WOLMER’S TRUST HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
English School-Based Assessment (SBA) Outline
▪ One SBA is required for students who are going to sit the English A and B CSEC
examinations. This SBA will be started, and monitored (for the most part) during English
A CLASSES only. However, the final draft should be typewritten according to the
guidelines provided.
▪ It will be done individually and in groups of 4 - 5 students, who share a general topic.
▪ Each student will however need to create a portfolio that is based on an issue, topic,
theme or event.
FUNCTION OF THE GROUP
English - Selection/Finalisation of groups’ themes and individual topics
▪ Students will assist each other by proof reading each other’s work
▪ Have group discussions and brainstorm ideas
▪ Assist each other in research
▪ Write the written report together
NB: Group work is not optional. It is a part of the process of the SBA. Students and/ or teachers
can create a number of themes (drug abuse, violence against women, natural disasters, etc ).
Themes can also be created by students based on their interests. Each group will select a theme.
Each student in the group will select a sub-theme based on the group theme. Teachers can guide
students to identify sub-themes through brainstorming the theme.
For example: The Main Theme: Drug Abuse
The Sub-Themes can be:
o drug abuse treatments
o the effects of drug abuse
o how drug abuse contributes to crime
o how drug abuse affects teenagers
▪ RESEARCH
After sub-themes have been selected, students will now find their three (3) pieces of
data/artefacts that further explain the theme. These pieces of data (artefacts) can come in
the following formats: a document (articles, tables, pictures, audio (a recording), video,
an interview etc). Students will select materials that they can write a reflection on.
▪ This portfolio should consist of six sections:
1. Plan of Investigation
2. Participation measure
3. Indicators of Group Activity
4. Reflection
5. Written Report
6. Oral Presentation
SECTION ONE
Plan of Investigation
▪ This is where an introduction of no more than 100 words is written, and divided in
the following areas:
1. Identifying and selecting an issue, topic, theme or event. (Why did you choose this
issue/topic/theme/event?)
2. Purpose of the issue, topic, theme or event (Benefit to the student - What are the
expected benefits to you as a student of English?)
3. Significance of the issue, topic, theme or event. (Use of English Language Skills)
4. Intentions for data collection. (The data collection methods to be used) How do you
intend to collect relevant information on your issue/topic/theme/event and use this in
your presentation?
5. Possible Conclusions to be drawn about their issue, topic, theme or event.
SECTION TWO –Participation Measure
▪ Assessment of student’s/candidate’s participation is evaluated by self and by teacher.
● In this section, it is imperative for students to outline their schedule of activities for the
group
component of the SBA. A measurement of participation and work completed will be done
through the use of a rubric.
SECTION THREE – Indicators of Group Activity
Data should be presented using three methods: print, audio and visual media and collected and
placed in the portfolio.
● This will form the enquiry into the nature and scope of the SBA.
SECTION FOUR – Reflections (Ongoing )
Reflections
▪ Includes THREE entries EACH consisting of 150 words in which students reflect on the
issue/topic/theme/event selected. (How has inspired you, affected you, impacted on
you) All reflections are to be written in class under the teacher’s supervision.
i. In the first entry, the student must indicate how each piece of data helped shape
his or her thinking about the issue/topic/theme/event.
ii. The second entry should discuss the use of language in the data selected. Students
will comment on the use of language. (They will state if the language is formal,
informal, jargon, slang, technical or distant tone. State how the language aids in
your understanding of the sub-theme/topic.)
iii. The third entry should state how the process of doing the SBA helped the student
to become a better person.
SECTION FIVE
Written Report A written report of the investigation should be a summary of the processes,
procedures and outcomes of the research on their Group’s Topic. This is based on group
participation and activities.
▪ It should include:
i. the data collected
ii. reasons for the selection of the data
iii. analysis of the data.
▪ A satisfactory report should be about 250-300 words in total.
SECTION SIX - Oral Presentation
English - Oral Presentation
● A personal response related to an issue/topic/ theme/event should be delivered orally in 3
to 5 minutes.
● The oral presentation should be delivered predominately in Standard English and in a
genre of the student’s choosing, for example: drama, poetry, prose, role play, speech,
argument, exposition.
● The student should deliver a brief overview of the presentation including the genre
chosen, the sources used and a comment on the kind of language used in the data.
NB: A brief plan of the Oral Presentation must be submitted in the Portfolio and should
be submitted before the oral presentations begin
English School Based Assessment Portfolio Layout and Guide
style :Typed, written and printed on a high quality printer. An additional copy is to be
placed on a flash drive.
Spacing: double line spacing. Single spacing permitted within long quotations,
appendix items and sub sections of Table of Contents.
Margins: 1” or 2.5 cm
Typeface: 12, Times New Roman throughout
Quotations: more than two lines set off from text in single spacing and indent 4
spaces in from left hand margin.
Pagination: title page not numbered in
the pages of text in Arabic numerals consecutively
all page numbers in exact consistent location at top right hand corner of page.
Each chapter on a new page
Appendices should follow a sequence of Arabic numerals.
Arrangement:
Title page
Establishing ownership or work
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Text
Works cited page
