RASMEDIAN NETWORK
SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL 3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE
FIRST TERM LESSON NOTE
2026/2027 SESSION
Centers:
Lagos, Port Harcourt, Effurun, Benin, Warri, Abuja, Owerri, Udu, Yenagoa, Aba, Auchi, Osogbo,
Ilorin, Kaduna, Enugu, Ughelli, Asaba, Kano, Sokoto, Minna, Jos, Calabar, Makurdi, Lokoja,
Nasarawa, Ekito, Akure
Contact:
Phone: 08107474461, 07012354034
Email: 8162769844g@[Link]
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COMPLETE SCHEME OF WORK - SS3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE -
FIRST TERM
WEEK 1: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT - CULTURE, INSTITUTIONS AND CEREMONIES
WEEK 2: SPOKEN ENGLISH - REVISION OF INTONATION PATTERNS
WEEK 3: GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES - NOUNS AND NOUN PHRASES
WEEK 4: WRITING - CONTINUOUS WRITING (EXPOSITORY ESSAY)
WEEK 5: MIDTERM EXAMINATION
WEEK 6: COMPREHENSION - SILENT READING
WEEK 7: MIDTERM BREAK
WEEK 8: SUMMARY WRITING - SUMMARIZING A TALK/LECTURE
WEEK 9: SPOKEN ENGLISH - CONSONANT CLUSTERS
WEEK 10: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT - MOTOR VEHICLES
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SS3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE: COMPREHENSIVE LESSON NOTES -
FIRST TERM
WAEC Standard
WEEK 1: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT - CULTURE, INSTITUTIONS AND
CEREMONIES
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Identify and use words associated with culture and institutions
2. Distinguish between words related to ceremonies and social norms
Content Breakdown
WAEC tests vocabulary in context. Words are grouped under themes.
A. Words Associated with Culture and Ceremonies
- Child naming: christening, naming ceremony, kola nut, libation
Example: During the naming ceremony, the elder offered libation to the ancestors.
- Festivals: masquerade, procession, durbar, new yam festival, regatta
Example: The durbar is a colorful horse-riding festival in Northern Nigeria.
- Rituals: sacrifice, incantation, purification, rites of passage
- Chieftaincy/Title-taking/Installation: coronation, stool, scepter, chieftaincy title,
turbanning
Example: The new king received the scepter during his coronation.
B. Words Associated with Institutions
- Social norms and morality: taboo, etiquette, decorum, virtue, vice
- Customs: tradition, heritage, folklore, dowry, bride price
- Social class: aristocracy, bourgeoisie, proletariat, elite
- Marriage and Family life: polygamy, monogamy, lineage, extended family, nuclear
family
C. Words Related to African Arts
- Arts and Sculpture: bronze, terracotta, wood carving, mural, artifact
- Lyrics: ballad, dirge, praise song, chant
- Age groups: age grade, elders council, youth wing
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Practice: Numbered Gap Passage with Multiple Choice
Fill the gaps with the most suitable option A-D.
In many African communities, culture is preserved through ceremonies. During a
(1)_____, the eldest man pours palm wine as (2)_____ to the ancestors. Breaking a
(3)_____ can attract punishment from the elders. At the annual festival, the (4)_____
dancers entertain the crowd. For marriage, the groom’s family pays (5)_____ to the
bride’s family. The Benin people are famous for their (6)_____ sculptures. Members of
the same (7)_____ usually work together on community projects.
Options
1. A. coronation B. naming ceremony C. durbar D. ritual
2. A. sacrifice B. libation C. dowry D. incantation
3. A. taboo B. virtue C. etiquette D. custom
4. A. bronze B. masquerade C. age grade D. chieftaincy
5. A. bride price B. dowry C. lineage D. heritage
6. A. terracotta B. mural C. bronze D. artifact
7. A. aristocracy B. age grade C. bourgeoisie D. extended family
WEEK 2: SPOKEN ENGLISH - REVISION OF INTONATION PATTERNS
Objectives: Students should be able to use falling and rising tones correctly.
Content
Intonation is the rise and fall of voice in speech. WAEC Oral English tests this.
1. Falling Tone \
Used in: statements, commands, wh-questions, exclamations
Examples:
- I am going to school.\
- What is your name?\
- Close the door!\
2. Rising Tone /
Used in: yes/no questions, incomplete statements, polite requests
Examples:
- Are you coming?/
- She is a teacher?/
- Could you help me?/
3. Fall-Rise \ /
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Used to show uncertainty or reservation
Example: I suppose we can try.\ /
Practice
Mark the tone in these sentences:
1. Is this your book?
2. The examination starts on Monday.
3. Where did you keep it?
4. Please sit down.
WAEC Past Oral Questions Added
1. Identify the tone in: "Are you coming to school today?"
2. Which tone is used in "Close the door immediately"?
3. Mark the primary stress on: examination, corruption, photography
4. Pronounce: exists, twelfth, glimpsed and state the number of consonant sounds at
the end.
WEEK 3: GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES - NOUNS AND NOUN PHRASES
Objectives: Identify types of nouns and use them correctly in sentences.
Content
WAEC tests grammar through multiple choice and essay.
A. Types of Nouns
1. Common noun: general names. book, city, teacher
2. Proper noun: specific names, capitalized. Port Harcourt, WAEC, Ngozi
3. Collective noun: group of people/things. team, committee, flock
4. Abstract noun: ideas, qualities. honesty, corruption, freedom
B. Plural Formation
1. Regular: add -s, -es. book-books, bus-buses
2. Irregular: man-men, child-children, foot-feet, mouse-mice
3. No change: sheep-sheep, deer-deer
4. Foreign plurals: datum-data, criterion-criteria
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C. Noun Phrases
A group of words functioning as a noun.
Example: The corrupt government official was arrested.
Headword: official. Modifiers: The, corrupt, government
Practice
1. Give the plural of: syllabus, analysis, oasis
2. Identify the noun phrase: A group of restive youths protested yesterday.
3. Fill in: The _____ of the school is strict. [abstract noun]
WEEK 4: WRITING - CONTINUOUS WRITING (EXPOSITORY ESSAY)
Objectives: Write a clear expository essay of not more than 400 words.
What is Expository Essay?
It explains, describes, or informs. No personal opinions, only facts.
Features WAEC Expects:
1. Introduction: define topic + thesis
2. Body: 3-4 paragraphs with examples and explanations
3. Conclusion: summary + recommendation
4. Logical arrangement and linking words
Sample Topics: external examinations, elections, plane crash, excursion, drug abuse,
corruption
Sample Essay: The Dangers of Drug Abuse Among Youths
Drug abuse refers to the excessive and improper use of drugs without medical
prescription. In recent years, this problem has become rampant among youths in
Nigeria and across the world.
One major cause of drug abuse is peer pressure. Many young people take drugs to
belong to a group or to appear "cool". Secondly, idleness and unemployment push some
youths into drug use as an escape from frustration. Also, easy access to drugs due to
poor regulation makes the problem worse.
The effects of drug abuse are devastating. Health-wise, drugs damage the liver, brain
and heart. Socially, drug addicts become violent, drop out of school and engage in crime
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such as stealing and examination malpractice to fund their habit. Economically, families
spend huge amounts on treatment and rehabilitation.
To curb this menace, government should enforce laws against drug trafficking. Parents
must monitor their children and provide guidance. Schools should organize seminars on
the dangers of drugs. Finally, jobs and skill acquisition programs will keep youths
productively engaged.
In conclusion, drug abuse destroys lives and the future of a nation. If all stakeholders
work together, we can save our youths from this destructive habit.
Word count: 218
Practice Task: Write an expository essay on "Causes and Effects of
Examination Malpractice" [400 words max]
WEEK 5: MIDTERM EXAMINATION
WEEK 6: COMPREHENSION - SILENT READING WITH GRAMMAR DRILL
Objectives: Read to understand, infer meaning, answer questions, and identify
grammatical structures.
Passage: Youth Restiveness in Nigeria [~250 words]
Youth restiveness has become a serious challenge in many parts of Nigeria. It refers to
aggressive and disruptive behavior exhibited by young people, often resulting in violence,
vandalism and social unrest. Several factors are responsible for this ugly trend.
First is unemployment. Many graduates roam the streets for years without jobs.
Frustration builds up and some resort to crime, cultism or militancy. Secondly,
corruption has made youths lose faith in leadership. When they see public funds
embezzled while basic amenities are lacking, they feel cheated and react angrily.
Poverty is another cause. In homes where parents cannot provide food or school fees,
children become vulnerable to negative influences.
The consequences of youth restiveness are grave. It leads to loss of lives and
destruction of property. Investors become afraid to invest in troubled areas, which
further increases unemployment. Education also suffers as schools are shut down
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during crises.
To address this problem, government must create jobs and empower youths through
skills training. Leaders should be transparent and accountable. Parents have a role to
play by instilling good moral values at home. Most importantly, youths themselves must
embrace dialogue and peaceful means of expressing grievances.
If urgent steps are not taken, the future of the nation is at risk because today’s youths
are tomorrow’s leaders.
Questions
A. Comprehension
1. What is youth restiveness according to the passage?
2. State two causes of youth restiveness mentioned in the passage.
3. How does corruption contribute to youth restiveness?
4. Mention two consequences of youth restiveness.
5. What solutions does the writer suggest?
B. Lexis: Words in Context
Find another word or phrase which can replace each of the underlined words as used in
the passage:
6. vandalism
7. ugly trend
8. vulnerable
9. grave
10. transparent
11. embrace
C. Grammar
12. What grammatical name is given to "First is unemployment" and what is its function
in the passage?
13. What grammatical name is given to "when they see public funds embezzled while
basic amenities are lacking" and what is its function?
14. What grammatical name is given to "through skills training" and what is its function?
15. What grammatical name is given to "Most importantly, youths themselves must
embrace dialogue and peaceful means of expressing grievances" and what is its
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function?
16. Identify one noun clause in the last paragraph and state its function.
WEEK 7: MIDTERM BREAK
WEEK 8: SUMMARY WRITING - SUMMARIZING A TALK/LECTURE
Objectives: Extract main points and summarize in own words.
Technique for WAEC Summary:
1. Read passage twice
2. Underline 5-7 main points
3. Write summary in not more than 120 words
4. Use linking words: firstly, secondly, in addition
Passage: HIV/AIDS Awareness Talk
"HIV/AIDS remains a major health problem in the world today. The disease spreads
mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of sharp objects such as
needles, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Once a person contracts HIV, the virus attacks and weakens the immune system,
making the body unable to fight infections.
Although there is no known cure for AIDS yet, antiretroviral drugs have helped many
infected persons to live longer and healthier lives. Prevention is therefore very important.
People are advised to practice abstinence, remain faithful to one partner, and use
condoms.
Another major problem is stigmatization. Many people living with HIV are discriminated
against, and this prevents them from going for testing and treatment. Government and
non-governmental organizations must therefore intensify public enlightenment
campaigns and provide free testing and counseling centers."
WAEC Style Summary Questions
1. According to the passage, state three ways through which HIV/AIDS can be
contracted.
2. According to the passage, state two effects of HIV on the human body.
3. According to the passage, state two ways of preventing HIV/AIDS.
4. According to the passage, state two problems associated with HIV/AIDS.
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5. According to the passage, what are two things government and NGOs should do?
Instruction: Write a summary of not more than 120 words based on your answers above.
WEEK 9: SPOKEN ENGLISH - CONSONANT CLUSTERS
Phonetics Focus: A consonant cluster is two or more consonants together with no
vowel between.
A. Two consonants at final position: /ks/, /sts/, /nts/
Examples: banks /bæŋks/, tasks /tɑːsks/, exists /ɪɡˈzɪsts/, thrusts /θrʌsts/
B. Three consonants at final position: /pts/, /fts/, /lθs/
Examples: scripts /skrɪpts/, crafts /krɑːfts/, twelfth /twelfθ/
C. Four consonants at final position: /ksts/, /mpts/, /lfθs/
Examples: sixths /sɪksθs/, twelfths /twelfθs/, prompts /prɒmpts/, glimpsed /ɡlɪmpst/
Practice: Pronounce these words and break them into sounds: texts, strengths,
against
Stress Note: In polysyllabic words, stress usually falls on the first syllable:
BANks, TASks. In compound nouns: FUEL gauge, WINdscreen
WAEC Past Oral Questions Added
1. Which of the following ends with three consonant sounds: A. tasks B. scripts C.
banks D. exists
2. Pronounce: sixths, prompts, twelfths
3. Give two words that end with /sts/ sound
4. Mark the stress on: carburetor, alternator, trafficator
WEEK 10: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT - MOTOR VEHICLES
Key Words and Meanings
- Chassis: the frame of a vehicle
- Bonnet: cover over the engine, called hood in American English
- Trafficator: old term for car indicator light
- Carburetor: device that mixes air and fuel in an engine
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- Radiator: part that cools the engine
- Fuel gauge: instrument showing amount of fuel
- Alternator: generates electricity for the car
- Wiper: blade that clears rain from windscreen
- Rear lights: lights at the back of a vehicle
- Side lights: small lights on sides of vehicle
- Windscreen: front glass of a vehicle
Practice: Numbered Gap Passage with Multiple Choice
The mechanic opened the (1)_____ to check the engine. He discovered that the (2)_____
was leaking and the (3)_____ was faulty. The driver complained that the (4)_____ was not
working during the rain, and at night the (5)_____ were too dim.
Options
1. A. windscreen B. bonnet C. chassis D. radiator
2. A. alternator B. carburetor C. radiator D. wiper
3. A. fuel gauge B. trafficator C. rear light D. side light
4. A. wiper B. bonnet C. chassis D. alternator
5. A. trafficators B. rear lights C. carburetors D. radiators
END OF DOCUMENT
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