WASSCE SHS
Lettering is drawn, not only written. The marker looks for a readable letter, even strokes, and space that lets each word be seen.
Block letters, sometimes called Gothic letters, have an even stroke and no serifs. They are built inside guidelines so the height stays constant. Roman letters have serifs, the small feet at the ends of strokes, and a thick and thin stroke that recalls a broad pen. Upper case letters sit between two lines. Lower case letters add ascenders, such as the tall stem of h, and descenders, such as the tail of y. Calligraphy is writing with a broad tool so the thick and thin appear from the angle of the hand. It is not the same as tracing a stencil.
Spacing is part of the letter. Letters with straight sides, such as H and I, need a little more air between them than round letters such as O and C, or the word looks broken. A poster fails when the letters are clever and cannot be read at a short distance. The brief on a graphic design paper may ask for particular words. Those words are the question. A beautiful alphabet that says something else has not answered it. On this written paper, define the type, name one feature, and say why readability matters. Do not invent a font brand.
The General Knowledge in Art tips guide is the written paper: the objective items, the essay, and how to build a point. The Visual Arts tips guide covers the studio papers that sit beside it. Start practising on glearn.now with Kevin and Anna. WASSCE General Knowledge in Art tips
Gothic or block letters have no serifs. Roman letters have serifs. Upper case is not lower case. Spacing is a mark when the question asks why a word is hard to read. Readability beats decoration. If the question is about a poster, the words that were required belong in the answer. Do not describe a typeface by a company name you are unsure of.
These are practice questions in the style of the paper, with a model answer and a mark scheme. They are not a promise of what your paper will ask.
4 marks
Distinguish between block letters and Roman letters. (4 marks)
Block letters have an even stroke and no serifs. Roman letters have serifs and a contrast of thick and thin strokes. Both can be readable. They are not the same construction.
2 marks
State two reasons guidelines are used when constructing letters. (2 marks)
They keep the height of the letters even, and they keep the letters sitting on one line.
3 marks
Explain why spacing matters as much as the shape of the letter on a poster. (3 marks)
A poster is read at a distance and often in a hurry. Uneven gaps make a word look broken, so the message fails even when each letter is well drawn. Even space lets the word be seen as one word.
More questions on this topic are inside glearn, marked as you answer, with the reason written out. The first ones need no account.
Practise General Knowledge in Art freeThe small foot at the end of a stroke. Roman letters have serifs. Block letters do not. Do not call every thick and thin stroke a serif.
No. Calligraphy is written with a broad tool, and the thick and thin come from the angle of the hand. Block letters are constructed with an even stroke, usually inside guidelines. All WASSCE General Knowledge in Art past questions