WH Question Intonation, Cultural Expressions, Summary Skills and Noun Phrase Functions for SS 3

Class: Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3 / SSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 2
Age: 17 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language
Curriculum Theme: English Language Studies
Previous Lesson: Intonation Practice, Cultural Vocabulary, Noun Revision and Expository Writing
Topic: Integrated English Language Skills: Intonation, Cultural Vocabulary, Summary Writing, Noun Phrases, and Expository Essays
Subject Matter: Speech: Intonation practice using WH questions. Vocabulary Development: Cultural expressions relating to religion, marriage and ceremonies. Comprehension/Summary: Identifying main points for summary writing. Structure: Functions of noun phrases as sentence subjects. Writing: Continued expository essay writing

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define intonation and identify rising/falling tones in WH questions.
• Define cultural expressions and give examples related to religion, marriage, and ceremonies.
• Identify main points from a passage for summary writing.
• Explain the functions of noun phrases as sentence subjects.
• State the characteristics of an expository essay.

Affective Domain:

• Participate actively in discussions on cultural expressions.
• Appreciate the importance of correct intonation for clear communication.
• Value the skill of concise summary writing.
• Show interest in improving their writing skills.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Practice appropriate rising and falling tones in WH questions.
• Extract and rewrite main points from a given passage into a coherent summary.
• Construct sentences using noun phrases as subjects.
• Write a well-structured expository essay on a given topic.

Social Domain:

• Discuss cultural traditions and expressions respectfully with peers.
• Collaborate with classmates during group activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• FCT-ERC SS 3 Scheme of Work, September 2014 curriculum.
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work.
• A suitable English Language textbook for SS 3.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Intonation chart
• Cultural passages
• Summary worksheet
• Grammar text

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson enables students to improve their spoken, written, and comprehension skills. It helps them communicate effectively, understand texts better, and express themselves clearly in various contexts, including those related to Nigerian culture.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students have basic knowledge of question types, general vocabulary, reading comprehension, sentence structure, and essay writing from previous classes.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Integrated English Language Skills

Speech: Intonation Practice Using WH Questions

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice in speaking. It helps to convey meaning and emotion.

For WH questions (e.g., Who, What, Where, When, Why, How), the tone usually falls at the end of the question, indicating a request for specific information.

Examples:

1. “Where are you going?” (Falling tone)
2. “What did you say?” (Falling tone)

Vocabulary Development: Cultural Expressions

Cultural expressions are words or phrases that reflect the traditions, beliefs, and practices of a particular culture or community. They often carry meanings specific to that culture.

Examples of cultural expressions relating to religion, marriage, and ceremonies:

1. Religion: “Ramadan Kareem”, “Happy Eid”, “Merry Christmas”, “Praise the Lord”, “Alhamdulillah”.
2. Marriage: “Traditional marriage”, “Engagement ceremony”, “Bride price”, “Dowry”, “Iyawo”.
3. Ceremonies: “Naming ceremony”, “Chieftaincy title”, “Funeral rites”, “Housewarming”.

Comprehension/Summary: Identifying Main Points

Summary writing involves condensing a longer text into a shorter version, retaining only the most important information. Identifying main points is a key step in summary writing.

The following are steps to identify main points:

1. Read the passage carefully to understand the overall idea.
2. Identify the topic sentence in each paragraph, which often contains the main idea.
3. Look for keywords and phrases that are repeated or emphasized.
4. Underline or note down the most important facts, arguments, or descriptions.
5. Exclude minor details, examples, or repetitive information.

Structure: Functions of Noun Phrases as Sentence Subjects

A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence. It typically includes a noun (or pronoun) and any words that modify it (e.g., determiners, adjectives, other phrases).

A noun phrase can function as the subject of a sentence. When it acts as the subject, it performs the action of the verb or is the focus of the sentence.

Examples of noun phrases functioning as subjects:

1. The tall, elegant lady walked gracefully.
2. Eating healthy food is important for good health.
3. My best friend and I enjoy reading.

Writing: Continued Expository Essay Writing

An expository essay is a type of essay that explains, describes, or clarifies a topic. Its primary purpose is to inform the reader objectively, without expressing personal opinions or trying to persuade.

The following are characteristics of an expository essay:

1. It presents facts and evidence to support its claims.
2. It has a clear thesis statement in the introduction.
3. It uses logical organization, often with topic sentences for each paragraph.
4. It maintains an objective tone.
5. It provides a clear and concise conclusion.

Additional Examples

1. Speech: WH-questions such as “Where are you going?” and “Why did she leave?” normally take falling intonation in neutral use.
2. Vocabulary: the register should be learned through contextual meaning, collocation and correct use in sentences rather than isolated memorisation.
3. Comprehension/Summary: a good summary selects main ideas, removes illustrations and repetition, and expresses the points concisely in the writer’s own words.
4. Structure: in “The diligent prefect addressed the assembly,” The diligent prefect is a noun phrase functioning as the subject.
5. Writing: a suitable expository topic is “Causes and Effects of Examination Malpractice”; a strong response explains each point logically instead of merely listing it.

Quick Revision Table

Area	Key Point
Speech: Intonation Practice Using WH Questions	Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice in speaking. It helps to convey meaning and emotion. For WH questions (e.g., Who, What, Where, When,…
Vocabulary Development: Cultural Expressions	Cultural expressions are words or phrases that reflect the traditions, beliefs, and practices of a particular culture or community. They often…
Comprehension/Summary: Identifying Main Points	Summary writing involves condensing a longer text into a shorter version, retaining only the most important information. Identifying main points…
Structure: Functions of Noun Phrases as Sentence Subjects	A noun phrase is a group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence. It typically includes a noun (or pronoun) and any words that modify it…
Writing: Continued Expository Essay Writing	An expository essay is a type of essay that explains, describes, or clarifies a topic. Its primary purpose is to inform the reader objectively,…

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction and Recall

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Set Induction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them about different ways people communicate. The teacher then introduces the topic by highlighting that effective communication involves various skills, which will be covered today.

Students’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher's questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Prior English language knowledge.

Step 2: Speech: Intonation Practice

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what intonation is and demonstrates rising and falling tones, specifically focusing on WH questions using the intonation chart. The teacher provides examples and asks students to repeat.

Students’ Activity: Students listen, observe the chart, and practice saying WH questions with appropriate intonation.

Learning Point: Correct intonation patterns.

Step 3: Vocabulary Development: Cultural Expressions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on cultural expressions, asking students to share examples related to religion, marriage, and ceremonies from their own cultures. The teacher defines cultural expressions and lists some examples on the board.

Students’ Activity: Students contribute examples of cultural expressions and discuss their meanings.

Learning Point: Contextual vocabulary development.

Step 4: Comprehension/Summary: Identifying Main Points

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guidance/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what summary writing is and guides students on how to identify main points from a given passage. The teacher provides a short passage (or uses the summary worksheet) and demonstrates the process.

Students’ Activity: Students listen to the explanation and practice identifying main points from the provided passage or worksheet.

Learning Point: Comprehension and summary skills.

Step 5: Structure: Functions of Noun Phrases

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines a noun phrase and explains its function as a subject in a sentence. The teacher provides various examples and asks students to identify the noun phrases acting as subjects.

Students’ Activity: Students listen, identify noun phrases in example sentences, and construct their own sentences using noun phrases as subjects.

Learning Point: Noun phrase functions.

Step 6: Writing: Expository Essay Writing

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Assignment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reviews the characteristics of an expository essay and reminds students of the importance of structure and objective explanation. The teacher assigns a short expository essay topic for homework or as a follow-up activity.

Students’ Activity: Students recall the characteristics of an expository essay and note down the assigned task.

Learning Point: Correct writing organisation.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Define intonation.
2. Give two examples of cultural expressions related to marriage.
3. State two steps involved in identifying main points for a summary.
4. What is a noun phrase?
5. Explain how a noun phrase functions as a subject in a sentence, with an example.

Students’ Activity: Students answer orally and in writing, showing working or giving examples where the lesson requires it.

Learning Point: English language skills assessed.

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to copy the essential Board Summary on English language into their notebooks, drawing attention to the key rules, examples, diagrams or distinctions already taught.

Students’ Activity: Students copy the essential notes carefully into their notebooks and correct any errors in their earlier work.

Learning Point: English language notes recorded.

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Summarization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarizes the key learning points on intonation, cultural vocabulary, summary writing, noun phrases, and expository essays, emphasizing their importance for effective communication.

Students’ Activity: Students listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: English language concepts consolidated.

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the following tasks using the rules, examples and explanations in the Board Summary.

1. Write six examples related to Speech: Intonation Practice Using WH Questions and mark the sound, stress or intonation feature studied.
2. List ten words from the register in Vocabulary Development: Cultural Expressions and use five correctly in sentences.
3. Read a suitable passage connected with Comprehension/Summary: Identifying Main Points, identify its main ideas and write a concise summary in your own words.
4. Write five original sentences that demonstrate Structure: Functions of Noun Phrases as Sentence Subjects, and underline the relevant grammatical structure in each sentence.
5. Write a well-organised 250–300 word response that applies the features studied under Writing: Continued Expository Essay Writing.

Lesson Keywords

• Intonation – The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, used to convey meaning.
• WH questions – Questions beginning with “who, what, where, when, why, which, how”.
• Cultural expressions – Words or phrases reflecting the traditions, beliefs, and practices of a particular culture.
• Summary – A brief statement or account of the main points of something.
• Noun phrase – A group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence.
• Expository essay – A type of essay that explains, describes, or clarifies a topic objectively.

Differentiation

For students who need extra support, the teacher will provide simpler passages for summary practice and more direct examples for noun phrases. Advanced learners will be challenged with more complex passages and encouraged to use varied sentence structures in their writing tasks.

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