crew brings newspapers, plastic piping and poorboy caps.

Additionally, the Neighbourhood Watch is familiar with the city and its neighborhoods. Elias requests the group's rest because they will be going foraging in Ausblick tonight. Right now, it's too hot to be outside. The Neighbourhood Watch is better and more profitable at night. The crew is aware that by hitting the bins early, they may be able to find some useful items in Ausblick, such as broken toasters, blenders, water bottles, teflon pots or pans, flat-screen TV cardboard boxes, and even some food. In Ausblick, people still know how to dispose of stuff.

While Martin and Omagano push the cart, Elias, Lazarus, and Silas will scan the area in front of them for valuables. They are aware that Ausblick, like Olympia and Suiderhof, will soon be congested. Previously, Pionierspark was worthwhile, but not any longer. Presently, the Neighbourhood Watch are dissuaded by ocular prowls, canine barking, and patrol vehicles manned by irate, screaming individuals. They are aware that the faster they can arrive at Ausblick, the better.

The neighborhood watch is aware that living on the streets requires a present-focused mindset rather than one that is preoccupied with the past or the future. Each person enters the streets with a history. Lazarus' tattoos are proof of his time spent in jail. Since he was shot at by the South African Defense Forces, Elias does not fear him. They don't have time to reflect on the past because of their hunger or need for food on the streets. Lazarus and Elias both have some street smarts. He claims that there is only now and no future for the streets. "You must eat today. Your need for refuge today. You have today's needs to attend to.

The staff stays away from the streets on Fridays and Saturdays and makes a secure retreat to Headquarters. They take this action to prevent scuffles with police on patrol. Martin can't go with Silas, despite his desire to do so. Elias and Lazarus make fun of the fools who wait by the side of the road in Klein Windhoek and Eros to fix a window, paint a room, install a sink, or lay some tiles because they are too proud to go scavenging for food. They ultimately return home hungry. Martin believes that if those "fools" could occasionally find employment, perhaps things might improve. There is only now, says Elias, and "maybe is tomorrow." To survive on the streets, one must pay attention to the here and now. "Today is every day."

The rest of the team hears Elias and Lazarus' observations from the streets, including how they came to their decision to switch directions. The group discovered that being near people who are striving to survive is not a good way to survive. When foraging in the underprivileged areas, you only find what people don't require to survive.

The Neighbourhood Watch is aware that poor people only discard filthy waste and useless newborns. You had to be prepared to find shit in the impoverished areas: expired food, condoms that had been used, women's items that had been stained with blood, and broken items. Once, while searching for newspapers to start a fire, Elias and Lazarus were horrified to discover a dead infant. They realized that an upgrade was necessary. Only because they had to survive did they go there.

You do everything and travel everywhere to survive. Being picky is impossible. But now they are aware that they need to advance and visit locations where there is enough trash to go around. Such people live in neighborhoods where there are both white people and black people attempting to pass for white. They finally make the wise decision to leave the impoverished who have nothing to discard on their own.

Finally, the Neighbourhood Watch is astute enough to recognize that some neighborhoods must be avoided. They stay away from Khomsadal because it is busy and overly drunken there. Due of his pride and drunkenness, they lost their friend Amos there. He formerly called people names, used foul language, and never asked for forgiveness. Then he was fatally stabbed.

The neighborhood watch is aware of the problem of dead bodies on the streets. Police would essentially ask witnesses to provide explanations. They beat people with batons, caused paperwork headaches, and detained innocent people. Everyone, including Elias and Lazarus, understood they had to flee when Amos died. When the police caught up with them, they had the good sense to stay with their original explanation that they had nothing to do with the murder. They had fractured ribs, swollen eyes, bruises, bleeding, damaged skin, and injured limbs, but that was better than dying. They know enough to stay far away from Khomsadal.

In conclusion, adversity teaches people how to adapt and survive. Survival depends on acuity.

People with admirable traits stand out. Basing your illustrations on Vrenika Pather's Ninema , write an essay to validate this assertion.

Exemplary attributes arouse respect and approval. Ninema is a young beautiful woman whose praiseworthy character makes her the embodiment of magnificence. She stands out from the pack at the market place.

First, Ninema is industrious. She rises early at 4:00 AM to reap her herbs from her garden. She has green fingers and her crops are healthy. She is also an enterprising businesswoman. To earn a living, she sells fresh produce at the Indian market. She learned the trade from her parents. Her business makes good profit. At the end of a long working day, her hanky bulges with notes and coins. Her diligence makes her remarkably superior to others.

Secondly, Ninema is resilient. She is as tough as old boots. She is contented and accepts her situation but does not resign to it. She faces many challenges and wins. She is thus respected.

Ninema is also focused. She does not pay heed to the trifles when people admire her for her physical beauty. She is indeed a beautiful woman with long black hair. Her beauty turns heads. As she walks balancing her baskets on her head, her hips sway from side to side. Her sari drapes around her perfect body kept in place by her high, firm breasts. Her long, toned arms and cinched waist cause men to stop and stare. She faces them with piercing black eyes. Women admire her high cheekbones. She does not pay heed to the attention. She has laser-like focus on earning a living. She doesn’t waste time chatting with other women at the market because she has no time to waste. Indeed Ninema is focused.

Ninema is good-natured and she treats her customers well. She is wise enough to provide genial customer service. She takes extra care of her first and last customer. She says they bring luck. She learned her trade from her parents and thus she believes in the grace and power of generational knowledge. She is also good at accounting. She can count faster than you can utter the word “herb”. She treats all her loyal customers with respect and appreciation. She masterfully handles the stubborn Mrs. Singh and respectfully calls her auntie.

Furthermore, Ninema is affable and the clients like her. Mr. Chimran is always the first to support her. The other women joke that he is in love with Ninema. He is a rich lawyer from the high Brahmin caste. Nonetheless, he is infatuated with Ninema a poor girl from the low caste. She makes his days. He buys too much from her until the mother complains. He cannot fathom the idea of an arranged marriage which will deny him the chance of visiting Ninema's stall. Mrs. Singh is rich but she also enjoys buying her herbs from Ninema. She haggles for lower prizes simply to spend more time with Ninema, away from the boredom of her big lonely house. She lingers bargaining in order to interact with Ninema more. Ninema also takes personal interest in the lives of her customers. She knows whose son is studying medicine in India, whose daughter just got married, and who moved into a new house and where they bought it.

Ninema is self assured and confident. She runs her business with an iron fist. She is her own person – acts independently with confidence. She does not give in to what other people expect of her. This thrills as much as it irks many people. It makes the ladies in the other stands fond of her. They often compromised themselves at work and at home. This makes them angry with themselves. They look up to Ninema. They admire her since she is different though she’s one of them. They want to learn her secret. Mrs. Singh relentlessly bargains for lower prices but Ninema does not budge.

• Ninema is organized and that is why her business flourishes. She has a steady flow of customers. She arranges her herbs appetizingly. The customers are attracted by the look and smell of her stall. There is high demand for Ninema’s herbs. She is always busy at lunchtime when the rich professionals patronize her during their lunch break.
• Ninema is also tough. When an amorous man blocks her way and tries to harass her, she stares directly at him. She defends herself by fighting him so ferociously that the shameless man is left astounded. This attracts cheers and jeers and hearty laughs of approval from the other women at the market.

Lastly, Ninema is prudent. She is a poor girl living a modest lifestyle but she has big plans. She saves part of her money with a view of buying a big house of her own. Currently her house has neither hot running water nor a kitchen inside. She has to wash her face and feet using cold water in the outside tap. However, with the money she’s saving she plans to buy a house with the running hot water and a kitchen inside. It will have a big garden where she can plant fruits.

In conclusion, Ninema is the pinnacle of magnificence. Because of her praiseworthy traits, she seems remarkably superior to her peers. Indeed, exemplary attributes attract respect and make us stand out.

Ivory Bangles by Eric Ng'maryo. Question

Love knows no bounds though it can lead one to misery if not handled cautiously', write an essay to bring out the truth in this assertion basing your illustrations from the story Ivory Bungles by Eric Ng'maryo.

Introduction.

Affection has no limits, however, it can make one suffer if not handled with care. The old man and his wife love each other too much that he fails to give his wife a ritual beating as demanded by the pebblee earning his wife an untimely demise.

• Out of Love, the old man. fails/refuses to give his wife a ritual beating as demanded by the pebbles. Pg 21, "The seer's pebble said someone was going to die. The pebbles said a wife was going to die. The pebbler said the spirits were jealous of a happy wife, a woman unmolested by her husband until old age, until she was called 'Grandmother'. He is over-whelmed by the love he has for his wife and what he can do to avert the beating. (Pg 22) He suggests they could be appeased by any number of goats. He began telling the wife where he had gone but is carried away when she offers the meals and the warmth. He says, "This was not the atmosphere for discussing the words of the pebbles. He delays this until they agree to hatch a plan to counter attack. In the end, he losesr his wife just as the pebbles had prophesied.
• Out of Love, the old man fails to heed to the advice of the ageing chief to get himself another wife.This was shortly after he was made Councillor as a reward for bravery shown in the Battle of Five Rainy Day, he answers mwith a riddle on why he cannot marry other wives. In the end he loses the wife. Pg 22, "He still was the chief's councillor, much respected, but also much talked about because he had only one wife and a councillor was a small chief and whoever heard of a chief with one wife? The old man fails to marry another wife Out of the love and satisfaction he derived from the one wife he had. In the end, he loses the wife and remains a wifeless chief.
• Out of Love, the Old Man goes out of his way to poach an elephant, extract its tusks which he uses to make coweries for his wife. Pg 23, "She is very comely in the many ivory bangles. she wears. I made them, Sir and the ivory was from the elephant I shot with a poisoned arrow. I brought one of the tusks as it is custom. "People say you bought the bangles, He pretends to a carver. The woman pleased him in the bangles. The ones on her hands were etched with mnemonic marks for a long love poem. He had presented the bangles to her when their first born child, now their only son, was given a name. She had looked like a chief's bride. She later becomes the victim of human-animal conflict when The elephants whose tusks she adorns kill her mercilessly. her. 
• The Old Man's wife out of love for the husband remarks that she knows the seer and that he once wanted to marry. She agrees to hatch a plan in order to go to her mbrother's place in pretence that she has been beaten. Then later call for reconciliation by the parents (Pg 24). She deliberately delays her going to the brother and decides to go first weed the garden, In her own words she says his son has beaten the wife to near death. "Why is my son so different ,from his father?" Pg. 25. As she plans to go while weeding her garden, a rouge elephant trumps her down. In conclusion, Love is good. It knows no limits but coupled with defiance or lack of caution can lead us to unforseen misery. This is clearly seen in the lives of the old man and his wife.

Ninema People with admirable traits stand out. Basing your illustrations on Vrenika Pather's Ninema, write an essay to validate this assertion.

•  Ninema is industrious. She rises early at 4:00 AM to reap her herbs from her garden. She has green fingers and her crops are healthy. She is also an enterprising businesswoman. To earn a living, she sells fresh produce at the Indian market. She learned the trade from her parents. Her business makes a good profit. At the end of a long working day, her hanky bulges with notes and coins. Her diligence makes her remarkably superior to others.
• Ninema is resilient. She is as tough as old boots. She is contented and accepts her situation but does not resign to it. She faces many challenges and wins. She is thus respected.
• Ninema is also focused. She does not pay heed to the trifles when people admire her for her physical beauty. She is indeed a beautiful woman with long black hair. Her beauty turns heads. As she walks balancing her baskets on her head, her hips sway from side to side. Her sari drapes around her perfect body kept in place by her high, firm breasts. Her long, toned arms and cinched waist cause men to stop and stare. She faces them with piercing black eyes. Women admire her high cheekbones. She does not pay heed to the attention. She has a laser-like focus on earning a living. She doesn’t waste time chatting with other women at the market because she has no time to waste. Indeed, Ninema is focused.
• Ninema is good-natured and she treats her customers well. She is wise enough to provide genial customer service. She takes extra care of her first and last customers. She says they bring luck. She learned her trade from her parents and thus she believes in the grace and power of generational knowledge. She is also good at accounting. She can count faster than you can utter the word “herb”. She treats all her loyal customers with respect and appreciation. She masterfully handles the stubborn Mrs. Singh and respectfully calls her auntie.
• Ninema is affable and the clients like her. Mr. Chimran is always the first to support her. The other women joke that he is in love with Ninema. He is a rich lawyer from the high Brahmin caste. Nonetheless, he is infatuated with Ninema a poor girl from the low caste. She makes his days. He buys too much from her until the mother complains. He cannot fathom the idea of an arranged marriage that will deny him the chance of visiting Ninema's stall. Mrs. Singh is rich but she also enjoys buying her herbs from Ninema. She haggles for lower prizes simply to spend more time with Ninema, away from the boredom of her big lonely house. She lingers on bargaining in order to interact with Ninema more. Ninema also takes a personal interest in the lives of her customers. She knows whose son is studying medicine in India, whose daughter just got married, and who moved into a new house and where they bought it.
• Ninema is self-assured and confident. She runs her business with an iron fist. She is her own person – acts independently with confidence. She does not give in to what other people expect of her. This thrills as much as it irks many people. It makes the ladies in the other stands fond of her. They often compromised themselves at work and at home. This makes them angry with themselves. They look up to Ninema. They admire her since she is different though she’s one of them. They want to learn her secret. Mrs. Singh relentlessly bargains for lower prices but Ninema does not budge.
• Ninema is prudent. She is a poor girl living a modest lifestyle but she has big plans. She saves part of her money with a view to buying a big house of her own. Currently, her house has neither hot running water nor a kitchen inside. She has to wash her face and feet using cold water from the outside tap. However, with the money she’s saving she plans to buy a house with running hot water and a kitchen inside. It will have a big garden where she can plant fruits.

In conclusion, Ninema is the pinnacle/embodiment of magnificence. Because of her praiseworthy traits, she seems remarkably superior to her peers. Indeed, exemplary attributes attract respect and make us stand out.

A Man of Awesome Power

Lack of sound judgment results in regret. Making reference to A Man of Awesome Power , write an essay to justify this claim.

Lack of good sense results in misguided decisions which may torment us eternally. In A Man of Awesome Power Tayyib al-Mahdi misuses and in turn loses his awesome power due to moments of rash imprudence.

Tayyib al-Mahdi uses his awesome power to punish the taxi driver who ignores him when he hails it. Tayyib al-Mahdi tries to flag down the taxi but the driver ignores him disdainfully. Unlike when this happened in the past, now Tayyib al-Mahdi is filled with greater irritation. In this moment of anger, he makes an impulsive decision to punish the man. He considers that he could make the driver suffer an accident. He decides to shatter the taxi's rear wheels instead. He knows that he should use his powers only for good but his anger results in his recklessness. As he walks by the helpless man, Tayyib al-Mahdi stares at him, resentful and enraged. He feels like he had taught the man a much needed lesson .

Tayyib al-Mahdi hastily punishes the radio announcer only because he is irritated with his views. The announcer was expounding on promising developments expected in the future this is after Tayyib al-Mahdi's memorable services were mistaken for an awakening of the state or outright renaissance. Tayyib al-Mahdi fills a gaping pothole, locks a dangerously hanging electrical box, removes a pile of rubbish and drains a sewer using his awesome power. Tayyib al-Mahdi is irked by the announcer’s promises who talks about the future instead of talking about what has been accomplished. Tayyib al-Mahdy is overcome with fury and thoughtlessly punishes the man with a bout of incessant sneezing. He sneezes uncontrollably until he cannot speak and instead plays a recorded song “Walk Around and See”. Al-Mahdi plans to censor mass media by stopping any talk that annoys him. He would make speakers that displease him to sneeze spontaneously, emit shrill cries like women at a wedding, or suffer uncontrollable diarrhoea. Tayyib al-Mahdi is drunk with happiness and joy.

Tayyib al-Mahdi also misuses his awesome power when he uses it to chase the gorgeous woman at the zoo at the expense of the righteous plans he has. Tayyib al-Mahdi visits the tea garden at the zoo purposely to properly plan how to put his new powers to greater use. However, he instead uses it to seduce a gorgeous and enticing woman that catches his eye. Tayyib al-Mahdi is filled with an inexplicable desire - one that is not ordinary and his inappropriate since he has a tremendous burden of proper planning and awareness of need. This woman does not take notice of Tayyib al-Mahdi until he sends her a hidden message using his awesome powers, instantly setting her head-over-heels. He decides to heal himself instead of repairing the world. This ill-advised move results in the loss of his powers and his vibrant mood. The miracle disappears like a dream because of his selfish imprudence. He will be haunted eternally by an awesome sadness.

Tayyib al-Mahdi also makes the unwise decision of applying his power before properly planning how to use it. First, he performs random miracles. Some are memorable services like removing a pile of rubbish and draining an open sewer. Others are born out of sheer resentment and unwise personal vendetta for example shattering the taxi wheels. He later realizes that he had to consciously plan how to best utilize the powers. He obtains guides to the department of government, factories and private companies coastal among the things he plans to fix our prisons schools and universities commercial markets, then the press etc. He plans to map out every phase deliberately. He intends to quell any clamor, and deter any digression. He plans to fix his country then later the world. However, he fails to remain focused on the plan and is distracted by the beautiful woman at the zoo. He puts his plans on hold as he instead chooses to use the powers to pursue the woman. This imprudent resolve results in the loss of his power end he is forlornly tormented by an eternal sadness.

Truly, poor decisions are preceded by lack of good judgment and Tayyib al-Mahdi learns this the hard way.

Ninema serves as an example of a virtuous woman who should be emulated in the society. Using illustrations from the short story “Ninema” by Vrenika Pather, discuss this assertion.

• V1. Hardwork Ninema works very hard, selling her fresh produce at the Indian market so as to earn a living. She is Independent and does not wait for handouts from anyone but works very hard to earn herself a decent living
• V2. Resilient Ninema is as tough as old boots. Despite the challenges that Ninema faces, she has her eyes fixed on her goal which is to achieve a good lifestyle (buy her own house) after working so hard. We are told that she has never had running hot water and has to make do with washing her face and feet with cold water from the outside tap. She has to contend with boiling water on the open fire to take her weekly bath.
• V3. Generous Ninema gifts her new customers, the last customer of the day, a bunch of mint for free, which makes the customer very happy and she promiss to always shop for her herbs at Ninema’s stall.
• V4. Self-respecting and courageous Ninema does not condone being disrespected by anyone. When an arrogant man pinched her erect nipple at the market, she stood up for herself to the encouragement and cheers and jeers of the other women. She roughed up the man single-handedly for his immoral and unbecoming behaviour. The other women were so encouraged by this courage and cheered her for having stood firm against the disrespect.
• V5. Ambitious and determined Ninema dreams of owning a home so that she does not have to contend with bullying from landlords, a home where she will have hot water and the kitchen will be in the inside. She vows to work hard to single handedly achieve this.
• V6. Humble Ninema is beautiful and she knows it. Everyone admires her beauty. She however does not let the idea of her beauty get into her head or the idea of peoples’ admiration get into her heart as her chief concern is to earn a living.
• V7. Respectful and accomodative Ninema knows her place in the society, as a woman from the lower caste, she does not entertain Mr. Chinran’s infatuation. He is a rich lawyer from Brahmin caste. Ninema however treats him as she treats all other customers, with respect and appreciation. She also takes a personal intrest in each of her customers despite being very busy. In conclusion, the character of ninema as discussed in this essay is truly admirable and all women should emulate and try to be like her. (Accept any other valid conclusion)

Ivory Bangles

Write a composition to illustrate effects of human-animal conflict drawing illustrations from Eric Ng‟maryo‟s „‟ Ivory Bangles‟‟.

Introduction

Confrontation between wild animals and human being is becoming more rampant in the modern world. During such scenarios, the result becomes adverse both for humans and the animals including and destruction of property. Accept any other relevant introduction

• C1: Death of people Human-animal conflict sometimes gives rise to casualties. People may lose their lives during human-animal confrontation. The Councilors’ wife is killed by a bull elephant. As the scouts chased the elephants which invaded the village with noise and arrows, the bull elephant is wounded. Instead of following the cows into the banana grove, the he elephant picks the path up from the stream out of rage. The elephant enters the Councilors’ grove where his wife had been weeding. The bull attacked the woman, lifting her bodily. It then bashed her on trees and banana plants before putting her on the ground and stamping on her repeatedly. In this manner the woman loses her life.
• C2: Destruction of property Conflict between human and animals also leads to destruction of property. When the councilor’s wife goes to the market, she gets to learn that a herd of elephants have invaded the village. The people express fear that the beasts would be devastating to the young plants. The scouts warn people of the invasion by a herd of elephants. The elephants have invaded the area including banana groves. The animals cross river Marwe into Mtorobo village. The scouts shout to warn the people of Mtoboro that five she elephants have invaded their banana groves. The wounded bull also invades the grove where the wife of the chief’s councilor had been weeding.
• C3: Killing of animals Animals are also killed during confrontation between humans and animals. The killing of animals happens for various reasons. On one the one hand, the scouts strike to scare the animals out of their property as in the case of the wounded bull. Also, at the market, the councilor’ wife gets wind that the village has been invaded by elephants,. People however, are somehow relieved because people who know how to use poisoned arrows are already following the herd. They hope that with poisoned arrows, some can be killed. On the other hand, people kill animals for aesthetics and for money. The Chief appreciates the councilor’s wife saying she is comely in the twenty-four bangles she adorned. The chief is privy to the fact the councilor bought them but he is made to understand that the councilor carved them from the elephant he short with a poisoned arrow. This proves that people may kill animals during human- animal conflict.
• C4: Disturbance There is disturbance during conflict between human beings and animals. When the elephants invade the village, people who know how to use poisoned arrows are appointed to follow them. The scouts monitor the elephants and warn the public the whole day. They climb on top of trees and make noise relaying warning from one scout to another. They warn people as the elephants move from Sangeyo across river Marwe to Mtoboro homestead in Bware village. The elephants cause great disturbance to the people disrupting their activities.
• C5: Injuries to the animals Conflict between people and animals leads to animals being injured by people who attack with a view to driving them away. The bull elephant which eventually kills the woman is enraged because it had been wounded. The elephants are also followed by people who are trained to trained to use arrows.

Conclusion Humans and animals sometimes experience strife with far reaching effects. Animal and humans may cross each other’s paths leading to retaliation and counter-retaliation which turn calamitous as lives and property are lost in the duel.

The Sins of the Fathers

Basing your argument on ‘The Sins of the Fathers’ by Charles Mungoshi, show how Rondo’s scars are as a result of his father’s wrongdoings.

In “The Sins of the Father” by Charles Mungoshi, pain from past experiences and childhood trauma affect present lives and events. For example, Rondo's low self-esteem and bitterness emanates from how his father handled him while growing up.

{Any plausible introduction=2mks}

Points of Interpretations

• Si. Rondo at four/an old guitar/ first disappointment Mr. Rwafa destroys Rondo’s guitar when he is four which guts all the courage out of Rondo and destroys his self-esteem.( Pg. 30-31) Rondo’s uncle gives him an old guitar and his father comes home only to find him strumming tunelessly on the instrument. Out of anger, Mr. Rwafa breaks the guitar strings ultimately throwing the guitar into the fire while claiming that no child of his would be irresponsible rolling stones and idle like Mick Jagers and John Whites. The images of the burning guitar gut all the courage in him. The experience is so traumatizing that he even pees in his shorts. As a result, the incident implants fear in Rondo and he grows up scared of his father. Rondo cannot remember of a time when he was close to his father since his past makes him cry. (pg. 31, 40). His father destroying his guitar creates more rift and space between them ultimately becoming his first disappointment.
• Sii. Stammer. Additionally, Rondo develops a stammer and cannot speak freely due to his father’s harshness towards him. . (Pg. 31-32) Rondo’s father is a disappointed man based on many reasons including the fact that he only has one son. He pursues his duties zealously and fails to distinguish being a father from being a minister. Mr. Rwafa seems to be on a mission to destroy his son perhaps in the quest of searching for a duplicate heir. Rondo cannot answer his father’s questions thus develops a stammer due to his father’s angry nature.
• Siii. Rondo at eight/thrashing/neighbors garden/ripe mangoes Furthermore, Rondo grows up with the feeling of powerlessness based on his past traumatic encounter with his father at eight after helping himself to a neighbor’s ripe mangoes. . (Pg. 40) At that formative stage, Rondo is still learning what is right or wrong. As such, he does not see any problem going into a neighbor’s farm to eat ripe mangoes. His mother comes to his defense only to fail to help even after lifting her skirt in the man’s face. Disparaging names are thrown around. Unfortunately, Mr. Rwafa comes with his thick elephant-hide belt and, even without bothering to find out what the matter was, joins in to thrash his son. Although his mother desperately moves from one man to the other pleading for his release, Rondo feels completely uncomfortable. Consequently, the humiliating experience brings with it a sense of powerlessness that continually haunts him even in his old age. Therefore, his father failing to defend him when he was eight affects his personality later as he becomes powerless in handling life issues.
• Siv. Shadow/fool Also, Rondo continuously thinks of his father as his shadow and he has to rely on him on many things such as his new journalism job. He always thinks his father must be right and is too diminished to think otherwise. As such Rondo is even afraid for his mother whenever she has to oppose Rwafa. His father always does everything for him. His failure to think independently reduces him to a laughing stock at his place of work. His friends think he is a fool and he acts as one. His wife Selina also cautions him to stop being under his father’s shadow. His father finds him a job deciding for him that it is time he earned his upkeep money. Rondo also cannot talk against Mr. Rwafa’s sentiments when in the car back “duck shooting.” It is as though his father controls his every move while directing his life. As a result of remaining in his father’s shadow, Rondo feels as though Selina has always been the main decision maker in their marriage. At work, he also feels incapable of being a good journalist. . (Pg. 28, 29, 32, 41)
• Sv. Birthday party Moreover, during Yuna’s and Rhoda’s birthday party, Mr. Rwafa refers to Rondo as an effeminate spineless son of the family who marry into their enemies’ families, poisoning the pure blood of the Rwafa clan. . (Pg. 39, 40) This the watershed and defining moment in the already sour relationship between a father and son. It is like the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The disrespect that his father shows him makes Rondo feel dejected and he cannot bring himself to look at his father. Rondo cannot bring himself to his feet to even bid farewell to the departing guests. His father’s rant made him feel ashamed and powerless at the same time.
• Svi. Suspicions Rondo suspects that his father Rwafa could have been the one who orchestrated the murders of his daughters Yuna, six and Rhoda, five; and his father-in-law, Basil Mzamane. Recent events have been driving Rondo insane and making him see something else that he had always taken for granted. This is when his friend, Gaston, ask him whether he knows about the Second Street accidents. (pg 33) Rondo feels trapped by this revelation. However, he now accepts what he had refused to think about why his father left the house in morning and what he did before he returned in the evenings. Consequently, the accumulation of events and the history behind them makes him so numb that he is almost a zombie when he has the butt of a gun pointing at his father.
• Svii. Wedding/ marriage/ignominy Rondo’s father fails to acknowledge his marriage to Selina. His father actually frowns and even spit at it instead thus bringing tension in the whole family. Rwafa is one bombed-out battlefield of scars and cannot forgive his ‘enemies’. He calls it an ignominy of marrying a muNdevere and further chagrins his son for having a granddaughter with Ndevere blood as first in the family. After this marriage, nothing can appease Mr. Rwafa. It is as if his son has been written out, written off, disappeared. . (Pg. 31, 34) This has always brought tears to Rondo’s eyes to see his mother and wife together. Due to this tension Rwafa conveniently leaves town ‘on State Business’ for two weeks and does not attended his son’s wedding. Not surprising, the bill for the couples wedding is met by Basil Mzamane though his mother helps in tears. Another result of this strained relationship is that Rondo has lost touch with his father. He feels more close to his father-in-law, Basil Mzamane and would choose him as his father if he had a choice. {Any 4 well developed points=3x4=12marks}

In conclusion, Rondo’s troubles, bitterness, misgivings, powerlessness and low self-esteem are as a result of what his father did or did not do while he was growing up.

‘War can cause a lot of problems in our society and should be avoided at all costs’ With close reference to ‘Boyi’ by Gloria Mwaniga , Write an essay justifying this assertion.

INTRODUCTION (2MKS)

Conflict destroys family ties and communal bonds. Family members are separated from one another, some are traumatized and others are killed as a result of conflict. In Gloria Mwaniga’s ‘Boyi’ the militia which should protect the community land ends up being the one terrorizing the community they vowed to protect. Below are illustrations showing the challenges the community faced as result of conflict within the community.(It can be general/contextual or both)

• W1 Displacement Conflict causes displacement of people who leave their homes in huge masses to Bungoma and Uganda. The family of the narrator’s friend Chemutai moves to Chwele.The villages of Kopsiro, Saromet, Chepyuk and Chebei are engulfed by a fog of fear. The did not understand the Militia’s motive anymore. The Militia took away girls to go cook for them. People’s heads were chopped off and bodies were thrown into river Cheptap-burbur. The Militia also raped their own relatives resulting to children born who were transparent as plastic bags. The narrator imagines Boyi’s children playing appearing transparent as the plastic bags. This horrifies her terribly. Since school is disrupted by the conflict such thoughts haunts the narrator and she spends most of her time idle under the flame tree at home.
• W2 Family Disintegration Most of the families are disunited from the rest of their members. The Militia demanded 40,000 land protection tax, 10,000 land protection tax and 30,000 betrayal tax. Boyi’s father could raise the amount and suggested giving away his savings, precious radio and hunting gun and promises to give his bull Mtabakaki to raise the cash but the Militia is adamant and threatens to kill his entire family. Therefore resulted to giving away Boyi who is only 15years old until he could raise the amount. Boyi’s mother falls into depression, talking in monologues. She shouts at her husband for giving their son away she tears her Kitenge head scurf and tells him that their son is not cloth that one gives away casually. Boyi’s mother and father’s relationship disintegrated as a result of them losing their son to the Militia. Baba tries to justify his action by saying that he had to give him away otherwise the entire family would have have been tortured to death. He, however, is saddened that the boys who had vowed to protect their land had turned on them like a hungry chameleon that eats its intestines. Conflict really ruined their community.
• D3 Mental anguish. Conflict causes devastation that pushes Boyi’s mother to a state of insanity. The narrator finds the mother seated alone on a kiti moto in the kitchen. She neither looks up nor respond to greetings.She screams at the narrator to leave some tea for Boyi who will return from the caves hungry. The screaming goes on for weeks ‘stupid girl you want to finish tea for your brother and he will come from the caves hungry’, she bawls. She would sit stunned gazing at the wall declaring she envisions her son returning home after escaping from the snare of the militia. After her monologues, she would sit sadly and silently. When her madness takes a walk they would brew tea together with the narrator and would nostalgically reminisce stories about Boyi; about how he saved her marriage being a testament that her womb was not tied by Djinis. Conflict drives Baba to partake in strange tradition of burying a banana stem to drive the spirit of death away and appease Boyi’s spirit. The narrator is surprised by her father turning his back on religion. The mother refuses to be part of the ritual of sending her son’s spirit away. She has lost touch with reality and lives in denial. Boyi’s family was traumatized by the militia.
• D4 Misery In her anguish, Mama is too despondent to eat. She sits muttering to herself without touching her ugali until it would form a brown crust. The narrator would take it and throw it away in the chicken coop. She sits and talks to herself for hours on end lamenting about her suffering. She asks God to tie a rope around her stomach. Boyi’s family was devasted that he had been recruited by the militia by force.
• D5 Work disruption Conflict disrupts work in the village. That December the farmers do not clear their farms for the second planting of maize. The militia steals young crops from the fields and goats from pens. Instead of working, men and women sit and exchange dreadful tales of the horrendous cruelty of the militia. The militia cut people and throw their bodies in rivers, pit latrines and wells. They recruit boys as young as ten years who are forced to kill their own relatives. Instead of protecting the land, the militia goes on an indiscriminate killing spreeand their kins are victims of the aggression instead of beneficiaries. Boyi’s sister has a terrible dream that her brother attacks her and chops her head off into small pieces. She is traumatized by this dream.
• D6 Dehumanisation As result of war, innocent children turn into savages. These young boys are forced to murder or rape their own kinsmen. Boyi has gone from a God fearing young man to a wanted criminal. Chesaina tells his parents that he is now a marked man. The distressing news crashes Boyi’s parents and reduces oth of them to tears. They cannot wrap their heads around the fact that their good son who recited Psalms devotedly is now Matwakei’s right hand man and an enemy of the state. War truly ruins families.
• D7 Killings Boyi’s family is devastated by the news of his killing. The nation newspaper headlines screams coldly ‘Ragtag militia leaders killed by Army Forces’ Baba crumples like an old coat due to shock. Mama is too stunned to cry. She simply laughs. Boyi’s sister is too gutted to cry. War has robbed them of their kin in the prime of his youth. Boyi is murdered brutally after being flung out of a helicopter which was mid air. There was no body to bury or for Mama to slap for that matter. She does not roll on the ground as is custom. She is neither bitter nor sad. She only has eyes of lunacy and a voice of death. She truly is devastated. She sits on Boyi’s bed together with the daughter who weeps uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes. Boyi’s family was deeply destroyed by the war.

CONCLUSION(2 MKS)

It is evident that conflict or crisis has no positive outcome. It instead destroys families and communities and should therefore be shunned.

 Essay 13

“War causes a lot of harm and thus should be avoided at any cost.” Validate this statement basing your illustrations from Chimamanda Adichie's 'Ghosts'

INTRODUCTION:

Whenever people engage in some form of conflict and fighting, there are grave implications that follow as is seen in Ghosts' where the civil war that happened from the events of July 6, 1967 causing untold suffering and pain to the people.

• (Si) Displacement of people. Many people are forced to run away from their country and their homes when the civil war broke out. Prof. James and Ikenna's meeting take James down the memory lane where he recounts how they were forced to evacuate Nsukka in a hurry in July 6, 1967 when the war began. Through their conversation, we learn that Ikenna has lived in Sweden ever since the war began and has only come back to Nsukka recently. He discloses that he was flown out on Red Cross planes just like many other children had been airlifted to Gabon. Prof. James did not escape the displacement since he and his wife, Ebere had to move to America when the war broke out. Many people are seen to have been forced to leave their motherland as a result of the civil war.
• (Sii) War leads to loss of lives. Several people had their lives cut short due to the civil war. The return of Ikenna comes as a surprise to Prof, James since Ikenna was thought to have died in the war. It is no wonder that Prof initially thought of throwing a handful of sand at him just like his people did to ensure that it was not a ghost. Actual loss of life is seen through Ikenna's family. While explaining to prof the reason why he never returned to Nsukka after the war, Ikenna tells him that his whole family was killed when Orlu was bombed during the war thus he had nobody to come back to. It is not just Ikenna who lost loved ones but Prof too. His first daughter Zik died in the war. He tells Ikenna that the war took Zik. It is no wonder they named their second daughter Nkiruka which means: what is ahead is better.
• (Siii) Massive destruction and loss of property. When Prof James and his wife first returned to Nsukka when the war ended in 1970, they noticed major destructions that had occurred. Prof recounts how they found their house and items destroyed. His books were lying in front of the gate, his Mathematical Annals torn and used as tissue paper, the bath tab used as toilet and their photos ripped and their frames broken. The massive destruction of their house was too much that they had to be assigned a different house in a different street to avoid seeing their old house. In the process of their house being destroyed, they lose their Piano that belonged to Ebere. Prof also remembers the landscape as he drove back to Nsukka after the war. The massive destruction is recounted by Prof shows how destructive war is.
• (Siv) Psychological suffering. Those who experienced and the memories of it. Prof James is seen to have lived with the memories of the war. He easily remembers every detail of the war as he recounts it to Ikenna. Ikenna has suffered psychologically as is seen from the fact that he lost all his family in Orlu hence the reason he does not return to Nsukka. His psychological suffering is further seen from the fact that he never remarries after the war took his wife. Further evidence of psychological pain is seen where Prof observes how his people avoided the topic of war and if they engaged in it, it was with some vagueness. The naming of their second daughter Nkiruka- what is ahead is better, also shows the pain that Prof and Ebere: were trying to avoid. The people also suffer physical pain. Prof.James remembers how a wounded soldier was shoved in their car on the day they returned to Nsukka.

CONCLUSION:

War causes loss of lives, displacement of people and destruction of properties among other effects. People should thus strive to live in harmony and avoid it at all costs.

A Silent Song

People living with disability may face certain limitations. Using illustrations from Leonard Kibera’s A Silent Song, write an essay to validate this statement.

People living with disability find it more difficult to do certain activities or to interact with the world around them. In the short story A Silent Song, Mbane is visually impaired and disabled, and he finds it difficult to move and to conduct other activities because of his disability. (Any other relevant introduction, 2 marks)

Mbane’s movement is inhibited because of his disability. He gropes slowly towards the door of his hut. He can only crawl weakly on his knees and elbows. He cannot go further since the pain in his spine and stomach gather violence rapidly. The pain pangs paralyze him for a short tormenting moment. The pain soon disappears but with the same savage fury of its onslaught, leaving Mbane cold with sweat. He anticipates another imminent attack. Giving up the fight, he lets go his chin and hits his forehead on the dirty flea-ridden floor. Mbane’s freedom of movement is curtailed by his visual impairment, disability and pain. He is restricted to the lonely hut.

Mbane’s perception of time, day or beauty is limited by his inability to see. Although he is hungry, he does not know what time it is. He wallows in the gloom of his eternal night. Time, day and beauty lie beyond the bitter limits of darkness. He is restricted to feeling, hearing and running away from danger. He is also limited to a world of retreat. Due to his lameness, he can only crawl away. He has no power to hit back. Surely, people living with disability suffer certain restrictions.

When his brother brings him from the streets to his home, Mbane is restricted to his new confinement, the hut. His brother says that he rescued him from the barbaric city so that he could see the light of God. The hut is serene but so suspicious. This is Mbane’s new life away from the streets of the city. His new confinement is devoid of the urban ruggedness and noise. It lacks the quick prancing footsteps of the busy city people. In his limitation, Mbane can never fathom their business. Also, he is restricted to pleading with the people to help him stay alive by offering him some coins.

Due to his disability. Mane had little comprehension or knowledge of the city, though he lived in it. He earns his living on one street only, retreating to the back lane when it was deserted. His condition inhibits him from telling the length, width, beauty or the size of the street. He is just used to the talk of bright weather, lovely morning or beautiful sunset but he cannot take part in the small talk. He feels challenged when pedestrians sing to the blue sky and whistle to the gay morning. In his impediment, he cannot perceive these senses. During the day, Mbane has to endure the overly generous heat of the sun and obstinate flies mobbing the edges of his lips. At night, he cannot escape the hostile biting cold when he retreats to the back lane unsheltered, to surrender to his vulnerability to sleep and is occasionally by some ignoble thieves.

Mbane is constrained in his ability to eke out a living since he is disabled. He is forced to beg on that lonely street of the city. Mbane has come to understand that money is the essence of urban life. He is therefore happy with gay people since they mostly answer his plea. Dull people with heavy tired footsteps and voices have empty pockets. Unlike him, the good men and women of the city have the ability to work in the buildings next to him and more up the street. He has no option but to endure the scorching sun and stubborn flies. At night, he is tempted by the strange rhythms but cannot indulge because of his condition. He is limited to hearing voices cursing and singing and bottles cracking. Mbane is restricted from joining the good men’s women’s merry making after a hard day’s work. Only pimps and whores enjoyed the proceeds of the good men’s sweat.

Mbane’s condition has restricted him from getting married. His brother Ezekiel is married to Sarah. He must have been around Mbane’s age. Mbane would never be able to reach out his hand in fullfilement of his life in the same way. He can only yearn impotently, sadly constrained because of his darkness and lameness. He is overcome by bitter self-pity and can only console himself about his own light and thus he would only smile broadly and bravely. His brother’s wife occasionally brings him some bitter medicine. His condition impedes him from getting a wife of his own and settling down.

Mbane has become accustomed to limited conversation or communication. His brother enters his hut and sits on his bed but for a long time no one speaks. Mbane cannot be expected to start a conversation. All his life, he has been speaking to himself in his thoughts while living on the streets. He had no one to address apart from himself. Occasionally, he would blurt out a mechanical plea of “Yes?”. Now, if anyone speaks to him, he carries the subject on a line of uncommunicative thought in his own mind. When his brother asks if he believes in God, Mbane replies that he does not know, since to him he does not matter.

Mbane’s condition makes him feel alienated and thus he holds a different religious view from his mother’s and his brother’s his mother views men as one stream flowing through the rocks of life. They would twist and turn the pebbles and get dirty in the muddy earth. They cry in the falls and whirlpools of life and laugh and sing when the flow is smooth and undisturbed. Some cry in the potholes of life’s valley, while others laugh triumph elsewhere. Mbane’s condition inhibits him to not only ceaselessly crying but also feeling that he is not even part of the stream. He feels like the bitter fluid in his own throat. His pain gives him no reason to believe in God. No one understands his darkness. God is white cleanliness of eternal light but his life only contains darkness and blackness. He is forgotten and unnoticed. Sometimes, he is cursed and called able-bodied, only crippled by idleness of leisurely begging.

Mbane feels trapped in his unwashed body which reeks of sweat. He craves freedom that he cannot achieve. He dreams of a glorious future away from his pangs of darkness where light lies. Right now he is restricted since his eyes are denied the light. He dreams of a future where someone would understand him and raise the innocence of his cripple life along with the chosen. It gives him hope and he sings his own happy song, silently to himself. He cannot seek refuge in the brothels like other men, so he can only find it in his silent song. His soul has a destination, or so he thinks. But for now, he has to make do with it being incarcerated in his sweaty smelly body, which is unwashed except when in the rain. Surely, disability can be limiting.

Conclusion In conclusion, people living with disability undergo many impediments and limitations that deny them some pleasures or opportunities in life/ unlike those who are not disabled, the disabled people face a lot of limitations and challenges, which deny them the opportunity to enjoy life

An incident in the park

"The efforts employed by different individuals in society barely bear fruits. " Using evidence from the story , "An Incident in the Park." by Meja Mwangi, write an essay in support of this assertion.

Ponits of intepretation

• Identification of a character.
• Explaining the efforts the character employs.
• Show the outcome whihc is inversely proportional to the input.

INTRODUCTION

In our day to day lives, we put a lot of efforts in our endeavors but the outcome sometimes demoralizing since it does not merge with the input. For instance, the Azimio leadership put in place all that is expected to win a presidential election hut the outcome was not only demoralizing but also traumatizing. This is also the case in An Incident in the Park." by Meja Mwangi as explained below.

• Ei) The second ice cream man-sales. When the floodgates open, workers swam down the hill into the park. They pass the first ice cream man but the second one, in an effort to sale, he blocks the only way on to the highway, determined to make a sale that day. The swarm swirls round him and over and away. Irrespective of his efforts, that day. just like the day before, not one bar of ice cream is bought by the hungry ones. His bell to attract customers ring lonely and unwelcome like a lost leper's warning bell. (Page 7) In addition, his cries do not yield to any sales as a few men sitting on the cement bank ignored the ice cream man's cries. (Page 8). He is criticized by the loafer and another man when he rings his bell, they say that he is crazy and that he is always hammering the bell and no one wants to buy his ice cream. In fact they suggest that he should go where children are. (Page 9)
• Eii) The shaggy thin man. From the description, the man has been selling fruits since morning but when he makes his calculation, he looks disillusioned from the returns and falls unceremoniously on his back and covers his rough bearded face with two bony hands. A shaggy thin man sat under a shrub, scratching numbers and letters on his black dry skin with a used match. By his side were the two oversize fruit baskets he had been selling from morning and which he would resume hawking after the lunch break. Now he scratched his head with the matchstick and tried to balance the morning sales. He mumbled to himself, cursed and, rolling up his trouser legs, continued writing on his thigh. Finally, he flung the stick away and, wetting his palm with saliva, violently erased what he had scribbled. Then he fell unceremoniously on his back and covered his rough bearded face with two bony hands. (Page 7-8)
• Eiii) The fishpond board markers. At the fishpond, there is a board with the words DO NOT FEED FISH-BY ORDER. However, a loafer wearing torn slippers sits on it and carelessly tosses debris, tiny bits of grass and soil at the hungry fish. The idler sniggers and throws,more rubbish into the water. (Page 8) A huge piece of rock is added and a flattened cigarette. (Page 9). This is contrary to the board markers instructions that flatly fails to achieve fish feeding.
• Eiv) The fruit-seller-pleas. When the two constables come along, they demand for a licence from him. He is first surprised, he searches himself for a few seconds, shakes his head and helplessly declares that he left it at home. He too lacks his identification card. He tries to bribe the constables with five shillings but he is shoved along. When he is told that he will explain everything to the judge, more pleas follow, "You can't take me to that judge, the man will have me hung this time... I've this other case coming up next week... he will surely have me castrated.... I've ten shillings." He swears and offers all the baskets and the cash but when it looks like the constables won't let him go, he flees. (Page 11) His efforts to save himself comes to a sad end when a mob kills him. Here lay a desperate thief, attired in the unmistakable uniform of his trade- dirty torn clothes and a mean hungry face. (Page 12)
• Ev) The two constables/police. The fellows blatantly refuses to listen to the fruit-seller's pleas and take his bribe. They are all committed to ensure that they take the man to a court of law. One says, "You will explain to the judge. No licence, no identification..." (Page 11). They shoved him even when he offers them ten shillings and offers the two baskets. When he breaks lose, the constables pursue him... The constable shot after the fleeing man across the park shouting for help from passers-by. The shouts from one of the constables instead of making passers-by arrest them and hand him to them, they lynch him thinking that he is a thief. The police feel uneasy and uncertain and leave empty-handed. (Page 12)

In conclusion, efforts put in something must be directly proportional to the output.

People commit unethical acts as a result of lack of care. Citing illustrations from Incident in the Park by Meja Mwangi, write an essay to validate this statement.

• Immorality stems from people’s indifference. Unethical acts like negligence and brutality result from lack of care. Blood thirsty city dwellers brutally murder an innocent fruit seller without batting an eyelid in Incident in the Park. Government workers go about their business ignoring the ravaging effects of the drought on the neglected park. The park is dirty and brown. There was no promise of rain that August. The ground is dusty brown, bare and parched. The ministerial offices, City Hall and parliament buildings and the ominous cathedral are a stone throw away from the pathetic looking park. The ministerial offices are modern fortresses and its occupants conveniently ignore the park which clearly lacks proper care. This is evidenced by the dry bits of grass, dry leaves and thirsty trees. Only delicate flowers, planted like oasis islands at various spots, are watered in a desperate effort to keep the dirty brown park beautiful. The sad-looking boathouse and dirty, muddy water sum up the government's lack of care for the park. Secondly, the park is filled with many idlers who have little care in the world. They waste many hours lying idle in the park. They ignore the city and parliament clocks which strike suddenly, together - reminding them of how much time they had wasted. They care less about being useful. The clocks’ pleas go unheeded. Some insolent loafers simply shake their heads defiantly, curse loudly, face the other way and go back to sleep. Only every now and then, does a misplaced idler heed the clocks nagging disapproval and accusing fingers and walk away. The park people have no intention to go anywhere else but while away. They are here to stay. They have arrived. During the afternoons, the park looks parched and almost dead, dotted with a few loungers. More idlers sit by the lake watching the rowers, day in day out. This unproductive lot is a burden to the city and to society. The neglected pond in the park is another sign of lack of care by relevant authorities. The fish pond is dangerously overgrown with weeds. Colourless weeds choke the yellow, blue and purple water lilies. An ugly mishmash of weeds has replaced the aesthetic blue-green surface of the once beautiful pond. Initially, the pond flowers stuck out buds, thick colorful fingers and proclaimed order but not anymore - the existence of these beautiful fauna has been snuffed out by a riot of unclassifiable intruders and bastard flowers. To make matters worse, the park soil has collapsed, forcing the pond’s murky, brown water and bewildered fish to the deeper, further end. The sorry state of the pond points to acute lack of attention or care. The hairy loafer who feeds the fish is defiant. He ignores the public notice on the board that cautions people against feeding the fish. He carelessly tosses debris, tiny bits of grass and soil at the hungry fish. The fish fight for the useless things but let go when they realize they are worthless. The idler throws in more rubbish and carelessly sniggers - he has no iota of empathy whatsoever. He also drops in a piece of soil at the fish. When he learns that fish feeds on insects, he tries to find some and later decides to throw in a flattened cigarette end when he cannot catch any insects. The big fish that catches the cigarette butt releases it since it is useless. At last, the uncaring idler curses after violently hurling a large rock at the confounded fish. His lack of empathy leads him to defy the order not to feed the fish and as a result he harms the fishes. The police constables are callous. They harass innocent people heartlessly, displaying no shred of sympathy. The two city constables accost the old fruit seller and demand for his license and identification. As fate would have it, he has neither. He cannot afford a licence. The old man nods uncomprehendingly and shakes his head sadly when the police demand for a license. He desperately tries to bribe the constables by offering five shillings; all he had made that day. The policeman grabs him by his old coat and remarks that he would explain it to the judge. The old man swears by his mother. He is devastated because he has another case with the cruel judge. A tyrant who would hang him this time round. The fruit seller cries that the judge is crazy and would castrate him but his pleas fall on deaf ears. He offers the constables a 10- shilling bribe and even his foot baskets. The constables remain indifferent even when he cries that he has a wife and children. They do not care. They match him right ahead. When he realizes that he is talking to a brick wall, he decides to leap and run for it but not before cursing the cops, their wives and their children. The judge is portrayed as being unjust or outrightly cruel. When the police insist on taking him to the judge, the old fruit seller cries desperately. He has no licence and identification. He swears by his mother. He already has a case with the judge and he does not want to be taken back. He believes the judge will hung him. He is selling the fruits in order to afford the fine that was earlier imposed. He pleads with the police men as brothers. He even tells them that the judge is a tyrant - a crazy man who will have him castrated. The allusion to his wife and children does not bear any fruits. He tries to bribe the police with 10 shillings and appease them with his fruit basket but the uncaring constables match him ahead. The fruit seller curses the policemen and their families and decides to bolt. He takes this desperate measure to avoid facing the evil, apathetic judge. The bloodthirsty city dwellers have no regard for human life. Realizing that the city constable were adamant about taking him to the judge, the fruit seller decides to run for it. He leaps, breaking away, leaving the policeman holding onto a piece of his one coat. He runs across the park. The policeman shouts for help. The old man hopes to get protection by disappearing into the city dwellers. That was not to be. The barbarous city dwellers lunge at him trying to nab him. The old man is savagely desperate to escape. When he stumbles and falls into a ditch, the ferocious mob stones him to death. He cries out pleading for mercy. The bloodthirsty crowd leaves him for dead, looking like a broken twisted rag doll, covered in stones and a thick red blood. The crowd mistakenly label him as a thief. Lastly, the injustice witnessed after the innocent fruit seller killed is the height of brutality and lack of care. The constable strives to shift blame. No one looks guilty enough. The constables conveniently withdraw. An inspector confirms that the man is dead. The crowd that stoned him and those that witnessed his savage murder lower their eyes. Unwilling to openly testify, some of the residents hurriedly return to their offices, indifferently. The word ‘thief’ oozes out discreetly from mouth to mouth. They mistakenly condemn the man to be a desperate thief. They judge him by the unmistakable uniform of his trade - dirty torn clothes and a mean hungry face. Even the inspector of police is uneasy and doubtful about his next course of action. The poor man finds no justice even in his death. All and sundry conclude that a thief is a thief. The twisted garbage-strewn dark alleyways are lawlessly governed by one savage unwritten law concerning the fate of apprehended thieves. Ironically, the man is killed before his identity is established. Sadly, he can only be identified by his grieving wife and children in a cold room. An innocent life is cut short due to the heartless nature of idle, uncaring city dwellers and the inept police department. In conclusion, any society that lacks benevolence disintegrates into an abyss of lawlessness and immorality.

Humans are deceitful in nature and can live in pretence before revealing their true nature. Write an essay in support of this. Use the story The Truly Married by Aboise Niol.

• Introduction: Human beings have the ability of keeping appearances without being discovered. This is the case as seen in Ajayi’s wife who keeps appearances until the moment she realized she can do without them. This is seen in the text The Truly Married Woman in the following instances. Body Ayo keeps her husband comfortable before marriage by taking her supportive role keenly. She rises up early to prepare Ajayi his favourite cup of morning tea before serving him his breakfast. After her official marriage she changes and doesn’t do this. She instead tells him to do that by himself. ‘’Get up make yourself a cup of tea’’ (p 48) Ayo is a respectful wife to Ajayi. She does not contradict her husband and does that only when it is absolutely necessary. This state of affairs changes immediately after the wedding and might be the norm as seen in her stand on the issue of making tea. (page 43,48) When told about the visit by the three white missionaries, she makes a few amends in order to disguise their actual state. She borrows a ring, changes her dressing and that of the children and replaces the things in the house and on the walls in order to create an impression of religious family. (Page 44,45) Ayo cleverly presents herself to her husband Ajayi as an innocent naïve woman. It is not until she makes a strong argument against the beating of Oju, their san that Ajayi realizes how his wife informed is. This is one the reasons for his decision to wed her. (page 44,45) Omo for long pretends to be a good friend to Ayo until she learns of Ayo’s planned wedding. When Ayo shows her wedding dress, Omo cannot hide her true nature as she is said to be filled with bitterness and anger. She criticizes Ayo and hopes to dissuade Ayo from using the dress. This instance enable Ayo to learn what type of a person Omo is. Before this Omo had presented herself to Ayo as a good realiable kind-hearted friend who offered her wedding ring to Ayo. (page 45,46) Conclusion: People can have a double appearance as it was with the characters discussed above. (any other relevant)

Life for people living with disabilities may be made better if they are accorded all the support they may need. Referring to the short story “A Silent Song” by Leonard Kibera, write an essay to show how the lives of people living with disabilities can be made worthwhile.

Introduction Life for the people living with disabilities can be traumatising to them. However, it is the duty of everyone in the society to try and make their life better by availing them with all the support and assistance they may require. The short story a silent song tries to show the support we may offer the people living with disabilities in the following ways. (Accept any other valid introduction) Points of interpretation

• Mbane had been living in the streets all his life begging in the city where there was a lot of ruggedness and noise, with quick footsteps of people who would keep him alive with a drop of copper in his hat. His brother rescues him from the streets and brings him to his hut which felt so serene. Mbane no longer had to endure hostile cold nights and the basest of thieves he encountered in the streets.
• After being ‘rescued’ from the streets where he spent his nights on the hard pavement, he recounts how no one spoke to him for a long time. He was accustomed to speaking to himself in his thoughts. Ezekiel and his wife however speaks to him despite the fact that he could not start a conversation after getting so much used to being all alone in streets.
• At his brother Ezekiel’s home, Mbane is offered a bed on which he had tried to accustom himself to since being rescued from the hard pavement he was used to in the streets.
• Mbane was convinced that it was a glorious thing to believe, to cling to a dream of a future life. It was glorious this feeling that far far away beyond the pangs of darkness lay light, bigger and more meaningful than that which his eyes were denied. There, someone would understand and raise the innocence of his crippled life along with the chosen. It gave him hope and sang his own happy song silently to himself, secretly. His soul had a destination.
• Mbane’s brother’s wife Sarah takes care of Mbane and tries to alleviate his pain by giving him medicine. She breaks into his hut, slowly and tenderly raises his head and puts the cup to his mouth. The bitter fluid explodes down Mbane’s throat and another attack of pain tears through his stomach. Sarah then assures him that he would be alright soon and god would be with him. (Accept any other relevant well illustrated point) Conclusion
• We, as the members of society should try to alleviate the pain and suffering that the people living with disabilities might be going through by availing them the necessary need they may require. (Accept any other valid conclusion). Introduction: 2 marks Content: 12 marks Conclusion: 2 marks Language: 4 marks

Some cultural practices do not add value hence should be done away with. Show the truth in this statement basing your illustrations from Eric Ng’maryo’s Ivory Bangles.

Some traditions in our societies have lost meaning and should be done away with/abandoned as seen in the story ivory bangles by Eric Ng’maryo.(accept any other relevant introduction) T1 believe in the seer.

• The only visits the seer considered as the priest of people. (pg. 21)
• He goes the seer because of his superstitious nature. He had to consult the seer since he had noted blood specks on the liver of a goat that he had slaughtered (pg. 21) Tthis is a cultural practice that has lost meaning for its meant to drive a wedge between him and his wife.

T2. Polygamy

• his monogamous state was a concern for the aging chief who told him to get another wife (pg. 23)
• he was still the chief’s counselor much respected but much talked about because he had only one wife (pg. 22)
• this shows that the old man’s society values the tradition of polygamy and one who does not engage is considered a failure.

T3. wife beating/molestation (ritual beating)

• The were jealous of a happy wife. A woman unmolested by the husband until old age. It is not acceptable for a wife to enjoy a comfortable life with her husband in this community.
• The husband is expected to molest his wife to ensure that she doesn’t enjoy happiness. Failure to do so could lead to a disastrous outcome as the pebbles foretell wife’s death.
• The pebbles demand the old man gives his wife a through beating and sent her back to her parents. (pg. 22) This is a practice that does not add any value in the marriage.

T4. Naming of children

• naming of children is seen as an essential practice. twenty-four ivory bangles that the wife wears were gifted to her when their only son was given a name.
• the value of child naming is also seen because the old man’s grandson is named after him. The writer refers to the young boy as her husband. (pg230
• this culture is long overtaken by the modernity

CONCLUSION.

• We should embrace the change and do things that do not harm others in the name of cultural practices. (Accept any other relevant conclusion)

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How to Answer Essay Questions – The Ultimate Guide

• Posted by Brian Stocker MA
• Date November 30, 2007
• Comments 7 comments

Everyone Loves Essay Questions!

“I hate essays!” This battle cry is famous to most students. That’s because essay questions are either easy or difficult. Either way, there’s no certain formula. Even if you think you know the answer - don’t be overconfident - the critical part is how you make your essay worth reading. So how do you do it?

Audio Version of this Post

Tips for Writing an Essay

Read the question more than once. Some questions can be tricky so make sure you understand it to the letter. A lot of students commit error by simply not reading instructions very well. They read and then write a long essay, only to realize very late that they did not understand the question correctly.

Familiarize yourself with your professor or teacher’s style of organization, if you can. As students, it’s your role to know how your teachers want their essays answered.

Mentally go through your lecture notes before writing anything on your paper.

Create an outline of thoughts and related topics in connection with the essay question. By doing this you are helping yourself create a more organized answer.

Construct an idea in each paragraph. Go back to your essay outline if you think you are repeating yourself or not making sense at all.

Use the terminology of the course . Be professional in knowing what type of words to use in a particular topic or subject.

Read and go back to your previous paragraphs after you are finished with one paragraph. This will help you determine your flow of thought and if you are really making a point or giving an answer.

Don’t include ideas that are off-topic.

If there are too many ideas in your outline , cut out the least important ones. As much as possible, make your idea concrete and pointed, with arguments or statements that is easy to understand.

The body of your essay should have a summary or statement.

Support your summary or statement with adequate details and specifics. If you do not know how to add details, just expand on your generic idea.

Avoid jumping from one point to another.

Avoid vague descriptions if necessary . Include specifics to get your message across.

Review the question again and again so you will not lose your thread of thinking.

If you have time to make revisions, do so.

Use all the time you have to complete your essay. Review and re-check your answers before submitting your paper.

If you have nothing to write and don’t know what to write , don’t leave your paper blank. Write something at least.

Get the Complete Guide to Studying

Get the complete guide to taking notes, taking a test complete guide to multiple choice, essay check list.

Here is a great Checklist for answering Essay Questions from Tennessee State University:

Use the following as a guide when writing answers to discussion questions and as a checklist after you have written your answer.

1. Do I understand the question?  What am I being asked to do? 2. Do I have a plan?  What are my major points and how am I going to present them? 3. Does the reader know, just from reading the first sentence of my essay, both the question and how I will answer it? 4. Are my major points clear and do they stand out? 5. Do I support my argument with facts and examples? 6. Do I make clear and sensible transitions between major points? 7. Is my answer clear to someone who knows nothing about this? 8. Have I answered the question completely?  Have I fully covered all of the major points required to completely answer the question? 9. Is there irrelevant material? 10. Do I have a conclusion and summary statement? 11. Have I proofed my essay for common spelling and grammatical errors? 12. Is my handwriting legible?  Is there room for comments or additions?

Glossary of Essay Exam Terms

When taking an exam the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with all instructions. At times this can be confusing especially if you do not understand the terms. Below you will find some common terms used on essay exams. Learning these terms is a key step in successful completion of most essay exams.

• Compare (also Compare with): Discuss the similarities between two or more given subjects.
• Contrast: Discuss the differences in two or more given subjects.
• Criticize: Explain the value of a finding or theory. Include both negative and positive aspects based on implementation. This could be the ease of which it is applied, examples of false findings, etc…
• Define: Describe precisely a term’s meaning as it applies specifically to a given subject.
• Describe: Use exact detail to explain a given term. This may call for the use of examples, definitions, or discussion of the term.
• Diagram: Use a visual representation of relevant information to explain implementation of a term. This usually calls for an explicit chart or graph which is thoroughly labelled. In some cases it may call for a detailed plan as well.
• Discuss: The literal meaning of discuss is talk about. To do this in an exam you must thoroughly explain your subject with words.
• Enumerate: Form a list of relevant points and explain each point. This may result in an outline like answer.
• Evaluate: Discuss the pros and cons of the application of your given subject from a professional point of view. This differs from criticize because personal opinion should be avoided unless instructions specify otherwise.
• Explain: Define the given material and give examples of how and why it is important to the subject.
• Illustrate: Use a visual aid or a clearly defined example to explain a given subject.
• Interpret: Explain the given question, include you personal feelings on the subject as well as a solution.
• Justify: Use factual information to argue you view of the situation presented in a given problem.
• List: Brief but thorough list of information that explains the given topic.
• Outline: much like writing an outline for a paper. Answer the question by creating an outline that highlights the main ideas and key points of those ideas.
• Prove: Discuss the topic in a way that readers are convinced to support or reject the idea discussed. This is done through presentation of facts or the step by step illustration of logical thinking.
• Relate: Discuss the connection between two or more events, people, problems, etc…
• Review: Close examination of a problem accompanied by brief comments that explain the main points.
• State (also Give, Specify, or Present): Explain the major points of a subject in brief for. There is typically no need for further explanation.
• Summarize: Create a brief description that highlights the major points of your subject.
• Trace: Explain the progress of the given subject from conception to current date. Highlight anything that is considered a major topic as well as the reason for any changes.

Don’t!

Last piece of advice – Don’t get your parents to edit it!

More Info on Essay Exams

How to Study for an Essay Exam How to Answer Essay Questions – The Ultimate Guide

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Every thing was educational. Had a good feeling on how to deliver good papers.

Please no pictures.

This is a great tool for us.

i learned a lot – – super

I still hate essays tho

I am a big fan.

Above all are logically important and desirably topics which is value for everyone,thanks.

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To answer an essay question (EQ), students must assess the purpose of the essay question: factual recall, analysis (explanation of relationships) synthesis (application/transfer of previously learned principles) opinion

How much information to include, repeat, restate (intro needed? details needed?).

The chart below outlines 4 main types of essay questions, the verbs/cues that indicate the type of essay question and its purpose, and the strategy to be used to answer it.

Read the questions very carefully at least 2 or 3 times. Circle  the main verb (= action verb/imperative) in the question and decide on the necessary rhetorical strategy for answering the question (cause-effect, comparison-contrast, definition, classification, problem-solution). Make sure you understand what type of answer the main verb calls for (a diagram a summary, details, an analysis, an evaluation). Circle all the keywords in the question. Decide if you need to write a 1-paragraph or a multi-paragraph answer. Write a brief outline of all the points you want to mention in your answer. Restate the question and answer it with a topic sentence (for a 1-paragraph answer) or a thesis statement (for a multi-paragraph answer).  Answer the question according to general rules of academic writing.  Use indentations; begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; support the topic sentence(s) with reasons and/or examples; use transition words to show logical organization; write a conclusion.  Use correct punctuation throughout. Read over your answer again and check if all the main ideas have been included. Check your answer for grammar and punctuation.

© 2005: Christine Bauer-Ramazani ; last updated: September 02, 2019