SS2 English Language Lesson Plan: Notes & Scheme of Work

i. Stress Placement On Two Syllables

A. STRUCTURE

i. Rules of Concord

COMPREHENSION

i. Read to understand poems and dramatic works.

i. Define stress;

ii. State the rules governing stress placement on two syllable words;

iii. Place the stress on the appropriate part of the word;

B. 

i. Explain the term concord;

ii. Outline the rules of concord;

iii. Use the rules appropriately in sentences.

C. 

ii. Read to understand poems and dramatic works.

iii. Explain the keywords for poems and dramatic works;

iv. Identify the themes and features in a poem.

v. Summarize the poem.

ii. K. Mebelle, etal.(2018) Goodbye to Failure in English for Senior Secondary Schools, Treasure Publishers, Mushin, Lagos.

iii. Advanced Learner’s Dictionary by  the Cambridge University Press (Hard copy)

iv. www.myenglishpages.com

v. Use of power point slides

l Use of power point slides

l Use of videos:

i. https://youtube.com/shorts/A4N5jBnjXDE?si=l_93wpxIyd6gKp5F

Step II:  Students in small group, divides words into units.

Step III: Students, in pairs , analyse where the stress fall on two syllable words that are nouns and verbs.

Step IV:The students were asked distinguish between placement of stress on two syllable words.

Step V: Students were guided by the teacher while carrying out their class work and marking and feedback was given immediately.

Step VI: The teacher recapitulates on relevant points as he gives  assignment to the students.

 Keywords: Stress pattern, syllables, stress rules, word class.

Introduction

A. What is Stress?

Stress is a relative emphasis or prominence given to certain syllable in a word or to a certain word in a sentence.  English has variable stress patterns, which means the placement of stress can change based on the word’s role in a sentence or its form (e.g., noun vs. verb).

Stress Rules:

1. Most 2-syllable nouns take stress on the first syllable. Examples:

i. PREsent

ii. Export

iii. CHIna

iv. Table

v. ENvy

2. Most 2-syllable adjectives take stress on the first syllable. Examples:

i. PREtty

ii. CLEver

iii. HAPpy

3. Most 2-syllable verbs take stress on the second syllable.

i. Present

ii. deCIDE

iii. beGIN

iv. inVITE

v. aLIVE

TWO SYLLABLE NOUNS AND VERB CONTRAST

Verbs and Prepositions

Stress is typically on the second syllable verbs and preposition. Examples:

i. reLAX (verb)

ii. deCIDE (verb)

iii.  aRISE(verb)

iv. beTWEEN (preposition)

2. Distinguish between placement of stress on two syllable words.

i. Refund

ii. Import

iii. Reject

iv. Permit

v. record.

Step II: Students, in small groups, generates sentences using different rules of Concords.

Step III: Students were allowed to ask questions and proper feedback was given.

Step IV: Students were guided by the teacher while carrying out their class work and marking and feedback was given immediately.

Step V: The teacher recapitulates on main points as he gives  assignment to the students.

Rules of Concord

Rule 1

A. The verb and subject must agree in number (singular or plural)– This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. Examples:

1. He plays football. (SINGULAR)

2. They play football. (PLURAL)

Rule 2

When everybody or everyone is used, the object must be singular, not plural.

For example,

Everybody knows his or her name, not: Everybody knows their name.

Rule 3

When prayer, suggestion, wish, demand, recommendation, or resolution is used in a sentence, the verb that follows must be plural, whether the subject is singular or plural.

For example;

1. It has been suggested that he go away.

2. The board has recommended that the manager resign.

Rule 4

The principle of proximity

This principle states that when there is a list of nouns or pronouns at the level of the subject, it is the nearest noun or pronoun to the position of the verb that will determine the choice of the verb.

Example,

1. If James fails his examination, his teachers, his parents, his friends, or John ( ) to be blamed.

2. The correct option to fill that blank space is, “is” not “are”

Rule 5

When many – a is used, the verb and the noun that follows must be Singular. Example:

1. Many- a candidate (not candidates) speaks (not speak) bad English expressions.

2. Many a girl (not girls) is (not are) here.

Rule 6

When “a pair of” is used, the verb must be singular.

Example:

1. A pair of trousers (not trouser) lies (not lie) on the bed.

2. A pair of scissors lies (not lie) on the table.

Rule 7

A singular subject joined to other subjects by as well as, including, with, together with, along with, in addition to uses the singular verb. Example:

1. The king together with his chiefs encouraged the rioting boys.

2. Stylistics, as well as Semantics, is a course in English.

3. The manager, not many of his workers, is (not are) here now.

a. The lady in the car (look/looks) like your mother.

b. Most of the milk (is/are) gone.

c. One of the flowers (has/have) wilted.

d. Either Ram or Shyam (is/are) coming today.

e. Here (is/are) the newspaper.

f. The group of dancers (is/are) here.

g. Civics (is/are) my favorite subject.

Step II: Students, as a class explain the keyword for a given poem. Step III: Students, in pairs, critically appreciate the themes in a given poem.

Step IV: Students were asked to summarize a given poem.

Step V: Students were allowed to ask questions and proper feedback was given.

Step VI: Students were guided by the teacher while carrying out their class work and marking and feedback was given immediately.

Step VII: The teacher recapitulates on main points as he gives  assignment to the students.

POETRY

Poetry is based on the interplay of words and rhythm. It employs rhyme and meter to achieve this.

Poetry is written in lines, verses and stanzas. Poems make use of rhythm and imagery. Music is essentially a form of poetry. A person who writes poetry is called poet.

What does paraphrasing means?

To paraphrase means to rewrite a text, a poem or any dramatic work in

order to make the meaning clearer.

Let’s look at this poem:

Get off this estate

What for?

Because it’s mine

Where did you get it?

From my father

Where did he get it?

From his father

And where did he get it?

He fought for it

Well, I’ll fight you for it!

–Carl Sandburg

Paraphrased Version [SAMPLE]:

Leave this property.

Why?

Because it belongs to me.

How did you acquire it?

My father passed it down to me.

And where did he obtain it

From his own father.

And how did he come by it?

He fought to claim it.

Well, I’m prepared to fight you for it.

THEMES

The major themes/central ideas in the poem above include:

1.Inheritance: The theme of inheritance highlights the connection between family history and property

2.Conflict and Defiance: Conflict arises as two individuals assert their rights to the estate, emphasizing the emotional attachment and determination.

3.Social Commentary: Beyond the literal estate, the poem

may symbolize broader societal struggles—whether

personal, familial, or political.

Poetic

Poetic Analysis of the poem above

The poet imagines a dialogue taking place between a land owner and a man. The land-owner orders the man to get off his estate. The man questions the land owner’s right to the land and the land owner replies that he inherited it from his father.

When the land owner was asked where his father obtained it,

he says that his father fought for it. The man then tells the

landowner that he will fight the land owner for it too.

Figurative Language and Sample

i. Simile: comparison using ‘like or as’

eg. The pretty flower is like a ray of sunshine in my garden.

ii. Metaphor: This is an implied comparison

e.g The pretty flower is a ray of sunshine in my garden.

iii. Personification: giving a human quality to a non-human thing.

e.g. The flower smiled its radiance over the rest of the garden.

Iv. Symbolism: This is an object or person that represents some other quality.

e.g The beautiful flower represents the glory of nature.

v. Imagery: language that appeals to any of the senses

e.g. The vibrant smooth yellow petals emitted a beautiful perfume that attracted buzzy bees.

But we all are in pursuit of one collective destiny

We all need just one

One dream

One day

One hour

One minute

One second

One moment.”

INSTRUCTION:

1. Paraphrase the poem above.

2. Identify the major themes in the poem above.

2. Give ten examples of contrastive placement of stress on two syllable words.

3. Refer to page 217– New Concept English for selected poems on the “The Grasshopper and Cricket” by John Keats.

4. Write a poem on any topic.