1998 WAEC English Essays and Letters
Note before: The purpose of the essays and letters section of the WAEC SSCE is to test your understanding and mastery of various types of writing such as formal and informal letter writing, descriptive essay writing, narrative essay writing, argumentative essay writing and creative writing.
You can expect one question from each of the above types of writing, therefore, it would be smart for you to choose two or more styles and practice ardently to ensure a good score in this section.
Question 1: Write a letter to your elder brother working abroad, describing the hardship you and your parents are facing at home and requesting him to give some financial assistance.
No. 19 Conakry Street
Asaba
Delta State.
12th May 2023.
Dear brother Joshua,
Greetings to you and your family. I hope your children are healthy and doing well in school? How is auntie Diane? I pray both of you are coping well as you combine your jobs with the pursuit of higher education.
The purpose of writing to you is to plead with you to render some financial assistance to Dad because things are really hard for us presently.
The new government made some policies that have resulted in scarcity of foreign exchange which in turn increased the price of every commodity in the market. Transportation now costs quadruple of what it used to. Premium Motor Spirit, cooking gas, and routine drugs such as those used to treat malaria are so expensive that they are beyond the reach of the average citizen. We have even resorted to using wood to cook which is not healthy for the environment, and also poor Mom is finding it difficult to access the pain medication for her arthritis.
In contrast, salaries have not been increased and Dad is struggling to pay I and Celina’s school fees. As you know, I will write the Senior School Certificate Examination in a few months’ time as conclusion of my secondary school education. Also, Celina will register for the Junior Secondary School examinations which will enable her to proceed to Senior Secondary School. The examination fees are in addition to our school fees.
Dad is reluctant to ask you for help because he knows that economies have shrunk since COVID19 grounded activities across the world. But I know he will appreciate the slightest financial help you can give him as it will be a big relief for him.
Thank you so much as you consider my plea. Please give my regards to auntie Diana and my little nephew and niece.
Your younger brother,
Daniel
Question 2: You are the chief speaker in a school debate the topic of which is “Public secondary schools are better that the private ones”. Write your speech for or against the topic.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BETTER THAN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
There are three basic levels of education. They are primary, secondary and tertiary levels. These levels of education are usually run by the government of a country. But with time, the education sector became diversified such that private entities can also own and run any or all of the above levels of education.
Having defined the topic, it is pertinent to point out that government owned, that is, public secondary schools are better than their counterparts that are privately owned for the following reasons.
Public secondary schools have better qualified teachers. This is because the salary scale of public secondary school teachers is much higher than private secondary school teachers who are subject to the whims and caprices of the school’s owner.
Public secondary school students have more opportunities. Many education intervention funds and projects to benefit students and teachers are often directed at public secondary schools. Opportunities for international exchange programs, international sports, quiz, debate and science competitions are often presented first to students of public secondary schools.
Cost of education in public secondary schools is highly subsidized by the government. That is a huge advantage especially in these times of economic downturn. Parents who are already undergoing so much financial hardship don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for their wards t get basic education.
Public secondary schools are more populated than their private counterparts, hence you can meet diverse students of various origins and abilities. This helps to make a properly rounded individual instead of a one-dimensional character.
Finally, public secondary schools receive equipment and current technological devices by NGO’s and other charity orgnisations.
In conclusion, the above stated facts show that public secondary schools are better than private secondary schools.
Question 3: Tell a story that ends with the advice: “Cut your coat according to your cloth”.
CUT YOUR COAT ACCORDING TO YOUR CLOTH
My eldest sister, Joy, was getting married. The marvelous day was around the corner, and for her, everything had to be perfect. She had many friends who had rich parents and she and her husband-to-be wanted to highly impress them.
She chose a glittering wedding gown full of jewels and hundreds of hand-made flowers stitched into the floating yards-long train. Our Dad had promised to pay for her wedding gown after she graduated from university with an outstanding result. But he had not bargained for her outrageously expensive gown. It depleted his savings from his job as a civil servant, but he purchased it because he had made the promise.
Mom was going to bring her friends and a few hired hands to cook the wedding feast, but Joy would have none of that. She decided on a caterer that one of her friends recommended. The caterer promised to deliver intricate-sounding international cuisines for an astronomical fee. And since Joy did not have a job yet Mom had to foot the bill with all her savings with additional help from soft loans from close friends.
The big day finally arrived. The formal ceremony was over and guests were seated in the reception venue. The groom had brushed aside every advice to pay for a hall at an event centre, but instead chose to rent a huge cruise boat that would be floating around on a man-made lake until the event was over. The boat was festooned with lights and fireworks going off at intervals. The cost was many times the amount for the event centre.
Between the huge, many-tiered cake and the wining and dining on exotic cuisines, the wedding party was very exuberant. However, some guests could not help but notice that the bride and groom seemed inordinately focused on their phones and typing with much frenzy.
As it turned out, the deposit they had made on a new apartment was rejected by the Landlord who wanted full payment. But sadly, they had exhausted all their recourses, including those of their parents, on extravagant items just to please friends.
In the end, the new couple had to lodge at the groom’s parents’ house. They became a good example of why it is important to always cut your coat according to your cloth.
Question 4: You have just taken part in a local festival in your village. Write an article for publication in a cultural magazine describing the festival, its origin and importance to your people and the role your played.
THE ILUM CULTURAL FESTIVAL
The Ilum Cultural Festival is a colourful event which takes place once every year. Some tribes celebrate the New Yam Festival or the coming of age of young men of the community, we celebrate the Ilum festival in the month of March in remembrance and to honour the great hunter and founder of the Ilum tribe.
Legend has it that the young Ilum was traveling the countryside with his new wife in search of a suitable place to make their home, when they came across a fearsome-looking leopard. But Ilum was not afraid; he bravely took on the leopard and defeated it in a battle which lasted for days.
After winning the battle, Ilum decided to build his home in that place where he claimed victory against the dangerous beast. Ilum is remembered as a hunter and warrior who dislodged all the wild animals from that area.
As the times have changed, so also has the Ilum festival changed. Instead of a one-day fun-fair, the Ilum festival begins with a symposium on the Ilum people and their place and contribution to the society and nation.
On the main festival day, all the sons and daughters of the land come from far and near to celebrate the occasion. Everyone dresses in bright, rich clothes bearing any artificial Leopard skin material to symbolize Ilum’s victory against the Leopard.
The women’s cultural troupe present their dance to the public. The men also dance and demonstrate acts of courage. Different masquerades display their energetic and acrobatic movements. I and other young people participate in the festival by helping in any little way that we can. Some of us weed and sweep the football pitch before and after the occasion is held, others help to serve refreshments to the attendees.
The event culminates in the inspection of various local dishes, foods and artifacts native to the Ilum people. These are purchased by visitors and invitees to the occasion.
The Ilum festival is very important because it helps to promote the unity of the Ilum people. It fosters peace and progress as the people eat and felicitate with one another. The purchase of various items also helps to raise funds for many small-scale projects to assist the community.