Hey everyone!
We've made this extra thread here on top of the free standard english essay marking and the free advanced English essay marking because we want the AOS feedback to be all in one spot - because it will be very helpful for student's to read each other's feedback!
To have your English Discovery essay marked, just:
- Post it in this thread
- Include whether you have any particular concerns about the essay. E.g., "Can you please check to see that my argument makes sense" and things like that.
Anyway, post away! Essays should be marked within a few days.
Happy studies!
Hello Elyse:
Thank you so much for doing something so great like this. I think this will help many students from the wider community in NSW. I dont have any particular concern about my essay except for my introduction. I have been quite stuck on trying to write a band 6 type intro. Therefore would it be possible for you to have a look at my essay and give me some feedbacks? Thank you so much Elyse!
Best Regards
Happy Physics Land
Hey everyone!
We've made this extra thread here on top of the free standard english essay marking and the free advanced English essay marking because we want the AOS feedback to be all in one spot - because it will be very helpful for student's to read each other's feedback!
To have your English Discovery essay marked, just:
- Post it in this thread
- Include whether you have any particular concerns about the essay. E.g., "Can you please check to see that my argument makes sense" and things like that.
Anyway, post away! Essays should be marked within a few days.
Happy studies!
Hi can you please mark this. It would be much appreciated :) :)
Hi Elyse! Thanks so much for helping out! My attached link is a little different as it's not an essay but a seminar speech. I was wondering if my thesis makes sense and if I keep linking back to it? and also, if there are any bits that I could take out it would be great if you told me!
Thanks,
Rach :) :) :)
Hi there :) this is my AOS Discovery essay in the attached document. The question or rather statement is "The process of discovery involves a willingness to abandon established ways of thinking in order to embrace new outlooks" discuss this view with detailed reference to your prescribed text and one related text.
I would like to know if there is anything that does not fit in or that I might be able to take out. I don't mind a bit of criticism :) and want to know what I am doing right and more importantly what I can improve upon. If you could also estimate what kind of mark this essay might get that would be great as well. Thank you for providing this service. I hope to hear from you shortly. Thanks!
Hey this is my essay for aos just wondering if my thesis is strong enough and the layout is good? Thankyou :)
Howard aims to give in site and a deeper understanding on the severity of mental illness and the experience of being a genius. This is done through Ron Howard’s creative cinematic techniques. He portrays the themes of mental illness genus and relationships
Howards aim to portray the serious impacts of schizophrenia by giving the viewer a firsthand perspective of mental illness.
This is shown during the scene which john has been captured by Dr Rosen.
John has demanded Charles to reply but he doesn’t. In this scene Howard utilizes jump shots to show both Dr Rosen and john nashis perspective.
Ron Howard tries to exhibit that even if you are mentally ill that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a genius and that you can’t strive for your goals.
This is shown in the scene when john Nash is staring at the pen when the professor hands it to someone in the restaurant.
John is steering through the window watching the professor giving the pen to a former person and he wishes he was in the other guys poison
Ron Howard focuses a lot on relationships and there importance throughout the movie a beautiful mind through John and Alicia’s relationship
This is shown in many different scenes how John Nash when he is down looks at the handkerchief that she gave him and also is shown how Alicia uses conforting hand gestures on Johns body
John was upset then he takes out the handkerchief and all he remembers is that he has someone that loves him (Alicia) also when Nash was going to kill Alicia se showd him
In conclusion, Ron Howard has creatively portrayed the life of John Nash. He has caused the ambulance to question their judgements on people with a mental illness by showing that you can still pesterer and be successful despite being mentally ill.
Hi Elyse thank you for marking my essay, your tips were really helpful :) this is my second draft on the AOS Discovery essay in the attached document. The question is "The process of discovery involves a willingness to abandon established ways of thinking in order to embrace new outlooks" discuss this view with detailed reference to your prescribed text and one related text.
I have made changes since the last draft I submitted and would like to know if my topic sentences and my links back to the question at the end of paragraphs are referring to the question and discovery enough, or if I need to change any of them. Also do I have enough quotes and technical analysis for each paragraph? I know I cannot write out the whole essay in 40 minutes during an exam the word length is too long and would like to know if, when it comes to cutting down the essay would it be alright to lose a few quotes and technical analysis so I am able to write it in 40 minutes or is that too important to cut out. Thanks again for taking the time to give such awesome feedback. :)
Hi!! thanks so much for this!! just so you know I haven't written a conclusion because i usually just write that on the day depending on the question (is this a good idea...?). I've also tried to make it quite general without including key terms obviously, so it will probably be a bit longer than this when I write it on the day. I don't think I have any particular concerns for my essay, just maybe if it makes sense at all?
thank you so much!!!
Hey
I wanted to know whether or not this is a good essay . Can you please give me YOUR PERCEPTION on what, out of 15 this essay is worth. :) :) :) Can I please get the feedback before Monday, if not I entirely understand. :) :) :)
Can you please give me YOUR PERCEPTION on what, out of 15 this essay is worth. :)
Hey :) thanks for offering help here, I've attached my essay below :) I just want to know if I'm making sense and saying things properly - its usually how i execute my thoughts which brings me down. We weren't given a specific question - just told to model of last years HSC (loosely) - so its a pretty generic essay (no conclusion either - I make that up on the spot). I appreciate the help!
Well Elyse,thank you so much. You are VERY helpful. I totally agree about everything you have said and will improve on them. I tried writing this essay in 40 minutes for my half yearly exam and so I understand about the clarity. Once again thankyou for being able to take the time and look through my essay in such a short amount of time😁😁😁
Thesis ideas for the question: ‘Significant discoveries surprise and challenge’. How is that idea conveyed in ‘The Tempest’ and ONE other related text of your own choosing?
Any help would be great!
Hi Elyse! Thanks so much for your feedback, a fresh set of eyes can really help point out areas of improvement :)
I did my best to fix up according to your suggestions, and would love for you to take another look :)
thanks so much again!
Hey! thanks so much for the help, I feel wayyy more confident in my essay now :)
We had to write a half essay in with just the prescribed text (the awakening) and it was marked on that (it was given 16/20 with critiques as "work the terms more"), we were told our related texts can't be marked, which is why I came here :)
The exam is on Friday, and I cant hand it back in because of the related text, so next time I get teacher feedback will be after the exam; but you've definitely helped me so much. I've split some of those thesis parts in half and added the minor tweaks you've suggested and I'm confident that I'll be able to manipulate it according to the question on the day (I'll also write a conclusion as a mock-up so I know where I'm heading). All I've done is adopted your minor tweaks so it reads how you imagined, so I'm not sure if you'd want to see it again?
Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it :)
hi again!! so i've tried fixing up most of my essay from the feedback you gave me (thank you very much for that, it was extremely helpful!!), but I'm still struggling with being concise with my points and just rehashing over the same information, i was wondering if you could help me out again? thank you so much!!!
Hey again! :) thank you so so so much for all the feedback!! I've edited my essay and now feel super duper confident in it, thank you sooooo much!! I'll let you know how it goes in the half yearlies :)
Hey thankyou for the feedback on my last draft helped my understanding of discovery better. I've changes the thesis to match my half yearly question was wondering about how you said start each paragraph with discovery text, I tried to but felt like I was repeating myself I tried to incorporating the text and question into the first line. Also realised I say this ....... a lot and was wondering for any ways to avoid this. My teacher said to add in a brief 1-2 sentence intro to each text but I cant really fit it in as my word limit is already 1100 words, is there any places I could cut it down? Tanks heaps :}
Could you please tell me if my structure is good so far, if its any good and if I need to focus on anything!
Hi this is part of my essay on away. Im having trouble in cutting down on words. This paragraph is meant to be 200 words but its 340 words. Please help me thanks!
Hey hi. Firstly I want to thank you for doing this! This whole site in specific has literally been the most helpful thing in regards to prep for half yearlies.
The concerns I have with my essay are the intro. I don't believe I have a strong introduction and I'm not sure whether I've linked my thesis to each of the paragraphs.
The question we had to answer was along the lines of;
"How have the composers of both your prescribed text and related text conveyed the concept of discovery?"
Thank you!
Thank you so much for giving me criticism! It helped a lot and it was super encouraging to hear that you liked it. I understood all your critique and I've made adjustments. :)
Hi, can you please take a look at m Advanced English y AOS essay for Life of Pi and Fight Club. Thanks!
Hey WLalex!! I'd be honoured, I've attached your essay below with some helpful comments, I hope it helps!! ;DSpoilerEach new discovery brings consequences for the individual. Discuss how the composers of your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text have explored the personal consequences of discovery.
With each new discovery, one has to accept that consequences may follow. These ramifications can be both enhancing or diminishing, forcing one to act and acknowledge a previous perception that may now be false. Discoveries can change the way one sees the world and society, propelling an individual to confront truths about themselves. Discoveries can challenge the self both physically and psychologically with the ramifications of crossing the barrier between known and unknown resulting in a new understanding. Each new discovery won’t come without consequences. Fantastic concepts in here! I would recommend streamlining this a little bit, simplify your concept and express it in two sentences. Then, there are some things you need in your introduction that are missing. First, you need to introduce the texts (and authors) you will be discussing, and only then do you need to list what your paragraphs will be about (in a single sentence, much more concise than what you have at the moment). Finally, some kind of more conclusive sentence linking the text to the concept.
Provocative discoveries can change the way one sees the world and society. A breakthrough can hold damaging ramification as it can challenge everything that was one known, resulting in renewed perspectives that aren’t always wanted. I would suggest bringing the text and author in here, introduce it and say how it relates to your concept (which I love by the way). Ang Lee uses her beginning to emphasis the charm-like childhood Pi has grown up around, with up beat non-diegetic sound and slow dissolve shots of the zoo and himself. Keep in mind that Ang Lee is a male! The India emergency acts as a catalyst where Pi discovers that not everything is perfect or as he put it, “the world had lost some of its enchantment”. This is paired with rain and washed out colours to signify Pi’s change in tone and, consequently, affecting the way he views life. Similar to Pi, Palahniuk uses the discovery of Tyler as the narrators trigger in which he undergo’s a shifting perspective on the life he lives. He concludes that “maybe self improvement isn't the answer. Maybe self-destruction is the answer”, the use of repetition allows the audience to witness the contrasting beliefs of the narrators old self, as he views the world from a different perspective. It can be seen that new discoveries can result in the ramification of evaluating what used to be, and such with the narrator, he is now going about life differently. Pi is also seen to have a moment of understanding that has resulted from his journey. Lee also speaks to the viewer through the intensity of the scene, using a emotive close up of Pi’s face with the evaluated dialogue when Pi realised that realised that “the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye”. Here Pi is referring to the unceremonious depart of Richard Parker which allowed him to reflect on his journey as a mechanism which transformed the way he looked at life. Discoveries can have consequential damages to the way an individual chooses to view the world. This paragraph contains some excellent techniques and examples from your chosen text, fantastic! What is missing is analysis, right now you are slipping into retell. You are giving a quote, a technique, and then recounting what it shows about the character. Instead, use the quote and technique to show how Lee has demonstrated the discovery concept! This is the missing link here. Further, something like a, "Therefore, it is clear that discoveries can have" at the start of your conclusive sentence would be great!
Discovery can propel an individual to confront renewed truth’s about themselves. The revelation of truth can result in a renewed understanding about ones purpose and objective, leaving one either revitalised or demoralised. Pi is forced to confront and ultimately accept his possible morality through the use of storms which is viewed as a symbolic turning point in the film. Storms are a recurring motif, representing Pi’s internal struggle. When the storm passes, the calmness shows change and rebirth as Pi has accepted his state and made progress with Richard Parker. A long shot of Pi’s raft in the vast ocean reminds the viewed of his vulnerability in a much wider world which exists beyond Pi and his situation. His dialogue, "Thank you for giving me my life. I'm ready now," is followed by a fade to black, signifying an ending and change of direction in the film. Pi, at this time, discovers that he cannot fear death and now that his rage and fear are gone, he can focus on saving himself and Richard Parker with a revitalised outlook on his situation. Contrastingly, Palahniuk uses his narrators discovery to emphasise that the truth can obliterate ones purpose, ultimately destroying them. The audience learn through a hyperbole that Tyler never existed and the narrator was merely “fighting everything [he] hates in [his] life.” This truth leaves the narrator questioning who he says, “how you always kill the things you love, well, it works both ways.” Palahniuk uses this as an allusion to the things humans loves that are ultimately destroying them. The narrator is left demoralised after Tyler, the man he idolised, turns out to be his split personality. The narrator is then confronted by all he has done and recognises his dissatisfaction with the truth and ultimately his being. The truth that comes with discoveries can either be too much for one to handle or can leave them with a revitalised purpose. Your techniques are fantastic in this paragraph, like incredible, but again, it is missing the analysis. What does the author show us about discovery, and how? How does Palahniuk's approach differ/agree with Lee's?
Discoveries can challenge the self both physically and psychologically. A new discovery can have meaningful consequences, challenging an individuals outlook, impacting the way they think and act. Pi’s childhood was based around an allusion of both god and himself, being challenged when he is forced to face problems head on. The evolution of Pi both physically and mentally is signified through the recurring motif of storms, which Pi recognises as a mechanism which strips him as he commented that “you can not know the strength of your faith until it has been tested”. Pi is continually commenting on the impact the discoveries he made about himself had on shaping him as a being. As Pi kills and eats a fish, a voice over is used from an older Pi, commenting that “hunger can change everything you ever though you knew about yourself”, foreshadowing the effects the primitive nature of survival has had on him. As the audience discovers the narrators hallucination in Fight Club, they are left to see the unfolding of dramatic effects both externally and internally. The narrator begins to realise that everything he though mattered is really meaningless and through repeating negative connotation, the narrators attitude is emphasises being that “[he] should run from self improvement and [he] should be running towards disaster. [He] cant just play it safe anymore”. A hyperbole is used to emphasise the effect Tyler is having on the narrator’s outlook on life, influencing his sense of self. As the narrator embeds himself in Fight Club, it becomes a place of salvation for him, giving to him what religion never could. A metaphor is used to interconnect the ideology of church as “theres hysterical shouting in tongues like at church, and when you wake up Sunday afternoon you feel saved”. This alludes to the way meaning can be derived throughout life, challenging and evolving the self. See the comments above, the comments above hold here as well. This paragraph is dangerously close to just straight recounts at some stage, be sure to keep the focus on analysis!
When the barrier between known and unknown is broken, ones can gain a new understanding. One can re-evaluate their lives as a result of the ramifications of discoveries. Lee shows the transformation of Pi through his figurative battle he undergoes with himself based on what he believes. Pi’s story comes to a complete circle during a close up of Pi’s face against the sand where it was “warm and soft, like pressing [his] face against the cheek of god”. This simile signifies that Pi has ultimately reached a culmination
in his deliverance to faith which he was able to discover as a result of his ordeal. Comparatively, the narrator in Fight Club experiences a downhill spiral once discovering who he is is not who he thought he was. Fight club served as a mechanism for the narrator to be who he wanted to be without acknowledging it and when the barrier is broken-down he realises that “the game is over. Its not fun anymore”. A metaphor not only highlights the narrators delusional state by referring to his destruction as a ‘game’ but also the negativity repercussions his discovery has caused. New understandings can evolve from discoveries as a result of their consequences and repercussions.
Each new discoveries brings consequences for the individual based on what is being discovered. They can change the way one views the world and everything around them as they are forced to confront hidden truths about themselves. The result of discoveries can challenge the self both physically and psychologically with the ramifications causing an individual to gain new understandings. The price of discovering the unknown is the arias of consequences based on how far an individual is willing to go. I love this conclusion! You just need to bring in the texts you have discussed to get a full sense of closure.
This essays big strength is its textual referencing; your quotes are fabulous and you have a great variety of literary and film techniques! Brilliant!
There are a few areas I think you need to work on, all of which I mentioned briefly above. The big point is this: Analysis . You are quoting and assigning a technique to quotes BRILLIANTLY, like bloody brilliantly. However, you are then using this example to show us something about a character in the text. This is retell. What we need instead is for you to use this as evidence to show how Lee or Palahniuk have represented a discovery concept in their text (specifically, the discovery concept you are discussing in that paragraph).
EG (totally made up) - Smith's use of figurative imagery in the protagonists introductory dialogue, "The sky of diamonds," portrays a sense of hope and opportunity to the audience and communicates the opportunities presented by a discovery experience.
I have a technique, a quote, and what it does for the audience. This is where you should be aiming.
This said, you have a great backbone here! Try working on this and feel free to post your essay again for some more feedback! We'd love to help out some more ;D
Hi how am i supposed to fit the question "Curiosity is essential to finding a true sense of discovery" to the character Gwen in Away when her discovery is instigated by necessity not curiosity?
What are some possible thesis I can come up with " discoveries can allow us to speculate future possibilities"?
My intro to this question: "discoveries may challenge individuals' perceptions and broaden their understanding of self and the world, leading them to speculate upon the possible outcome of the change in their attitudes and beliefs"
For the first sentence of my intro, can i give a definition of discovery not relating to the ques, but relate it in the second sentence.
Thanks heaps Jamon, appreciate it!
I was wondering if you could give me any advice on choosing between my two related texts for Life of Pi. I have Fight Club (as in this essay) and the Kite Runner, would you have a preference?
Thank you
Hello :) I posted this in the Advanced English marking forum as well, but I think it might be better if I posted here instead. Just hoping someone can give me as much feedback as possible please for this essay (actually to be presented as a speech!). It's the first time I've done a related text because we didn't do one in year 11 for some reason, so I just wanted to make sure my structure and analysis is okay, whether I've really answered the question enough and if there's any parts I should cut out because it's too long for the time limit.
Thank you so much!!!SpoilerDiscoveries can affirm or challenge an individual’s previously held attitudes and beliefs. How accurately does this statement reflect the ideas represented in your prescribed text and ONE related text.
CRITERIA:
• Formulate a question based on the HSC Advanced English Rubric
• Demonstrate an informed understand of the ideas expressed in the text
• Evaluate the text’s language, content and construction
• Organise, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form
Marcel Proust once said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscape but in having new eyes.” As such, discoveries, whether serendipitous or sought, ultimately involve the acquisition of greater knowledge and a new perspective. In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Jane Campion’s 1993 film The Piano, the discovery of the political truth and the redemptive power of forgiveness enable characters to affirm and challenge their previously held attitudes and beliefs in order to attain new paradigms of themselves.
The discovery of the political truth within The Tempest enables the Elizabethan Provincial order to be challenged. In the opening scene, the initial stage directions of “a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightening” is used to thrust the audience and characters into the plight of the action, creating dramatic tension and symbolising the destructive forces of human nature. As the storm ravages on, the fragility of power hierarchies are revealed and, in the face of death, rendered meaningless. This is communicated through the boatswain’s imperative tone in “What care these roarers for the name of king? … Trouble us not.” Antonio and Sebastian are furious at the social inversion and the audacity of the boatswain, communicated through their degrading insults such as "insolent noisemaker” and strong tone. Prospero’s ethnocentric worldview is affirmed by his belief in his superiority to other characters, further reflecting the Renaissance concept of colonisation and the patriarchal society. At the beginning of the play, Prospero's rulership is absolute, depending upon the enslavery of subordinate characters including Ariel and Caliban. Shakespeare includes a deliberate use of sarcasm and repetition when Prospero addresses Ariel in “Doust thou forget from what a torment I did free thee? Hast thou forgot her?” reflects how she owes Prospero loyalty and service. Additionally, Shakespeare employs deliberate dramatic irony in the fact that Prospero who had his power unjustly usurped by his brother Alonso, himself becomes the perpetrator of abuse and theft. This is highlighted through Caliban’s direct and accusatory language in “This island’s mine… which thou tak’st from me” and Shakespeare near anagram of the word ‘oppressor’ for Prospero. Furthermore, Prospero’s control over Miranda to “obey and be attentive” is met with her submissive tone. Like Ada in The Piano, Miranda embodies the subordinate female within the patriarchal society through her gentle and relatively passive nature. This is highlighted in her empathetic tone “O, I have suffered with those that I saw suffer!” Whilst the tempest confronts the Elizabethan Order of the island, Prospero’s power over other characters acts to assert his superiority and leadership. As such, through the discovery of the political truth and the concept of dominance, The Tempest reflects the idea that discoveries can affirm or challenge an individual’s previously held attitudes and beliefs.
This is comparable to Campions enigmatic film, The Piano which explores the discovery of the political truth and patriarchal society, evident during the context of mid-Victorian times. Ada is a young Scottish woman exiled by her father and “marooned” thousands of miles to an island, like Prospero and Miranda, in an arranged marriage. The overture scene is audibly differentiated from the rest of the film, as Ada speaks directly to the audience. Through the employment of a non-diegetic voiceover - “The voice you hear is not my speaking voice, but my mind’s voice” - Ada’s self-imposed muteness affirms her discovery of the hegemonic forces of the Victorian society, where she is dominated by the men above her, echoing the enslavement of Ariel and Caliban in The Tempest. Internal focalization creates an intensely intimate tone throughout the film as the audience is led by Ada’s perspective as she discovers her new place amidst the wilderness of New Zealand. Campion’s use of intensely blurred point of view and tilt angle shots create a hallucinatory effect conveying the overwhelming sense of isolation Ada feels. Additionally, the boggy undergrowth in which Ada finds so difficult to move and the forest becoming the limit of her horizons suggests her inability to escape. Throughout the film Ada’s husband, Stewart, is also identified with an axe, seen carrying it and chopping wood, associating him with the patriarchal and colonial destruction. Similarly to how Prospero’s power is dependent on his threats of life imprisonment and violence against other characters, Stewart’s power over Ada is a direct result of his decision to confine Ada to their house and cut off her fingers as retribution for her affair with Baines. However, many aspects of the film do represent Ada as a strong willed and powerful female who pursues freedom and equality. By doing so, Campion challenges audiences previously held belief in Ada’s submission and inferiority. The protagonist’s love for Baines is symbolic of her yearning to be freed from oppression and slavery. This is reiterated throughout the film as outside Stewart’s house the trees are gray and withered whereas Baine’s wooden-hut is amongst trees that are green and prosperous, blending in with the surrounding forest. Ada’s discovery of an equal relationship with Baines enables her to question her previously held attitude of passivity and asserts her desire of a new, free life. This is comparable to Gonzalo’s discovery of the beauty and tranquility of the island within The Tempest, leading him to envision a utopian world with future possibilities of an egalitarian society. As such, The Piano explores the discovery of the political truth as a process of challenging and affirming previously held beliefs and attitudes, leading to a change in one’s perspective of themselves and the world around them.
The Tempest is concerned with the need for the redemptive power of forgiveness in the face of man’s inhumanity. Throughout the play, Prospero’s aim has been revenge, however, in the final act, he is finally moved to mercy. This is attributed to Ariel’s lyrical rhythm and vivid imagery when describing the prisoner’s remorsefulness in “His tears run down his beard like winter’s drops from eaves of reeds,” evoking an emotional response within Prospero. As Ariel continues, “If you now beheld them, your affections would become tender…mine would, sir, were I human,” his measured words and respectful tone acts as a catalyst for Prospero’s self-discovery. The fricative consonants and sharp tone in “my purpose doth extend not a frown further. Go, release them” suggests Prospero’s sudden realisation of his own inhumanity and the repercussions of his actions. Thus, Prospero decides to free his prisoners from their island captivity like Stewart enables Ada to leave their marriage in The Piano. As Prospero’s challenges his previously held self-illusions, Shakespeare dramatically presents human fallibility and the potential for action through moral judgement. Prospero’s reconsideration of his humanity is reiterated through the iambic pentameter of his speech, “the rarer action is in virtue, than in vengeance.” His periods of neglectful rulership in Milan and his dreams of vengeance have hindered him from claiming the fullness of kindness and mercy. Although his enemies have wronged him deeply, Prospero uncovers his own conscious through his “nobler reason.” Furthermore, by abandoning his “fury” and “drowning” his magic books, Prospero attains a new perspective as he discovers the value of ethical leadership and benevolence. Therefore, the discovery of the ennobling power of forgiveness as explored within The Tempest involves challenging an individual’s previously held attitudes and beliefs to attain new knowledge.
Similarly to Prospero, Ada from The Piano challenges and affirms her perspective of herself by means of self-forgiveness. Abused by her husband and repressed by the gender constraints of Victorian morality, Ada’s reckless attempt to end her own life is presented in a visually complex scene. Whilst leaving her arranged marriage and sailing to a new village with Baines, Ada pushes her beloved piano over the gunwale. She impulsively decides to sacrifice herself along with it, as a sudden close up shot captures her foot entangled in one of the binding ropes. Michael Nyman’s plaintive score and Campion’s slow-motion underwater cinematography stress the suspense and gravity of Ada’s decision. As the piano sinks, it represents the weight of the past and its ability to drag Ada to her death. She gazes calmly for a period, apparently reconciled to this death that she seems to have willed. Then, without premonition, she slips her shoe out of the knot that holds it and frees herself. Only when facing death, as her non-diegetic voice-over communicates, does her “will choose life.” As such, Ada leaves behind Stewart’s unyielding patriarchal ways and approaches life with a man associated with the Maori’s egalitarian perspective on life. Her rejection of the piano in the sea’s liminal space signifies her refusal of the circumstances that caused her to retreat to this voiceless oasis of expression. As Prospero drowns his magic books to discover the redemptive power of forgiveness, Ada severs her connection with her piano, that similarly gave her the power to express herself, to attain rejuvenation and become a better person. At the end of the film, Ada is practicing the rediscovered art of speech with Baines in a light-filled shot with a harmonious score, symbolising this new life. As such, comparable to The Tempest, the protagonist in The Piano, eventually obtains self-salvation and develops a new perspective of herself by challenging her previously held beliefs and attitudes.
Discoveries are complex and transformative. William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest moves from the discovery of an uncharted island to that of the political truth behind social hierarchies and the redemptive power of forgiveness. These discoveries continue in Jane Campion’s film The Piano through the representation of relationships that seek to control and shape the lives of others as well as the liberating potential of self-forgiveness. Whilst essentially different, both texts represent discoveries as a journey of attaining new perspectives of ourselves by challenging and affirming previously held beliefs and attitudes.
Would you be able to look over my essay and give me some pointers!
I dont know how post in the thread but that is my essay, its 1300 wiords and need help making it cohesive. Not the best essay but thanks so much.
The process of discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and reconsidering what is known.
How is this perspective of discovery explored in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your choice.
Thankyou so much Elyse, i cannot believe this site its honestly amazing haha
xxxxxx
Hey there, sorry to be annoying but I posted this about a week ago and would love if anyone could please give me some feedback :) It's a speech due in a couple of days - I'd really appreciate some help cutting it down and just any other advice about whether my analysis makes sense? Thankyou so much!! ATAR notes has legit been saving my life haha I'll copy it in here again
Hi Liiz,
Please accept my apology! I know I 100% marked your work and it has completely disappeared. I've just looked through various forums! Again, I'm really sorry. I really appreciate you bringing it to my attention because I would be gutted if you let it get swept under the rug. I also really appreciate your presence on AN! It's great having you around.
Hi can you mark my essay and cut out what is unnecessary? i nearly ran out of time during the test cuz its too long
When is the next time that you can gain teacher feedback? Is it after the half yearly? Or before? :)
Hey Elyse!! We just got our half yearly results back for our discovery paper 1 and I really just want to say thank you so much, because my discovery essay got 20/20!! Although I really did luck out with the question (It was "Discoveries can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others. - Discuss" or something with that rubric line) I really wouldn't have been able to write anything to get that mark without your help!! English has been an endless struggle for me, and you've seriously really helped me. I cried like a baby for a few minutes (let me paint you a picture - 2 classes packed into one room, me, on the floor, crying. yep.)
Sorry this is really long (and irrelevant to the AOS marking) but, I really, truly, appreciate your help in marking my essay, I seriously wouldn't have been able to do it without your help!!
Thank you so so much!!
Hey Elyse!! We just got our half yearly results back for our discovery paper 1 and I really just want to say thank you so much, because my discovery essay got 20/20!! Although I really did luck out with the question (It was "Discoveries can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others. - Discuss" or something with that rubric line) I really wouldn't have been able to write anything to get that mark without your help!! English has been an endless struggle for me, and you've seriously really helped me. I cried like a baby for a few minutes (let me paint you a picture - 2 classes packed into one room, me, on the floor, crying. yep.)
Sorry this is really long (and irrelevant to the AOS marking) but, I really, truly, appreciate your help in marking my essay, I seriously wouldn't have been able to do it without your help!!
Thank you so so much!!
Hey
So I have written this essay on John Donne. I am having trouble with the 3rd paragraph (I cant seem to find any techniques in the quote). Can you please tell me where I am at :). The 2nd paragraph is a little longer because the question asked for that poem specifically with reference to a least one other. :) :) :)
P.S The question was; How does our understanding of the Renaissance enhance our interpretation of Donne's work?
Hey Alalamc!! I've attached your essay below! For future reference, this is a Discovery essay thread, next time, post your Module essays in our Advanced Module Marking Thread or Standard Module Marking Thread as appropriate!!
Omg Im so sorry didnt realise as I had only used this thread so far ☺. Will do nxt time.
Hi, i have attached my discovery essay below. Can i please get feedback for it? Thank you.
This is an adaptable essay I am writing for the discovery AOS and I am aiming to make it adaptable as possible, would you be able to quickly run over and tell me where I can improve?
BTW cheers for all the consistently good work you guys are all doing, you're lifesavers
I would really like to apologize for the mess of an essay :'( (if you can even call it that) that you are about to read, if you are so gracious enough to do that for me!
It's really messy and all over the place and I apologize, it was just my attempt at trying to get all the ideas in my head down and on paper and trying to make it sort of coherent. I know that once I go back over it I can edit it and make it sound like a human being wrote it and not some weird alien who has just arrived on earth (and has decided to take the HSCS???)
My concerns are
- if my ideas are actually making sense
- my evidence and support for my thesis (whether they're good or not)
- introduction
- i have too many words, i don't know where to cut down so if could suggest some areas which could be reworded or just scrapped
- two of my concepts are similar (first one deals with how discovery challenges and makes people aware of their beliefs while the second one deals with how discoveries can change individuals and society) and i've definitely repeated myself so I'm not sure how to avoid that but still keep my two concepts, so any and all suggestions would be amazingly helpful.
Thank you so much!!! ;D
Thank you so much Elyse! I really appreciate it, I feel a lot more confident about my textual analysis now ;D
I understand your point about making discovery the main focus but I'm not sure how to execute that, could you provide me with an example on how I could accomplish that?
this site is so great, i appreciate all the time taken to mark these essays, would you be able to have quick look at mine please
concerns :
analysis
does my essay actually make sense
how strong is my discovery component ?
this is my AOS discovery component for standard english
this site is so great, i appreciate all the time taken to mark these essays, would you be able to have quick look at mine please
concerns :
analysis
does my essay actually make sense
how strong is my discovery component ?
this is my AOS discovery component for standard english
HI there (finally found the right place to post ;D)
If its not too much trouble could you please have a look at my discovery essay.
I think my main problem is not having a sustained argument and enough links to discovery hmmm...
please rip it apart hahha
Thank you so much! Appreciate your time :)
jack
I hope this feedback helps Jack! As I said, this essay is already brilliant, some polish would make it even more exceptional ;D you should definitely take it away and repost the edits, or even try making it fit another question? That would be a great challenge 8)
Awesome work Jack!! ;D
Hey Jamon
Thank you so much for the insightful comments and FOR STAYING UP SO LATE TOO :)!
hahaha yeah wimbledon has kept me away from studying hahaah (DID YOU WATCH FED'S COMEBACK?!?!) ;D
Thank you once again i really appreciate it! I am going to fix it up now :)
Jack
Whenever we post our essay for marking, are we allowed to post 2 at a time (or more)?
Sure! As long as you meet the "5 per essay" rule then you are all sweet, and we might stagger them if we have other people waiting on feedback, try and make sure other students don't experience an unusual delay ;D
Fantastic
If however you moderators are busy, then I'll have to do 1 at a time. If you aren't busy at all (and have a lot of spare time atm) then I'll send in 2-4 essays at once. Are you fine with that?
To be honest, we are always busy, if you post 3 or 4 essays then expect about a week for us to get to them all ;D even when the markers are on uni holidays, we are working on lectures or other free content for you guys, so we'll never have entire days for marking. All that said, post as many as you like! We are here to help in every way we can ;D
hi I'm sorry to bother again, but this is my edited peace of discovery !
would be able to have a look again and see if its any better then previous.. would appreciate a lot
thank youuu ! I've actually learnt a lot about structure through you! so thank you ! :)
This is my AOS essay for motorcycle diaries. Im trying to make it as best as possible for my trials on monday (so close eeek!) and was just wondering if you could mark it as harsh as possible.
Thank you!
Can you read mine please?
Also, I am doing the English Adv. course - not sure if that means the essay is different though.
On average, Advanced students will perform better in the AoS than Standard students, but the marking is identical so no dramas ;DOne comment.
One comment.
Overall, the trend is that Advanced perform better than Standard because usually the more capable kids don't do Standard. However interestingly, for Paper 1 Section 1 (unseen text analysis) there is a slight trend that Standard perform better than Advanced. This is due to the fact that sometimes Advanced go overboard and derail from the question whereas Standard have plenty of skills needed as is to answer the question and grab the marks.
Hi Elyse
Do you look at transitions? this is for standard
thanks
Hi Guys, this is my first try here on ATAR notes and would love some feedback in regards to my area of study essay. I really need this marked as my teacher is not responding to my questions. The question is the first statement of the rubric:
Discovery can encompass the experience of finding something new or rediscovering something lost forgotten or concealed. Thank you so much.
Thankyou for marking my essay. I've been anxious about it the whole day :) If I were to put your feedback into action, and improve my essay, would it be a band 6 potential?
Hi guys!!! These are my topic sentences ^^^ I was hoping if someone could please help me make the related text topic sentences a bit more sophisticated such that it links with the corresponding core text topic sentence!! Thank you so much…. I can’t seem to think of any way to do so!
Hi Elysepopplewell,
Can you please check my essay please! My trials start on Wednesday and English paper 1 is first up.
Thanks!
P.S. Was using your tips from the study day at UTS last Monday, very helpful as they were in my words, not some teacher's!
helloooo ! this will be the last time ill be posting this, but would you be able to see if this is any better then the previous please !
Hey, this is my discovery essay!! Just need a second opinion, my teacher gives very vague comments, like "expand", "too vague" or "be more concise in this section" (referring to the entire 1st paragraph).
THANK YOU!!
Also, I am doing the English Adv. course - not sure if that means the essay is different though.
Thank you soo much for marking my essay!!!
I love how helpful and enthusiastic you guys are! I genuinely think you are out there to help us, sometimes I don't get that vibe from teachers but yeh, love/hate relationship with teachers I guess ahah!
hey pals, I've resached the 35 post requirement, would i be able to get further feedback before i print this essay out please!
Hi, sorry for keep asking questions, I'm too good at English :(
going on from my other question about number of poems, can we discuss two in detail and mention the third to support main ideas?
Hello,
Could you please have a look at my AOS essay on Robert Frost poetry :) My trials is in a week so feedback on how to improve would be great!
Cheers!
Hey! I sure can, your essay is attached with comments in bold:SpoilerDiscoveries can often inspire revelation and reflection within an individual which facilitate renewed understandings of others and the world. Good conceptual Thesis. This idea is portrayed extensively in Robert Frost’s poems, “The Tuft of Flowers”, “Stopping by woods on a snowy evening”(“Stopping by Woods”) and “After Apple-Picking”, and Matthew Thorne’s short film, “Where do Lilacs come from” (2014). Whilst Frost explores nature’s capacity to stimulate a reconsideration of preconceived knowledge and attitudes, Thorne presents the ability of memory to provoke a re-evaluation of an individual’s place in the world. However, both texts demonstrate that the process of introspection ultimately shapes perspectives and meaning, which may positively or negatively transform an individual. Great start! Simple, but effective, you may want to establish your paragraph concepts in your introduction though.
The natural landscape enables reflection and contemplation through which meaningful discoveries can be made about the human experience. Frost explores this in “The Tuft of Flowers”, where the persona’s communion with nature provokes a newfound sense of connection and comfort. Awesome. The poem opens with a tone of despondency: “I must be, as he had been – alone”. The caesura and high modality “must” emphasises the depth of the persona’s isolation. This moment of despair is interrupted by “But as I said it, swift there passed me by/On noiseless wing a bewildered butterfly”; the use of sibilance slows the pace down and creates a calm and euphonic sound. Be careful that you aren't just using techniques to retell the poe, link everything to a discovery concept AND to what the audience learns. “but” suggests a sudden tonal shift from the persona’s initial scepticism to a more uplifted tone, which is reiterated by the deliberate choice of positively connoted words. This signifies the persona’s changing perceptions, which allows him to re-evaluate both himself and the world around him. What does the audience learn? The personification of the butterfly as “bewildered” mirrors the similarly bewildered persona as he reassesses his perspective on the solitary existence of humanity. The references to nature as a catalyst for discovery resonate strongly with elements of Romanticism, which Frost utilizes to demonstrate nature’s ability to empower and transform an individual. Good contextual link there. The persona’s renewed optimism further instigates him to discover a “tall tuft of flowers”, where the oxymoron of “tall” and typically short “tuft” reinforces both the random presence and the defiance of the flowers to survive in “the levelled scene”. Retell. This reflects the enduring strength and potential of human connection and relationships. The persona’s recognition of the spiritual connection between individuals is forming the cornerstone for his more profound understanding of human existence. Good paragraph! I'd love to see more of a link to the audience, tell me what the responder learns by reading the text! Also leaning ever so slightly towards textual retell, be careful!
“Stopping by Woods” also examines the potential of nature to provide individuals with the opportunity to discover a sense of connection with their surroundings. Try to make every introduction conceptual just like your first paragraph! Similar to “The Tuft of Flowers”, the poem opens with a sense of isolation and solitude, “whose woods these are I think I know/his house is in the village though”. “Whose” and the third person pronoun “he” suggests the mysterious and uncertain identity of the owner of the woods, depicting the disconnection between the persona and him. Retell. The visual imagery “to watch his woods fill up with snow” then establishes a spiritual connection between the speaker and the natural landscape. Retell. The sibilance in “only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind and downy flake” suggests the calm and comforting environment the persona finds himself in. Retell. “down” suggests softness and warmness which contrasts with the actuality of snow, suggesting that the snow seems to offer rest and ease. Retell. Reflections within nature can thus allow individuals to discover a newfound sense of connection. This paragraph, while including techniques effectively, is just telling me what happened in the text and describing the state of the persona. I need wider audience links; what do WE learn from the composers use of techniques? What new understanding do we gain?
In “Where do Lilacs come from”, an Alzheimer’s patient’s (Chris’s) rediscovery of past relationships with his wife and son empowers him to re-evaluate his perceptions and attitudes about his family. Similar to “The Tuft of Flowers” and “Stopping by Woods”, where nature reawakens the persona’s appreciation of life and the human experience; Chris’s fractured memories challenge his dwindling perception of family and offer new means for him to examine others and the world. A panning shot of a flashback, where Chris and his wife are quarrelling, establishes their broken relationship. The stark contrast between light and shade in the characters’ positioning highlights the division between the two. What insights do we gain into Discovery? Chris’s past disconnection is similar to the initial isolation of the personas in “The Tuft of Flowers” and “Stopping by Woods”. The camera jump cuts to the present and zooms onto Chris’s tense and contemplative facial expression as he ruminates on past experiences. Retell. The sudden silence further accentuates Chris’s epiphany as he realizes the importance of family to an individual. The use of warm colours and uplifting music composed by string instruments connotes positivity, suggesting that the memories of past events are leading Chris to ponder on and reconstruct his outlook on life, transforming his previous indifference into a newfound appreciation of family and relationships. Again, I need wider audience impact; don't tell me about what I learn about the text, what do I learn about Discovery as a whole!
The process of discovery may also adversely transform an individual’s perspectives and understandings through their reflection on the harsh realities of life. This is what I mean by conceptual, excellent! Frost’s “After Apple-Picking” is set in a rural landscape and depicts the repetitive and dreary nature of picking apples, which is an allegory for life and its endeavours. The use of irregular rhyming scheme and variation in meter evoke a mood of hesitation and correspond with the persona’s uncertainty as he reconsiders the meaning and choices in life. The recurring motif of sleep such as “drowsing”, “dreaming”, “overtired” illustrates the unclear delineation between consciousness and dream-like state of the persona, suggesting that he exists in a liminal space of uncertainty and transition. What does the audience learn? This imagery of sleep as well as winter’s symbolism of finality and transience of life in “essence of winter sleep” are both allusions of death, which reiterates that the persona is losing passion in the work he does as he continues to reflect on his life journey. Retell. Furthermore, the repetition of “load” in “I feel the ladder sway…rumbling sound of load on load of apples”, emphasises the intensity of the burden work places on the persona and the overwhelming nature of responsibilities. The auditory imagery and onomatopoeia “rumbling” produces a discordant sound which is indicative of unease and reflects the persona’s bitter and weary perspective on life. Unlike the persona from “The Tuft of Flowers” who gains an appreciation of human connection, the persona from “After Apple-Picking” discovers the futility of the human existence through contemplating on the meaning in life, leading to a renewed understanding of oneself and others. Just like your introductions, try to keep your conclusions as conceptual as possible, this time with a bit of a link to the text itself: "Hence, we see how the composer seeks to show the audience ________."
“Stopping by Woods” also exemplifies how discovery can provide unpleasant knowledge regarding the nature of the human existence. The sombre tone in “darkest evening of the year” demonstrates winter as a time of symbolic death. The harsh “but” in “but I have promises to keep” startles the reader from the reveries and musicality of previous alliteration of “d” and long vowel sounds in “lovely, dark and deep”. Good link to audience! This emphasises that the persona has discovered that life is full of responsibilities; social obligations is forcing him out of self-indulgent thoughts. The repetition at the end of the poem “and miles to go before I sleep” adds a sonorous effect to how far he still has to go and “sleep” alludes to how tired he is. The persona’s momentary halt on his journey is a metaphor for life and highlights the importance of introspection and reflection, which can allows individuals to gain a heightened understanding of their place in the world, though the knowledge may be undesirable.
“Where do Lilacs come from” likewise explores an understanding of the impermanence of time and fragility of human existence, as Chris continues to pursue meaning through his memories. Fantastic concept, but again, looking for something a little more conceptual. This is shown in a wide shot, where the crimson amorphous ink comes apart in slow motion. This gradual disintegration emphasises the fragility of relationships as well as the irreversibility of choices and decisions made in life. This is better; see how it doesn't just show us something about the persona/text, it shows us something about Discovery as a whole, excellent! The confronting colour of crimson illustrates that the knowledge is distasteful to Chris, in the same way that the discovery in “After Apple-Picking” was disheartening to the persona. And this is what I mean by focusing too much on the text, those two sentences are a perfect example of "amazing" then "okay." Moreover, the use of lilacs as a metaphor in the flashback, where Chris and his family are planting lilacs together, represents the cycle of life, which is suggestive of the permanent absence of youth and the inevitability of death. This scene is filmed with a handheld camera and the footage is small and shaky, further demonstrating the uncertainties and instabilities in life. Much like the persona from “After Apple-Picking”, Chris also discovers the uncertainty and fragility of human existence through introspection, which facilitates a wider understanding of the world he lives in.
Both Frost and Thorne delve into the capacity of the discovery process to initiate a revision of perspectives on the human experience. This is often triggered by introspection within oneself, leading to renewed perceptions of the world and its people. You'll need a bit more depth in this conclusion. Re-state your Thesis, explain how the texts represent this idea, summaries what you've discussed, then come to your final conclusion. It should be 4 sentences or so ;D
This is a cool essay! Lots of really interesting conceptual ideas throughout, a multitude of textual references, and a distinct structure, I think this works quite well!
My first comment would be that this is far too long to reproduce in an exam situation, unless you are the fastest writer I know of! AoS essays typically sit no higher than about 1000 words, a few more if you are fast. This is a tad long, so you'll need to adjust it to trim the word count!
My big tip to achieve that is eliminating retell. There are significant portions of your essay where you tell me (albeit in a sophisticated way), what happens in the text and how it affects the persona in the text. Even integrating techniques throughout, this is not effective, especially when your word count is above what it should be. Eliminate any part of your essay that tells me something about what happens to the persona or what happens in the text. This is retell, focus on techniques: "The composer uses TECHNIQUE, "QUOTE", so communicate BLAH which reveals BLAH BLAH to the audience." Rinse, repeat, no additional detail, be succinct! ;D
I'll also mention that you will want to make greater links to what the audience learns about Discovery. Right now, you have a focus on what we learn about the persona, or how the persona's experiences link to Discovery. This is good, but it is even more effective to purely focus on what the audience learns about Discovery. Here is an example:
The confronting colour of crimson illustrates that the knowledge is distasteful to Chris, in the same way that the discovery in “After Apple-Picking” was disheartening to the persona.
Could be changed to:
The composer's use of crimson colour is confronting to the audience, as we realise that knowledge is distasteful and thus acts as a dissuasion for personal discoveries.
Or something similar, pulled that sentence out of my head, but you see how it doesn't just focus on the persona: It brings it back to us (the responders). This is something to consider ;D
On the whole, a really great essay, you clearly know your texts really well! However, I'm looking to see you trim some filler, and focus more on what the audience learns about Discovery :) great work!
Hey! Thanks a bunch! Do you think it would be a better idea to incorporate the "Stopping by Woods" as I discuss the other two in detail? this would save some words and I wouldn't have to restate the same concept?
Hi once again! Can you please let me know where I am with this essay! :) Last time I was given advice to make my ideas clearer I feel like the 3rd paragraph in particular is letting me down I don't know what to do with it for improvement.
Hey i just wrote up some GBTWYCF paragraphs to the question discovers can be confronting and provocative, to what extent is this true of your study of Discovery?
Thanks!
Hey there, just wondering if someone could please check out my discovery essay. I've found AOS as one of the hardest modules for me some reason so heaps of critical feedback would be awesome!! Thanks so much :))
Hello could you please mark my discovery essay , particularly i need help with thesis clarity, i dont know how to get my points across without sounding convoluted hehe.
Hey :)
I was wondering if you would be able to have a look at my AOS essay. I would love it if you could mark harshly and let me know what I should change/improve. I have read a few of your posts and comments about making your analysis audience focussed. Do I do this enough, and if not, how should I incorporate it into my analysis. I am planning on memorising this essay for my trials next week. Do you have any suggestions on how I should manipulate this essay and my thesis to the exam essay question?
Thanks so much for this opportunity to mark my essay :)
I have read a few of your posts and comments about making your analysis audience focussed. Do I do this enough, and if not, how should I incorporate it into my analysis?
Hey Elyse!!
Could you have a look at my disc essay. I posted one back along long time ago and had it marked by Literally Lauren. Since then, I've changed it a lot for the upcoming trails. I'd be really grateful for any feedback :))
Hey Jamon
Thank you so much for marking it! Especially so quickly haha.
I've been having this retell problem mostly in AOS because how I see it is the plot itself shows the discovery. I'm just unsure on how composers can use techniques to represent discovery. Would you be able to give me an example of how I can change retell into analysis and representation choices
(essentially, I'm finding it hard to link techniques and their effect to discovery, so I've ended up using the plot and characters to convey discovery)
That's all good! Okay, it's a tough thing to get the hang of admittedly. As well as techniques showing Discovery, the plot does show Discovery too, but you need to link to how techniques accentuate this. Its a fine line: Here is an example. Let's take a sentence from your essay and adapt it to analysis of the composers choices, instead of the characters:
Ironically, it is through the anthropomorphism of Ariel as he emotively declares “if you beheld them now, your affections would become tender” that Prospero realises his own inhumanity and forsakes his desire for retribution, instead choosing to “forgive thy [Alonso] rankest fault”, with the superlative emphasising his newfound compassion.
So the idea here is to
a) More obviously portray this as Shakespeare's choice, not just something that 'happens' in The Tempest
b) Link more explicitly to the audience
c) Remove retell aspects
I would write the sentence something like this:
Shakespeare's use of anthropomorphism in Ariel's emotive declaration, "your affections would become tender," inspires compassion from his responders as he exemplifies the new-found humanity of the characters, and thus, how individuals can prompt evolution of the self.
Note that this is still slightly retell, but it's a forgivable level, because the focus is on Shakespeare making a representational decision and what it does for us as an audience. And importantly, I take your idea and make it relevant to the audience as a whole!
Here is an example of a completely abstracted, analytical sentence:
Poe's recurring use of a heartbeat motif continuously accentuates the theme of moral infallibility, as responders come to associate the "INSERT A QUOTE HERE FOR EVIDENCE OF HEARTBEAT" with a manifestation of internal guilt, creating a fearful and weary tone.
It's all about audience impact, and making the focus on the composer! I hope this helps you a tad! ;D
Hi, can i please get feedback for my AOS essay?
Hey liiz! I'd be happy too, but you've had 3 essays marked already, you need 20 posts to qualify for another set of feedback, sorry!! Let me know when you hit it and I'll add it to my list ;)Hey Jamon, no worries - I hit up that chemistry forum and now have my posts up to 20!! Thanks so much :)
Hey Angie! Sure thing, the essay is attached with comments in bold!
Oh, and I know there are people who question why this marking service is a public resource. Beyond keeping my schedule safe (though I am marking at 2:30am, so that's gone anyway ;)):
That is why it is public. Because by posting and getting feedback, you are also helping others address weaknesses in their own writing. So good on you guys ;DSpoilerDiscovery has the potential to challenge or affirm beliefs about the human experience and the world
The confronting and provocative process of discovery has the potential to transform an individual’s perception towards the human experience and the world. However, the extent of the impact is influenced by the willingness of the individual to embrace their discovery. Fantastic Thesis, clever and effective. Ivan O’Mahoney’s documentary series ‘Go Back To Where You Came From’ (2011) (“Go Back…”) explores the physical and emotional ramifications of a reverse refugee journey on representative participants. Peter Skrzynecki’s poetry “Crossing the Red Sea” and “Leaving Home” similarly examines the significant impacts of discovery upon refugees fleeing war-torn Europe. Both texts invite the responder to experience the intensely meaningfully journey of discovery that affirms or challenges an individual’s imbedded beliefs. Great introduction, works very well, only thing I'd add is a list of what your paragraphs will be discussing in terms of themes!
The transformation of an individual’s beliefs may be stimulated by an environment that impels discovery. Great conceptual start! O’Mahoney’s documentary opens with a pastiche of archival news footage and comments from politicians to “stop the boats”, representing the society’s view towards the “issue that divides a nation,” juxtaposing with the editorial cut to emotional and polarising footage of a sinking refugee boat. Excellent, but perhaps a tad too long a sentence? This provides factual, contextual information about the circumstance that stimulates the necessity of discovery whilst foreshadowing the documentary/reality tv’s purpose to evoke empathy among the audience. Excellent, audience focused analysis here! The platform for each of the participant’s discoveries is introduced through indirect interviews, allowing the responder to identify with the political ideologies of a participant and experience their discoveries. Raye’s harsh belief in her superior identity is encapsulated in an establishing low angle shot where she states in an aggressive tone: “I could’ve gone over with a gun and shot the lot of them [asylum seekers]…” Reword that sentence slightly to say the director CHOOSES that shot to accentuate her viewpoint, just to keep the focus on the techniques and the composer. The documentary/reality tv hybrid evokes injustice and irony through the mise-en-scene of her expansive farm, juxtaposing with the refugees who are imprisoned in the Denverbrackie detention centre next door. Slightly retell here. This positions the audience to identify her as a hypocritical and xenophobic representation of society’s increasing resentment towards asylum seekers. And immediately redeemed ;) Similarly, in “Crossing the Red Sea”, the persona’s exile from Poland after WWII initiates the necessity for discovery. Try to avoid retell even when introducing a text. It's not the persona's exile that communicates Discovery after all, it is Skrzynecki's techniques! The negative red imagery: “Blood leaves similar dark stains…rusted irons”, allows the audience to visualise the suffering of the immigrants which functions as a platform for their journey to freedom. They escape as “Neither masters nor slaves/As we crossed a sea”. The collective pronoun “we” and the juxtaposition of “masters” and “slaves” suggests the collective need to flee which ultimately leads to a journey of discovery. Thus, an individual’s personal context and environment stimulates discoveries that may affirm or challenge their perspectives. A great paragraph, you are definitely hammering the audience stuff home which is great! You are retelling a little bit though, be careful, and ensure that your first sentence permeates through the paragraph! It got a little lost along the way for me.
The confronting nature of discovery may challenge an individual’s perception towards themselves and others. Raye’s personal and emotive interaction with the Masudi family in the Kakuma Refugee Camp allowed her to “see” rather than “look” at the sufferings of the refugees. By using a 'character' (albeit real) from the text, you set up a section based on retell. Avoid! Her transformed perception that “if [improving the life of my children] meant getting on a boat I would probably go ahead and do it,” is reinforced through the visual metaphor of the setting sun. This symbolises the end of Raye’s original, parochial view towards refugees whilst the inevitability of the rising of a new day parallels her newfound enlightenment and compassionate identity. This is good stuff, you just need to frame it in a more conceptual light, talk about how the composer epitomises these changes! Similarly, Adam’s physical experience working with the Chin refugees challenges his initial belief of refugees as “criminals.” His empathetic discovery that “At home, guys labouring have got a pay cheque to go to…These guys have got nothing” is reflected through the emotional non diegetic music. What is the fact on the audience? Furthermore, the long shot of him working in the fields demonstrates the stark contrast between his privileged life on the shore of Cronulla. Shifting towards retell a little bit here. This manipulated the responder to reflect on their own fortunate life and evoke a sense of empathy towards refugees. Ensure all analysis is done in present tense ("manipulateS"). Skrzynecki’s similarly conveys how discovery can transform an individual’s beliefs. At the beginning, the persona’s belief that “The sea’s breath touched the eyes of another Lazarus” employs biblical allusion to indicate his belief in the salvation and resurrection that his migrant journey will lead to. This juxtaposes the metaphor at the end of the poem “blood rimmed horizon beyond whose waters the equator was still to be crossed” where the future is compared with “blood”, highlighting the persona’s discovery of the dangers and suffering endured in the journey to seek freedom and safety. Audience impact? What do we therefore learn about confronting discoveries? Therefore, discoveries can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and the world. As above, check your first sentence and then your conclusion in this paragraph. They don't quite match, indicating your conceptual focus has been lost somewhere amongst your examples. I did this a lot in the HSC, be careful!
Discoveries, as well as a resistance to discovery, may also affirm an individual’s belief. Gleny enters the social experiment with an optimism that her experiences will reinforce her perspective that Australia has the “capacity to take more refugees.” Retell. Her views are affirmed by her discoveries of the inhumane conditions the refugees endure throughout the journey. Gleny’s rhetorical question during her reflection at the end of the series: “Why wouldn’t one person take the opportunity to jump on a boat and save their family?” challenges the responder to undertake a more compassionate view towards asylum seekers whilst the zoom in on her face convinces the viewer to adopt her perspective. Perfect audience link! However, you are in an affirming paragraph, shouldn't this have been in the previous section? Contrastingly, Darren’s refusal to accept his discoveries results in the affirmation of his initial belief that “I’m not going to call them queue jumpers anymore, probably system dodgers.” The diegetic laughing and panning shot of the other participants satirises Darren’s unwillingness to be ideologically receptive to his experiences, manipulating the responder to depart from his views. Awesome. In “Crossing the Red Sea,” the persona’s journey of discovery reaffirmed and reconnected him with his traditional identity. Retell. He is reminded of his Polish heritage through the repeated red motif “red banners” and “red poppies”, representing the colour of the Polish flag and his cultural heritage. See below for an example of abstracting your analysis.However, in “Leaving Home,” the persona adamantly refuses to embrace his job relocation employing a cynical and satiric tone “I waited three hours for a two-minute interview” to reveal his frustration. His journey of discovery to the new destination reaffirms his initial attitude where the metaphor at the end of the poem “Their naked, hairless bodies the colour of sour milk” allows the responder to consider the continuation of his negative attitude. Thus, discoveries can also reaffirm an individual’s initial values. This one is better, though I'm still noticing a fair bit of retell.
In conclusion, the confronting and emotional process of discovery allows an individual to gain greater knowledge and understanding of the human experience and the world, resulting in the affirmation of transformation of their perspective. Both ‘Go Back’ and Skrzynecki’s poetry explore how the migrant experience allows an individual to discover their identity, how hope during the refugee process encourages discovery, and how discovery of the truth results in a transformed perception towards the controversial issue. Both texts encapsulate the experiences and impact of a migrant journey and encourage their audience reconsider their position and initial prejudices towards the issue of refugees. A solid conclusion! Ticks the boxes, texts re-introduced, very strong links to question and Thesis re-stated. Awesome!
You absolutely smash the audience part of your analysis Angie, good on you! That worked really well to make me realise the universal impacts of the concepts, great work ;D
A few comments on things to improve! First of all, you are analysing your text in a very text focused way. This sounds fine right! Except, you will be better and more sophisticated by removing retell, and even taking your analysis away from plots and characters, and shifting it to representational choices made by the composer. Let's look at realistically what that looks like:
He is reminded of his Polish heritage through the repeated red motif “red banners” and “red poppies”, representing the colour of the Polish flag and his cultural heritage.
Becomes:
Skrzynecki's use of the colour red as a motif is symbolic of his own Polish heritage, and communicates how cultural icons such as "red banners" and "red poppies" can heavily influence individual discoveries.
I move OUT of the text and instead focus purely on Skrzynecki's representational choices! Not the persona, but the composer ;D this is a more sophisticated approach that I recommend you try, the best analysis sentences always contain the name of the composer and something that they do to create meaning (technique, form or style) ;D
I also want you to focus on ensuring your topics are held through your entire paragraphs. The concepts did tend to overlap between paragraphs, try and establish a clear extinction and ensure every example links to the audiences belief on the nature of the human experience (the question). Essentially, I think you could answer the question more directly, so keep that in mind too! ;D
Beyond this, smaller issues. A few places where some tidy is needed, but those are the big bits of feedback, let me know if you had any questions ;D
Oh, and the best way to prepare to adapt an essay for an exam is to grab as many past papers as you can and dot point your essays. Write your Thesis, then dot point the quotes/ideas for each paragraph. Ensure you can do this for as many questions as possible to feel prepared, and practice writing lots of introductions. They are the hardest bit to tailor. Practice makes perfect!! ;D
Hey there, just wondering if someone could please check out my discovery essay. I've found AOS as one of the hardest modules for me some reason so heaps of critical feedback would be awesome!! Thanks so much :)
Hey Jamon, I think I've posted an extra 15 times since then and I've spent the last 6 hours working on fixing my discovery essay and I have school tomorrow and i'm praying that what I wrote makes sense at this ungodly hour. Could you check one final time my essay, I've tried as hard as I can to incorporate your feedback and improve :) I havented touched the intro and conclusion, but I've changed all my paragraphs.
P.S. If i don't have enough posts, let me know and I find a way to contribute more.
Can you have a read through a part of my paragraph for my essay on Away by micheal giow to see if it makes sense?
Hi! If you have the time I was wondering if you could check over my AOS Tempest essay :) It's the last essay I need to fix up before trials hahaha to thats good! The last time I had it marked it was 17/20. Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks so much Elyse! I definitely understand what you're saying, I'll make sure to fix up my response with your suggestions! You and jamon really are a machine hahaha, I cannot thank either of you enough for the help that you have given me over the last month with my creative and essays :) My teacher has said that she can already see a vast improvement in my drafts and it pretty much all down to your feedback! Thank you!!! ;D
Hi Can you please look at my essay for Area of Study. I'm really stuck.
The essay is generic so statements are abit broad so I can mould it into different questions
Thanks a million
Hi Elyse, I have my textual evidence and some broad concepts about discovery, but I was wondering if you could just see if this thesis makes sense? I think i'm going slightly crazy from too much english, and just need a new perspective haha! P.S I'm doing The Motorcycle Diaries and The Apology
Thesis: The dynamic nature of discovery means it is largely an ongoing process of suppositions seeking validation.
Hey Bparker! Welcome to the forums! Be sure to let me know if you need help finding anything ;D
I would say that Thesis does make sense! It is saying discoveries are about asking questions/making hypothesis and having them validated. That's great! I would say it could be a tad too simple, it will definitely need an amplification where you build on the idea and delve into it a bit more (EG - challenges of making those suppositions for the individual, why discovery is dynamic, etc). It just needs a tad more depth to really make it shine, but this works really well as a generic Thesis to pull out and tailor to some specific question ;D
Hi Elyse, I have my textual evidence and some broad concepts about discovery, but I was wondering if you could just see if this thesis makes sense? I think i'm going slightly crazy from too much english, and just need a new perspective haha! P.S I'm doing The Motorcycle Diaries and The Apology
Thesis: The dynamic nature of discovery means it is largely an ongoing process of suppositions seeking validation.
This is a really unique thesis because it makes the discovery focused on beliefs being challenged or validated. As long as this is a common thing that flows through your prescribed and related text, there's no problem. But, you need to be prepared to make a complimentary thesis statement on the spot in an exam. I used this technique. My introduction opened with two thesis statements that complimented each other - one was my prepared thesis (like you have) and the second one was a direct response to the question. The wording of my prepared thesis changed to adapt to the question more.
I think your thesis is limited in the expression. Currently, you're implying that discovery is mainly about beliefs being challenged. If this is the only main idea you want to flesh out in your response, then that's fine. But if you want to give yourself more scope, you might have to adjust the expression to incorporate the effects of these suppositions being validated, or how that impacts on people's relationships, or how it offers renewed perspectives, etc, etc. If you're comfortable with your supporting thesis to do this work for you, then that's cool too. But if I were you, I'd be teasing out the expression of that sentence a bit more to encourage that wider scope for the different stages and elements of discovery.
Thankyou for the speedy and detailed response! I think i'll take your advice and add something about the impact of discovery onto the end of my thesis, as I do explore that in my essay too.
Hi, how many related texts do we need for AOS Standard English?? I thought it was one but recently I've been reading two!??
"Obviously I can't speak for people during the Trial, but I would strongly recommend NEVER doing more than is required of you in a question. You WON'T get any more marks for using 174 related texts"
Hey hannahboardman98 welcome to atarnotes!! The AoS is a common paper between standard and advanced. I have ever only done 1 related text for English and most people have they have been fine!! The only reason some people study two is because ONCE they asked for two related texts. (But in that case, I would just pick one of the unseen texts) but you definitely can get by quite okay with one related text its what i have been doing.
To use Jake's words (forum legend ;D)
Hope all this helps and hope you get a lot out of atarnotes!!
Thanks :)
Love your work study buddy! ;D I'll expand by saying that using one of the unseen texts is a very good idea in AoS (in case of emergency). Use the techniques you found in Section 1 and put them straight into Section 3, it works really well (this also requires doing Section 1 first) ;D
Hannah's been around for a while!! She was one of the first to hang around the Standard English Threads (Hannah is my hero) ;)
Hey guys,
Can someone please direct me to where the feedback for my essay is. I can't seem to find it.
I posted it a while ago, it's on page 9.
Did I skip a page or overlook it somewhere?
Or is trials making me go crazy and see things hahaha
Thanks :)
Hey guys,
English is my biggest struggle and if you could give me some feedback on how to improve on my AOS essay, it would help tremendously.
Not sure what I'm meant to be doing with this tbh, but here's an essay that I wrote that I'm sure is too long.
Thank you so much!!! you guys are life savers
Discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and reconsidering what is known – discuss with detailed reference to the prescribed text and ONE related
Ahaha thanks man, don't worry about it. AOS has flown out of my mind right now.
I've already done improved essays than what i submitted.
Is it possible if i just retract that one, and submit another essay instead later?
Ahaha thanks man, don't worry about it. AOS has flown out of my mind right now.
I've already done improved essays than what i submitted.
Is it possible if i just retract that one, and submit another essay instead later?
hey guys,
could someone just mark my Area of Study essay on The Tempest and my related text The Boy in Striped Pyjamas thank you :) :)
hey :) I have reached 15 posts would you be able to mark my essay now? thank you
Don't slip into saying "This happened and this shows this about Discovery," keep the focus on techniques used by the composer and how they develop meaning for the audience ;D
thank you for the advice!
~yes i do have a problem with retelling, i cannot seem to get myself out of it, is there a certain mindset to it?
thank you for the advice!
~yes i do have a problem with retelling, i cannot seem to get myself out of it, is there a certain mindset to it?
I've attached my discovery essay. Thanks for doing this :)
I've attached my discovery essay. Thanks for doing this :)
hey guys, can someone have a look at my dis essay ! was able to achieve 11/15 in trials however there were no feedback as to how i can move up into the A' range ? any help ??
it is not set on any particularly question ? i just did it on discovery in general! so don't mind the intro -
hey guys, can someone have a look at my dis essay ! was able to achieve 11/15 in trials however there were no feedback as to how i can move up into the A' range ? any help ??
it is not set on any particularly question ? i just did it on discovery in general! so don't mind the intro -
Hey guys, i have a template discovery essay which ive been using to try answer various discovery essays, and was wondering if someone could give me feedback if i answered it correctly and to a high band5 extent
Thanks
* I think i've reached the 15 post minimum ( unless drafts sent before the minimum was enforced don't count as posts )
Hey guys, i have a template discovery essay which ive been using to try answer various discovery essays, and was wondering if someone could give me feedback if i answered it correctly and to a high band5 extent
Thanks
* I think i've reached the 15 post minimum ( unless drafts sent before the minimum was enforced don't count as posts )
Thanks Elyse, i am just wondering since this was like a generic discovery essay i moulded into the question how would i create new thesis' on the spot, thats what i seem to be having trouble with the most and a conclusion
Thanks again!
In the AOS essay, is it necessary to talk about context at all?
hiii will you be able to mark my AOS essay please
yet again I didn't go so well in the trials and I need extensive detailed feedback
1. do I have enough quotes/techniques
2. does it make sense
3. does it flow
please help thank you!!!
PS oh sorry that post is meant to have 1 attachment, Im not sure how to edit attachments, they are both the same, sorry :)
Moderator Edit: Merged Posts
hiii will you be able to mark my AOS essay please
yet again I didn't go so well in the trials and I need extensive detailed feedback
1. do I have enough quotes/techniques
2. does it make sense
3. does it flow
please help thank you!!!
PS oh sorry that post is meant to have 1 attachment, Im not sure how to edit attachments, they are both the same, sorry :)
Moderator Edit: Merged Posts
Dammit I didn't come in time to help, oh well :'(
Next time if anyone want's feedback and hasn't reached the 15 posts rule, I can mark it for them, however my feedback will not be as good as others like Jamon and Elyse's so for quality feedback you will need 15 posts, for my not so good feedback from me, free of charge ;D
Editing other's work will improve your own writing skills too! Keep up the good work :)
hey I edited this essay aswell
1. is there any other way I can structure it because I realised there is only two body paragraphs
I feel like I should talk about my texts a little bit more because I only have 850+ words but not sure how to make it equal
thankyou
hey can you look at my aos essay please
should I split the paragraphs into 4? Because there's only 2 massive body paragraphs
thankyou soo much!
Could you also give a realistic mark please?
Moderator edit: Merged double post.
Just wanted to say... Wow you guys are awesome. Went to your lecture yesterday to see Adv. English and Ancient and it was epic. You guys really know your stuff. Elyse cheers, learnt so much which my teacher hasn't taught us.Sorry, you need 15 posts before you can access the essay marking service :) this is just to ensure the service remains attainable for the markers, once you've hit 15 posts we can get you some feedback! You may want to start here!
So this is my essay, I wanted to know what I could fix up, could you also please incorporate a mark out of 20 you would give me. Thanks.
I also incorporated some of Elyses tips from the lecture.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
essay
hey can you look at my aos essay please
should I split the paragraphs into 4? Because there's only 2 massive body paragraphs
thankyou soo much!
Could you also give a realistic mark please?
Moderator edit: Merged double post.
Just wanted to say... Wow you guys are awesome. Went to your lecture yesterday to see Adv. English and Ancient and it was epic. You guys really know your stuff. Elyse cheers, learnt so much which my teacher hasn't taught us.
So this is my essay, I wanted to know what I could fix up, could you also please incorporate a mark out of 20 you would give me. Thanks.
I also incorporated some of Elyses tips from the lecture.
is it unsophisticated if we write two body paragraphs normally but the second body paragraph (the related text paragraph) we do the 1-2 sentence link back to the first paragraph but in the third paragraph its integrated. So 1 &2 normal body paras and 3 is integrated? does that ruin the flow and make the structure confusing?
Discovery Essay :)
Hi i was wondering if i could please have some feedback on this essay and give pointers or indicate where i could improve in and which area? i also have a couple questions regarding structure, thank you! :)
1. Whats the difference b/w thesis and introduction?
2. Whats the structure of the opening paragraph as in (thesis,intro)
Discoveries has the power to transform individual lives (statement)
Discoveries can be powerful, specifically new discoveries, they have the ability to heavily alter and provoke a re-evaluation of an individuals status in the world. Robert Frost a highly recognised American poet portrays these concepts extensively in his naturalistic approach to poems ‘tuft of Flowers’ and ‘stopping by the woods on a snowy evening’ which explore the transformative nature of human relationships on unity and human separation. Similarly author Kate Chopin’s short story ‘Story of an hour’ explores the yearning for independence. Both texts reinforce the evoking nature of discoveries and how they can act as a catalyst in bringing about new ideals, which often appear suddenly and unexpectedly. The ramifications of discovery can appear on a multifaceted level where they can become confronting and provocative and ultimately have the ability to re-affirm perceptions of the world and ourselves.
Spontaneous discoveries can emerge from unexpected situations in individual’s circumstances in life. Robert Frost through first person narration portrays relationships between the haymaker (persona), mower and the “butterfly and I had lit upon”. The symbolism of “lit” with “light” represents the profound, sudden impact the butterfly has on the haymaker, that it transformed his day by adding light and hope. The butterfly was eager for the haymaker to find the “tall tuft of flowers”. “Tall” and “tuft” are oxymoron’s, where the connotation of “tall” resembles strength and masculinity juxtaposed with “tuft” displaying fragility. Reinforcing both the random appearance and defiance of the flowers survival and the persona’s vulnerability and heartache in his world. However, his perceptions were challenged when he came across “A leaping tongue of bloom”. The personification represents the butterflies attempt to communicate with the haymaker leading him to the “flowers”, reinforcing how a new discovery seen with the butterfly and the haymaker in relation to the same admiration for the beauty of nature which is the tuft of flowers, has the ability to transform the persona’s (haymaker) previous sense of isolation in his world, creating a fruitful atmosphere. Similarly in Kate Chopin “story of an hour”, She explores a sudden discovery of her Husbands death, which evokes an epiphany, challenging her genuine feelings towards her husband. The structure of the story, specifically the title “hour” symbolizes that the multiple events within the story will be sudden and limited to one “hour”, creating suspense. One event in particular is the news of Mrs. Mallard’s husband’s death, which evoked overwhelming feelings, which made her “sweep at once with sudden, wild abutment into her sisters arms”. The listing emphasizes, her automatic response to the news, allowing the audience to understand the impact and the powerful nature of discovering the news and how it transformed her as an individual seeing downcast, sorrowful and into her sisters arms. Therefore spontaneous discoveries have the potential in themselves to forcefully impact individuals negatively.
Ramifications of discoveries can be perceived from confronting and provocative mannerisms. Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening” portrays the eager nature for oblivion. The poems iambic meter affirms with the poets social conventions of duties such as the “Miles”, where the hyperbole exaggerates all his duties and realises he has “Miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep”. The repetition reflects his physical and emotional state from neglecting his responsibilities and rest, confronting all his unfinished responsibilities allowing the echolalia to close the poem and create an anxious atmosphere. The persona stops by and admires the “lovely, dark and deep” woods, the haunting visual imagery of “dark and deep” juxtaposed with “lovely” suggest a confronting nature of the woods themselves. That they can be portrayed in a fruitful matter being “lovely” as well as “dark and deep”. Similarly in Kate Chopin’s short story the protagonist Mrs Mallard has an epiphany realizes she’s “free, free, free”, where the repetition of free symbolizes the conclusion of oppressed feelings by her husband and has come to a (spiritual and emotional) realization of her independence. Her greediness and contemplation of her husband’s death created a “Joy that kills”, the ironic nature behind the metaphor suggests that the discovery of her husband being alive in the end is what sequentially killed her. Therefore discoveries can impact how individuals by being either provocative or perceived as a confrontation.
A discovery has the potential to re-affirm original perceptions of the world and ourselves. Robert Frost’s poem, “Tuft of Flowers” explores the realization of isolation in individuals and the world. The haymaker “looked” and “listened” for the mower, but the mower never showed, he seeks communication but was met with silence and left “alone”. The hyphen acts as a caesura adding emphasis on the connotations of “looked” and “listened”, revealing that the speaker is isolated however his perceptions were fixed as he discovers “A message from dawn”. The metonymy recognises that dawn is actually the mower and comes to the realization that he led him to the flowers and led him to the realization that he is not alone in his world. The mower compels the haymaker to “feel a spirit kindred to my own”. Where the metaphor awakens in the speaker his spirit, where he discovers and realises despite their societal differences they share the same appreciation for the beauty of nature and now his previous sense of isolation in his world has been resolved and more fruitful than ever. Similarly in Kate Chopin’s short story Mrs Mallard believed “she had loved him”. The low modality of “had” reinforces her non-existent loving feelings towards her husband even after their course of marriage, creating an unsettling tone for the audience and helps her discover that marriages/relationships rob people of their independence. Mrs Mallard looked out her “Open Square, Open window”. The repetition and connotations of “open” and symbolic meaning of “square” and “window” suggest opportunity and freedom from her husband. Her epiphany challenged her genuine feelings towards her husband and comes to a fixed perception that she’s finally free from him and is now referred to as “Louise Mallard” and no longer attached to her husband, therefore set free from him and herself. Consequently discoveries have the power to fix previous renewed perceptions.
Ahah finally got my posts up to 15, that took ages.. wow.
Ok here it is, also what mark out of 20 would you give me for it:
I posted my aos creative in here, should i delete the post and put it in the aos creative forum?
Thanks for hanging in there! Your essay is attached with comments throughout:SpoilerThe process of discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and reconsidering what is known.
Discovery is a process which everyone goes through, to uncover hidden abilities and differences which are experienced in various ways. What are some of these abilities and differences? Just a tad too vague here in my opinion. ‘Life of Pi’, dramatic film captures the idea of discovering hidden abilities whilst also drawing focus to the will to live and symbols commonly used. What symbols? Again, be sure that the marker has a clear idea of what you are going to be discussing. Further, be sure to link everything you discuss to Discovery. Poem ‘Cut’, focusing on the same ideas, produces ambiguous variations and meanings towards the process of discovery. What ARE these?Both texts personas feature transformations where they uncover hidden agendas and reconsider what was lost and know found. This introduction needs a little more fleshing out, some more detail on the Discovery components. Also be sure to mention your composers in your intro, they are just as important as your text.
‘Life of Pi’ is a film directed by Ang Lee in 2012 focusing on the needs and passion towards survival. How does this relate to Discovery? As Pi undergoes perilous journeys, he makes spiritual, physical and emotional discoveries. Such as? Throughout the move it is known that Pi’s religious beliefs draw on his need for survival. Retell; remember that your marker knows your text well. You don't need to explain plot elements to them, focus on discovery and how it is portrayed. Whilst attempting to train Richard Parker on the life raft, to claim dominance, a long shot is used to feature both primitive characters circling while there is a contrast between the sea. This focus point of the sea elaborates on how loneliness and desperation had deprived and forces Pi’s transformation from a young anxious boy to a intrepid man. A tad too much retell here; try to focus purely on analysis! Ang Lee uses the characters stance to show how dominance plays a key role in transformation and discovering hidden abilities. Good conclusion, but more analysis is needed in this paragraph. Another quote and technique with analysis.
Sylvia Plaths ‘Cut’ written in 1962, targets the ambiguous audience during the 60’s who wanted to break from the women socialistic ideals. Good contextual audience link there. Featuring first person narration which incorporates ten stanzas, this poem elaborates on how Plaths suicidal agendas derive from constricted feelings of being an educated women in a restricted society where women were subjugated towards being housewife’s. Good concept here! I'd like a slightly stronger link to Discovery. The quote “Out of a gap, a million soldiers run” is reinforced with imagery to connect to Plaths context of her husband’s use of adultery as she felt the urge of suicide. What does this show the audience about Discovery? Plath constantly reconsiders what is known as she always ventured to the real of suicide. From this quote, the hyperbole elaborates on the fickleness this urge brings once it feels alright the in suddenly disperses into depression. ‘Cut’ is a mysterious poem which powerfully incorporates the will to live as well as discovering hidden potential competence. Be sure to link everything to Discovery; you haven't used any word making this link in this paragraph, and as a result it comes across as very off-topic.
Ang Lee addresses symbols frequently in ‘Life of Pi’ which represent various meanings that help Pi in his transformation. A little messy in expression there; I'd say that Lee 'utilises' symbols instead of addresses, and perhaps work on tidying up the latter half of the phrase as well. As Pi has a strong spiritual connection, he is able to adapt to his new environments with the help of Richard Parker. Retell. It is clearly evident that the water represents loneliness, while the life raft provides hope albeit religious faith is the main focus. What techniques accentuate this? The mysterious island represents the Christian Garden of Eden and Orange, a frequent colour possesses survival qualities. You could call this a biblical allusion, of sorts. What would this do for a religious responder? There is a sense of spiritual discovery from the symbolic metaphor of the tooth featured at the mysterious island. More detail required on this 'spiritual discovery.' This scene incorporates Christian spiritual connections to the garden of Eden providing a heaven and hell contrast against the day and night of the island, which is alluded through the switching between long and extreme close shots. Showing the audience ____ about discovery? As Ang Lee highlights Pi’s adaption to discovery, he rediscovers his spiritual beliefs.
Various types of Symbols are incorporated in Plaths works which feature issues towards her troubled marriage, unresolved conflicts with parents and her personal vision of herself. The poem being an extended metaphor, entices the audience drawing ambiguous conclusions to Plaths exploration of self. Good, could you give an example? Phallic Symbol is used in line two of the poem when the speaker says “My thumb instead of an onion” assassinating with male dominance which was being exhibited. The symbolic metaphor incorporated in “saboteur, Kamikaze man” uses censura to insure the power of depression and self destruction is highlighted through the kamikaze suicidal nature which was always apparent to her. Ensure all your paragraphs are properly concluded.
The transformation which is evident in everybody’s process of discovery, involved uncovering hidden and known desires. Through symbolism and the will to live, both texts ‘Life of Pi’ and ‘Cut’ features personas who struggle against this process, though achieve self discovery and transform to higher perspectives. I'd like a little more 'meat' to this conclusion, it should be a little longer than this. Restate your ideas, relink what you've discussed to the idea of Discovery and the main idea that you wished to discuss, and relink to the question. Just a few things you can consider including.
You've got some really cool ideas in here, and some great contextual considerations. You've clearly considered what the texts are portraying and this is great! However, my big piece of feedback here would be responding to the question. At times, you were not properly discussing the idea of Discovery! Links to the AoS and the themes surrounding discovery (in this case, 'uncovering what is hidden, reconsidering what is know') should be explicit and frequent. In your 2nd paragraph particularly, you swayed. Your ideas are not incorrect, but they aren't linked to the AoS effectively. Try to adapt your word choices to make these links more obvious.
Further, I'm looking for some stronger analysis. Try to shift yourself away from retell, and more to just a technique and example, and what it shows about discovery. For example, take this:
Whilst attempting to train Richard Parker on the life raft, to claim dominance, a long shot is used to feature both primitive characters circling while there is a contrast between the sea. This focus point of the sea elaborates on how loneliness and desperation had deprived and forces Pi’s transformation from a young anxious boy to a intrepid man.
I would do it like this instead:
Lee's use of a long shot accentuates the competition for dominance between Parker and Pi, with the sea representing how loneliness and desperation has forced the transformation of the persona.
This is still not perfect (not really linked to the question properly), but the point I want to get across is that I am focusing much less on the plot. My focus is what is in bold; the technique and what it achieves. You do not need plot details; remember that your marker knows your text, they don't need to be told what is happening! They just want to know how, in your view, the composer uses techniques to present the idea of Discovery.
So on the whole, I'm looking basically for more techniques and quotes per paragraph. Achieving this will come with removing retell and using word choice more cleverly, just to squeeze a little more analysis in :)
Those are my two big suggestions!! I hope they are helpful, you've got great ideas, just some polish in how they are expressed is needed. Remembering that the AoS is out of 15 marks, I would likely score your essay in the range of 9/15 right now :)
Thank you! So i dont have to repost it?
Just wondering if it's okay to say my prescribed text affirms the notions of discovery summarised in my thesis and my related text challenges these ideas?
Ahh thanks Jamon so much for your help. I can see what you mean about the drifting and to much plot retelling. When going into the exam I wanted to have about 1-2 anaylisis (1-2 quotes, technique, link)points which I could build upon. Is that ok or too broad?
For the AOS essay, if the question is lets just say asking us to write about 'discovering something for the first time or rediscovering
something that has been lost, forgotten or concealed', can our essay also talk about the willingness of characters to discover. Obviously, the main focus will be to answer the Q, but like can it still discuss other points from the rubric?
This is the perfect way to approach an essay! By bringing forward something original as well as the essay question, you're in for a really rich discussion and a way of showing the marker that you totally understand what discovery means! :)
Nice Advice, Ill try and adapt to that too.. I wanted to also ask, when writing the creative, at the top should we mention which stimulus we chose?
In my opinion - no need! Some students at the lectures told me that their teacher suggested they do this, but it isn't required of you according to the actual exam paper nor anything I've seen published from BOSTES. I tend to think that your use of stimulus should be strong enough that they know which one you've chosen (well, that's the aim!). So, I didn't write my stimulus at the top, and it's not something BOSTES recommends, so I suggest not doing it because it'll waste your precious writing time :)
I went to your english lecture and I remember you mentioning you chose the balloon and wall one, that seems really hard to talk about without actually mentioning a balloon lifting a wall. Is that how you approached it?
Hi there! Just wanted to get some feedback on my AOS essay - would be great if you could (I'm not good at writing essays). Please mark it as harsh as possible.
Thank you very much for your help!
Hey guys
I would appreciate if you could mark my AOS essay please! Thanks in advance. (Hoping I have made the 15 posts as I don't know how to check)
Hey guys
I would appreciate if you could mark my AOS essay please! Thanks in advance. (Hoping I have made the 15 posts as I don't know how to check)
Hey Guys!,
Was wondering if we re upload our essays which have already been marked but we are just implementing comments which the mods have given us, does it still cost another 15 posts?
Yes it does! We will essentially treat it as another separate mark, just as much detail as before :)
hi! can you please have a look at my Go back essay? Also, in my essay, i have discussed the discovery process of 5 characters, can you please tell me if it is fine or if i should change my essay around to just focus on 2 or 3.
Thank you!
Hi, I'm new to this and I'm posting just half my essay and would mainly like to know if it makes sense and if there is a good amount of depth in my analysis. I would really appreciate it as I struggle with AOS the most :)
Thank you.
Hey guys
I would appreciate if you could mark my AOS essay please! Thanks in advance. (Hoping I have made the 15 posts as I don't know how to check)
Hey! Would be great if I could get some feedback and marking done for my discovery essay. I don't have anything specific that I need you to zoom into, but anything that would be helpful thanks :) Also don't really want to make it very much longer than this.
Would I be able to scan an essay I wrote by hand and get it marked that way?
Hey guys I have the tempest as my prescribed text, I was just wondering; how do you contextualise a scene before introducing your quotes so that your marker knows what you're on about?
Oh and also, what arguments do you talk about after you've decided on a thesis? (for each paragraph)
Hi, I just wanted feedback for a thesis statement I wrote.
Question: “Deliberate planning is essential for a discovery.” Is this your view? Write a persuasive response referring to representations of physical journeys in your texts.In your response, refer to your prescribed text and TWO other related texts of your own choosing.
Thesis Statement: The process of deliberate planning which confines and restricts our expectations of experiences and their outcomes is essential for a discovery. Through such a process of cogitation, human values are compared with the greater world and its differences thereby allowing for reconciliation via discovery.
can i just say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who gives us feedback on our essays, I've gotten more feedback from my teacher in the past two weeks leading up to the HSC than i have from my teacher who still hasn't answered my email so thank you immensely.
I've scanned my essay but the file size is too large for me to upload. :'( Is there some other way I could get it to you?
Thank you so much! I put it on google drive, hopefully this link works! There first page is there twice so just ignore that. :P The question was: "Discovery is a process of questions and potential answers. To what extent has this process been represented in your prescribed text and texts of your own choosing?" It was written under timed conditions (40 minutes).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzRjW7wFcvb4RjB5c3BLWmMtT2s/view?usp=sharing
Hey Beth! The link works, and I'll pop comments on each paragraph here as I go! :)
Note: Resolution issues mean I'm having the slightest trouble reading your handwriting. Won't impact your HSC marking but it could mean I miss the odd point, keep that in mind if something I say seems off :)
Introduction
I think your conceptual set up here works well! Concepts are well explained, but I'd question whether you are adequately addressing the question concepts; "questions and potential answers." Not getting too much explanation of that. I'd also like to see you properly link each text to a Discovery concept, just using one phrase should do it. That's just to set up WHY these texts are being discussed in a Discovery essay. Finally, I'd add a sentence at the end that brings together everything. Like, "Thus, we can see how composers represent Discovery, blah blah blah."
Paragraph #1
Awesome topic sentence; conceptual and to the point, absolutely fabulous. Analysis of Shakespeare is somewhat effective, excellent integration of your quotes into your writing, but I'd like to see one more technique given that it is your prescribed text. On the whole, watch that you aren't saying, "This technique shows us ________ about the characters." You need to say what the techniques show about Discovery. Even, say, when you are discussing the discoveries of Felik, you need to abstract them beyond the characters. The readers don't care about the characters, they care about Discovery in their own lives; how do the techniques speak to this? So, while we have effective analysis, we need stronger conceptual links.
Paragraph #2
Again, nice conceptual start and good link to Shakespeare's text. Similar comments to above; be sure every quote/technique is linked to the aspect of Discovery you are talking about. Analysis here is better; more techniques, excellent work there. Be sure every paragraph is properly concluded! :)
Paragraph #3
Dependent on resolution errors, I think there is a really long sentence in the middle of this paragraph to break up. Just that out of the way. Moving on; another good paragraph with solid techniques! Again though, lots of discussion about what we learn about characters. Remember, make it abstract, what does audience learn about Discovery in general?
I think this is a really cool essay Beth, especially for timed conditions, really really impressive. With only one day to go I want to give you two pieces of feedback to really focus on to improve:
1. Ensure that you answer the question. The demands of the question (concerning potential answers and such) were not adequately addressed in your response. That puts limitations on how well you can do, so make sure you really explicitly answer the question. Better overkill than under-kill! :)
2. Ensure you Conclude your Essay. This ensures that everything is wrapped up nicely; even just a handful of sentences is enough and it will massively improve your mark to add it!
Best of luck for Paper 1, and I really hope this helps! :)
Thank you so much! For making the discovery concepts more abstract, would it be adequate to add something like "...thus we can see that discoveries blah blah..." to the end of a sentence analysing the technique?
Definitely! Except I'd stay out of the collective first person narration :)
Can I still submit my AOS for marking on here?
Just to use up my posts lol... Can I donate them to someone? Any year 12 want mine?
We're not marking essays that don't need marking. No other Year 12 needs their essays marked either.
I meant year 11, sorry
Not transferrable anyway, unfortunately :) this service is our way of saying thanks for the people who are making our community great by getting involved (as you have done), so it's not something you can 'transfer' to someone else :)
Well I tried.
Thank you guys so much for all your help and making English bearable. You guys have taught me so much and its a privilege for the service you have done for us (not sure if I said that correctly :D). Thanks once again Jamon, Elyse, Jake and Brendon!
Can I end my story with dialogue? Or is it something that's frowned upon
Quick question, with the essay marking, can speeches be checked as well? Sorry if it's a bit of an obvious question...
Hey Guys! I don't understand when a question asks what perspective of discovery is shown, because I wrote emotional but she said I didn't answer the question. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your post! The thing is that at the moment, the question "what perspective of discovery is shown" is a two marker in our assignment based on our related. As I am doing Ulysses, I just mentioned that the personas' emotional perspective on discovery is conveyed but with your feedback I think I would delve more into how his ambitions to explore new worlds is the emotional perspective of discovery shown.
:D
Hey guys! Just curious, does AOS essay marking require any credit/posts right now?
thanks :)
Hey guys! Just curious, does AOS essay marking require any credit/posts right now?
thanks :)
Jamon went along to all the threads this morning but must have missed this one, oops! As assessments are due in the next few weeks, things are picking up. Now we are back to 15 posts = one long piece marked. :)
Nah I just updated the Essay Marking Rule Thread, since there was never an official change ;D
Hiiiiii,
Sorry I accidentally posted my AOS essay in the creative writing section...Woops
Is there any chance you could please mark my essay? :D THANKYOU in advanced!!
Hi-
just a quick question- would it be better to mention the technique you are analysing after or before the quote?
Hey! This can work both ways, it's good to change it up!
Example:
The motif of water becomes a consistent symbol in the poem, first being described with a simile as "wavy as sound" in the first stanza.
Example:
"The water was as wavy as sound" opens the poem to establish the motif of the water.
So, it depends on the length of your quote sometimes so that you can still seamlessly add it in there. But changing it up is good! :)
ok :) my tutor just said that teachers like it better when the technique comes after the quote since that way it seems that you are actually analysing the effect of the technique rather than having just identified it beforehand.
ok :) my tutor just said that teachers like it better when the technique comes after the quote since that way it seems that you are actually analysing the effect of the technique rather than having just identified it beforehand.
Hi,
I have a speech coming up where I have to analyse 300 words of my creative writing, the Tempest and a related text.
I have attached my speech (first 300 words are my creative) and I was just wondering if I could get some feedback on my creative writing, and my speech? I was also wondering if I have referred to the Rubric enough? I was also wondering how I could embed my quotes better? Also, if you have any ideas on where i can cut it back a bit?
We'll be getting this done for you tonight J.B, thanks for your patience! ;D
Hi,
I have a speech coming up where I have to analyse 300 words of my creative writing, the Tempest and a related text.
I have attached my speech (first 300 words are my creative) and I was just wondering if I could get some feedback on my creative writing, and my speech? I was also wondering if I have referred to the Rubric enough? I was also wondering how I could embed my quotes better? Also, if you have any ideas on where i can cut it back a bit?
Here is what i have to include in my speech:
Key Statement:
‘Discovery is an integral part of the human experience.’
How is this perspective on discovery explored in your creative writing, your
prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?
Prepare a 6 minute presentation on the concept of ‘discovery’ in which you address the key statement above.
Your presentation must include:
A 300 word extract of your imaginative composition.
-In the subsequent four minutes of your presentation you should reflect on and analyse your own composition. In this section you should:
explicitly explain how your creative writing integrates the stimulus material
clearly identify how the representation of ‘discovery’ in your composition has been shaped and influenced
by your prescribed text and at least one other related text of your own choosing.
analyse how you have used a range of literary devices in your own composition to represent the concept
of ‘discovery’ suggested in the key statement.
clearly outline your personal definition of ‘discovery’, explaining how you reached this definition as a
result of your studies.
Thank you.
Hey J.B!
I've put some comments in the spoiler below :)SpoilerThe light;
Harsh,
Blazing,
Shards,
Swelled to every corner of my sight.
The pitch black void of darkness had escaped from the backs of my eyes. Fragments of shapes blurred out the world that once stood around me. My heart began to tie itself in a knot. Twisting my insides. And my mind. All of my thoughts were trapped, trapped by the glaring lights in my eyes.
What you are reading now is the voice in my mind. I love that you've engaged the reader like this! It really demands attention, very powerful :)Our minds distort our memories. Twists them into a knot. A knot that hangs over our head, until a sound, a smell pushes them into our mind. And we are reminded of a moment. A distorted view of one moment. Love this!
A knot of memories constantly collapses into my mind. It was a Saturday. My world became entombed inside my head. And ever since this day, when I hear a plane, my mind paints a vessel floating in the abyss of the sky. I stand on the street with the wind roaring in my ear. And I imagine myself standing on a grotesque roof being pounded by the wild wind. Looking over a mosaic of forest. My world is now what I imagine it to be.
I now walk through woods that used to fill my eyes with enchantment. A forgotten shadow comes to life. She sees the light. I like that the shadow is suddenly personified. Right from the moment you directly engaged the reader, you've been playing with our mind. This is another little example of that and it's super effective.Shining through the cracks and floating like specks of magic. But then the echoing sounds of deep chirps from the depths of the forest wraps around my ears. The humming of the woods picks at the twisted, turning knot inside of me. I smell the fresh, crisp air leaking out of the trees and my mind unravels the knots twisted on the towering tree trunks.
The play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare and the interactive short film “After the Storm” by Andrew Grace have significantly shaped my understanding of discovery and this is embodied in my creative composition. The discovery of one’s surroundings is a catalyst which sparks the change in the understanding of ourselves and therefore deepens and creates a meaningful human experience. Imaginary discoveries and the discovery of the natural world are shown to generate the renewed awareness of oneself. Imaginary discoveries is super interesting, I haven't seen it covered yet at all in another student's work.
My creative composition has utilised this dreamlike stimulus through the transformation of her surroundings becoming an imaginary world led by her senses and is catalysed by the discovery of her setting. "Her" hasn't been identified as a protagonist yet. So I'd do that - just to maintain formality and use great terminology.
It is the discovery of the overruling force of nature which can alter an individual’s perceptions, leading to new understandings of one’s self. The Tempest demonstrates the sudden discovery of the natural world through the “Green place”. This highlights the new world which is depicted through pastoral idealisation and juxtaposes the old world. Shakespeare included this “green place” to highlight the experimentation of rulerships in the Age of Discovery. The natural world of the island evokes a fantasy world which sparks new understandings. Gonzalo sees the island’s beauty and this is a catalyst for the discovery of a utopian world in his mind. The “Green place” also creates the self-discovery in Alonso of his Kingship wrongdoings. Shakespeare has highlighted these evoked discoveries through Gonzalo’s metaphor for all humanity “all of us, ourselves when no man was his own.” This metaphor emphasises the need of the discovery of the “green world” to create deep transformations of ourselves and our human experience.
I think that we just need to make more of a connection between the two, which comes in your delivery. Saying something like "Similarly," forces your audience to make the connection based on similarities. When you delivery it, say it in a somewhat conversational way so that you maintain engagement, but also maintain your formality. The overruling force of nature is also highlighted in “after the storm” as the unexpected but meaningful discovery of the tornado leads to a confronting emotional journey similar to Alonso’s in The Tempest. Ok I see you've made the connection here - I would flip it and put the connective part at the start of the sentence :) The unexpected tornado is transformative for an individual’s emotional identity as it will always spark fear and grief. The effects of this discovery of nature is highlighted through the visual motif of trees. This is epitomised through the visual comparison of tree growth rings to the events in Andrew’s life. This reveals the epiphany stage of discovery where the new understanding of one’s strength and self is generated. The discovery of the natural world’s forces in this short film has clearly created an emotional transformation of the human experience in Andrew’s life.
My related texts have shaped my composition to illustrate the natural world as a catalyst for self discovery. This sentence doesn't really say anything too important - it simply agrees with the task you've been given and it doesn't show any real flair. Perhaps: "This exploration of discovery within a human experience inspired the way I illustrated the natural world in relation to discovery in my own composition." Obviously smooth it out to suit your voice and tone. Through her senses the woods trigger a rediscovery of wonder in the protagonist, which in turn catalyses a self discovery of her new imagined world. The pastoral imagery and the motif of a knot in my composition was influenced by both “The Tempest” and “After the Storm”. As seen through “The humming of the woods picks at the twisted, turning knot...” This quote clearly illustrates the knot motif symbolising the loss of her sight creating trauma. The unravelling of this knot evoked by nature illustrates the transformation of herself into acceptance and the deepening of her human experience.
Imagined landscapes forces the questioning of an individual’s concept of reality and generates a meaningful individual human experience. Consider how you will express this. It is a really stand-alone statement so you need to match that with emphasis in delivery, otherwise it may seem like a random statement that jars your flow. :)
In the Tempest there is a blurred reality. The imaginary discoveries are shown through the magic created by Prospero which represents the interest in the supernatural in the Elizabethan era. The inclusion of this imagined world as directed by Prospero evokes many emotional discoveries in the character’s psyches. Prospero’s imaginary world starts in media res in the illusion of a storm. This storm results in Ferdinand’s emotional discovery of Miranda. Prospero’s description of "The direful spectacle of the wreck" illustrates his reference to the spectacle as a theatrical display highlighting the metatheater used by Shakespeare. Prospero is a playwright in the masque for Miranda and Ferdinand which leads to their emotional awakening. This metatheater therefore emphasises how Prospero’s creation of the imaginary world, disrupts the physical world and stimulates emotional discoveries in the character psyches.
“After the Storm” similarly reveals the blurred concept of reality through Andrew’s imaginary concept of what once stood. This imaginary discovery leads to the rediscovery of his emotional trauma. Similar to the metatheater in the Tempest, Andrew’s use of authorial intrusion shown through “dear future disaster survivor” captures the audience to realise the imaginary discovery of past memories. Furthermore, the interactive use of the audience to recreate what once stood also breaks the “fourth wall” and highlights the confronting emotional discovery created from the imagined concept.
These two texts then influenced my composition, where I have broken the fourth wall through authorial intrusion to emphasise the imaginary discovery. Really excellent analysis here!My composition explores the imaginary perception of the world around her to create a renewed self-discovery. The authorial intrusion of “What you are reading now…” creates a link for the audience into her imagined world and how this sparks a new depth in her human experience. Her new imagined world is now influenced by her discovery of her senses, and creates a renewed intricate human experience.
As a result of the deep study of these two texts, my personal definition of discovery has been greatly shaped and is embodied in my creative writing. Discovery - Our personal human experience is revealed and exposed when the perspective of ourselves is transformed, by our enlightened surroundings.
I think this is just wonderful. You seem to be in an excellent place in terms of your knowledge of the two prescribed and related texts! This is a really interesting task that your teacher has set you but I think it will really pay off because you're being forced to critically look at your own composition. I'd give you full marks for all sections of the criteria, except the one where it asks you to explore your own perception of discovery. I think this could be done more cohesively. Each idea is dealt with in isolation and I think stringing it all together would be super handy for your work, because it unites ideas but also sews your flow together! This could be achieved at the end with a really wholesome reflective statement, but I think it would be best to flick between how the different types of discoveries compliment each other - and then define discovery from YOUR perspective.
Otherwise, this looks wonderful and I hope to be able to read your full creative piece one day!
With speeches, delivery is everything. How do you feel about your delivery? Are you nervous or usually pretty comfortable with this kind of thing?
Hey was hoping you could check my essay to see if I stick properly to my thesis.
Hey guys :) I would really appreciate any advice on how to analyse the tempest. My school gave us these worksheets that don't even help and I don't know how I should analyse the tempest so I can begin writing an essay for my assessment that is the first day back of school. Thanks ;D
Hi!ATARnotes has a policy that you must have 15 posts for each long response to be marked to prevent accumulation (of things to mark). Please contribute (however you want e.g. asking questions) and the post count will go up.
Could you please check my AOS essay?
I would like feedback on how to improve for sure, what I did well, editing to the essay and also a rough estimation of a mark.
Thank you so much and have a wonderful day :)
ATARnotes has a policy that you must have 15 posts for each long response to be marked to prevent accumulation (of things to mark). Please contribute (however you want e.g. asking questions) and the post count will go up.
In the meantime, you can choose if you want to leave it there
Okay thank you! Is it 15 or 5 posts for 1 essay to be checked?
Hey there,
It's 15 posts to submit an essay for marking and then 5 more for a resubmission (i.e. when you've applied the feedback) :)
Hey there,
It's 15 posts to submit an essay for marking and then 5 more for a resubmission (i.e. when you've applied the feedback) :)
Okay, thank you :)
Hey Shreya! Noticed you'd crossed the 15 post threshold, awesome! You have enough for us to mark either this essay or the creative you posted in the other thread, which would you prefer? I'll jump on it tomorrow for you either way! :)
Hi Jamon!
Could I please have the essay marked?
Thank you :)
Hi!
Could you please check my AOS essay?
I would like feedback on how to improve for sure, what I did well, editing to the essay and also a rough estimation of a mark.
Thank you so much and have a wonderful day :)
Hey hey! Your essay is attached with comments throughout in bold; just click on the spoiler:Spoiler“The most significant ramifications of any discovery is change”
Discuss the view with detailed reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.
Change is a significant ramification ofadiscovery because it can permanently change a person’s perceptions of the world around them and thus future experiences. I see where you are going here, but you've used the word 'change' in how you define the word 'change.' It's a little roundabout. Try to express this differently. This is evident in Go Back To Where You Came From by Ivan Mahoney through Raquel’s character where she matures and discovers a sense of compassion which offers her a greater understanding and awareness of her world. Don't go into too much textual detail; keep it simple and devote more time to conceptual explanation/elaboration. Change being a significant ramification of discovery is also evident in Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney as we see the poet’s and family’s emotional stability change through their process of discovery, which ultimately would affect their future experiences. A good start to an intro; but some more conceptual development is needed. More explanation of how perceptions of the world are altered, and what exactly this means (how/why?). Further, try a concluding sentence that brings everything together more effectively.
Go Back to Where You Came From effectively explores how it is human nature to change as a consequence of discovering something new as it renews one’s perceptions about their world around them. This conceptual statement seems just a little unclear; I think it could be simplified somewhat. The second half, the "renews one's perceptions" section; I don't see how this ties in with the first bit. This could tie back to a bit more work being needed at the start. This is effectively conveyed through Raquel’s discovery of the refugee reality. Raquel’s overarching attitude towards the social experiment and refugees is seen through her blunt statements and reluctance to interact with anyone else as she says “I just don’t like Africans.” Be careful when discussing characters; they are PUPPETS. You should ALWAYS be discussing composer choices; the composer's use of blunt language in Raquel's dialogue, for example. This shows her socioeconomic position and her portrayal as an unempathetic yet overly proud Australian. How does that relate to Discovery? Her ignorance reminds the audience that she needs to discover more and makes the audience realise that Raquel will undergo the most drastic change. However, through her traumatising experiences in Kenya as she lives the life of her refugee, she discovers the confronting nature of discoveries. The quick camera movements help to create the tension that Raquel is undergoing as she is unable to adapt to the situation through her flustered facial expressions. She says “I’m a bit terrified. It’s not my country. I’m not familiar with any of this,” expressing the idea that constant rediscoveries of living conditions reflect the confronting and provocative nature of refugee experiences, hence changing one’s perceptions about the world. Again, this concept doesn't quite sit right with me. Also watch that first part of the sentence, "She says" immediately suggests you are recounting. As she is skyping the Masudi family in Kenya, we are able to see her changed attitude towards refugees as she discovers compassion. Retell. The close-ups of Raquel show her emotional reaction and the non-diegetic music in the background highlights the emotive significance of this journey and her new found compassion. Nice technique identification here! How does this relate to Discovery and change specifically though? Be specific! As she leaves the family in Kenya, she acknowledges her emotional ramification through the cinematic technique of a personal interview as she says “it’s a big shit. Yeah. It’s a big shift.” This drastic juxtaposition in tone compared to her attitude at the beginning of the journey emphasises how discoveries can transform and individual greatly. Excellent; this conceptual statement is much clearer than some of your previous ones. It is immediately obvious what you are trying to say; concepts should always just make sense immediately like this does. Therefore, Raquel discovers self-awareness through her intensely meaningful discovery, highlighting that the most significant ramification of discovery is change. A solid paragraph with lots of great technique identification and steps towards excellent analysis; more acknowledgement of the composer is needed. Remember, characters are puppets!
Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney explores how discoveries can change one’s emotional stabilityconsiderably. That last word doesn't add anything; be efficient! Besides that, a more effective conceptual statement than your previous paragraph! The change in the poet’s state of mind is seen through the family’s emotional journey as they discover the death of their youngest and the ramifications this leads to. Mid-term break was a poem set in the 1950s meaning that societal expectations were very strict and different compared to today’s. How is this seen in the poem? How is it relevant to Discovery? I love that you are using contextual reference, that is AWESOME, but you need to do something with it! The figure of a father was ‘patriarchal’ in the context and was expected to not show much emotion. However, this societal expectation is challenged due to the discovery of death. The father’s emotional response who is “crying” highlights the unusualness of the situation and how this death is unnatural as well as personal, hence showing how the most significant consequence of a discovery is change. Good conceptual links, but this is still retell. It's just saying what happened in the text. It needs to be a little more abstract, with a focus on techniques, not plot. The poet also describes the contrasting response from the mother and father as the poet says “as my mother held my hand In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs” conveying the sense that she was too upset to cry but sensitive to the need of her eldest child for comfort, expressing her emotional response as she discovers loss. Technique? Without it, this is just retell. Heaney ends the poem with a single line stanza compared to the rest of the poem which has 3 line stanzas. The effect of this is to show the devastation that the narrator feels in order to make his grief stand out, showing how he has discovered grief and a sense of loneliness which changed him, making him more expressive. Ensure you have a proper conclusion for each of your paragraphs. What has been shown overall in Heaney's poem about Discovery?
Both texts convey that it is human nature to change when discoveries are intensely significant. This is a new way of expressing your ideas that isn't really introduced in the Thesis; be careful. If you want to talk about how 'significant' discoveries promote change, you need to reference significance in the Thesis. Go Back to Where You Came From effectively portrays how change is a significant ramification as a result of discovery through Raquel’s character as she discovers compassion and awareness about the world. Mid-Term Break powerfully conveys how negative discoveries can change one’s emotional stability as the family discovers sorrow and pain through their discovery of a death of a family member. Just like your Thesis, looking for a final sentence tying the two texts together and effectively answering the question.
Okay, so to summate my comments throughout a little bit; there are places in this essay that I go "Yep, this student is on the ball." So I know you know your stuff. But it's a little bit about consistency. I love your focus on techniques in the first paragraph, but you dropped back to retell a bit in the second. I love your conceptual clarity in the second paragraph, because in the first, the concepts were a little bit hard to fully grasp. The first paragraph had a concluding sentence, the second didn't. But the second had a much better introduction. Basically, you are absolutely writing in the upper range, but you aren't doing it consistently just yet.
I like to give a few things to work on as primary concerns, and for you I'll give two:
1. Redevelop your Thesis and conceptual frameworks to be a little clearer. Particularly in your Thesis and first paragraphs, your explanations are a little vague; make them more succinct and this will likely make them clearer. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what is off about them, but I don't have that moment of "Yep, that makes sense." like I do with your second paragraph (see within for some examples). Doing this will not only improve your conceptual approach but naturally lead to a more coherent response to the question.
2. Ensure that all of your textual references (quotes, etc) have a technique attached, and that this technique is attributed to the composer, not the character. This should reduce retell in your second paragraph and improve your analytical style in your first. Remember, for effective analysis, go to TEA - Technique, Explain, Audience. For each quote, identify the technique, explain how the quote/reference relates to your idea, and acknowledge the effect on the audience.
So you should definitely take the mark I give with a pretty big grain of salt!! I'm obviously not a HSC marker. That said, I'd say this is sitting at around 11/15 right now, give or take a mark or two :)
I hope this feedback helps! :)
hiATARnotes has a policy that you must have 15 posts for each long response to be marked to prevent accumulation (of things to mark). Please contribute (however you want e.g. asking questions) and the post count will go up.
Could you please read through my essay
Romanticism concerns the influence of the individual and the power of the imagination to reshape ways of thinking
thanks
hi
Could you please read through my essay
Romanticism concerns the influence of the individual and the power of the imagination to reshape ways of thinking
thanks
Hi,
Could you please check this essay? Thanks :)
Hi,
Could you please check this essay? Thanks :)
Hi,
After a few hiccups with related texts I've finally managed to put together an essay and I'd appreciate if someone could look over it ;D
I probably need to cut down on this essay and also include more impacts on the audience so if you find anywhere I could cut down or insert those things that'd be great too ;D
As a side-note, should linking sentences relate the idea of a paragraph more to the thesis statement or to the question itself?
Hi,
After a few hiccups with related texts I've finally managed to put together an essay and I'd appreciate if someone could look over it ;D
I probably need to cut down on this essay and also include more impacts on the audience so if you find anywhere I could cut down or insert those things that'd be great too ;D
As a side-note, should linking sentences relate the idea of a paragraph more to the thesis statement or to the question itself?
Thanks Jamon for your feedback :)
I was wondering whether I could get the essay remarked? Also, could you give tips on how to make the intro more concise? I was thinking of cutting out the paragraph about Gleny because I feel like it doesn't quite make the essay flow. The only reason I had put Gleny's discovery in was because the questions asked to 'DISCUSS' and Gleny's character contrasted to the other participants. This leads me to my next question, do I have to give a 'for and against' for 'discuss' questions. Also could you give me a rough mark /15 for that essay.
Thank you very much :)
Hi can you please check my essay? Thank youu!!!
Hey Steph! Welcome to the forums!
ATAR notes has a policy where you need to have accumulated 15 posts for every piece of feedback on an essay. This just makes sure that the moderators don't get flooded with essays to mark and also ensures that the AN community is always growing. Plus, it's not too hard to pick up your post count you just need to hang around for a bit and i'm sure you'll find things to reply to/ask questions about :)
Full essay marking rules are available here :)
I hope you have fun getting to know the website - it's great!
Hi can you please check my essay? Thank youu!!!
Heyo!!
This is my response to the 2015 HSC essay question.
Hoping that I have improved!!!
Thanks for checking it :)
Hey there!
Something that I'd really like to see in this is more of a contrast between the two texts but showing how they are different. You've highlighted the similarities, but by talking about the differences in the way discoveries are experienced will give you a richer discussion. Even if you are agreeing with the essay question for both, you can bring in something else from the rubric for comparative purposes, like comparing the unplanned/planned nature of discovery in either. This opens you up for more rubric points, which gives your discussion a lot of depth but also a lot of direction.
I really like your conclusion and I wouldn't add anything to it at this point in time. It sits nicely, it fulfills its purpose, its wonderful. Excellent effort there.
Your body paragraphs can have more. They sit well, you deal with the text, the techniques, and the effect well for the most part, but I think more of a discussion about the two texts could be engaged. Perhaps a structure that sits: prescribed, related, prescribed, related, would be better for you. Right now, we deal with them in isolation, and it works, but the more integrated we are, the better, simply because it means you're engaging the texts together in a more sophisticated manner. You could highlight some similarities: change of perspective, uncovering what is hidden, use of character as a vehicle for discovery, etc. These things all work as drawing comparisons and could make for a great way to extend your essay.
What do you think?
You could highlight some similarities: change of perspective, uncovering what is hidden, use of character as a vehicle for discovery, etc. These things all work as drawing comparisons and could make for a great way to extend your essay.
What do you think?
HI!
Thanks for checking the essay :). I like the idea of comparison. So would I dedicate a paragraph to comparing the text or just introduce it in the relelvant paragraph.
So, while introducing the texts in their respective paragraphs I write 'the planned discovery in Go Back etc etc' and then i write 'the unplanned discovery in Interpreter of Maladies etc etc'?
Thank you for your help :)
That sounds like a flawless introduction of the texts with the planned and unplanned discovery. Although, for comparative purposes, I'm more inclined to say "Unlike the discoveries in Go Back, the nature of the discoveries in Interpreter of Maladies is unplanned..." Just to compare the two in the same sentence. But you'd need to flesh out the significance of it being unplanned, you can't just state that it is unplanned.
You could use a few different structures for your essay here. You could do: prescribed text, a paragraph on the two together, then related in isolation. Or, you can do a predominantly prescribed text paragraph with some small links to the related, then a predominantly related text paragraph with some small links to prescribed. However you feel most comfortable linking, you are more than welcome to link that way.
The last part is some suggestions for less obvious ways of linking the texts. You could say, "In blah blah, the protagonist is also the vehicle for discovery..." so you're commenting on the way characters work as ploys for discovery! :)
Hey, this is my third draft at an attempt at a generic essay. This is just my introduction and body 1. Any feedback would be great- Thank you :)
hi...
if anyone could scan through this and give it a read that would be great!
any feedback will be much appreciated.
i feel that i may have resorted to just listing techniques and retelling the plotline...
also pls make yourself a coffee before reading this...i genuinely feel like its going to make you fall asleep.
Hi :)
Just wanted to ask, how would you approach the poem Ulysses as a related text? Like, could you please give me some examples of conceptual statements?
Oh, and my class text is A Short History of Nearly Everything if that helps.
Thanks.
Hey there! I haven't studied either of these texts, but my understanding is that your prescribed text is about travel, and Ulysses has the element of travel as being a wonderful experience. An experience that the persona encourages until death?
Perhaps you could talk about new experiences being stimulated by new environments.
"Immersion in environments not-familiar to an individual can stimulate discoveries relating to perspective."
"Experiencing landscapes unfamiliar to an individual may prompt a transformation of one's perspective."
"Intensely meaningful shifts in perspective may be prompted by travelling to landscapes contrary to one's familiarity."
I'm not sure if these are on the right track for your texts, but if they are off the mark you can let me know how and I can try assist some more :)
Hi! As an assignment, our class just needed to write 2 paragraphs on each of our texts, but all my teacher wrote was: "Nice Maddy, just make sure your examples relate to your thesis statements and you don't list". Would you be able to help me fix this? Thank you in advance!
Hey, first time posting, just a mini-essay on The Motorcycle Diaries. It would be great to have some feedback and a rough mark, my teacher is giving me very mixed reviews and not sure what i'm doing right/wrong. Thanks!
Hey,
I'm reposting because I edited my last post too many times that I felt rude to still have it up. Please do a general review of the essay with focus on structure (PEEAL) adn content (technq, analysis) pls :D
ty guys
Hey,
I'm reposting because I edited my last post too many times that I felt rude to still have it up. Please do a general review of the essay with focus on structure (PEEAL) adn content (technq, analysis) pls :D
ty guys
Hey Mathew! I've looked at your essay and written some points in bold font throughout, click the spoiler below :)Hey Elyse,SpoilerDiscoveries can be confronting and provocative causing change in an individual's perception of society and attitude towards others, consequently making them more dependent on faith and relationships. I'd split this in two. "As a consequence of discoveries, individual's are prompted to be more dependent on faith and relationships." It's just a lot to take in very early on and we don't want to lose any of your good ideas. “Life of Pi” by Ang Lee highlights Piscine...
Hey Elyse,
Woowww thanks for the detailed post. I'll definitely take on your advice. I showed it to a couple of my friends and the recommended using more techniques, actually analysing the texts and shrinking the paragraphs.
Do you also recommend the same thing? How can I also better express my points like would that be through better analysis or anything else?
Ty Elyse once again :)
Hey guys,
What do you think of the film if I were to use it as a related text for AOS and Mod C in advance as well? If its a good pick, what would be some themes that relates to the topic of discovery?
Thanks.
Sorry sukakadonkadonk - which film are you talking about? I used the same related text for Discovery and for Module C, it worked well for me :)
Oooops lol sorry, I meant to say V for Vendetta.
And what do you think the chances are of an exam asking for two related texts? Because my teacher is telling us to prepare for it.
Hey! Here is a Discovery essay! I've included the question in the document, and would absolutely love if you could maybe annotate on the document areas to improve. I'm particularly worried about whether my position statement and topic sentences answer the question! Thanks so much
Hey!! Would you mind taking a look at my discovery essay? My teacher is one of those that give one-liner feedback like "great!" but never actually specifies :( We were requested to do 6 body paragraphs, so I did mine on unexpected, challenge and enrichment, and change of perspectives. Please mark harshly, as my teacher is quite a nice marker and for exams the essays are always marked harshly. It's attached below, and thank you in advance!! :)
Hey Sophie! Elyse went to give your essay a mark (at the lovely time of 4:30am this morning, gotta love the Venice time difference) but the attachment doesn't seem to be working for us!! Could you possibly reupload it? We'll be sure to jump on it as soon as you do - Sorry for the delay in getting this back to you! ;DNo worries! Sorry about that. I've attached it to this quoted post instead :)
No worries! Sorry about that. I've attached it to this quoted post instead :)
Oh it wasn't your fault! Just a little glitch ;D I'll pop your essay in the spoiler below with comments in bold!
Definitely let me know if you'd like any of this feedback qualified - I hope it helps you! ;D
Thank you sosososososo much, this has definitely reinforced what I thought and given me some awesome new things to add to clarify my essays! Thank you so much for addressing pretty much my number one worry, life saver. All makes heaps of sense :)
Also, in relation to the introduction, do you mean I should clarify the topic sentences (the structure I've followed is main thesis, then supporting topic sentences, then introduction of texts, then a short restatement of thesis) or did you think that everything in the introduction was a part of my main thesis..? If not, any ideas on more clarified ones..?
New and improved introduction?
Thesis:
Discoveries that are stimulated by the reassessment of oneself, where perspectives are questioned or challenged due to the changing circumstances experienced by an individual, can be the most meaningful. This self-governed process of rediscovery may facilitate initial intellectual or physical discoveries to be made, potentially catalysing emotional or spiritual significance.
Topic Sentences:
The process of rediscovery may stimulate intellectual discoveries that may lead to a rejection or acceptance of past selves, transforming one’s perspective on personal identity and the world around them. Confronting or provocative self-discoveries may allow the consequences of one’s actions in determining one’s dire circumstances to be realised.
Hey! Just wondering if this AOS Marking is solely for HSC AOS Discovery...or could I get my Belonging essay marked here? ;)
You can definitely pop up a Belonging essay! I did my HSC on Belonging so I'd be happy to check it (Elyse will be on yours soon Kle123!) :)
Thanks Jamon! This is probably the 9th time you've replied to one of my questions today. I will definitely post up my belonging essay once I get over this writer's block ( What deceptive people like me say instead of procrastination to not hurt my sense of self ) :D
Hey! This was the essay question that Elyse suggested. I have an AOS essay exam soon and i'm quite nervous since i haven't done any practice until now. Could you help me out? THANK YOOUUUU
Essay attached: "Discoveries have transformative ramifications"
Hey Kle123! I'm feeling really proud that you just went and wrote an essay so quickly on this question - you're a star!
I'll put my comments in bold font throughout the spoiler below :)SpoilerTransformative discoveries result in an individual’s meaningfully renewed perceptions of their capacity to question and appreciate their worlds. Nice one! Through introspection and self-reflection, clarity is attained, helping individuals to develop a response to the discovery, which is significant towards shaping their beliefs. Rosemary Dobson’s poems, ‘Young girl at a Window’ and ‘Wonder’ present, respectively, a girl forced into introspection due to her nearing adulthood and herself This bit jars in the sentence? It is just a bit difficult to follow. Maybe take the comma out from between present and respectively, and then flip them around, and then put a comma after the "and" before herself? Just trying to get this to read a little smoother. who gains renewed understandings through the new found beauty of art. Similarly, Alistair McLeod’s emotional coming of age short story To Everything there is a season shows young protagonist’s changed perceptions as a result of maturation. Beautiful! I love that you've given a sentence for each text so that you can give them their time to shine in the discovery light.
Through the passage of time, individuals inevitably undergo introspection and self reflection to adjust to their situation, throughthequestioningoftheir worlds. To me, this concept statement would be stronger with the "to adjust to their situation." In ‘Young girl at a Window’, the metaphysical aspects controlling her being are utilised to show the forceful nature of life in influencing change towards from adolescence to the larger world. The first line of the poem introduces the overarching motif of the poem, delineating that time is an omnipotent power as it forces her to “Lift your hand to the window latch”. The imperative elucidating this idea also portrays the passage of time to guide one’s development towards understanding of the real world. In reflecting consciously about the inevitable changes, the girl is uncertain “as she sigh, turnand moveaway.” Questions of change allow for the persona to let go of her youth, “fading air is stained with red”, symbolising the death of her past and growth of her future. In this process of renewing perceptions, the persona has formulated fearful pretensions as evident in the tone of tension and anticipation in the “guiltless minute hand is still… the watchful room… be hosts to you this final night” as she lies await of the unknown future. Through this change the persona has the capacity to question her world allowing her to “travel a journey with [her] eyes”, metaphorically signifying the positive speculations which have transformed from the previous fear. Absolutely seamless integration of the question here! Beautiful! Dobson further emphasises that the young girl’s changed perspective will force her to a long hardworking road however positive in that she will be successful. Thus, due to the discoveries as a result form the inevitability of ageing individuals will undergo transformative ramification in gaining renewed perceptions about their worlds. Wonderful! In this last sentence though, you talk about ageing, which has a different connotation to coming of age. I'd use the words you already have, because suddenly I'm thinking of older people, but really you just mean growing, getting older, etc. It's a small thing, but when I read it I thought I must have misunderstood the text, "where's the old person?"
Through the discovery of hidden beauties, an individual’s values about that finding will transform Expression here could be clearer. I think the main problem is that the beauties are hidden, therefore unknown, so how can the value of that transform if it does not already exist because it is unknown...if that makes sense? Perhaps talk about individuals realising a capacity to value beauties that they did not know existed, for they were hidden? Just play with this a little more :) . Throughout the ekphrastic poem ‘Wonder’, Dobson utilises the elusive rhyme and rhythm of her poem to accentuate the transcendental realisation of the beauty of art in Van Eyck’s painting which transforms her mindset of life. Dobson portrays the wonder associated with discovery through the use of collection of soundless adjectives, “wordless”, “voiceless”, “dumb”, “without ovation” Commas go inside the quotation marks - I know it looks a bit silly when you're doing them in quick succession, but y'know, it's how it is :) describes the experiences of discovery of beauty as transformative in that it is another world in one where one is left speechless. Similarly, to Young girl at A Window, an imperative is used, “Turn the page of the book and enter, marvelling” to convey that this discovery is also essential to the persona’s being. The use of diction in “marvelling” as well as “dazzled and “amazement” further accentuates the profundity of such a discovery. The use of a repertoire of historical and biblical figures which have undergone a discovery of one that is ground breaking and completely transformative such as in Lazurus’ “convers[ing] with angels” and Cortes’ discovery of the new “World”, it shows that Dobson can only accurately describe the impact of such discovery through examples of others. Thus emphasising the transformative nature of her discovery as juxtaposed as similar in extent to the allusion of important figures of the real world. Dobson’s use of the parenthetical statement, “I, also, wordless was there” amplifies the self-introspection and self-reflection in appreciating the new world of art. As a result of self-analysis, Dobson again represents discovery in having the ability to transform perceptions of different genres, in this poem through her own experience. Beautiful! This paragraph is wonderful. Everything is linked to back to discovery so eloquently! Your text is always analysed in relation to discovery which is very needed, and very well done!
Correspondingly, Discovery’s No need to capitalise :) capacity to renew perceptions and hence transform an individual is also represented by Alistair McLeod. Through representing time also as an inevitable force driving an individual to discoveries, To Everything there is a Season similarly shows the maturation of a young boy reinforcing the ideas within Dobson’s ‘Young girl’. McLeod introduces the short story through the Narrator (a grown man) “speaking of a time when [he] eleven”. Just for the purpose of being didactic - can you identify the type of Narrator? Voice of God? Third person? Omniscient? Before delving into his reminiscence he prefaces it with, “As we step into the nowness we often look into the past.” This paradoxical statement emblematic of self introspection and self reflection demonstrates the renewed perceptions the young boy (he once was) has formed due to his discoveries in the past. I'm also intrigued by the use of inclusive first person, "we," that's really unique! Surely there's a purpose to it. Is it engaging the reader to have their own discoveries alongside the character? You don't have to talk about this, but if it fits in, why not embrace it? It's a technical piece of analysis that most people won't really look into. The trope of Seasons, McLeod, symbolically represents the young boy’s growth and maturation as inevitable. The composer uses the motif of Christmas and “Santa Claus” to represent the beliefs of the innocent youth, and as the young boy “tries to hang on to him” he slowly loses this and discovers the harsher reality within the “adult side of the world”. The discovery of the myth attacks the narrator’s sense of stability and security and hence he realises he is uncertain of what is in store for him in the future. This loss in youth is represented in the metaphor, “it is as if I have suddenly moved into another room and heard a door click lastingly behind me. I am jabbed by my own small wound” further describes the authors feeling of sadness and fear from the transition "The loss of youth is metaphorically symbolised in..." just reads a little better than identifying "the metaphor." I'm being picky here, though! . However at the end of the story, his father reminds him that, “There is no need to grieve. He leaves good things behind. The reassurance, from a figure of admiration allows the young boy to develop renewed perceptions in that the future awaits us with challenges and rewards.
Individuals will often experience the transformative ramification of discovery when they are forced or influenced into a state of introspection and self reflection allowing for changed perceptions of different worlds. As seen Dobson’s poetry and McLeod’s short story, these transformative discoveries may sometimes result from the inevitability in the passage of time or the wonder of the world allowing for individual’s to change significantly in terms of outlook on life.
I think you've done incredible work here. You've really taken a simple question and attacked it with unique angles! I've been quite picky with it at some points, not because it's bad, but because it's actually really good and you're at the stage of adjusting these minor things now in order to inch towards the top marks. If you can produce this standard of work in an exam, you will be doing very well. The expression needs some more work at times, and this is most important in the concept statements - because this is how you are treating discovery after all. When those are crystal clear, I think you'll get a lot of reward!
In terms of preparing in another way, I suggest looking at past questions, or picking out questions from the rubric, and practice writing a thesis and three paragraph topic sentences for each question. This way, you're coherency of argument will improve, but you'll also become better at expression in a short time. If your exam is looming, I think this is the best way to move forward. Your analysis is so well linked to the question, do your best to do this again in the exam! :)
HEY so sorry to blow in but it seems that half of the feedback is crossed out and I'm not sure if it's intentional or not - essay is awesome by the way!
[s]
Oh that is funny! The essay/feedback had this in it somewhere:Code: [Select][s]
And that is the code for strikethrough - That's what happened ;D fixed it up now!
Are you sure? Sorry if my version hasn't updated yet :P
I probably shouldn't have brought it up in the first place sorry for making a big deal about it :-[
Hey! I have an exam next week and I was wondering if I could get some feedback on my first paragraph? I'm trying to cut down to around 230 words but I think what is preventing me is that my links are too long.
The question is: Great discoveries force the individual to look at the world in new and challenging ways.
Of course Grace! :)
I think you've done an excellent job here. Where there is no technique - you have the choice of adding one or cutting the sentence if you are looking to cull words still! I don't think you take too long to make the link, I think this is a tight little paragraph! :)
Thank you Elyse! ;D There is one thing I'm concerned about though. My teacher always says im not being specific enough when I hand in drafts. However under exam situations, I don't think I get marked down for being a little vague. What do you think will happen in the hsc though say if I write "Both texts reveal how the cyclical process of reflecting enables them to accept newfound truths and speculate about new worlds and values." (because new worlds and values are taken straight from the syllabus, I feel like they will not like how I am not expanding)I see your dilemma..I think your teacher is pushing you in the direction of not being good, but great. You can use the words of the rubric, that's really quite fine, particularly in a conclusion where you're just summarising. But if you can be specific in your body paragraphs about the exact beliefs, you bring a better contrast between your two texts, thus improving your analysis overall. It could be as simple as identifying the theme the belief regards and then letting the quotes speak for themself.
Also for example if I say "form new beliefs about the need for social hierarchy," my teacher will probably say 'what new beliefs, be specific' and I just don't get it :'(
In terms of preparing in another way, I suggest looking at past questions, or picking out questions from the rubric, and practice writing a thesis and three paragraph topic sentences for each question. This way, you're coherency of argument will improve, but you'll also become better at expression in a short time. If your exam is looming, I think this is the best way to move forward. Your analysis is so well linked to the question, do your best to do this again in the exam! :)
I see your dilemma..I think your teacher is pushing you in the direction of not being good, but great. You can use the words of the rubric, that's really quite fine, particularly in a conclusion where you're just summarising. But if you can be specific in your body paragraphs about the exact beliefs, you bring a better contrast between your two texts, thus improving your analysis overall. It could be as simple as identifying the theme the belief regards and then letting the quotes speak for themself.
So:
Intro: identify that new beliefs are experienced and new worlds are encountered. When introducing each text, give a unique spin on each...like one explores planned discoveries and another explores unplanned, for example.
Body paragraph text one: Says new beliefs are encountered, especially in the realms of societal expectations of courtship...(saying what the beliefs relate to), then in the evidence of the paragraph you'll specifically identify the new belief that men don't have to court women, or something to this effect...
Does this make sense? I mean, I don't know exactly what your teacher wants but I don't think you have to be super specific in the intro, I think that comes later. What do you think?
Hi Elyse, i'm extremely sorry for the late reply showing my gratitude. Thank you so much for the feedback, compliments, and encouragement, it really made my day. I had it marked by my school teacher today, and i don't think she could say the same though because she practically questioned every few lines of the essay critiquing the thesis and and my links. IDK. Since the exam is this week, ill just try to write in the same manner and disregard her feedback. I've edited my essay using your feedback and its much better. Thank you again Elyse for giving me the confidence I needed.
Hi,
I'd just love some feedback as to whether my response refers to the question properly throughout. Apart from that, I don't have any particular concern abut my essay, just any feedback you could give me would be amazing. Also if you could estimate what mark this essay might get :) Thank you so much!
So this is my essay-speech. It is a 4 min speech with 30 seconds lean way, and was wondering which parts I should remove in my essay. Feedback will be amazing. ;) 8)
PS: I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post... ???
To Jamon in particular, since this is focused on Belonging :D
Some key notes before you begin reading, 1. This has to be in the form of a letter, persuading why my selected texts should be chosen (still in the process of doing this... transforming it from an essay to a letter)
2. It would be greatly appreciated if you could criticise this as harshly as you can
3. Some links are missing purely because I just need this letter/essay to be criticised first and then I can move on and properly form it how it's supposed to be
4. It needs to be greatly condensed, so worst parts will get taken out asap
5. THANK YOU SO MUCH
I think you've done a brilliant job here. The expression really doesn't need any word, your writing style is sophisticated and neat. This makes it hard to find things to take out! As you've identified, what lacks is the response to the letter-receiver. That's the next important transition. I think when you finish with each text, you should also be saying what this text shows that adds to the other texts - really sell your selection of texts, and by doing this, you're forced to be critical of the treatment of belonging.
In terms of needing to cut things out of your response - be very critical and ask after every two sentences: Have I sold this in a way that appeals to the letter-receiver? This will tell you if you've treated belonging strongly enough or not. I've suggested where you need to add an address to the receiver, and in each of these opportunities you should link specifically to the experience of belonging. Pretend that you are in some ways be a salesperson - really selling it!
Good luck...this is a solid response, it's just about tweaking it to the text type now :)
Hi :)
I was just wondering if could see if the argument made sense, and if it linked together so I could easily adapt to potential HSC questions.
Thanks!
Thank you so much! Feedback that was definitely 100% helpful, I completely understand your points made and I will get tweaking asap! :) Im so grateful for ATARNOTES and the team <3
Hi :) This is actually a speech, which I was hoping I could get some feedback on.
Thank you!
Can you pls mark my essay due tomorow> Heres the question:
“The journey leads to a greater understanding of others, self and one’s place in the world”. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Discuss with close analysis to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing.
@jamonwindeyer
Ive been told you need at least 4 body paragraphs. Is this true or can I manage a 12/15 with only 3
Could you please give me any feedback on my discovery essay and whether you think it would get 15/15 if I incorporate the question well?
Could you please give me any feedback on my discovery essay and whether you think it would get 15/15 if I incorporate the question well?
Hey guys! This is my AOS essay that I would be using for my trials! :) Not the exact question though, but I would adapt whatever I have to the question in the exam! :)
Please be really harsh with the feedback! I really want to improve as much as I can, since I know I'm pretty weak in the AOS module :(((
Thanks in advance! :D
Hey Dalvin! Here's your essay with feedback :) Thank you for your patience, we appreciate it! It's been a busy time.SpoilerThe experience of an unplanned discovery can evokeanintense and meaningful emotional and intellectual responses. The extent to which a discovery impacts *** *** *** OR, the extent of.... is determined by the willingness for an individual to embrace the confronting yet educative experience that will allow them to break free from their social and cultural frameworks. Ang Lee’s film “Life of Pi” encompasses Pi’s unplanned discovery for the need to survive in isolation, which involves challenging his religious morals and thus extensively evokes Pi’s extreme emotional responses and a new understanding for the balance of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Similarly, D.H Lawrence’s poem “Piano” embodies the persona’s journey of rediscovery through his memories that influences his distraught of adulthood which consequently results in a reminder of the tragedies and hardships of adulthood. Hence, through the experience of discovery and its consequences, it can enable one gain new perceptions and understandings. You've used my favourite introduction structure - engaging with the rubric, then talking about each of the texts in relation to the discovery they offer, and rounding it back off again.
Now I know what to expect from your essay!
Lee’s “Life of Pi” extensively explores Pi’s emotional dynamics through a range of discoveries that has challenged his religious morals. Personally, I think the best approach is to turn this into a conceptual sentence rather than textual. The reason being, this is a conceptual essay, supported analytically by texts. I would make the opening sentence about discovery, rather than about the texts. This way you use the text throughout the paragraph as a testament to the thesis, rather than vice versa. Unless, of course, you are reserving this sentence spot for the stimulus when it arrives.Pi’s journey encompasses a harsh and desolate ocean environment that has catalysed, what he considered, killing as an immoral act. Such includes the close up shot of the shift from a saturated to dull colour palette of the fish that Pi has killed. This shift visually parallels to Pi’s transition from his primitive to humanistic character, illustrating his sense of guilt and shame from subverting the humility of life. This is further illustrated through his sudden discovery of the flying fish as a food source which he then boldly screams to Richard Parker, “MINE!MINE!”, demonstrating his power over Richard Parker’s animal instincts, resulting in Pi to resemble the God of Yogis, Shiva, that symbolises the destruction of morals and values and the creation of new physicalities. Thus, illustrating how Pi’s irrationality has subverted his morals but has allowed him to form survival instincts. Moreover, the medium shot and diegetic sounds of Pi devouring the fish reveals the dismissal of his vegetarian diet, showcasing a strong desperation for survival. Hence, Lee subtly alludes to Quran 2:173 where it states that an individual forced by necessity to consume the forbidden meat, Pork, has no sin upon them. This in effect elucidates Pi’s consumption as a portrayal of his full understanding and acceptance to transgress his religious beliefs in extreme conditions. Consequently, Pi’s emotional responses catalysed by his sudden discovery has been elevated due to his necessity to subvert his morals and act beyond his comfort zone. I think the analysis in this paragraph evidently exists, but what concerns me is the lack of direction the paragraph has as a parallel to the discovery rubric. I can see that you're following the vein of religious morals in the plot, but I think you need to draw on a vein from the rubric as well. It's like you've chosen one lens for this paragraph, and that lens is religious morals and their challenges in the text. Perhaps instead, we should be looking at the idea about discovery that, discoveries prompt a reevaluation about previously esteemed beliefs. Then when we enter this paragraph, you tie it in with the religious beliefs as a way of making a very wonderfully dense paragraph! By changing the topic sentence, you gravitate the essay to be more conceptual/area of study based :)
Similarly, Lawrence’s persona in “Piano” undergoes a rediscovery of his childhood memories as an adult which stimulates antithetical emotional states. Similarly here: If you're going to explore the idea of rediscovery, then do so through a conceptual lens, and then bring the text in :)[/b]This poem manifests music as the persona’s catalyst to his rediscovery of his mother playing the piano which has caused his, “heart [to] weep to belong/ to the old Sunday evenings at home”. The persona’s reference to the “old Sunday” evening symbolises his conformity to the expectations of the 19th century – suppression of emotions. However, the word choice of “weep” develops the persona’s sentimental tone that denotes to his expression of his emotion. Coupled with the responder’s venture into the persona’s memories, represented through the metaphoric use of the second stanza, it becomes a platform to convey how such intimate and fragile moments of reflection are able expound an individual’s insecurities that expels a façade of conformity. Furthermore, the repetitive use of the onomatopoeic present verbs, “tingling”, “booming” paints a clear image from persona’s memory which reinforces his longing to relive his childhood, elaborating on his vulnerability of his emotional state. Furthered to this, the last stanza encompasses the persona’s distraught to be drawn as, “it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour/ great black appassionato”. The word choice of “clamour” and “appassionato”, a musical term for strong passion, evokes an auditory image of the persona’s desperate pleads to relive his childhood. Additionally, it encompasses the outrage of intense and mixed emotions of distraught, despair and desperation which serves to reveal the persona’s frustration of shifting in adulthood. Thus, Lawrence’s “Piano” reveals the persona’s rediscovery of his childhood as a gradual process that inevitably evokes the strong emotional responses that breaks his social standards. In the italicised part, discovery is only mentioned in a round-about way instead of being succinct. I think that your essay is great in terms of analysis and understanding the ways that techniques can accelerate the plot and the discoveries. BUT, I don't think the essay privileges "discoveries" and their complexities enough. I know you will adapt this essay in an exam to suit the question, but I think it's not unreasonable to expect more of it in advance - only because you want to have a strong idea about discovery that you will hybridise with the essay question :)
Despite differences within the experiences of discovering, an individual’s willingness to embrace and learn from them will inevitably bring upon intellectual responses. Yes! This is the kind of thing I think you should begin your other paragraphs with as well! I think this sends such a strong message about what I should expect from this paragraph, but it also addresses the rubric in a way that's confident. “Life of Pi” explores this through Pi’s understanding for the balance between the physical and metaphysical worlds. This is seen through Pi’s dream where the camera slowly zooms deeper into his eyes which employs a vignette of the zoo animals, Pi’s mother and the Mouth of Krishna. Lee’s intention serves as a synecdoche to Pi’s dynamic nature of his experience – conflicting, comforting and educating. Hence, Lee asserts Pi’s need for both worlds to maintain humility and survivability. This is further highlighted by the paradoxical voiceover, “If I haven’t found that island, I would’ve died. If I didn’t discover the tooth. I would’ve died”, which reinforces Pi’s renewed perception for the necessity of irrationalism and transgression as a means to restore his mentality and strength to progress further into the physical world. Concurrently, “Piano” explores this through the persona’s embrace of his experience of rediscovery that reminds him of the cruelty of adulthood. The last stanza, acts as a parallel to a coda in music, and thus it becomes a metaphor for the persona’s intellectual response as he asserts that, “of childish days is upon [him], [his] manhood is cast”. The line employs the accents of the disyllabic words of “childish” and “manhood” that juxtaposes the innocence of childhood to the hardships of adulthood. Hence, it proves the persona’s full understanding for differences between both stages. Moreover, the persona, “weep likes a child for the past” proffers a double meaning that is enforced by the simile. On a literal level, the simile denotes to the persona’s distraught for the inability to relive his childhood, serving as a reminder for the hardships of shifting to adulthood. Symbolically, the literary form and structural element of the poem also adds a meaning that communicates his realisation of the social incorrectness for men to cry, hence the line posits dual perspectives that proves his resentment to the social framework. Consequently, in order for individuals to experience an intellectual response from discovering, they must embrace the hardships and lesson that surpass their social frameworks.
In essence, the emotional and intellectual responses are evoked by the unplanned discoveries to which the extent proliferates once an individual extends beyond their social and cultural frameworks. “Life of Pi” explores Pi’s emotional dynamics upon the discovery for necessity to survive and thus, gains an understanding for the balance of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Whilst “Piano”, encompasses the persona’s rediscovery of his childhood that evokes the sentimentality, that allows him to gain insight to the cruelty of the world. Thus, despite the nature of the discovery and the extent of an individual’s response, it is compulsory for new experiences and understanding of the self and others to be supplements to the experience of discovery.
.
In terms of emotional and itnellectual: "emotional" is dealt with fairly consistently throughout the response, but intellectual responses to discovery only really exist in the third body paragraph. So this needs more addressing throughout to be consistent. But I'll also mention that just because emotions are involved, it doesn't mean it is necessarily an emotional response to discovery, which is what the question asks for. I didn't think this was a strong vein in your work - often I was left wishing there was more discovery. I think the solution is kind of shifting the way you see this module. Instead of it being about texts, put the privilege on discovery, and simply prove the discovery with the texts. You're not at all far off: you've got everything you need to make this work really well. The analysis is there, it really is just about shifting the focus of your essay to make discovery more prominent, and I've suggested ways to do this. Hopefully this all makes sense, if anything isn't clear or you have more questions, please let me know! :)
Hello can someone please look at my response for this AOS comprehension Q:
Hi!
Can I please have feedback on my AOS discovery essay?
I wasn't really sure where to post it, so I wouldn't mind this post moved :)
Thank you!! :D
Hiii
If it is possible could you please have a look at this essay and see what needs to be fixed? If you could give brutal criticism id love that because i'm quite lost for AOS and trials are very soon but otherwise even just a look at general feedback would be absolutely amazing! Thanks so you much :)
hey hey hey!
here's my area of study essay, feedback would be SO appreciated.
thanks for all your dedication team xoxoxo
is this a proper a discovery essay for my trials ?
Hey guys,
I did an essay for discovery based on the AOS paper that Atar notes put up. Would you please be able to read through it and give me some feedback? What mark do you think that this essay should get? I know at the moment it is way too long but my teacher said that we needed to have the processes for discovery for each text (Persona's situation at beginning, catalyst, process, discovery and impact). Do you have any ways that I can get the word count down because there is no way that I can write this many word in 40min and I don't think that i'm rambling too much. Also, should I be trying to write integrated essays (In Emily's lecture she said that they were the better way to write an essay)? If so, how can I turn this essay into an integrated one.
Thanks so much,
Katie
Hey, just wondering how many essay markings do I have available and how many spare posts I've got?
Hi could you please read my essay and creative for paper 1 discovery. I believe that my teachers are not giving me the best feedback so could you please mark it for me and give me some feedback :)
This is a Discovery Essay. Please give feedback if can.
Hey i just need to see if my essay makes sense
Hey guys,
I did an essay for discovery based on the AOS paper that Atar notes put up. Would you please be able to read through it and give me some feedback? What mark do you think that this essay should get? I know at the moment it is way too long but my teacher said that we needed to have the processes for discovery for each text (Persona's situation at beginning, catalyst, process, discovery and impact). Do you have any ways that I can get the word count down because there is no way that I can write this many word in 40min and I don't think that i'm rambling too much. Also, should I be trying to write integrated essays (In Emily's lecture she said that they were the better way to write an essay)? If so, how can I turn this essay into an integrated one.
Thanks so much,
Katie
Hey Katie! Sorry for the delay in getting this to you, I've attached your response with feedback in bold!Thanks so much Jamon! :D I sent a copy to my teacher and she hasn't picked this up. I've never heard of TEA before so thanks heaps for explaining it.:) I would much rather have feedback like this now, instead of trials which are marked externally. I'm just a bit confused because my teacher said that we needed to address the persona's situation at beginning, catalyst, process, discovery and impact (therefore I think this is why i'm trying to retell). I'm a bit unsure about how I would then structure my paragraphs, because i've structured plot wise now. Would I just go from quote to quote? Do you have any really good exemplar essays or essays posted here, on Frost's poems that i'd be able to read to gain an idea?SpoilerDifferent discoveries may have similarities, but the ramifications will always vary.
To what extent is this statement true in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?
To a great extent, similar discoveries will have varied impacts due to the unique experiences/mindset of an individual. I'd like you to develop this idea a bit more. How will the impacts vary? Why do experiences impact the Discovery? It works well and answers the question but I feel it could be developed to a greater extent. This is conveyed through the poetry of Robert Frost. Stopping by the woods on a Snowy Evening, explores the importance of human relationships, man’s interaction with nature and the use of solitude to reflect on life. The persona’s discovery is fresh and intensely meaningful in ways that are emotional, and spiritual as he discovers new ideas about himself and the world around him. How does this relate to the question? The novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, portrays a young girl, Liesel, discovering the power of words during World War 2. Don't have to retell the plot, focus on the themes explored and how they relate to the question! Throughout this novel, Liesel’s discovery is both emotionally and intellectually challenging as she explores new perspectives on the world around her. Mending Wall, explores a man’s discovery that his neighbour is unwilling to change because he is steadfast in his traditions and beliefs. The persona realises that discoveries can be made through shared experiences and that discoveries can shift our perspectives on the world around us. The discoveries have many similarities, but have different outcomes and consequences due to the personal experiences of the persona’s. Overall, an effective introduction, but I feel the overarching Thesis could be developed more, and you can trim the word count by removing the bits where you summarise the plot - Those are unnecessary!
Throughout the poem, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening the persona discovers the importance of human relationships, man’s interaction with nature and the use of solitude to reflect on life. Be careful not to slip into retelling the text and what happens tot the characters. The persona’s discovery is fresh and intensely meaningful in ways that are emotional, and spiritual as he discovers new perspectives of the world around him. Don't repeat sentences from your Thesis - It should link but it should be different! The poem, uses the form of a dramatic monologue, in order to portray a man on a journey within the woods. Don't link techniques to plot, link them to concepts and themes. The man stops in awe of the beauty of the nature around him. Retell. However, throughout his pause, there is a sense of danger conveyed through the thickening snowfall, darkening sky and sense of isolation. This is further conveyed through the alliteration of, ‘the only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind and downy flake’. This alliteration echoes the soft sound of the gentle wind and fluffy snowflakes falling. The metaphorical qualities of ‘snow’ in the quote, ‘watch his woods fill up with snow’, conveys an image of death as the snow could cover the traveller and his horse if they stay in one spot for too long. How does this theme relate to Discovery? Be careful not to discuss things broadly, link them specifically to the question. The horse senses danger and ‘he gives his harness bells a shake’, creating a contrast between the dreamlike nature of the prior two stanzas. Retelling the plot, see how it has slipped into a "Then this happened," style response? The quote garners the audience's attention to the danger that is lingering in the scene and a need to move on. However, the man is still caught in a peaceful state oblivious to the danger around him. A large amount of this paragraph is retell - Easy way to trim your word count will be to remove retell!
The persona discovers that he prefers quiet reflection and solitude over being with a large number of people. What does this reveal about Discovery though? The line ‘he will not see me stopping here’ conveys the man’s wish to be alone and by himself as therefore he is able to reflect without all the distractions of everyday life. He also discovers that he has many different responsibilities in life such as interactions between people. Relate these things to Discovery! His use of visual imagery to show that the ‘woods are lovely, dark and deep’ is contrasted with the abruptness of the phrase ‘I have promises to keep’. Go the next step - These techniques show ______ about Discovery. The man realises that although he finds the woods very inviting and peaceful, he cannot stay there as there are responsibilities that he needs to take care of. This sudden change has been brought about by the persona’s mindset, which impacts his reaction to the discovery. Therefore, the poem shows that discoveries can be fresh and intensely meaningful in emotional and spiritual ways as it broadens the persona’s perspective of the world around him. We've sort of brought it back to Discovery at the end, but it needs to be threaded throughout, and you are spending a lot of time retelling what actually happens in the text. This is unnecessary and is contributing to your word count issue!
Similarly, the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak conveys the notion that discoveries can be fresh and intensely meaningful in emotional and intellectual ways and can lead to further discoveries. Throughout the novel, Liesel learns to read and realises the potential harm of words. She is infuriated by Hitler’s abuse of the power of words and the pain that can come out of it. She discovers that word can be used in harmful circumstances, when Hitler dehumanises and denigrates the Communists and Jews. Don't like Discoveries to plot elements, they MUST come from techniques. In Stopping by woods on a Snowy Evening, the persona’s discovery has emotional and spiritual impacts. He discovers that he prefers solitude and quiet reflection then being with a large amount of people. This notion is different between both texts because although they both are meaningful and fresh, they encompass differing impacts. A bit vague in this comparison, what exactly differs between the impacts?
In the novel, The Book Thief, Liesel discovers that words can be intensely meaningful through both emotional and intellectual ways and that discoveries can shift our perspectives of the world. The novel is set in Germany during World war two, and is narrated by the extremely overworked character of death. Liesel steals her first book from the edge of her brother’s grave. This experience was “1. The last time she saw her brother. 2. The last time she saw her mother". The listing of this quote conveys the significance of this book to Liesel. As her mother cannot take care of her due to the war she is given to foster parents. After her regular nightmares, her papa would start to teach her how to read. She explains that, “it was not so much the school that helped me to read. It was Papa.” Through this experience, she became closer to her Papa, learning to love words and desiring to be able to read more books.
During Liesel's time in the Hitler Youth, she took part in a book burning. This practise was used to cleanse Germany of all undesirable books, namely those that didn’t promote the Nazi regime. Liesel felt conflicted at the time, over both hatred and curiosity. This is further emphasised through the reflective quote, “Something inside her told her this was a crime - after all, her three books were the most precious items she owned - she was compelled to see the thing lit.” This event conveyed the enormous power the Nazi’s had over the books they believed were unacceptable. They were perceived to be powerful, as they contained ideas that the Nazi’s feared and didn’t want the population to read. The simile and visual imagery of the line, “Flames and burning books were cheered like heroes”, expressed how the audience was both enthralled and captivated by the burning books. Liesel soon begins to despise the way words have been used by Hitler to target groups such as the Communists and Jews. Her extreme hurt through the exclamation of "I hate the Führer. […] I hate him", further explores her discovery of Hitler’s misuse of words to create a xenophobia of outsiders and groups that he didn’t approve of. It also conveys Liesel’s change in perspective of the government and rejection of the Nazi party's ideals. The last line of Liesel’s book, ’I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right”, conveys that she has grasped the power of words. She wishes to use words for compassionate reasons rather than those that could cause harm as she is drawn to their power to heal and form friendships. Therefore, throughout the novel, Liesel’s discoveries are emotionally and intellectually meaningful as they allow her to form new perspectives on the world around her. The ramifications of her discoveries are very different to those portrayed throughout Frost’s poetry due to the persona’s unique experiences.
Throughout Frost’s poem, Mending Wall the persona makes new discoveries that are emotionally and spiritual meaning and impact his perspective of the world around him. The poem is set in the farming lifestyle of New England. The persona and his neighbour meet each year at Spring to mend the wall between their properties. This has been a longstanding tradition, since frost destroys the wall each winter. The phrase ‘something that doesn’t love a wall ….. frozen ground swells under it’ conveys the damage that the frost makes to the wall. Their is a pun on Frost’s name suggesting that he doesn’t like walls and wishes to tear them down. Walls are also used in the poem as a metaphor to portray barriers between or in people as seen through the neighbour’s unquestionable response of, ‘Good fences make good neighbours’.
Each Spring, the men come together to mend the wall. The irony created through the phrase ‘we meet to walk the line/and set the wall between us once again’, shows that the men have come together in order to stay apart. The protagonist believes that there is no need for a wall explaining their actions as ‘just another kind of outdoor game.’ This metaphor conveys the futility of their work because the wall is destroyed each year. Throughout this process, the persona discovers that the neighbour resists and is unwilling to change. The neighbour believes that the wall is an essential part of life. However, the writer describes his neighbour ‘like an old-stone savage armed’. This simile portrays how the man is set in the past and upholds his traditions. He is armed to protect his traditions that he wishes to keep. The neighbour’s unwillingness to change is also seen throughout the line ‘he will not go behind his father’s saying’. This metaphor conveys that the neighbour will not question his father’s beliefs or develop any new ideas. Through this discovery, the character learns that he has the opposite perspective to the neighbour and thus discovers and embrace new ideas. He learns that he is more willing to change and is opposed to walls/barriers in life. Hence, in the poem discoveries are emotional and spiritual as the persona finds new perspectives on himself and the world around him.
To a great extent, discovers may share similar aspects but will have varied impacts due to the persona’s unique mindset and experiences. This is skillfully portrayed throughout the poetry of Robert Frost. His poem, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, conveys a man’s journey through the woods and the peace he finds within it. His discovery is fresh and intensely meaningful in emotional, and spiritual ways as he discovers new ideas about himself and the world around him. The novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is narrated by the character of death and shows Liesel, discovering the power of words during World War Two. Her discoveries were intensely meaningful through intellectual and emotional ways and her discoveries shifted her perspectives on the world around her.The poem, Mending Wall explores a man’s discovery that his neighbour is unwilling to change and is steadfast in his beliefs. He discovers that he is more willing to change and is opposed to barriers in life. The persona makes new discoveries by engaging in shared experiences which then impacted his perspective on the world around him. It is evident that although discoveries will have many shared features, they will have differing ramifications due to the persona’s unique mindset and experiences.
So I stopped providing comments about halfway through, purely to avoid repetition - The issues I'm spotting are recurring so seeing them corrected in the first half should help in the second half! :)
The biggest issue is retell. You are saying, "This happened in the text. This character has this happen to them. This is how they react." And then you are bringing Discovery back into it right at the end, linking it sort of qualitatively to the events of the text. This is very low level analysis, it is basically just throwing the story back to the marker! Remember, the marker has read it, most of what you are giving them they already know :)
Instead, I want you to focus on your techniques, and analysing how they communicate Discovery concepts. Go to TEA:
TECHNIQUE: Provide a quote and give the technique utilised by the composer (or it may be a technique without a quote)
EXPLAIN: Why the composer has used that technique and what they want to communicate with it
AUDIENCE: How does this technique affect our understanding? What new knowledge do we gain?
Nowhere here is plot necessary, it is purely, "The composer uses TECHNIQUE in QUOTE to communicate __________ which shows us _______." Rinse. Repeat :)
Right now I don't think you should be expending energy turning this into an integrated response, eliminating retell and improving your analysis should be your number one priority! Your ideas are good, but the way you are delving into them in the texts is not quite there yet.
Right now, I'd put this essay in the lower mid range, maybe 7 or 8 out of 15 :)
Hopefully this feedback helps!! Let me know if you need anything clarified! ;D
Hey Jamon or Elyse,
so i just wanted to ask that if i send in my AOS essay tomorrow do i have any possibility of getting it marked by friday/saturday ( my trial is on monday so i just wanted to give myself a few days to memorise)
Thank you
Thanks so much Jamon! :D I sent a copy to my teacher and she hasn't picked this up. I've never heard of TEA before so thanks heaps for explaining it.:) I would much rather have feedback like this now, instead of trials which are marked externally. I'm just a bit confused because my teacher said that we needed to address the persona's situation at beginning, catalyst, process, discovery and impact (therefore I think this is why i'm trying to retell). I'm a bit unsure about how I would then structure my paragraphs, because i've structured plot wise now. Would I just go from quote to quote? Do you have any really good exemplar essays or essays posted here, on Frost's poems that i'd be able to read to gain an idea?
Thanks so much!! I will definitely try to work on this throughout the week. :)
Elyse smashed the Creatives tonight, so fairly high chance if you post it tonight or tomorrowomg that's great, thank you!
Your teachers advice is very strange, and in my opinion, perhaps a tad counterproductive? Obviously weigh the opinions for their worth but I definitely wouldn't approach the essay that wayHey,
Check the Notes section for exemplars! Just on my phone at the moment so can't say for sure what is there but you should definitely take a look!
Hey,
Were my quotes and analysis ok, or would I have to work on that more as well? Obviously, I would have to link it back to discovery more but would I need to get more, different quotes or are these ok? If I took all of my retelling out and just worked on my quotes and analysing and how this affects the discovery would that improve my essay? How would I move from one quote to another in my paragraphs if I didn't retell any parts of the text? How many words/paragraphs should I be aiming to write and how many quotes should I use in each paragraph?
Thanks heaps :D (sorry, I feel like i'm asking a lot of questions but i'm kinda stressing out because trials are in two weeks)
Hey all, in 48 hours from now we will be locking these marking threads for the trial period. The two main reasons being, we want to be able to help lots of students in the time it takes to mark an essay/creative (usually 30-45 minutes at least) while lots of students need the help during trials, and also because feedback becomes less constructive with minimal time until the exam because we want to avoid panicking you with big changes, so the feedback isn't as worthwhile for you.Hey Elyse,
Not to fear - you still have 48 hours to post your work and we will get to marking them even after the threads are locked (if there's backlog).
We'll still be here to help you during the trials with all of our Q+A threads, downloadable notes, thesis statement feedback and so on. Thanks for understanding! We're still here to help on all of the boards that aren't marking threads! :)
Hey Elyse,
When will the essay threads be locked until? Also, would I be able to post a paragraph of my discovery essay, fixed with Jamon's feedback tomorrow night to see if I have been improving and to get that looked over? (would it count toward my post limit if it is only one paragraph?)
Thanks so much :)
Hey guys,
so here's my essay, i feel like its too way long (we have 40 mins to write it) i want to shorten it but idk how to shorten it cos i feel like everything is important
so when you mark it can u pls tell me if i should get rid of bits here and there
i feel like my linking and topic sentences are weak, how can i overcome that
also i feel like im not answering the question properly
even if you feel like iv done a small mistake pls tell me cos i want to perfect this essay
THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!! :) :) :) :)
ps it'd be amazing if i can get feedback asap ( my trial is on Monday, so i want some time to memorize it)
Hey! Your essay is attached with feedback in bold ;DEssay with FeedbackTo what extent do the texts you have studied reveal both the emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the experience of discovering?
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.
Discoveries can offer an individual fresh insights and ideas which enable speculation about future possibilities. The significance of discoveries, whether deliberate or by chance, is relative to the measure in which it affects meaningful change in one's perception of themselves and their life. Really cool introduction! Perceptive, clever. But I'm not sure if it is linking to the question as explicitly as I would like, it definitely answers the question but it could do so more directly. Such ideas are demonstrated in the poems Mending Wall and After apple picking composed by Robert Frost. The poem, Mending Wall showcases the nature of a planned encounter with a neighbor, but through the steadfast insistence of barriers, the persona acknowledges the selfish, possessive human condition provoked by the attitude towards the process of discovering. You don't need to delve into the plot of your text, just introduce it and run through (very quickly) the themes it addresses and the perspective it communicates! In Robert Frost’s poem, “After Apple Picking”, through spiritual discovery one comes to acknowledge the unexpected moment of rejecting planned achievements and goals inherent to human life. Similarly, these concepts are explored in Shawn Tan’s illustrative publication The Red Tree. In exploring this text it is evident that discoveries change people in a range of ways, and that these changes impact how we understand ourselves and the world. Through the study of Frost’s poetry as well as Tan’s illustrative narrative, one comes to a greater understanding of the emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the experience of discovering. Overall, a very effective introduction. I'd like your Thesis linked to the question a bit more explicitly, and you could introduce the texts more succinctly to save yourself some words.
Dependent on an individual’s context, the paradoxical nature of realizations enables the progression of an individual. The poem Mending Wall by Robert Frost portrays both the realization of human condition for a possessive and selfish nature, inviting the responder to make their own discovery through introspection of their own ‘walls’ and ‘barriers’. A slight expression issue in the first half of that sentence, but the idea presented is really cool - Like how the audience is included in the introduction. Works well. ‘The wall’ itself is symbolic of the barriers in society, between people. The building of the wall metaphorically symbolizes the barriers in society between different people, classes, segregation. Those two sentences say the same thing, slightly redundant? The poem questions barriers, the persona comes to the discovery that they have their strengths and weaknesses, while the neighbor holds on to the idea that they are positive. Don't explore what happens to the characters - This is retell! This challenge to the orthodox is presented through the analogy of rebuilding a boundary fence with a neighbor – ‘Good fences make good neighbors.” Slightly tending towards retell still. The repetitive rhetoric allows the responders to ruminate a ‘norm’ which is often followed thoughtlessly and lacking reason, revealing both the emotional and intellectual attitude evoked by process of discoveries, be it for the first time or rediscovering something. Analysis is good in this paragraph, but could be better, slightly too text focused!
Often, different types of discovery intertwine together and are employed by composers to provoke responders into new emotional and intellectual responses through the process of discovering. 'Composers use discovery to provoke responders to responses through discovery' - Something a bit off about this topic sentence? Frost, in Mending Wall highlights that discoveries and discovering can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others. “Good fences make good neighbors”- the persona and his neighbor repeat these aphorisms toward one another. What is the technique? Remember, it isn't the persona, it is the composer who made the choice to include it. This further enhances the sense of the barrier between neighbors and the paradox in this contradictory truth elucidates that one has come to speculate about new possibilities, while the other has not. “He will not go beyond his father’s saying...good fences make good neighbors” The neighbor is perceived as simple and backward thinking. Technique? What does it show about Discovery? Frost suggests that by mindlessly repeating the cliché of his father, the neighbor is unable to think beyond what he has been told. These notions allowing both the viewer and persona to gain knowledge about themselves and their surroundings. Not much analysis in this paragraph, no techniques, more of a "This is how the characters interact and what it means. This is okay but definitely not what you are striving for!
Exposure to new challenges provokes a parallel process of self-assessment, stimulating the development of new values. Cool! Again, a good chance to explicitly say this is an example of an intellectual response, link to the question explicitly. Frost’s, After Apple Picking is a poem that draws upon the often unplanned discoveries through capturing the spiritual and intellectual acknowledgment of life and death. Good. The symbolism of the apple represents a number of life goals, including the accomplishment of knowledge, wealth, or achievements. What does it show about Discovery? Try to get to the Discovery link immediately. Yet, the tone and attitude of the persona is one of frustration and self-regret, as he discovers the futility of this repetitive act, “For I have had too much…Of apple-picking: I am overtired…Of the great harvest I myself desired”, as a result of this epiphany, the persona instead reflects upon the goals he had accomplished rather than the opportunities he missed. This sentence is definitely too long, break it up a little! “There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch, cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall.” Here, the metaphorical apples become objectives met, actions done, and goals achieved. I feel like your tone in this essay isn't quite right, it feels a bit like a speech or a creative - In that you are dancing around your points a little. Be direct. The metaphorical apples show the audience ____ about discovery. Therefore, his earlier epiphany serves as a catalyst towards enabling the persona to acknowledge an emotional and intellectual sense of accomplishment rather than the assumption of dejection. We're still saying, 'The character experiences this and this shows this.' We need to abstract and look at composer decisions. The persona uncovers through the process of discovery that it is the attitude towards discovery which is most essential. This conclusion exemplifies that you are too text focused - Nothing about the composer, nothing about how Discovery is represented, very much just, "The persona experiences a Discovery." At its core, this is retell.
Emotional and intellectual experiences stimulate the construction of personal ideals and principles by challenging and ultimately reshaping perceptions of the world. Good, explicit link to the question. Good stuff. In After Apple Picking, Robert Frost portrays how the impact of discoveries can be transformative for the individual. “Great harvest”, the positive connotation suggest energy and enthusiasm when slipping into sleep, the persona’s mood changes, however, with the short sentences. This sentence needs a bit of a tidy, feels very choppy and doesn't quite flow. “Went surely to the apple-cider heap” and “For all” which creates pause, to consider whether all the hard work and commitment which consumed the persona was worth the effort. What does it show about Discovery? Get straight to this immediately. The negative connotations express a feeling of failure, a sense of loss. Keep the academic tone, don't omit your conjunctions. The persona discovers, through the act of falling asleep, the positive and negative attitudes towards goal setting. Retell - "The persona did _______." Frost develops his ‘sound of sense’ to convey the lethargy of the persona layering this fatigue with a reference to the skyward pointing ladder that suggests the notion of dying and going to heaven. How does this notion relate to Discovery? Frost suggests that the persona is simply tired to death and this thoughts are lost in a moment of self-indulgence as he feels the ache of physical tiredness and begins to think that his lethargy is a sign that his life may soon be over. Retell, describing the mindset of the character. The persona is physically tired and his attitude towards discovery is one of an introspective look at his life and the goals he had set for himself, this renewed perspective allows the responder to speculate that whether discovering something for the first time or rediscovering something it is emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the experiencing of discovering that allow individuals to reconsider their worlds and values. This last sentence is too long, split it up for clarity!
Furthermore, The Red Tree by Shaun Tan examines how the discovery of one’s self and their world, is portrayed through interest and wonder. Shaun Tan utilizes harsh, monotone representations of the world and minimal language to reflect the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery. Good, this is the first sentence in the response where I truly believe you've completely acknowledged the composer making a choice (using a technique) to represent something to the audience. This is explored through their curiosity, as they continue to pass through the disconnected world she lives in. Retell, don't use character qualities as evidence! Searching for a sense of hope and uncovered truths, similar to the persona’s journey in Mending Wall. Sentence fragment, doesn't make sense by itself. The protagonist’s individuality is portrayed through the low angle shot of the girl and the accompanying metaphor, “the world is a deaf machine.” Good acknowledgement of techniques, what do they show about Discovery specifically?You've linked to individuality, link to Discovery. These aspects of the text, allow the viewer to witness the worlds value of conformity through the use of identical costuming and the denial of individuality, as the protagonist must hide the light bulb; a symbol of hope within her. Bit of retell at the end here. The repetition of her sorrowful facial expressions and fatigued posture, point at her insecurity and depressive nature, portraying her as a weak and inferior character. This is juxtaposed to the last scene where she has witnessed the growth of the red tree, and given hope. Her face simplistically drawn depicts a contented character. This is further emphasized by the light that shines on her, revealing that through her constant inquisitiveness she has witnessed an act of wonder. Hence, allowing her to discover herself apart of the world. Four/five sentences to reach a conclusion on Discovery is definitely too long - If you need to spend this long drawing the link there is a chance the concept isn't powerful enough? You won't have the time to do this sort of work under timed conditions! Tan successfully explores how curiosity and wonder can cause the intellectual and emotional discoveries of one’s self and their world.
Ultimately, Frost in both Mending Wall and After Apple Picking depicts through the contrast of the emotional-intellectual discovery in Mending Wall , the spiritual discovery in After Apple Picking and Tan in The Red Tree reveal the emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the process of discovering. This conclusion doesn't quite bring everything together as well as I would like, not quite clear exactly what each text contributes? I think it would be worth trimming the body of your response to put a proper conclusion here.
Overall comments:
- Effective ideas and concepts about Discovery on the whole, but they could be linked to the question more effectively at times.
- Word count is over 1300, that is very big, so you'll definitely want to trim - I think basically you want to reduce the number of paragraphs, one paragraph for each poem and one paragraph for the related, this would also achieve a better prescribed/related balance too!
- The way you are approaching your concepts right now is, "Here's what happens to the character, this is what it shows, this is how it relates to Discovery." It is a little indirect and very much "text focused." You need to be direct, and you need to step away from the text a little, focus on the composer not the persona. The persona is just a puppet.
The composer uses TECHNIQUE in QUOTE to demonstrate ________ about Discovery.
That is the sentence structure I should be seeing more of. It takes the one sentence of retell, and then the sentence linking to Discovery, and then maybe a third sentence giving extra detail, and crams it into one super powerful statement. This is what the composer wants to show about intellectual/emotional responses to Discovery, and this is how they show it.
In terms of linking sentences being stronger, it purely needs to reference the question more directly. That will keep you on track more too, keep you from talking about other themes (death, individuality) that don't necessarily answer your question :)
So in summary - Less retell, more quotes and techniques. Talk about the composer more and the persona less. Use the words from the question in your topic sentences to make sure you are answering the question. And take your paragraphs and blend them together to get one for each poem and one for your related, to achieve a better balance ;D
Threads will likely be locked until Wednesday night - You can definitely post a paragraph tomorrow night before the thread locks on Friday! Won't count towards your post count :)Thanks so much Jamon!! :) Your feedback has been so helpful. I've tried to rewrite one of the paragraphs on the poems and take in all your comments as I was writing this. Could you please tell me if this has improved (it has definitely helped with the word count :D )? I'm a little concerned about my links to discovery as I think that they are a bit weak. My paragraph is about 200 words-is this an ok amount or is this too short?
Hi, could someone please help me with the structuring and expression of my essay to get from 14/15 to full marks? thank you!
Thanks so much Jamon!! :) Your feedback has been so helpful. I've tried to rewrite one of the paragraphs on the poems and take in all your comments as I was writing this. Could you please tell me if this has improved (it has definitely helped with the word count :D )? I'm a little concerned about my links to discovery as I think that they are a bit weak. My paragraph is about 200 words-is this an ok amount or is this too short?
will this count towards my essay posts?? just need to check if i'm doing this "right" because i feel like my whole paragraph is just quotes.
Hey! Let's take a look (200 words is a good length I think!):Thanks so much Jamon! Your feedback has helped heaps! I feel a lot more confident now! :)SpoilerThroughout the poem, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, the persona discovers new perspectives on the world around him, which are both emotionally and spiritually meaningful. A little text focused in the introduction, but it still establishes the theme. I think it works well! The poem uses the form of a dramatic monologue to give a personal perspective which further allows the audience to empathise with the personas situation. Excellent work there. The alliteration of ‘the only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind and downy flake’, reinforces the danger that the persona is in, expressing that discoveries may lull us into a false sense of security. Fabulous, could that quote be trimmed a little? This is similarly achieved through the metaphorical qualities of ‘snow’ in the quote, ‘watch his woods fill up with snow’ which portrays an image of death, and shows how discoveries may be confronting and provocative. Excellent stuff. The line ‘he will not see me stopping here’ conveys the man’s wish to be alone and able to reflect without all the distractions of everyday life, therefore showing that the persona’s discovery is spiritual meaningful (Can you find any techniques in this quote or should I just put a different quote in?). I'd go a different quote, because you've also analysed it in a very text focused way, see how you spend more time talking about the man rather than Discovery more broadly? Frost use of visual imagery to show that the ‘woods are lovely, dark and deep’ is contrasted with the abruptness of the phrase ‘I have promises to keep’, conveying that discoveries can change an individual’s mindset therefore impacting their reaction to the discovery. Great paragraph, make sure to conclude it! Even something simple, "Thus, it is clear how ______."
Wow, what an incredible improvement! Great work Katie, this is a fantastic paragraph. Watch that little bit of retell in the middle - Also try and include the audience impact a little more obviously now and again, is the audience made to be receptive? Does the idea challenge our perceptions? This is a nitpick though, I think this is great! ;D
hiii i'm back again 😁 i'll be sending this to a teacher anyway, i tried (key word tried) to integrate (i'm so triggered hahahah maths makes me sad) your feedback into my response, jamon, but i can't submit a full essay before 5pm because who knows how long that's going to take.
I start my trials tomorrow with English, and would like some feedback on my discovery essay (intro+1st body). Thanks :)
hey guys,
so if we want to get something marked is it still 25 posts?
Yep! It's a permanent change that was made after Trials :)
Hey kb! I definitely can, essay is attached with feedback in bold:SpoilerAn individual, through the process of discovery, has the potential to undergo profound development as their previous values and beliefs are challenged, and when they adapt to new experiences, expose previously concealed truths. Excellent introductory sentence. You'd want to make sure these broad ideas are honed into the specific question at hand. These revelations may be indicated in numerous ways, spontaneously or due to the nature of an individual’s environment, posing challenges from the outset which dictate the discovery process and subsequently, confronting situations may arise. Although these situations can challenge an individual, they inevitably lead to new understandings of both themselves and the world. Such ideas are demonstrated in Ernesto Guevara’s memoir “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2003) and Franz Kafka’s novella “Metamorphosis” (1912). Good introduction, provided you are ready to hone it in to whatever question you ask. I'd also like to see you go into the specific messages the composers of these texts are conveying to their audiences - You've gone over the ideas conceptually/broadly, a little breakdown of the purpose of each composer could be beneficial. Overall, excellent work :)
Exposure to new challenges provokes a parallel process of self-assessment, stimulating the development of new values. Tops. Guevara’s realisation of widespread suffering, entrenched poverty and its destructive impact is elucidated in his exploration of the “graveyards of the mines”, metaphorically and physically symbolising the hardships faced by the proletariat, enabling the expansion of his world views. Nice amplification, links the idea nicely to the text in a very thematic/composer driven way, rather than plot. Nice. Similarly, when Guevara is confronted with the symptomatic deformation of disease in Columbia’s native population, “like a scene from a modern drama”, the observational simile further develops the brutality of South American living conditions. Great work integrating the quote into your idea, hard to do! The epiphanic tone in “it is at times like this, when a doctor is conscious of his complete powerlessness, that he longs for change”, spotlights the development of Guevara’s moral principle and alighted sense of duty to make meaningful change. The construction of Guevara’s new value system based on fresh knowledge and understanding spurred the rectification of his past beliefs, conveyed when he ironically states “they were in love with Uncle Sam”, demonstrating Guevara’s loss of ignorance to the exploitive and damaging influence of the US on Latin America. Be sure to be making links back to what the audience learns about Discovery more broadly - You are analysing the intents of the composer brilliantly, be sure to link to the greater understanding the audience gains on Discovery, in a broader sense (beyond the context of the text). The animal imagery in “the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat” further symbolises Guevara’s conclusive embracement of socialist ideology and contingent solidification of his developed beliefs and values. Harrowing experiences stimulate the construction of personal ideals and principles by challenging and ultimately reshaping perceptions of the world. This conclusion seems a little disjointed from the rest of the paragraph, try adjusting a tad: "Thus, it is clear how Guevrara conveys... (insert the idea you mention here).
Contrary to Guevara’s epiphanic transformation in his viewpoints, Gregor’s emotional discoveries lead to the development of pessimistic perceptions of himself. Be careful, you have swapped to talking about a character rather than a composer. You are shifting slightly into retell - Try to focus on the composer primarily. The symbolism of “Gregor pull(ing) the sheet down lower” represents the protagonist’s decreasing level of self-respect revealed to be a consequence of his metamorphosis, whereby Gregor’s resentment of his family, a synecdoche for society as whole, catalyses his isolation from mankind. Good analysis again, but again, what does the audience realise about Discovery more broadly? There needs to be impact beyond the specifics of the texts context and characters. The stark contrast in tone in the family’s beliefs, at first concerned and then hateful “they were ready to help him”/“Gregor has to go,” instigates Gregor’s “conviction… that he would have to disappear”, the high modality language spotlighting Gregor’s realisation of the emptiness of humanity due to their opposition to individuals unfit to play a role in society because of their circumstance. That sentence a tad too long I think, be careful you don't try and do too much at once! Unlike Guevara, who embraced environmental challenges, Gregor denigrates his self-worth due to his inability to communicate with humanity, exposing the detrimental impact of his realisation of mankind’s unforgiving nature. Sort of retell, you are discussing a characters feelings and actions - The character is a construct of Kafka's, don't treat that character as a conscious entity. The reflective mood in “He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection...” at the novella’s denouncement illustrates Gregor’s obtainment of a new understanding to what satisfies him through the destruction of self for the desires of society, directing the protagonist in changing his view of life to achieve self-peace. Gregor and Guevara’s contrasting transformations in perceptions elucidate the way confronting realisations may instigate a process of differing self-assessments, catalysing the development of new values. Good analysis and comparisons between texts, but a tad too character focused. You should NEVER go a paragraph without mentioning the composer's name!
Consequently, retrospection upon the accumulation of past didactic experiences invigorates personal epiphanies and thus encourages the process of transformation. Another excellent conceptual start. Be sure you have room to adjust these to a question! The radicalisation of Guevara’s personal philosophy catalysed by the conglomeration of realisations is highlighted by the reflective tone of his thoughts concerning the dying woman in La Gioconda: “it is there, that one comprehends the profound tragedy circumscribing the life of the proletariat”. Be careful using plot elements as evidence, I know it isn't really here, but you could have used the technique and quote here without the plot detail if you catch me. Such reoccurring bildungsroman qualities of the memoir elucidate the maturation of Guevara’s thinking, the metaphor “I was a child of my environment” acknowledging his moral growth catalysed by his experiences. What does this show the audience more broadly? Thus, Guevara’s exposure to penury and exploitation of the marginalised social castes transforms him from a “dreamer” to a “revolutionary” political leader. Careful, this is retell! You've not linked to anything conceptual, you've just said what happens to the character. The juxtaposition of the gustatory imagery “savour” with the olfactory “acrid” in “savours the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood” creates a discomforting synaesthesia to accentuate his new devotion to the “people”, a metonym for the marginalised class in need of social justice. Guevara’s greatest epiphany is revealed in the vignette “tarata, the new world”, where after being confronted by the poverty of the Peruvians, he is emancipated from ignorance and political apathy, faced instead with metaphysical exhaustion symbolised by him being “frozen solid”, to be finally “welcomed with such friendliness” by strangers that changed him irreversibly. Bit of retell at the end here too. External discoveries stimulate the attainment of internal conclusions through a transformative process of reckoning with challenges, experiences, and values. Again, a little too text focused in this paragraph, and retell is starting to become more prominent in this paragraph as well - Be careful!
Furthermore, dependent on an individual’s context, the paradoxical nature of realisations enables both the progression and destruction of an individual. Be careful to link to your related text, don't just jump into the analysis assuming we'll follow. The rhetorical question “Did he really want the warm room… transformed into a lair?” signifies the inner conflict between Gregor’s human and insect instincts, elucidating how Gregor’s agonising experience of seclusion transforms his understanding of his own identity, no longer being able to classify himself as a constituent of humanity. See how you are analysing the character, a construct of the composer, rather than expanding into a broader consequence/understanding for the audience? The double entendre of “clean” in “everything was much too deep for him to have scrubbed himself clean”, depicts Gregor’s deterioration of his self-value and priorities of life as a result of his alienation from society, the dismal mood created further emphasising the demoralising impact of his personal discovery regarding the triviality of his existence. You don't need to identify the specific word related to a technique in a larger quote, you can just say "the double entendre in...". In contrast to Guevara’s conclusive transformation into a revolutionary, “Gregor shut himself off altogether”, symbolising how the seclusion Gregor experiences leads to his eventual downfall, revealing the duality of discovery as both a catalyst in the instigation of further realisations or a liquidator of individuals’ ambition to discover. THIS is what I need you to be doing with your analysis, linking to Discovery more broadly, this sentence particularly is just missing a proper technique. Intensified by its relevance to one’s own context, discovery is inordinately powerful by leading to both new understandings and destroying untainted comprehensions of the self and the world.
Ultimately, the loss of ignorance by the attainment of new values and confronting knowledge influences one’s interpretation of the world, new judgements being developed through the unearthing of unfamiliar ideas and perspectives. However, whether a resultant transformation is advantageous or injurious, an individual will nevertheless be affected profoundly and irreversibly by their journey of discovery of the world. Nice bare bones conclusion, manipulate to the question to be most effective of course :)
I think this is definitely a strong essay kb! Sophisticated ideas, effective structure, and it seems like you've got wiggle room for different questions - Great! My biggest feedback would be to watch for being too text focused - Always link to broader Discovery related concepts, not just focus on the text specifically! ;D my comments throughout go into more detail on that and highlight a few other little nitpicks!
Is this a 15/15 if it answers the question well? Maybe, but I personally don't think so, I'd say you are in the 13/15 area right now, perhaps 14? It depends hugely on the question - But I'd want you to start adjusting your analytical style to be more abstract, and less text/plot/character focused, to start getting to 15/15 (in my opinion, of course) ;D
Thank you so much for the feedback! Sorry for replying so late, i was just super busy aha
hi again, I was just wondering how many more posts i have to do to be eligible to send another piece for marking?
also for the linking sentences in Discovery essays, should we include the author and text somehow or can we just make a broad statement about discovery that was represented by the text?
Here is an example of what I mean:
External discoveries stimulate the attainment of internal conclusions through a transformative process of reckoning with challenges and values.
VS.
Thus, Guevara’s textual representation of his discovery process articulates how external discoveries stimulate the attainment of internal conclusions through a transformative process of reckoning with challenges and values.
sorry i have a lot of questions at the moment.... since i am trying to fix up my essays before the hsc...
I need a technique for this quote:
"Gregor shut himself off"
I anyone has any ideas let me know! :)
Mod Edit: Post merge, you can add to your previous post if no one has answered it yet by using the 'Modify' button, to avoid double posting :)
Im new to this website, and I am in desperate need as my trial marks were disgusting and my teacher isn't the greatest at marking and sending feed back. Can someone please help me! I've put my essay in the attachment below
I would like feedback on my AoS essay.
I fear that my analysis isn't detailed enough and sustained.
Thanks!
Hey hey, sure thing my friend!! Essay is attached with comments throughout ;DThankyou for the wonderful feedback!! I would like to know where I stand in terms of mark for this, so what would give this essay out of 15?SpoilerTo what extent do the texts you have studied reveal the way that discoveries can lead us to reassess values and see the world in new ways?
The powerful nature of discovery establishes a profound change and reassessment of values within the individual. Moreover, the values they possess are not static, but rather transformed through new perspectives and ideas. I feel like these two sentences are sort of saying the same thing? Discovery causes values to change. Values are changed through new perspectives. Feels a little awkward to me. These ideas are exemplified through Ernesto "Che" Guevara’s memoir, The Motorcycle Diaries (1994), and Jorge Luis Borges’ elegy, O Destiny Of Borges, through the serendipitous nature of discovery and rediscovery. Ultimately, it is through the growth of the individual that the nature of discovery allows individuals to reassess their worth and see the world with new eyes. Nice introduction on the whole. Leads with the concept and lets the text be the guide, not the other way around. Good work.
The perception and nature of discovery is ultimately fertilised by an individual’s ideas, changed and transformed over time. Good. It is through Che Guevara’s perspective that highlight the impacts of unexpected discoveries on the individual, and it is through this that individuals, like Guevara, begin to see the world with new eyes. Slightly awkward phrasing at the start there, and be careful you aren't being too text focused in how you present your concept. Right on the borderline right now. Explored in The Motorcycle Diaries, the juxtaposition of tone between his opening vignette entry "so we understand each other" and his successive entries frames the text as a "discovery that becomes one of self-discovery". The metaphor and metonymy of “his feet touching [touched] Argentine soil again" reflects on Guevara’s transformation both, spiritually and mentally, inviting the audience to reflect on their own ideas of their world. Good work connecting to the audience and the ideas of the question there, excellent work. His invitation is further enhanced by the use of inclusive pronouns as Guevara “leave(s) you now, with myself, the man I used to be…”, inducing the audience to experience his discoveries. Yet, his transformation is ultimately impelled by the physical discoveries of his journey around “our America with a big A”. The physical “discovery of the ocean” is personified as a “confidant; a friend absorbing all it is told and never revealing those secrets”, highlighting the impacts of a physical discovery to a spiritual realm. To Guevara, the ocean is portrayed as his spiritual transformation, leading individuals to re-establish their view of the world. Excellent. As a result, the values Guevara encompass are changed and transformed through experiences. Only through experiences and journeys do individuals begin to reassess their values and view of the world. A very solid analytical paragraph, you've delved into the intent and impact of the techniques extremely well. Make sure you aren't focusing too heavily on the text and persona, and drawing wider implications (which you did do on several occasions). Also be sure that your concepts stay completely on track with your topic sentence and don't wander!
Similarly, it is through new places and environments that individuals begin to stimulate new ideas and values, reassessing these ideas, and finally seeing the world in new ways. Good - Simple concept. Through a stimulation of new worlds “of Edinburgh, of Zurich, of the two Cordobas”, Borges conveys discovery as one that is ever changing in both, its social and historical context. Borges accentuates the nature of discovery through the contrast, polysyndeton, and listing between contexts of “Colombia and of Texas” to “Andalucia, to Portugal”, demonstrating new perspectives of discoveries through the changes in context. What is the nature? What are the new perspectives? Watch for sweeping statements like these. Borges employment of metaphor “to have grown old in so many mirrors” reinstates that the nature of discovery is merely of an individual’s perspective. The symbolic nature of the “mirror” illustrates changing perspectives, and the exaggeration of ageing through the “growing [grown] old in so many mirrors” exemplify experiences of discoveries as one that is ever changing to the integrity of the individual. This second sentence does an excellent job explaining what you mean by the one before it - If you could blend those last two sentences together, it would flow far more effectively. The repetition of the title, “Oh destiny of Borges”, highlights and frames the text as a discovery that in itself becomes a self-discovery; the play of time as the phrase is repeated at the end of the text symbolises an inner discovery of an individual, emphasising powers of self-worth and thus, recounts the discovery aspect as an ever changing process. Watch for sentences like this that are getting slightly too long - Don't be afraid to split up sentences where it needs it, just the same as joining them where it needs it. It is through this notion that Borges highlights the need for new experiences and places to impel these notions of discovery on the individual, and it is through these new eyes that Borges accentuates the true worth of an individual’s values.
Ultimately, however, it is up to the individual to impel discoveries on themselves. The notion of reassessment of values stems from the necessities for individuals to be curious. What are some of these necessities? Seems a little bit vague/confusing the way you've stated this right now. Guevara’s journey of discoveries stem from his curiosity to explore South America. His values are transformed and changed through the serendipitous nature of discovery, impelled by his curiosity. The harsh description of the landscape through his sick state of mind as “his[my] head was like a drum hammering out strange rhythms” is contrasted with the vibrant landscape in his entry “dear mama”, describing the scenery as the “current [had] carried us toward the bank and some half-submerged branches nearly caused the raft to capsize”, highlighting his transforming worldview of South America. Good work! Watch the length of your quotes, I reckon you could make them shorter and still communicate the same idea just as effectively. However, it is not just his mentality that is changed throughout the arduous journey; his state of emotion is transformed throughout the memoir. Watch for describing changes in the persona - This isn't contributing to your argument because you need to focus on concepts communicated to the audience, not changes in the characters/personalities that deliver those concepts. The “monotonous business of chasing visas” is exaggerated to accentuate his need to impel the nature of discovery and rediscovery on himself, inviting the audience to highlight his transformative desire through discoveries. Guevara’s description of the discovery of the ocean to both, himself and Granado, highlights the differing perspectives of discovery that stems from the curious minds of both travellers. The reaction of Granado’s discovery of the ocean as “a new, strangely perturbing sight” is vastly different to that of Guevara’s, who sees the ocean as a “confidant”, highlighting different perspectives of the same discovery. Careful, we are slipping a little into retell here. This, in turn, demonstrates the different perspectives that discovery can impel to individuals; through one object of discovery, many forms of discoveries can be revealed, demonstrating values that can be progressively reassessed over a longer period of time. This is a weaker paragraph analytically; there is a bit of retell at the end and the concepts aren't quite as clear to me as they should be. Work on simplicity, and ensure your concept is carried through - The idea of curiosity isn't really brought up after those first few sentences!
However, individuals can also impel discoveries on themselves through the re-experiences of the same journey, resulting in different perspectives of the same discovery. Slightly awkward wording there. Borges demonstrates a desire to rediscover journeys through the listing and “questioning [questioned] of lithographs, encyclopedias, atlases”. How does this listing accentuate the desire to rediscover journeys? Try and draw specific links between the technique and the impact. Like Guevara, Borges highlights the desire to question their discoveries, resulting in a changed perception. The categorical listing of the scholarly books of encyclopedias and atlases demonstrates an intellectual discovery, while the categorical listing of “Andalucia, of the two Cordobas” convey a geographical discovery. Borges uses this notion of listing throughout the poem to emphasise the nature of discovery as one that is not obsolete to the individual, but rather it is a transformative process to the individual. Again, not quite seeing how listing accentuates a transformative process. The re-experiences of these discoveries are portrayed through the framing of the text, suggesting that the text is primarily an internal discovery. The description of the landscape as “the sluggish dawn, the plains” reinforce values as a purely transformative process, catalysed by the discoveries and rediscoveries within the individual. Not quite following this concept, 'values' as a transformative process? Aren't values affected by the transformative process? It is, then, through the progression of transformative means that individuals begin to appreciate the nature of discoveries, revealed through the shift of view within the individual, and through this shift in perception, individuals begin to view the world in new ways. Only then will pre-existing values be reassessed over a gradual period of time.
Within individuals, the nature of individuals is an ever changing process; it starts with a pre-existing idea and perception that is then moulded and transformed through experiences and new worlds. The 'nature of individuals is an ever changing process,' doesn't quite make sense. The nature of individuals might be ever changing, but it isn't a process. Moreover, the fertility and growth of the individual stems from their ability to reassess and challenge their pre-existing notions, in which the worldview of the individuals is evolved. Explored throughout Guevara’s The Motorcycle Diaries (1994) and Jorge Luis Borges’ elegy Oh Destiny of Borges, this idea becomes an integral element to the growth of the individuals, challenging notions within their respective worlds. It is through this fertility that individuals then begin to stimulate new ideas and ways to see the world with different lens, with the intention of reassessing old values.
This is a very effective essay in terms of the analysis - Lots of quotes, lots of technique, frequent references to the audience. All excellent. And you've answered the question effectively as well. I think conceptual clarity needs a bit of work, particularly in the later paragraphs, some wording issues and gaps in explanations make it quite difficult to tie parts of your argument together, and can lead to you getting off track a bit (I noticed this particularly in the curiosity paragraph). Watch out for this, keep things simple, avoid sweeping/vague statements, and keep running paragraphs by your peers (and us) to check if they can follow what you are saying.
Additionally, try to draw stronger links between the technique used and the impact on the audience! Some of the links you drew out were a tad dubious in terms of what the technique and quote were accomplishing conceptually, try to make it natural! That is, literary techniques normally accentuate ideas. Metaphors and figurative language are used to draw greater meaning out of everyday scenarios. Imagery makes things relatable. Etc, etc ;D
An effective essay though Opengangs! Nicely done :)
Thankyou for the wonderful feedback!! I would like to know where I stand in terms of mark for this, so what would give this essay out of 15?
Thanks again!
Hey!
Just wanted to know if my paragraphs make any sense and areas on which I should improve on. Any feedback would help me out alot! Also what mark out of 15 is this essay around. Thanks!
Hey guys!
I would like to have my essay marked the last time haha. Need to get started on using a "polished" essay as my framework for all my practice essays :P
Hey Dalvin! Good on you :) As a side note, I've loved seeing your posts pop up throughout the year, always coming back and eager to improve. You've been a wonderful student and an asset to our online community.Spoiler
To what extent do the texts you have studied reveal both the emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the experience of discovering? In your response, refer to your prescribed text and ONE other related
Discovery is a universal experience that is part of the human condition. I'd get your teacher's opinion on this. In my opinion, leaving it as the human condition is broad and not unique and will feature in many essays. If you narrow it down to, perhaps, "the empathetic part of the human condition"
for example then you start to go down an interesting road that will separate you from the rest. Thus, the experience of a meaningful discovery or rediscovery may evoke emotional and intellectual responses that can affirm and challenge an individual's world. nice! Ang Lee’s film “Life of Pi” encompasses Pi’s range of discoveries whilst on the Pacific Ocean, which has forced him to go beyond his comfort zone by challenging his religious morals. This leads to Pi’s new understanding of the balance of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Counteractively, the rediscovery of childhood in D.H Lawrence’s poem “Piano”, provides a platform for the persona to discover his saudade, thus reminding him of the tragedies and hardships of adulthood. Hence, the experience of discovery and the emotional and intellectual responses can enable one to gain new perceptions and understandings of the world. Great! Excellent work :)
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An individual’s emotional response to the experience of discovery is due to the transgression of their values, that embodies new behaviours that is uncommon of an individual. There are a few "stop words" here that make me stop, look back, and realise there's something jarring. So, "due to" is first,
then "that embodies" and then "that is." "An individual's emotional response to discoveries is prompted by the transgression of their values, thus embodying new behaviours otherwise seen as uncommon for the individual." This still isn't perfect but it avoids the "that" we would use in colloquial language and allows it to flow better. “Life of Pi” explores this through a range of Pi’s discoveries that has challenged his religious morals. Whilst Pi is on his journey in the harsh and desolate ocean environment, he is forced to kill a fish for survival, which Pi considers to be immoral and cruel. In this scene, a close up shot of the colour shift from vibrant to dull, parallels with Pi’s emotional response as he cries out “I’m sorry!”, portraying his discovery of his immoral actions that evokes his guilt and shame. Furthermore, Pi boldly screams to Richard Parker, “MINE!MINE!” to the sudden discovery of flying fishes that lands within his boat, which demonstrates his power over animal instincts. This last piece of analysis is confusing to me, I'm not making a connection between the plot, technique, and effect here? Thus, Lee alludes to Pi as the God of Yogis, Shiva, that symbolises the destruction of morals and values and the creation of new physicalities, illustrating how the discovery of meat has lead him to disregard his humility to the natural world in order to survive. Moreover, the medium shot and diegetic sounds of Pi devouring the fish elaborates on the dismissal of his vegetarian diet to survive. This in effect, elucidates Pi’s desperation and greed as a repeated response to the discovery of food and water. Thus, this showcases how the intensity of our guilt and shame from subverting our morals, diminishes as we experience the same discovery several times. Second time using "thus" in this paragraph - I'd change it up :) Similarly, this is seen in Pi’s discoveries which has forced him beyond his psyche that catalysed his extreme greed and desperation to survive.
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Moreover, You've also used moreover a few sentences ago :) surprising discoveries can trigger intellectual responses that introduce new ideas that result in a better understanding of the world. This is seen as Pi demonstrates a renewal to his understanding of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Pi’s dream encompasses the slow camera zoom into his eyes which employs a vignette of the zoo animals, Pi’s mother, the Mouth of Krishna and Tsimtsum. This becomes a synecdoche to Pi’s dynamic experiences as they are conflicting, comforting and educating. Hence, Lee asserts Pi’s ability to construct these complex memories, as suggestive of renewed understanding for humility and survival instincts as a platform to maintain his sanity.This is further highlighted by the paradoxical voiceover, “If I hadn’t found that island, I would’ve died. If I didn’t discover the tooth. I would’ve died”, which highlights the symbolic nature of the carnivorous island as Pi’s relinquishment and the tooth as his connection to the physical reality. Thus, both discoveries illustrates Pi’s renewed perception for the necessity of both, which saves him from death. As a result, an individual’s willingness to embrace their intellectual responses from their discoveries increases their knowledge about the world, such as Pi’s new and renewed perception of the physical and metaphysical worlds.
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The process of rediscovery in “Piano” also evokes emotional responses, not by a transgression of their values, but of the societal widely-held assumptions of gender behaviours. Neat! The persona’s catalyst to his rediscovery was a singer who reminded him of his mother’s piano which caused his saudade of his childhood as his, “heart weep to belong/ to the old Sunday evenings at home”. The persona’s reference to the “old Sunday” evening coupled with the conventional rhyme scheme of AABB symbolises the strong conformist society of the 19th century, which made it challenging for men to openly express their emotions. However, the word choice of “weep” develops the persona’s sentimental tone that denotes to the power of rediscovery as it forces the persona beyond his limitations of emotional expression. The composer’s use of the three stanza structure, is metaphorical for the responder’s venture into the rediscovery of the persona’s memories and a discovery of his extreme sadness. Thus, it becomes a platform to convey how such intimate and fragile moments of reflection are able expound an individual’s insecurities that expels their façade of conformity. Further to this, the last stanza encompasses the persona’s dismay to be drawn as, “it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour/ great black appassionato”. The word choice of “clamour” and “appassionato”, a musical term for strong passion, evokes an auditory image of the persona’s desperate plea to relive his childhood. Additionally, it encompasses the outrage of intense and mixed emotions of distraught, despair and desperation which serves to reveal the emotional insanity towards his undesired discovery. Thus, Lawrence’s “Piano” reveals the persona’s rediscovery of his childhood as a gradual process that inevitably evokes his strong emotional responses that surpass his social standards.
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Concurrently, the persona explores an intellectual response as he embraces the experience of rediscovery that reminds him of the cruelty of adulthood. The last stanza acts as a parallel to a coda in music, and thus it becomes a metaphor for the persona’s intellectual response as he asserts that, “of childish days is upon [him], [his] manhood is cast”. The line employs the accents of the disyllabic words of “childish” and “manhood” that juxtaposes the innocence of childhood to the hardships of adulthood. Hence, it proves the persona’s full understanding for the differences between both stages. Moreover, the persona, “weep like a child for the past” which proffers a double meaning that is enforced by the simile. On a literal level, it compares the persona to a child’s cry which expresses his fragility. Great! This denotes to the persona’s distraught and frustration, as he is unable to relive his childhood due to the passing of time. Whilst symbolically, the literary form and poetic structure, communicates his realisation of the social incorrectness for men to cry, hence the line posits the dual perspectives that proves his resentment to the 19th century social framework. I think this is something you could tap into more - it's only just brushed over. Could you carry the idea of social frameworks through the entire essay? That would really take it to the next level. But if you just want to leave it here, I think it needs more of a harsh introduction at the beginning of this paragraph. Consequently, the persona’s embrace of his rediscovery has evoked his intellectual response as broadening towards his understanding of the hardships of adulthood.
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In essence, the universal experience of discovery and rediscovery expounds the emotional and intellectual responses. The intensity of an individual’s embracement of their discovery, determines the extent of their affirmation and/or challenge to their preconceived understanding and perceptions. “Life of Pi” explores Pi’s emotional dynamics upon the discovery for the necessity to survive and thus, gains an understanding for the balance of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Whilst, “Piano”encompasses the persona’s rediscovery of his childhood that evokes the sentimentality, which allows him to gain insight to the suffering of adulthood. Thus from both the discoveries’ emotional and intellectual responses, it provides a platform for a new or renewed understanding of the self and others.
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Great essay Dalvin, you've come such a long way. There's a few expression things that need ironing out to be smooth and lovely and meaningful. Easy done, I've suggested some ways to improve jarring or repetitive language. As for the social framework brought up with your related text in the end there -
are you comfortable exploring this more? Do you have a good enough grip on the societal framework that you think you could take it on to the next level?
I think it's something that would be great if teased out more, or even extended to the other parts of the essay. Whataya think?
PS - Jamon am I correct in saying I still have approx 23 posts in reserve after this "expenditure"?
Not quite - This brings your "spend" to 90 so you'll need to hit 115 for your next one (note the requirement has been kept at 25 posts since Trials) :) you're on the list though!
That's great!
Can I get a check on what I spent my posts on? As I recall I used 50 on two creative writing pieces and then this one takes my tally to 75. Unless I'm being a dumb-dumb, I'm not sure how my spend is at 90 as the work that has been looked at was done right before trials when the price was 25 posts. Did I have one marked when they were 15 that I'm forgetting about? I'm confused lol
I don't have a record of exactly when your stuff was submitted, we just increment as we go - But sure, I'll take you at your word and bring your tally back :)
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.
Just to make sure I went through my post history and I could only find these:
https://atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=164657.msg960749#msg960749
https://atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=164657.msg964794#msg964794
So I'm quite certain 75 is correct :)
The following is my trial answer but I've refined it a bit. It's basically the quest thesis idea but moulded for personal/cultural influences.
I've attached your response with feedback in bold!! ;DSpoilerQuestion: How is the nature of discovery dependent on personal and cultural perspectives?
The nature of discovery can be a contemplative or analytical quest, whereby we are prompted to investigate foreign contexts, precipitated by our perceptions of ourselves and our milieu. Therein, we can uncover challenging insights which catalyse a shift in such understandings, prompting us to reconsider our overarching concerns in life and our future endeavours. Good Thesis! Fairly specific but should still be easily adaptable too if you got thrown a curveball. Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s memoir The Motorcycle Diaries chronicles the composer’s journey to uncover renewed perceptions of Latin American culture, precipitated by a curiosity to evolve his understanding of the continent. Likewise, in The Big Short, film director Adam McKay represents the true story of Mark Baum’s investigative process into institutional negligence on Wall Street, prompting a fresh understanding of an inherent culture of risk in the American financial system. Hence, composers explore how our interpersonal and cultural context impact the investigative discovery process, relaying how our notions of our world shape, and are shaped by, our revelations. No comments on the introduction - I think this works really well! You could add a sentence laying out what your arguments in each paragraph are going to be.
Discovery begins as we are prompted to venture into new environments in order to attain fresh insights beyond the normality of our current context, inspired by personal curiosity. In The Motorcycle Diaries Guevara reflects on a sudden decision to embark on a quest, catalysed by a need to enlighten his cultural understanding of the American continent. Guevara and Granado begin their journey as one of “improvisation,” travelling “Along the roads of [their] daydream.” That sentence reads a lot like a retell of what is happening in the text - I know you are about to do more, but putting the technique in the same sentence will stop the marker from being worried about the analysis before they see it. First person pronoun illustrates a personal desire to develop renewed culturally understandings, their enthusiasm to explore emphasised through the metaphor of a “road,” representing their investigation. Good. On the other hand, Baum’s quest in The Big Short begins as a quite deliberate investigation, catalysed by a personal distrust of Wall Street institutions. McKay employs an over-the-shoulder shot, relaying Vinny’s sceptical reaction to Baum’s proposition of investigation, illustrating the impact of inertia in restricting our ability to gain new insights. Good, you are linking the techniques to the grander idea with minimal reference to the text itself. Baum’s enthusiasm is contrasted with Vinny’s scepticism as the former repeats his message, saying “Let’s find out. Let’s find out,” delineating the capability of individual curiosity to spur the investigative process. Great. Thus, discovery begins as a result of our personal enthusiasm to gain a wider understanding of our social environment and sociocultural structures. Solid paragraph, in both concept and analytical approach. The link to the question could be just a tad week, particularly at the end here, tweaking the wording of your conclusion to include the question more directly could be beneficial.
As we venture beyond our current context the investigative process can commence, influenced by perceptions of self and our cultural environment. Aiming to gain an understanding of the plight of the poor as a result of an exposure to literature detailing their suffering, Guevara meets a poor asthmatic woman in Chile. He is unable to cure her, prompting the composer to lament “It is at times like this, when a doctor is conscious of his complete powerlessness that he longs for a change… to prevent the injustices of the system.” That was definitely retell - Those two sentences are simply restating plot elements. I know your approach is going to mandate a little bit of textual description, but be careful - These sentences chew space and don't do anything for you. Illeism delineates a philosophical understanding of the experience, as Guevara’s personal considerations for left-leaning values are reinforced through a first-hand exposure to the social realities the lower classes face. The vignettes gradually develop a more political focus, developed through symbolism of a “red blaze” – demonstrating an evolving understanding of the spread of communism in the continent. Good. Likewise, Baum comes to a new intellectual perspective of the culture of risk on Wall Street as he realises “the entire world economy might collapse.” Try and have a technique for every quote/reference you provide, purely for efficiency. McKay employs a close-up shot to demonstrate Baum’s despair – emphasising his emotional response through contrast with diegetic sound – laughter and upbeat music. Good, but what does Baum's despair represent in terms of this larger idea of the investigative process? Moreover, the director permeates the mise-en-scene with red, symbolising danger and financial loss, conveying that Baum has developed a true sense of the threat that the housing market poses to the financial system. As above, good link of techniques to an audience response, but it is character focused. We don't want what we learn about Baum, but about Discovery as a whole. Ergo, how we go about our quest to uncover new knowledge is dependent on our personal understandings of what we wish to uncover - such investigations can precipitate redefined perceptions of cultural structures in our milieu. A weaker paragraph in terms of analysis - Ensure all techniques are linked to concepts and not character profiles, and watch for unnecessary retell!
Having coming to renewed perceptions of our world, how we apply such understandings to our ideals and endeavours is dependent on our renewed sense of self in relation to sociocultural understandings. Slight issue with wording at the start there? Intertextual photographs in The Motorcycle Diaries juxtaposition boyish Che with his future revolutionary persona, demonstrating how a renewed perception of Latin American culture prompts him to abandon the comfort of a middle-class lifestyle to pursue Marxist ideals – reconsidering fundamental personal values as a result of cultural revelations. Good. After the quest concludes the composer remarks that he “…believe[ s ]… that the division of [Latin] America into unstable and illusory nations is completely fictional.” High modality engenders a certain tone, elucidating how uncovering new understandings can catalyse a renewed sense of purpose. Try to blend the technique and the quote into the same sentence - Again, I finished the former and thought you had not analysed until I read the latter. Technique and quote in the one sentence will make your essay flow far more effectively. Similarly, in The Big Short, McKay employs captioning in the epilogue to relay a didactic message. Baum transformed from an arrogant trader into a “gracious” man, as he quit his job to lobby for institutional change in the financial sector post the global financial crisis – his investigation forcing him to reconsider his future activities. Bit of retell there. Thus, discovery enables us to come to new understandings of our cultural context, catalysing a re-evaluation of our transcendental objectives in life. Analysis of the Prescribed Text was quite good there, the related definitely is lacking in comparison.
The Motorcycle Diaries and The Big Short explore the impact of our personal and cultural perspectives on the process and outcomes of discovery. The texts explore analogous quests to develop new insights, catalysed by our understanding of our world. As we investigate our surroundings, our personal perceptions of our milieu evolve, forcing us to reconsider our notions of ourselves and our future endeavours. Good conclusion, hits all the main points.
I really like this essay! Definitely Band 6 material, either as it is or perhaps with a bit of polish depending on how tough your marker is - I'd say it's there now.
Very nicely structured, clear introductions and conclusions which summarise the idea nicely (though they could link to the question a little more effectively at times). Spots of brilliant analysis, particularly you do the "audience response" aspect extremely well. Ensure you are always linking to a concept though, and not an idea/insight on a character or their experience. Characters are puppets! I'd also encourage you to trim away at the unnecessary bits of retell to get more quotes/analysis in - We're at roughly 2 quotes/techniques/analysis per text per paragraph right now, maybe try for a third? :)
As for your concerns, I think the idea is sound, and you should be able to link it to the questions reasonably well in most cases (I could tell this was a stretch, I think you've done a nice job to make it work). Just make sure that, if you get something WAY out of left field, you do abandon this approach if you need to. Being stubborn with your Thesis ideas almost never works ;)
Links between texts isn't super vital in the AoS - The way you've done it here with the linking words is definitely okay in this integrated form. You could play the texts off against each other more fluidly if you wanted (identifying a concept that both portray, and showing how each portrays it, perhaps, which means you dive in and out of each text multiple times in a paragraph). But I think this works!
I think this is great stuff ______, brilliant work :)
Also, how many posts do I have remaining for essay marking? I lost count.
Thanks for looking at the essay for me.
I just want to ask quickly about including the technique in the first sentence. I find when I do this with quotes that aren't super short the sentence carries on for 45-50 words.
Hello! Would appreciate feedback for this essay:
Sure thing! Feedback in bold :)SpoilerIndividuals are able to reform perspectives about themselves and others through accepting and questioning self-discoveries which prompt far-reaching and transformative impacts. Good Thesis, should be easily adaptable to a range of questions! These newly formed perspectives allow individuals to embrace pivotal moments in their lives, and by extension any far-reaching implications drawn by such moments. The confronting, yet far-reaching ramifications of such discoveries are explored in Rosemary Dobson Collected, in particular “Young Girl at a Window” and “Painter of Antwerp”, and Isaac Lidsky’s TEDTalk What reality are you creating for yourself?. Both texts address the emotional discoveries and impacts experienced by the personas as they strive, to differing extents, to change notions of themselves. A solid introduction - I'd expect you to tweak it to respond to the question in front of you, adding more detail if necessary, but in terms of a generic introduction I think it works well. You might also wish to lay out your paragraph arguments somewhere!
Reluctance and apprehension can prevent individuals from engaging in transformative experiences and learning fundamental aspects of life, and while the impact of these may be great, their extent can vary in terms of change. Good concept, though I think you could simplify the two latter phrases to one. Just" which can vary in their impact," or something would work. Rosemary Dobson’s poem Young Girl at a Window delves into the thought process of a child whose shifting perspectives on her transition into adulthood force her to consider the inevitability of change in her life. This inevitability is established in the opening line, ‘Lift your hand to the window latch’, where an imperative tone is employed to demonstrate the demands of maturation and the emotional and intellectual challenges adulthood imposes. Excellent analysis, though I don't think the quote is the best example of the technique you say it is. Further substantiating the idea of personal growth, the “window” which the girl looks through is symbolic of the threshold between child and adulthood, and the many opportunities between. The fact that the child ‘turns and moves away’ captures her apprehension in moving forward. Be careful you aren't relying on the plot points/actions of the characters too much in establishing your concepts. The grim depiction of maturing is portrayed through the subject’s negative response in first perceiving the discovery, as shown in ‘Since Time was killed and now lies dead’. This graphic, war imagery exaggerates the emotional and mental battle occurring within the girl’s cognitive, capturing the aggressiveness of the challenging transition into adulthood, which she holds with great reluctance and fear to directly face. That was a slightly confusing bit of analysis - This is common when you put the technique in a different sentence to the quote, wherever possible try to put them together! The capitalisation of the ‘t’ in ‘Time’ emphasises its importance and inevitability as a factor in her transition into adulthood. The short sudden sentence and hopeful tone in ‘Or Time was lost’, however, captures a gradual change in heart as the girl begins to embrace her process of maturing. Be sure to link these conceptual ideas to the audience, go beyond what the techniques reveal about the characters. This quick sentence contrasts the rest of the poem, putting clear emphasis that the girl discovers that the inevitable does not have to be bad. Dissimilarly, in Painter, the protagonist’s discomfort in unfamiliar territory causes him to not embrace change, but appreciate what he already has. Slipped a bit into retell here. This is enforced through the ambivalent descriptions capturing Breughel’s feelings towards Italian art, such as ‘odd adventures … full of queer notions’, where the concepts presented by such art are incomprehensible due to their grandeur and unrealistic nature in comparison to his much more earthly art. The hesitant tone throughout portrays Breughel’s discomfort with the extravagant fantasies presented by Renaissance art, but this contrasts with the supposed grand imagery of ‘souring wings’, where he acknowledges the beauty of the mundane. Be sure your paragraphs have a proper conclusion summarising the ideas you have presented therein, and linking to the question!!
Creative and intellectual discoveries evoked by curiosity become more meaningful if individuals can draw on the experiences and discoveries of others to renew and bolster their personal perspectives on life’s true purpose. Dobson’s ekphrastic poem, Painter of Antwerp, based off the painting “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus”, captures both the fulfilling and uninspiring consequences of making discoveries. Ordinary figures such as the ‘ploughman, fisherman, and moon-faced shepherd’ are ironically characterised to be of greater importance than the supposed grandeur of the Italian renaissance – especially Icarus: ‘Icarus sprawling, two feet out of the sea’. What does this characterisation achieve in terms of Discovery? This condescending tone and characterisation of a well-known mythical figure focusses on his fatal, human flaw of hubris, conveying him as uninspiring. Good on what it reveals about character, what about Discovery more broadly? You should try to do this immediately, rather than the link you do in the next sentence. His mistake, however, is a valuable learning lesson for Breughel, and the responder – who transform their perspectives about a meaningful existence. The appreciation of beauty in the ordinary is a key aspect of the poem. As Breughel returns after making a physical discovery – about the Renaissance art in Italy – the repetition of the imperative ‘Plod homeward Breughel’ consolidates the ‘[rejection of] the fanciful’. We've slipped into retell there, see how you've identified what was happening in the text around the quote? Instead of changing his artistic style into an unknown, sophisticated form, he chooses to continue with the art of the natural world – his original works, as referred to in the symbolism and liminal space of ‘At the top of the Alps … looked backwards’. Retell. Thus, Breughel is faced with an intellectual and creative rediscovery about the beauty of simplicity, one that he has a deeper appreciation for after the uninspiring discovery of Renaissance Italy. As such, the speaker and audience can draw on the experiences of Breughel, incorporating his experiences into their lives as a metaphor for the appreciation of the human experience, rather than the superficial values placed onto us by society. Good job bringing it back to the audience, but it would be BETTER to just get straight here, not have to use the character as a vehicle for the concept. Like, the audience should be brought in all the time, not just at the end. The symbolism of the ‘great plumed hat’ refers to the social and economic hierarchy imposed by society, yet Breughel’s choice to distance himself from this captures his discovery that humanity should remain true to themselves. Self-reflection and curiosity are similarly shown as fundamental aspects in making a healthy discovery. In What reality?, Lidsky’s speech acts as a catalyst for self-discoveries within the immediate and extended audience, who learn from the experiences of others. This is true to Lidsky’s intent, as an imperative tone is used to instruct the audience on how to ‘live their eyes wide open’, encouraging them to “see beyond [their] fears”. Bringing the related in at the end here feels very forced, it feels like an afterthought. I'd ditch this and just focus on the paragraph at the end, OR work on achieving a more even split in each paragraph.
When confronted with limits, individuals must re-evaluate previously held notions of themselves and consider changing in order to progress in an alternative way. In doing so, the very challenge they once felt entirely disinclined to complete becomes a fuel for one of the most transformative catalytic events in their lives. Really like this concept. Isaac Lidsky’s TEDTalk What reality? explores the obstacles associated with a limitation such as blindness, and the impact of this on his journey of self-discovery. By referring to his experience of being a blind entrepreneur, Lidsky can transmit his motif to the audience: ‘Going blind taught me to live my life eyes wide open’. This, a seemingly paradoxical proposition, encapsulates the notion of allowing such limitations to empower those affected intellectually and emotionally – if one is open to rediscovery. Good. When Lidsky first receives news of his diagnosis, his fear of the physical discovery is incorporated through the hyperbole: ‘Blindness was a death sentence for my independence’. This captures fear as a prominent factor which clouds much of how individuals envision their lives to be – all or nothing. This is the structure to use if you can't get everything in one sentence, technique and quote in one then explanation in the other. This contrasts with the transformation of his perception in ‘Going blind taught me to live my life eyes wide open’ where his limitation no longer is a hindrance and instead has enhanced mental growth and maturation into a more wholesome person. Technique here? The extent of Lidsky’s blindness is realised through the use of cumulative listing, wherein ‘The salesperson … was really a mannequin…. wash[ing] my hands, I saw it was a urinal’, his ineptitude at simple everyday tasks is highlighted. Be careful we aren't turning this into a retell of the speakers circumstances - In saying that, you could also explore how the audience responds to this listing? Is it shock? Empathy? Hence, an antithesis is formed, illustrating that despite the severity of the limitation, an individual should not form destructive assumptions about reality – these instead should be transformed into a positive experience. This “blessing in disguise” enables Lidsky to eliminate the ‘complex mental construction’ created by sight, allowing him to undergo an intellectual discovery and continue with his entrepreneurship in a way he had never done before. He does not let his disability distort his way of life – but rather – he transforms and enhances his very being in a surprising, positive way. We're heavily focused on the speaker here; remember the purpose isn't to analyse what we learn about the speaker, but what we learn about Discovery through the speakers use of rhetoric. Slightly too 'text focused,' except now it is 'speaker focused.'
I think this is a strong essay! Good concepts that should bend nicely to suit most questions, and a great selection of textual evidence and analysis. Make sure you are linking these techniques to concepts, not just to what we learn about the characters (you did this a lot in your last paragraph, we don't care so much about the speaker, we want Discovery concepts) - Remember, characters are just puppets.
Structurally, you also have probably shifted too far towards your prescribed - Shortening every paragraph to add room for a second paragraph on your related could be beneficial?
Besides that, my comments throughout should cover my thoughts - Good stuff Winston :)
Thank you for the feedback!
In your opinion, should I abandon the integrated analysis structure for this essay? I think I have utilised it inefficiently and given the minimal analysis I have allowed for the texts I have integrated into the paragraph I don't think that a meaningful and/or substantiated link is evident.
Hey
Would really appreciate some feedback. Only got 7/15 in my trial however due to time constraints I didn't manage to include as much detail.
The question asks “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”
Thanks in advance.Spoiler
This metaphor by Marcel Proust invites the responder to explore new horizons with the message that the real voyage of discovery is exploring individuals’ inner space, by questioning hegemonic belief systems and by being mindful and paying attention to how individuals perceive themselves and the world. Individuals’ varying experiences uncovers the deepest truth and brings forth the best version of ourselves. The play ‘Away’ by Michael Gow successfully places his characters into life changing situations to force them to gain fresh perspectives on the world and those around them, in the Vietnam War era. Meanwhile, the memoir ’The Happiest Refugee’ by Anh Do explores the growth and change of a refugee and his own discovery and acceptance of his culture and how we can look at this with ‘’new’’ eyes.
It is through encounters with others and society that characters are transformed the most, both in attitudes and values. In the play ‘Away’, Gow effectively engages the audience in Coral’s journey through placing her into interactions with other characters that have had cleansing effect on her. Coral’s heartfelt soliloquy reveals her isolation and confusion as a result of the death of her son. The repetition of the rhetorical question, “What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” shows that she is not coping with her grief as a result of her son’s death. Tom reminds her of her lost son and becomes a mentor in her healing. In playlet ‘’The stranger on the Shore’’ Tom uses his only wish not to return to ‘’normal life’’, but to metaphorically help Coral to live. Coral’s hesitance to recover is conveyed through her dialogue, “I cannot walk I am afraid” which meets affirmative Tom’s “I’ll show you how”. Tom plays the role of metaphoric healer and encourages Coral’s catharsis and growth as a person. Further Coral’s transformation is conveyed through the use of mime. The symbolism of Coral’s holding handful of shells and letting them fall through her and sharing this moment with Roy conveys that the time away helped her to rediscover herself and to form deeper bond with others. Through Coral’s character transformation, Gow shows the audience that self-growth can only come through interaction with others and change can only come through a willingness to change and accept the helping hand of others.
Through experiences with the world we discover our true place of understanding, the place we feel most comfortable. Within ‘Away’, the significance of this realisation is demonstrated through Gwen’s character. At the beginning of the play, Gwen is represented as a miserable judgemental woman conveyed through an angry outburst when her set of keys have gone missing, “I have not got them. There! Are they there? Can you see a set of keys? Can anyone see a set of keys?’’. Keys are a symbol of direction searching for meaning of her life, while her empty handbag is symbolic of her exposing her life and frustration. The sudden discovery of Gwen’s past, “You’ll never know what we saw, never be without a home, never be afraid everything could fall apart any second” creates a message for the responder to develop empathy. The repetition of word ‘’never’’ conveys the hardship experienced by Gwen and the effect it has on her character. Gwen’s judgemental attitude is challenged after her discovering Tom’s fate. Transformation takes place as she walks with Tom’s mother Vic in gesture of equality and solidarity. Water imagery symbolises moral cleansing, discovery that tolerance and respect for others are more valuable than material things. The repetitive inclusion of rhetorical questions as Gwen wonders ‘’what am I trying to say?” indicates the depth of transformation she has undergone. Through these examples, Gow is showing the audience the importance of self-reflection and the necessity of confronting issues in order to undergo a discovery.
Confrontations and relationships with others lead to new discoveries of self and the world. Anh’s character transforms from being a loving son who looks up to his father to a son prepared to assert himself in order to protect his mum from his father’s abusive behaviour, “If he lays a finger on mum, I will kill him. I took the largest kitchen knife I could find and stuck it under my bed.’’ As a result of the long time periods Anh spent watching his father’s alcohol abuse and the violence that had a detrimental effect on him, he made the shocking discovery that he is prepared to do anything it takes to protect his mother as he transitions into being the man of the household. The imagery of the largest kitchen knife conveys both the shocking factor of this self-discovery and the seriousness of his determination. It is by placing his character into conflicting situations with others that Do enables the audience to develop empathy and learn and discover something about themselves.
The development of one’s character is contributed to the experiences, emotions and changes that they have faced in the past. Anh’s heartfelt honesty in describing his raw and often unflattering emotions is both humbling and disarming. Anh’s struggle with lack of money and feeling of inadequacy due to being poor corrupts the depth of his love for his mum, “What surprised and even shocked me… was not Mum’s willingness to work. The fear of having no money was so merciless and so overwhelming’’. As the story unfolds, this shocking discovery led Anh to develop determination to succeed, “I took jobs that weren’t even comedy, but if it involves me getting up with the microphone, I was there”. By naming some of the unpopular and undesirable jobs Anh was taking on, Do conveys that his road to success was not straightforward, but having to endure detours and challenges that shaped his destiny for the better. Through the use of his character’s realisations and the way he deals with key issues in his life, Do makes the audience understand that although discoveries could be confronting and provocative, they are also necessary in order to progress through life in a positive way.
Individual perceptions are influenced by unhurried revealing of its characters. The author masterfully uses narrative to describe his father, Tam Do as unfailingly brave and clever. Whether he puts himself into harm’s way by bravely using fake ID or when he bravely faces the pirates threatening to execute all his family, it appears that his bravery has no limits. However when questioned by Anh, he admits “If you really want to know the truth, I was shitting myself! All of those times shitting myself!”. Do uses repetition of the phrase ‘’shitting myself” as juxtaposition to his father’s assumed bravery. Through this revealing conversation between father and son, Do enables the audience to develop a new found understanding of his father’s character and see him in a new light, “In that moment my respect for this man went up tenfold” and encouraging them to accept and confront their own fears. In order to fully understand others, Do suggests that we first need to understand ourselves through our character.
We have been programmed to view the world with a set of assumptions, however we have the ability to connect the seemingly unconnected and blend an existing knowledge into new insight about some element of how the world works. It is when we are challenged by difficult circumstances, such as in the play ‘Away’ or by viewing the world from different cultural perspectives, such as in the memoir “The Happiest Refugee”, that we are forced to reflect on our experiences and discover a new sense of perspective about our place in the world. Self-discovery involves introspection and learning about people, places, events and relationships that can challenge previous beliefs and attitudes, and we can do it in our own backyard. Just like Marcel Proust has wisely remarked “The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes”.
Hi! Just wondering if I could get feedback on these notes (basically an essay in dot point form). The main concern is the related since I basically forced my mod C related in:
Hey! Sure thing - I'll do my best to get a feel for the strength of your analysis ;DSpoiler
New Understandings
Discoveries about one’s surroundings can lead to new understandings as their previous perspectives are challenged.
Good Thesis, you could hone in on what SORT of new understandings and what SORT of challenges depending on the question.
This is emphasised as Guevara’s plan to journey Latin America results in a realisation of the harsh landscape.- The vivid imagery details his initial idealistic vision of his journey.
- “distant countries, heroic deeds and beautiful women spun around and around in our turbulent imaginations”
I wouldn't say this quote is the best example vivid imagery, there's not many descriptors.- The stifling connotations joined with conjunction - “and”, bring together the unforgiving climate and inhumane living conditions.
- Despite his idealised planning, Guevara is confronted with the “sulphur mines in the mountains where the climate is so bad and the living conditions so hard”.
- Causes audiences to empathise with Guevara’s unexpected observation of the unrelenting environment.
Be careful that you aren't presenting your quotes in a text-focused way, you don't need to explain the context of the quote within the story to this extent, necessarily. Good inclusion of the audience response. Quote might be a tad long, could you just pull the second half?- Personification of nature reveals Guevara’s new understanding of humanity’s struggle against powerful natural forces, changed from his idealistic vision of the land.
- “the lives of the poor … who die miserably in one of the thousand traps set by nature”
Ditto here, only the last part of the quote shows the techniques - Go easy on yourself by only remembering the crucial bit. What does Guevara's new understanding reveal to the audience more generally?
Comparatively, Mathorne meticulously depicts the notion of nonconformity, as the audience discovers the chaotic consequences of the Tramp’s disillusionment and society is instilled with tremendous fear.- Provides to the audience an initial view of the powerful priest controlling society and the Tramp’s beliefs, but he is disenfranchised as he retorts, “Why don’t you try it?”
- The priest’s high modality command, “submit to the Lord” and high angle
Good combination of literary/filmic techniques, but again be careful of text-focused analysis. Go beyond what it reveals about the text/characters - What does it reveal about the conceptual idea?- Followed by the shaking camera and fearful facial expressions
- “The undertaker’s coming”
- The sudden and unexpected discovery of the Undertaker coming to the town causes immense fear in individuals and disruption of social stability.
Very text focused analysis here as well, go BEYOND how it affects the society and the text, this relies heavily on the plot point rather than the techniques.- Symbolism joined with non-diegetic sound of paranormal whispers, anxious tones and petrified facial expressions.
- Society hiding in their barricaded houses
- Portrays the profound fear discovered by the residents and causes audiences to understand the chaos caused by the disillusioned Tramp.
Try and make the audiences understand something broader, say, the fear that nonconformity induces, for example.
Transformation
The complex process of discovery can be confronting and provocative for individuals as they make emotional discoveries about individuals and society.
Such is true of Guevara’s travelogue as he is emotionally confronted with the struggle of the proletariat within Latin America, sparking his new Marxist values.- The metaphor reveals their perspective of themselves; that they are of higher status and royal compared to the impoverished.
- “We had been knights of the road; we belonged to the long-standing wandering aristocracy”
What does this reveal about transformation?- Emotive language appeals to audience's pathos, causing them to empathise with his provocative realisation of “the profound tragedy circumscribing the life of the proletariat the world over”.
- One of Guevara’s first findings is the communist “couple, numb with cold”, “had not one single miserable blanket to cover themselves with” and “carried a mysterious tragic air”
Slightly retell in how you've presented the quote in the notes - Be sure not to do that in the essay itself. Perfectly fine for your own cues.- Showcases how confronting and emotionally meaningful the discovery of poverty is as it sparks his “other, definitive vocation”.
- His realisation is seen as, if humanity is cleaved “into two antagonistic halves, I will be with the people”
- The hyperbole reveals the extent to which he will pursue equality and justice as his worldview has been significantly altered.
This is good, you've broadened the analysis a bit to a broader exploration of a confronting Discovery. Still slightly too focused on "him," you need to go beyond analysing the character.
On the other hand, Mathorne’s animation depicts the employment of religious power to control society. However, power is a construct shaped by the flaws of human intellect and hence, both the audience and Backwater residents are emotionally confronted as they discover the priest’s malicious intent.- Responders make a confronting discovery, through the stark illustration of the lack of meaning and purpose of society, that the residents mindlessly follow the priest’s commands.
- Lack of emotion of residents, gloomy colours, and zombie-like movement towards the church
That first bit of lack of meaning and purpose, is where the focus should lie. The realisation about the residents in the story is meaningless!- The aggravated tone and ghoulish white eyes convey the initial transformation of society towards murderous savages, arising from the realisation of the priest’s lies and deceit.
- This is juxtaposed by society showing emotion as Bubba says “Father, you have brought this upon us”
- The audience realises the utter chaos brought about by the priest’s manipulation through emotionally moving images of chaotic screaming and gory, violent scenes of decapitations and murders.- Combined with the positive symbolism of the rainbow and melodic whistling of the Undertaker.
- Transition to bright colours of the town after everyone has murdered each other
- Contrasts the earlier darkness shrouding the town.
- Illustrates the emotional discovery of audiences as they are confronted with the shift from graphic scenes to the joyous atmosphere of the town.
What sort of emotional Discovery? Be specific, link it to your theme of transformation.
I'd say your analysis of your related is good! Definitely didn't strike me as overly out of place ;D my biggest comment is probably that your analysis is very text focused, very much focused on what the audience learns about "the residents," or "Guevera," etc. This is like talking about a puppet rather than the ventriloquist - You are analysing the puppet rather than what the puppet is saying. Go beyond the characters of the story and focus instead on what the audience is being taught conceptually about Discovery ;D
(I know the composer/character gap is blurred for the memoir, so a little more leeway there) :)
I made some comments in bold throughout as well - Hope the feedback is helpful ;D
Thanks heaps! So would you recommend just changing the analysis and stuff rather than changing the quotes? Also if I understand what you're saying, you're saying to focus more on what each technique says about discovery in general rather than what each technique says about the text?
Can you have a look at this rough intro? Thanks!
Essay Questions: To what extent do the texts you have studied reveal both the emotional and intellectual responses provoked by the experience of discovery?
The sense of unfamiliarity consequential to experiencing a discovery is what generates doubt in an individuals's current perceptions. Although the emotional impact differs from person to person and is partly determined by how conflicting the discovery is with our current views, the evolution of perceptions is a common intellectual response experienced by most individuals. The implantation of doubt forces us to reassess the worth of our views and construct new ones. These notions are depicted in the film 'The Black Swan' (2010) by Aronofvsky and the 1995 memoir 'The Motorcycle Diaries' by Che Guevara. While the 'Black Swan' places an emphasis on how emotions evoked by discoveries can grow to control a person's decisions, 'The Motorcycle Diaries' directs a more intimate focus on the capacity for discoveries to transform a person and its effect on the individual' future. Regardless, both texts agree on the notion that the emotional component is a short term consequence which in turn stimulates a long term intellectual response involving the reconstruction of new beliefs.
Hello! I did not do well in AOS, and thought why not ask for advice ^_^
This is basically what I wrote in trials (fixed some spelling :P ) and it gave me a 10/15 in my trial paper, and I'd love for you to point out the weak arguments :)
How would I improve?
Can you have a look at my intro please? I wrote it on the spot but I've altered it a little so that you wouldn't be frightened of how much I've managed to butcher the art of writing essays! :P
Questions: "Discovery allows us to view the hidden experience as a common, human experience." (I really didn't know what to put)
The plethora of discoveries encountered when individuals endeavour to seek out the unfamiliarity that cannot be experienced in their comfort zones is an element shared by all of humanity. It is the curiosity present within all individuals which creates the desire to explore the unknown. The human experience is partly characterised by exposure to new environments and this process is propagated by a personal desire to connect with what is usually hidden. The unpredictable nature of discoveries can be emotionally and intellectually stimulating and it is this which prompts the emergence of new perceptions of the world in humans. These notions are explored in Darren Arofnovksy's film 'The Black Swan' (2010) and memoir 'Motorcycle Diaries' by Che Guevara. Both composers exhibit how discoveries connect all humans in the respect that they form part of an individual's emotional and intellectual development.
Can you have a look at my intro please? I wrote it on the spot but I've altered it a little so that you wouldn't be frightened of how much I've managed to butcher the art of writing essays! :P
Hey ;),
I'm new to AtarNotes and was a bit unsure whether anyone can posts their works here? Or is it exclusive to VIP members or something?
Hey ;),
I'm new to AtarNotes and was a bit unsure whether anyone can posts their works here? Or is it exclusive to VIP members or something?
Hi and welcome,
The free service is available for everyone ;D , however, you do need a certain amount of posts. Currently, because of the lead up to the HSC, it's 50 posts, which isn't that much if you contribute to forums, talk to other people, ask and answer questions, etc. Let me know if you need anything :)
You're all VIP's ;)
But yeah, as mentioned above - We have to prioritise a little, so we offer it as a reward for people who have posted around the forums a bit!
Full explanation is here, if you like ;D
Yep, thank you to you both but don't worry I'm definitely going to be hanging out here a lot :)
“I never was able to thank my father, for all I learnt from him, to tell him without his lessons, I never would have survived.” The dialogue portrays a broken link in Pi’s past, and how reconsidering these events can spark new values and perspectives in his life. Go beyond the character!
Hello! Sorry to ask this so late, but your main point about my essay was how I should expand on discovery past the character (as shown above.) But I am still currently unsure how to do this :( .
Could you help me and give me just a little helping hand please?
Thanks.
Hey!
Do you guys mark generic essays that can be moulded for an exam? Or should I attach a question too :P
Because I have 3 main themes and I've used them in previous essays and they can be moulded to most questions and was wondering whether I could post them here for feedback
Hey guys,
Here's my generic essay for aos. What I plan to do is use two out of the three paragraphs for every question and was wondering whether you guys could work your magic on it! Will edit it if you prefer
a question to mark it agains!
heyy!
just wondering....how long does it roughly take to get an essay marked on here? and do i need 25 or 50 posts to submit one?
tks hpss :D
50 posts all up and I'd give it a few days at least. Markers are quite busy at the moment :(
hey its my first time using atar notes forum and was wondering if i can get help with my ESL Aos essay.
Thank you i was wondering how i can improve my sentence structure
Hi, thanks for the feedback! Here's another intro I've been working on. My idea is slightly complex than normal and so I've had trouble phrasing it so that if flows fluently. Feedback appreciated ! :) If it's good enough, I"m thinking of using it as the basis for every essay question with a little bit of adaption.
Not sure if my thesis makes sense, or if im cohesive..SpoilerDiscoveries which uncover the unknown and challenge individuals to reconsider the known, have the power to transform individuals and their society. Both, Robert Frost's ‘Stopping by the woods’ and David Wallace’s “This is water” reveal the disheartening ramifications which follow the uncovering of social obligations which confine our ability to fulfil desires . Contrarily, both Frost’s “Tuft of flowers’ and Wallace’s “This is water” offer a more optimistic view on discovery by reconsidering our perspectives of the world. Both texts are motivated by individual desires to escape seclusion and misanthropy, revealing that self-transformation begins when we submit ourselves to what we don't understand.
Contemplation and self reflection in Frost’s poem ‘stopping by the woods’, drives the persona’s desire to escape to nature's serenity, unable to recognise dangers.The diction of “Stopping” in the title exhibits the contemplative nature of perilous discoveries as the consequences are obscure. It is by ‘Stopping’ that the persona is able to admire the beauty of nature, emphasised through the recurring motif of “snow” as a symbol of purity. Yet, alarm arises as “ He gives his harness bells a shake, To ask if there is some mistake”, symbolising the Horses manner in communicating to ask his master if something is awry. This overwhelming feeling deepens the spiritual connection as the persona desires escape to nature's tranquility, becoming numb as a result of submitting to the bond.However, this peaceful meditation is rapidly disturbed by the persona’s realisation of his social obligation to humanity. This shift is evident through the conjunction “but” as the persona realises he has “promises to keep”. Moreover, his reluctance to leave the surrounding harmony is evident in the repetitive closing lines “and miles to go before I sleep”, reflecting his social sensibility in responding to the emotional connection to nature, extended through Frost’s modernist influence in the context of discoveries presenting meaningful connections. Ultimately, despite an inability to understand the reason for connectedness to nature, the persona transforms his spiritual apathy into admiring natures beauty, uplifting his spirits.
The uncovering of spontaneous desires which we don't understand connects David Wallace’s commencement speech “This is water” with Frost's poetry, extending on the ramifications of fortuitous discoveries, on an individual's internal landscape. The initial discovery is presented as a journey of intellectual thought for the audience as the imagery of the title “This is water” is metaphorically applied by Wallace, to represent the tedious nature of life. The repetitive use of personal pronouns, “ in front of YOU or behind YOU” , forces audience to reconsider their perceptions of the world, further emphasised through the high modality as the composer empathises with the audience as everything he is “automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded”. This catalyses the audiences realisation of the insensible trust we deposit into our surroundings to function, perceiving our contribution to the human experience differently. Renowned perceptions continue as the cliche that “your education really IS the job of a lifetime”, shifting the focus to challenge individuals internal landscape. Ultimately, the discovery motivates a need for change within individuals as the repetition of “‘dreary, annoying, seemingly meaningless routines” suggests social sensibility and obligation. Therefore the audience undergoes a personal transformation to change their perceptions towards the human experience, despite not understanding the reality behind a mundane cycle of life.
Contrarily, Frost’s ‘Tuft of flowers’ offers a more optimistic view of discovery, illuminating how submission to others actions despite not knowing intentions, can catalyse the discovery of interconnections between humanity. This is illuminated through the persona’s journey from solitude and isolation to his realisation of the connections between mankind which transcend from time and place. The elliptical use in the statement “and I must be, as he had been- alone” mirrors not only the persona’s physical isolation but also his initial hope for companionship. It is through the discovery of the symbolic “tall tuft of flowers’ that sympathy is constructed , as a symbol of interconnected feelings between humanity, allowing the persona to reconsider his initial belief in eternal isolation. Amplifying his transformation, the statement “ I worked no more alone” echoing the persona’s excitement about not having to live “alone” in the world any longer, stimulating new perceptions towards the human experience. The closing lines replicate this companionship as the persona discovers “men work together”, signifying humanity as one, stating “whether we work together or apart” to repeat the recurring motif of unity. Ultimately, an optimistic outlook on others intentions, can evolve our acceptance of desired unity, despite being unsure.
This optimism towards interconnections between humanity connects Wallace’s speech ‘This is water’ with Frost’s poetry, extending on the contradictory nature of trusting the contribution of our internal worlds to the same human experience.This is represented through wallace's cumulative listing, “default setting of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone” which mirrors the ability of our internal lives to shape a “default” pattern which contributes to the same human experience. It is this listing of repetitive events which connects humans in a mundane world as the statement that life “ involves boredom, routine and petty frustration” suggests the recycled nature of adulthood as young individuals initially hope for compassion and rejuvenation in the human world. Reconsideration of perceptions is embellished by Foster-Wallace’s dialogue “ everyone else…. Is just as bored and frustrated as I am”, forcing the audience to reconsider the mutual feeling of a mundane human experience. Furthermore, Wallace challenges, “you get to decide how you're gonna try to see it”, allowing the audience form new perceptions towards the world, seen in unity or isolation. This choice is contradicted by the repetition of the closing metaphor, “This is water”, water symbolising unity. Thus, the composer forces the audience to trust the connection of internal emotional and intellectual responses which provide solidarity, transforming our personal perceptions of the world.
Hey guys,
Here's my generic essay for aos. What I plan to do is use two out of the three paragraphs for every question and was wondering whether you guys could work your magic on it! Will edit it if you prefer
a question to mark it agains!