English Standard Question Thread

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi guys
I'm really struggling to study for paper one, does anyone have any exam techniques on what to do first? On creative, the essay or short answers?

Hey Yasmine, welcome to the forums!

I'd say to maybe study for what you struggle with the most first! Your best will be to practice

Here are a HEAP of resources that might help you along the way!

[DalvinT]

Hey, guys! I just did a practice essay for module A and realised that I JUST fit in 4 body paragraphs with a conclusion. However, I don't believe I can mimic this in exam conditions... If I were to go into the exam with 4 body paragraph plan and realise that in the middle of the essay writing, I can't fit it. How should I go about it? Especially if it is a two part question.

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey, guys! I just did a practice essay for module A and realised that I JUST fit in 4 body paragraphs with a conclusion. However, I don't believe I can mimic this in exam conditions... If I were to go into the exam with 4 body paragraph plan and realise that in the middle of the essay writing, I can't fit it. How should I go about it? Especially if it is a two part question.

Hey Dalvin! Is it possible to adapt your plan such that the fourth paragraph is optional? Meaning, use it on the day if you can, otherwise ditch it to no great loss?

[DalvinT]

Hey,Dalvin! Is it possible to adapt your plan such that the fourth paragraph is optional? Meaning, use it on the day if you can, otherwise ditch it to no great loss?

Yeah! I was thinking to maybe incorporate evidence of both that can demonstrate a contrasting point... If that makes sense. For e.g. Prescribed text shows that discoveries are only meaningful if they are personal and educational. But one paragraph, just on related showing how discoveries can also be meaningful through an exploration of another's discovery.
Or do you think there would be an imbalance?


And I am also struggling to approach my creative as preparation for paper 1... Is it best to memorise the creative as written? Then modify it during the exam really quick? Just do a quick plan.

[elysepopplewell]

And I am also struggling to approach my creative as preparation for paper 1... Is it best to memorise the creative as written? Then modify it during the exam really quick? Just do a quick plan.

This was my technique, and I think possibly even the most popular technique for the creative! Memorising it and then adjusting it on the spot. The key is to recognise that you needn't just change the creative in one spot, but usually in several spots in order to show you've carefully and thoughtfully adjusted the work for the purpose of the creative. Memorising a creative and then not adjusting it enough in the exam is shooting yourself in the foot! So much time spent memorising - not enough time spent adjusting!

[DalvinT]

This was my technique, and I think possibly even the most popular technique for the creative! Memorising it and then adjusting it on the spot. The key is to recognise that you needn't just change the creative in one spot, but usually in several spots in order to show you've carefully and thoughtfully adjusted the work for the purpose of the creative. Memorising a creative and then not adjusting it enough in the exam is shooting yourself in the foot! So much time spent memorising - not enough time spent adjusting!

YAY! Alright, I'll keep reading it over and over and writing a few times before practising the skill of adjusting it to the stimulus! Thanks, Elyse.

[t3jasw1]

trials are ever-closer than before, and i still have no idea how to start on my discovery essay. i have a few things i wanted to clarify.
1. do you have to find examples for EACH types of discovery in your texts? if yes, then how many examples per type of discovery?
2. how broad is a "broad" topic statement that you can go into the exam and tailor to the question? can you please give an example?
3. is it possible to memorise a discovery essay and then adapt it to the question during the exam?
4. how exactly do you figure out what you have to talk about in your body paragraphs?

i've been stuck with trying to write an essay for a few months now, no one's given me proper advise. hope someone can help! 

[DalvinT]

Hey guys! It's me again lol... I'm going through some practice questions and I've noticed that this one is based on "Society"

Discoveries can affirm or challenge society’s assumptions and beliefs about aspects of human experience and the world.
How does this quote represent your own understanding of discovery?

How do we word our thesis statements/topic sentences to disagree do this statement?

[jamonwindeyer]

trials are ever-closer than before, and i still have no idea how to start on my discovery essay. i have a few things i wanted to clarify.

Hey! I'd be happy to help

1. do you have to find examples for EACH types of discovery in your texts? if yes, then how many examples per type of discovery?

Not necessarily, though preparing for each type is a good idea to make sure you can respond to any question. There's no magic number, just however many you think you'll need to respond to a question properly.

2. how broad is a "broad" topic statement that you can go into the exam and tailor to the question? can you please give an example?

You can sort of plan where the specifics of the question can go. Something like:

________ discoveries have a significant impact on the individual - This can be honed to a question by specifying a type of Discovery, and or what the specific impact on the individual will be. Lots of options!

3. is it possible to memorise a discovery essay and then adapt it to the question during the exam?

Yep - Here is a guide on it!

4. how exactly do you figure out what you have to talk about in your body paragraphs?

So in the introduction you will present your big idea responding to the question - This is your Thesis. You then divide this into smaller arguments, those are your body paragraphs. Here is a super simple example:

Thesis: Burgers are awesome!
Paragraph #1: Beef burgers are awesome!
Paragraph #2: Chicken burgers are awesome!
Paragraph #3: Veggie burgers are awesome!

I've taken my "Burgers are awesome" argument, and split it into more manageable topics - This is what you should do for your essay

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey guys! It's me again lol... I'm going through some practice questions and I've noticed that this one is based on "Society"

Discoveries can affirm or challenge society’s assumptions and beliefs about aspects of human experience and the world.
How does this quote represent your own understanding of discovery?

How do we word our thesis statements/topic sentences to disagree do this statement?

Hey Dalvin! By society's assumption, you can just define that as our collective audience response to the text. There is no reason the "society" bit of the question needs to impact how you treat it in any substantial way: Maybe just throw the words "societal view" into your Thesis somewhere

[DalvinT]

Hey Dalvin! By society's assumption, you can just define that as our collective audience response to the text. There is no reason the "society" bit of the question needs to impact how you treat it in any substantial way: Maybe just throw the words "societal view" into your Thesis somewhere

Hey Jamon! I see!! :O Alrighty thanks so much!!

[fantasticbeasts3]

hi! can anyone help me out with a related for exploring transitions? my prescribed text is billy elliot and my teacher is VERY picky with related texts like you wouldn't believe. thanks

[jamonwindeyer]

hi! can anyone help me out with a related for exploring transitions? my prescribed text is billy elliot and my teacher is VERY picky with related texts like you wouldn't believe. thanks

One that pops to mind just on my background knowledge would be The Immigrant Chronicle by Peter Skrzynecki? It's a collection of poems written by a Polish-Australian migrant about his adapting to Australian culture, and it has a heap of resources around because it used to be a prescribed text for the AoS - Could be worth a look?

[Natasha.97]

Hi!

Do you have to choose an ORT of a different type to your PT? E.g. PT is a collection of poems, could we choose a poem to analyse in terms of the module?

Thanks~   

[fantasticbeasts3]

One that pops to mind just on my background knowledge would be The Immigrant Chronicle by Peter Skrzynecki? It's a collection of poems written by a Polish-Australian migrant about his adapting to Australian culture, and it has a heap of resources around because it used to be a prescribed text for the AoS - Could be worth a look?

my friend asked about skrzynecki as a related text, and she was told to find another one because skrzynecki's stuff is apparently "overused." thank you anyway!