NATIONAL

SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE

MARKING GUIDELINES

COMMON TEST

MARCH 2022

MARKS: 50

TIME: 1½ hours

This marking guideline consist of 8 pages.

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English Home Language 2 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

INSTRUCTIONS TO MARKERS

Marking the comprehension:

 Because the focus is on understanding, incorrect spelling and language errors in

longer responses should not be penalised, unless such errors change the meaning /
understanding. (Errors must still be indicated.)

 If a candidate uses words from a language other than the one being examined,
disregard those words, and if the answer still makes sense, do not penalise. However,
if a word from another language is used in a text and required in an answer, this will
be acceptable.

 For open-ended questions, no marks should be awarded for YES/NO or I AGREE /

I DISAGREE. The reason/substantiation/motivation is what should be considered.

 No marks should be awarded for TRUE/FALSE or FACT/OPINION. The reason /

substantiation/motivation is what should be considered.

 When one-word answers are required and the candidate gives a whole sentence,
mark correct, provided that the correct word is underlined/highlighted.

 When two/three facts/points are required and a range is given, mark only the first
two/three.

 Accept dialectal variations.

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English Home Language 3 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

SECTION A: COMPREHENSION

QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING

1.1 The rhetorical question engages the reader on the issue of speaking
without thinking adequately which is brought under sharp focus./

The rhetorical questions introduce the topic of the passage by reminding

readers of situations where they regretted speaking without thinking.

[Award 1 mark for function of rhetorical question and 1 mark for link to
topic.]
[Credit valid alternative responses.] (2)

1.2 The writer is showing how futile it is to retract our words. Just as a shut
gate will not bring back a horse that has already escaped, so too it is with
our words, once they have been ‘blurted’ /escaped, they cannot be
regained.

[Award 2 marks if futility of retracting words is mentioned and

a discussion of the imagery.] (2)

1.3 The writer argues that someone who lacks a filter is insensitive and
inconsiderate to the people around them. They do not think about how
their words will be hurtful to others. As a result, the people around them
are wary of their insults and thoughtless words.

[Award 1 mark for stating argument. Award 1 mark for discussion of

writer’s argument.] (2)

1.4 The writer’s attitude is disapproving /harsh/stern/ critical / condemning of

‘unfiltered’ teenagers.

The writer compares the ‘unfiltered’ teenagers to ‘bulls in life’s china shop
of fragile relationships’. These words emphasise their carelessness,
inappropriate speech and ignorance of the consequences of their words./

The words ‘stomp on communicative etiquette’ indicates a blatant

disregard and disrespect for rules of communication/

The words ‘merry, unphased bulls’ indicate that they are unaffected by the
consequences and may even enjoy the chaos they cause.

[Award 1 mark for stating attitude and 2 marks for any TWO ideas well
discussed. Do not award marks for merely stating the diction.] (3)

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English Home Language 4 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

1.5 The writer wishes to highlight what will happen to ‘unfiltered’ teenagers if
they continue to speak without thinking. Just as radios playing to empty
houses provide nothing of value because no one is listening to what they
are broadcasting, so too will ‘unfiltered’ teenagers be ignored and have no
one to listen to their voices or ideas. They will lose the opportunity to be
heard.

[Award 3 marks for linking the consequences of ‘unfiltered’ speaking to the

image of radios playing in the empty house.] (3)

1.6 Yes, The Internal process of pausing and reflecting on one’s thoughts
would be effective for teenagers as a practical exercise that can help
teenagers visualise their situation and re-examine it. This method also has
practical steps that will calm teenagers down and allow them to respond
less impulsively.
OR

No, the method requires calmness and the ability to physically and
mentally pause and reflect. Teenagers may be too impulsive to be able to
perform this strategy on their own. They may be also unaware of the
consequences of their actions so re-examining the situation may not make
much difference to them.

[Accept responses where candidates disagree and justify by citing the

THINK strategy as a better technique.]
[Credit valid alternative response or mixed responses with substantiation]
(3)

1.7 The sentence is relevant since it highlights the need and importance for
the questions in the THINK strategy to be constantly asked since it is a
way to combat problems that are threatening to overwhelm our world./

Our world is inundated with false news, slander, bogus information and
negativity and there is a dire need to use the THINK strategy to ensure that
we halt the deluge that threatened to drown us.

[Award 3 marks for a critical discussion of the relevance of the diction in

the sentence and the need to adopt the THINK strategy.] (3)

1.8
1.8.1 The writer is being sarcastic/condescending or shows annoyance/ disbelief
that anyone could disagree with his analogy that our minds are like
gardens. His use of the words ‘cannot fathom why’ illustrates his conviction
that he cannot agree with nor understand why anyone would disagree with
his belief.

[Award 1 mark for stating correct tone. Award 2 marks for linking diction to
the tone.] (3)

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English Home Language 5 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

1.8.2 The final paragraph is an effective conclusion since the writer reminds us
that our minds can be linked to ‘garden beds’, where our words will take
root in either a negative way and breed unhappiness like ‘weeds,’ or foster
a positive impact and inspiration like the beauty of blossoms./

The paragraph questions the reader, inviting them to make a choice to

plant weeds or flowers. The rhetorical question compels the reader to
reflect on the power of words and the need for us to make a crucial choice.
This strongly emphasises the writer’s position that we have the power to
choose our words wisely./

[Award 3 marks if any 2 reasons are discussed with focus on the diction or
rhetorical question.]
[Credit valid alternative responses.]
(3)

1.9 The message of the text is that words are brutal and can cause great
injury. The verbal texts ‘Words, What they really feel like’ is accentuated by
the visual image of the young girl with the sad face, being cut or battered
by the insults./

The insults are arranged in the shape of knives/daggers that stab into her
back./

The font used resembles cuts that are dripping with blood./

The girl’s posture indicates that the wounds and weight of the knives
(insults) are so heavy and painful that she is bent over from them and
lacks the strength to confront them/overwhelmed by the brutality of the
onslaught of words./

The unkempt hair, the bare feet and the position of the left leg indicate the
extent of the trauma the girl experiences.

[Award 2 marks if candidate discusses the impact of the visual and verbal
text, and 1 mark if candidate shows the link to the message.]
[Consider a valid discussion of the symbol in the right-hand corner of Text
B.] (3)

1.10 The image in Text B supports the title in Text A to a large extent as it
shows the harmful/hurtful effect of words which are similar to ‘weeds’.
While the words ‘weeds and flowers’ in Text A are not clearly linked to the
image in Text B, there is a link between the destroying effect of weeds and
words that can bring harm./

Just as weeds can choke or injure good plants in Text A, so too, the insults
as seen in the image in Text B, can choke and destroy a vulnerable
person./

(3)
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English Home Language 6 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

A symbolic reference: The girl in Text B may be viewed as a flower that is

injured by hurtful words that weigh down upon her or incapacitate her like
the invasiveness of weeds chokes plants.

[Award 3 marks for any TWO ideas well discussed.]

[Credit valid alternative responses as well as mixed responses.]

TOTAL SECTION A: [30]

SECTION B

QUESTION 2: SUMMARY

Use the following main points that the candidate should include in the summary
as a guideline.

Any 7 valid points are to be credited in paragraph-form.

(Sentences and/or sentence fragments must be coherent.)

NO QUOTATIONS NO POINTS
1 ‘Acknowledge your fears.’ 1 Accept/know/confess your fears.
2 ‘The next step is confronting your 2 Try to understand what causes your
fear’ fears. / Challenge your fears.
3 ‘Consistent, positive self-talk will 3 Use positive self- motivation to
build your confidence’ overcome fears.
4 ‘put yourself in situations that 4 Force yourself to do things you are
intimidate you’ afraid of.
5 ‘Surrounding yourself with people 5 Spend time with people who are
who exude courage can inspire courageous.
your courage levels’
6 ‘Build a mentorship relationship 6 Establish a coaching relationship with
with someone fearless’ someone brave.
7 ‘truly courageous people embrace 7 Be motivated by your failures.
failure’
8 ‘turn it into a learning opportunity.’ 8 Turn failure into a lesson.
9 ‘do not aim for perfection’ 9 Accept that things will not be perfect.

PARAGRAPH-FORM

NOTE: What follows is merely an example. It is not prescriptive and must be used
very carefully.

Accepting your fears and trying to understand what causes your anxiety will help boost your
courage levels. Overcome your fears by using positive self- motivation and forcing yourself to
do things you are afraid of. Spending time with people who are courageous and establishing a
coaching relationship with them can also build bravery. Instead of fearing failure and always
expecting perfection, accept your failures and allow them to become lessons. (70)

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English Home Language 7 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

Marking the summary:

Marking is on the basis of the inclusion of valid material and the exclusion of invalid material.

The summary should be marked as follows:

 Mark allocation:

 7 marks for 7 points (1 mark per main point)

 3 marks for language
 Total marks: 10

 Distribution of language mark when candidate has not quoted verbatim:

 1–3 points correct: award 1 mark

 4–5 points correct: award 2 marks
 6–7 points correct: award 3 marks

 Distribution of language marks when candidate has quoted verbatim:

 6–7 quotations: award no language mark

 1–5 quotations: award 1 language mark

NOTE:

 Word Count:

 Markers are required to verify the number of words used.

 Do not deduct any marks if the candidate fails to indicate the number of words
used or if the number of words used is indicated incorrectly. If the word limit is
exceeded, read up to the last sentence above the stipulated upper limit and ignore
the rest of the summary.

TOTAL SECTION B: [10]

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English Home Language 8 March 2022 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guideline

SECTION C: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT

QUESTION 3: USING LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT

3.1 ineffective /incompetent (1)

3.2 Remove “actively” or “enthusiastically” (1)

3.3 To show additional information/ in parenthesis (1)

3.4 considerably  considerately (1)

3.5 People often say that they are unsure and do not know what to think. (2)

OR

People often said that they were unsure and did not know what to think.

[Award one mark for the change in pronoun and award one mark for the
use of the correct verb.]
[Do not award marks if the candidate has not removed the speech marks.]

3.6 A lack of listening skills impacts relationships negatively … (1)

3.7 Misunderstandings that otherwise could have led to big blowouts could
be prevented by active listening and summarizing what the person said.

OR

Misunderstandings that otherwise could have led to big blowouts could

be prevented. (1)

3.8 significance (1)

3.9 inappropriate/ silly/ ridiculous /humiliating/ foolish/ irrelevant/ uninteresting/

boring
[Credit valid alternative responses.] (1)

TOTAL SECTION C: [10]

TOTAL MARKS: 50
MARK CONVERSION TO TOTAL OUT OF 35
= (CANDIDATE’S TOTAL MARK ÷ 50) x 35

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