Bazza's English questions

[WhoTookMyUsername]

Thanks VT,
Should have asked this with those questions but:
How much relative time should be devoted to just writing essays?

[charmanderp]

Maybe write an essay a day, or one every two days?

[charmanderp]

At least, that's my own philosophy. Personally I abhor the idea of prepared responses and am yet to meet an elite elite English student (upwards of 46) who has used that tactic.

Haha, the MHS dux of 2009 (50 english) memorised for section B too I think the dux of 2011 did the same as well.

It's actually a LOT more common that you think

Ok, ok, I stand corrected Still would never encourage it myself.

[WhoTookMyUsername]

Maybe write an essay a day, or one every two days?

Nah i meant how much of our time spent on english should be
Writing full essays under timed conditions
And plans + criticisms etc.

[WhoTookMyUsername]

Thanks VT,
Should have asked this with those questions but:
How much relative (to time spent on plans/reading criticisms etc.) time should be devoted to just writing essays?

[Shenz0r]

At least, that's my own philosophy. Personally I abhor the idea of prepared responses and am yet to meet an elite elite English student (upwards of 46) who has used that tactic.

Haha, the MHS dux of 2009 (50 english) memorised for section B too I think the dux of 2011 did the same as well.

It's actually a LOT more common that you think

One of the guys who got 50 last year told me to write themed paragraphs for R&R and Context and essentially memorise them. Then during the exam, all you have to do is tweak them to the topics. The good thing about preparing some themed paragraphs is that you already know what you're going to write is good, and that gives you a higher confidence than somebody who's kinda making it up on the spot. Of course, there is a risk that you won't be able to adapt to the prompt enough, so be careful.

I'm not sure if I memorising paragraphs word-for-word would really help, but it can stop you from "freezing" in the middle of the exam. It can also help you with speed, you can literally write your context essay and finish very comfortably if you memorise the entire thing.

For my Henry IV practise essays, I basically just tweaked my paragraphs according to the prompt and my teacher said it worked really outstandingly. I wrote a summary of all my themed paragraphs (so main points and quotes) the day before the SAC, highlighted and colour-coded them, and yeah I was able to come up with lots of flexible ideas for the SAC. Although the bad thing was that I froze sometimes because I thought I was expressing myself a bit noobly.

I also got told to edit my conclusions throughout this exam period and try make them as beastly as possible, because that's the last thing examiners read before they assign you your score.

[charmanderp]

I do the themed paragraphs thing. Have only written one practice essay this year but do the themed paragraphs or half paragraphs before SACs just to develop my ideas and become more fluent with them and I've found it to help immensely. Did it for Lit last year too.

I think for Context especially where it's all about 'ideas', it's the best form of preparation.

[Shenz0r]

For R&R, my teacher told me to NOT, at all costs, memorise an entire essay, but just the main points of my themed paragraphs.

[WhoTookMyUsername]

Thanks!
How much relative do you guys reckon (to time spent on plans/reading criticisms etc.) time should be devoted to just writing essays?

[pi]

For R&R, my teacher told me to NOT, at all costs, memorise an entire essay, but just the main points of my themed paragraphs.

Awks, she told me to memorise my essays (but then again, my pieces were quite adaptable)

The only thing awks is how I passed english without knowing how to read posts properly -_-

[charmanderp]

^that's the first time I've heard of a teacher saying so haha.

[Shenz0r]

For R&R, my teacher told me to NOT, at all costs, memorise an entire essay, but just the main points of my themed paragraphs.

Awks, she told me to memorise my essays (but then again, my pieces were quite adaptable)

Well, she told me to for Context, but not for R&R.

[pi]

Ohhhhhh okay, I didn't read your post properly haha. Yeah she didn't tell me to memorise for text response. My bad (will edit above post to avoid confusion)

[Somye]

Thanks!
How much relative do you guys reckon (to time spent on plans/reading criticisms etc.) time should be devoted to just writing essays?

Love how poor bazza hasn't had his question answered yet, even after repeating himself 3 times

not sure if my opinion's worth much, but I'd plan to have most of the note/critical reading done by nowish. Smash out essays for a couple of weeks, and then during swotvac just do lots of detailed plans for all your essays in order to just keep ideas flowing and whatnot.

[charmanderp]

I still haven't started studying for English ): Been telling myself I'll do it 'tomorrow' for about two weeks but tomorrow never comes. I'm just too insecure about Methods and it's so much easier to study for other subjects.

#panic