ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Literature => Topic started by: EvangelionZeta on October 28, 2013, 07:01:36 pm

Title: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on October 28, 2013, 07:01:36 pm
Hey guys,

Having entered uni exams period, but also having gotten heaps of crazed requests lately, I've decided to come out of hiding and help people out a bit. For the next few days or so post as many questions as you want and I'll do my best to answer them. My credentials:

-50 in Lit/Premier's Award
-Tutored multiple kids to get scores between 47-50
-Lectured VCE Lit for three years
-Three years of uni literature/lit theory study

Gogogo
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: brightsky on October 28, 2013, 07:37:15 pm
how profound do the passage analysis paragraphs need to be? should we strive to make our passage analyses sound as complex and wanky as possible, or should we leave the wankiness to the argued reading paragraphs? a certain someone has not been giving me very high marks for my practice exam essays, but not really telling me where I need to improve...today he told me to "write more", but my essays are usually around 6-7 pages...which is 1000+ in my handwriting. the same person mentioned you and told me how 20/20 are reserved for students who gush - yes, he used that word - and write like there is no tomorrow. should I gush?
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: enwiabe on October 28, 2013, 07:43:48 pm
Would you prefer to fight 100 duck-sized horses, or 1 horse-sized duck?
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: maree271 on October 28, 2013, 07:58:26 pm
Lit is my weakest subject. Have not done much exam prep as im focusing more on other classes. Sac average is about a B...any tips on how to tackle the exam and how to revise for it until the lead up? My teacher is not the best so it is hard to get practice pieces marked
Congrats on ur achievements
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: Russ on October 28, 2013, 08:01:58 pm
Tangentially related to VCE lit/poetry; Which reindeer is Emily Dickinson's favourite?

(getting this should actually be the metric for awarding 50s)
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on October 28, 2013, 11:30:56 pm
how profound do the passage analysis paragraphs need to be? should we strive to make our passage analyses sound as complex and wanky as possible, or should we leave the wankiness to the argued reading paragraphs? a certain someone has not been giving me very high marks for my practice exam essays, but not really telling me where I need to improve...today he told me to "write more", but my essays are usually around 6-7 pages...which is 1000+ in my handwriting. the same person mentioned you and told me how 20/20 are reserved for students who gush - yes, he used that word - and write like there is no tomorrow. should I gush?

Gush in the argued reading paragraphs, but don't gush so much in the passage analysis bits IMO.  In fact, I prefer clarity in the passage analysis, and the climax to be in the argued readings.

Would you prefer to fight 100 duck-sized horses, or 1 horse-sized duck?

Your mum.

Lit is my weakest subject. Have not done much exam prep as im focusing more on other classes. Sac average is about a B...any tips on how to tackle the exam and how to revise for it until the lead up? My teacher is not the best so it is hard to get practice pieces marked
Congrats on ur achievements

Do lots and lots of practice essays and try to get a tutor to mark them (lots of people on this forum will help!).  Also do lots of notes - think a lot about the themes of the texts and WRITE WRITE WRITE about them, even if it's not in strict essay form.  Consider also investing in a study guide!

Tangentially related to VCE lit/poetry; Which reindeer is Emily Dickinson's favourite?

(getting this should actually be the metric for awarding 50s)

Your mum.
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: Russ on October 29, 2013, 09:16:51 am
Wrong, the answer is Dasher. (hurr)
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: achre on October 30, 2013, 06:56:41 pm
Say something about T.S. Eliot.
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: thecreeker on October 31, 2013, 11:48:30 pm
Intro or no intro?
I've heard some examiners say yes, some say no.
Most of the VCAA examples seem to have at least a short one. So which is it?
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on November 02, 2013, 08:53:58 pm
Say something about T.S. Eliot.


He is a massive wanker.  Also, he has poor taste in Shakespeare (his favourite play is Corialanus).

...his poems are about the modernist human experience and he derives a lot from Nietzschean thought, IMO.  :p

Intro or no intro?
I've heard some examiners say yes, some say no.
Most of the VCAA examples seem to have at least a short one. So which is it?

It doesn't really matter.  I don't use them at all personally, but some teachers advocate them.  You won't get marks for having them or for not, it's really just about how clear your essay is!
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: catnus on November 02, 2013, 10:22:46 pm
How did you personally structure your essays? Would you base your paragraphs on the ideas presented in the passage or on the actually passages themselves? Does it really matter? Freaking out :p
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: brenden on November 02, 2013, 10:57:57 pm
He is a massive wanker.
Amen to that.
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on November 06, 2013, 06:53:02 pm
How did you personally structure your essays? Would you base your paragraphs on the ideas presented in the passage or on the actually passages themselves? Does it really matter? Freaking out :p

Sorry for late response!  Do both - just make sure you quote extensively from the passages!
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: thecreeker on November 06, 2013, 07:44:17 pm
Might I ask, what was the opening line of your analysis in the exam? I feel a bit hesitant to begin with "Passage one portrays..." and feel as if I should tend towards something a little more flowery on Friday just to start well, or does it really not matter?
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on November 07, 2013, 03:53:06 pm
Might I ask, what was the opening line of your analysis in the exam? I feel a bit hesitant to begin with "Passage one portrays..." and feel as if I should tend towards something a little more flowery on Friday just to start well, or does it really not matter?

I did the "Passage One *verb*" intro and got two 20/20 essays.  It's fine.
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: achre on November 07, 2013, 06:08:43 pm
Were you at all stressed out ahead of the exam? Do you have any advice on managing pre-exam stress?
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: EvangelionZeta on November 07, 2013, 07:12:44 pm
Were you at all stressed out ahead of the exam? Do you have any advice on managing pre-exam stress?

Take a step back and relax.  You'll most likely be fine, and your fears irrational! :)  Watch a movie!
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: AwayBroadcast on November 07, 2013, 07:59:33 pm
What do you recommend we do between now and the exam? Just read over notes or? :)
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: 90+FTW on November 07, 2013, 08:04:22 pm
Hey, firstly well done on such brilliant marks!

Now, my question. What does it take to get an 8-9/10 in terms of language analysis, how extensive does it really have to be?

I'm doing poetry and Freedom of the City (a play)

thank you!
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: cute on December 02, 2013, 09:34:43 am
Do you have any advice for summer preparation?
I only got a C in my 1/2 exam, so I'd like to do as much as I can to improve that to an A next year.
Title: Re: Literature: Ask Me Anything
Post by: reneeclydesdale on October 16, 2020, 12:17:21 pm
I was wondering if you have extensive annotations, interpretations or close analysis essays surrounding these 7 Emily Dickinson poems? I’ll pay! Message me pleaseee
- Like Rain Sounded till it Curved
- Blazing in Gold and Quenching in Purple
- Narrow Fellow in the Grass
- This is My Letter to the World
- There’s been a Death, in the Opposite House
- There’s something Quieter than Sleep
- To Know just how he Suffered - would be Dear