VCE English Question Thread

[Lear]

I read some where on atarnotes that someone wrote very general, big paragraphs on each theme with evidence and then just morphed that paragraph to fit any prompt in the exam. I find this to be a very smart thing to do but also wonder if it is the ‘correct’ way of going about writing well.

[Calebark]

Is it generally possible to memorise essays and then fit it to the specific topic/prompt on a sac?

I'd say it's possible. But I'd also say the essay would probably end up a bit on the shitty side. Your ideas aren't going to flow and it's probably going to feel like you're forcing the essay to move in an uncomfortable direction. I wouldn't recommend memorising essays.

A better approach would be to brainstorm a wide range of ideas, like the most common themes, symbols, and characters. This way allows you to be prepared for a wide variety of prompts while staying on topic.

[clarke54321]

Is it generally possible to memorise essays and then fit it to the specific topic/prompt on a sac?

Hello!

Memorisation is a very controversial topic in English, and one that is received differently by each person.

In my experience, I've been able to mould pre-prepared and well defined paragraphs around essay prompts, in both SACs and the exam. Memorising an entire essay is somewhat fruitless. Memorising arguments and sections of paragraphs is, however, not a bad idea at all. Just ensure that you can manipulate these already existing ideas in a way that is authentic and natural.

Elements of essays that cannot be memorised are the introductions and conclusions. From the outset, you must alert the examiner to the fact that you are responding to the question before you, not the one you desire.

Hopefully this helps

[Yertle the Turtle]

Is it generally possible to memorise essays and then fit it to the specific topic/prompt on a sac?

Possible, but not necessarily a good idea. We had a SAC last year where we had to write a poem, memorize it and write it out in class, before analysing it from a literary point of view.
(Funny story about that, one of my friends used his name as the author in the analysis, and the substitute teacher we had corrected, incorrectly, his spelling of his own name!)
It is possible, therefore, to do this, but in general this will not fit well any given question, and therefore is not necessarily a good idea.

[sophomania]

Is it generally possible to memorise essays and then fit it to the specific topic/prompt on a sac?

It is possible, however some may argue that it is not a good idea. The problem with memorising essays is that you might be in danger of not answering the essay prompt correctly.

Personally, I never memorised my essays. I kind of roughly memorised specific examples and the way I wrote about them, and other chunks of writing. However, it wasn’t like I sat down and tried to actively memorise them. It was just that I was using specific examples and ideas so often in my practice essays that I knew exactly how I was going to write about them.

[Sunset.T]

Hello
So for the holidays I’m supposed to be going through a booklet of articles about the topic of increasing the legal smoking age and annotating it.
I’m really struggling. I’m finding all the arguments first but it’s so hard for me to identify the beginning and end of each argument and it feels like the entire piece is just one argument.

Then when I do find an argument I feel like every piece has the same arguments and it’s annoying as. And every piece seems to have 3 arguments but I’m not sure if they actually do have 3 arguments or if I’m just assuming they all have 3 so that they match. Idk

[clarke54321]

Hello
So for the holidays I’m supposed to be going through a booklet of articles about the topic of increasing the legal smoking age and annotating it.
I’m really struggling. I’m finding all the arguments first but it’s so hard for me to identify the beginning and end of each argument and it feels like the entire piece is just one argument.

Then when I do find an argument I feel like every piece has the same arguments and it’s annoying as. And every piece seems to have 3 arguments but I’m not sure if they actually do have 3 arguments or if I’m just assuming they all have 3 so that they match. Idk

Hello!

I can understand where you're coming from entirely. Identifying arguments can be extremely difficult when there is little variation in content/techniques. Despite this, there are some handy tips, which can improve your "argument locating" ability. Here are some:


-Find the main contention. In your case, this is likely to be, we should increase the legal smoking age. After you've done this, try and locate reasons why the age should be increased. These will be your arguments. They may include health benefits, economic benefits or social benefits.

-Analyse the way the article is constructed in terms of paragraphs. Generally when there is a new paragraph, there is a new train of thought/new direction that the author wants to explore. Think about it- whenever you write a text response or oral presentation, your paragraphs cover new material (further arguments that will support your main contention).

-Sense shifts in tone. Like paragraph, a shift in tone can signify a new pathway (in terms of argument). If the author suddenly takes on an encouraging/optimistic tone, they may be postulating the benefits of some kind of future action or benefit. If they decide to take on a more exigent voice, they may attempting to stress future urgency.


Hopefully these tips help you out 

[MissSmiley]

Hello
So for the holidays I’m supposed to be going through a booklet of articles about the topic of increasing the legal smoking age and annotating it.
I’m really struggling. I’m finding all the arguments first but it’s so hard for me to identify the beginning and end of each argument and it feels like the entire piece is just one argument.

Then when I do find an argument I feel like every piece has the same arguments and it’s annoying as. And every piece seems to have 3 arguments but I’m not sure if they actually do have 3 arguments or if I’m just assuming they all have 3 so that they match. Idk

Hello!
Firstly, is this argument analysis or are you preparing for your persuasive oral?

If the entire piece just feels like one big argument, then that's probably the contention of the writer.
There are subtle nuances that you need to consider to distinguish arguments.
Often, if the author is calling for action (in this case maybe to encourage increasing the legal smoking age), they would make 'arguments' on perhaps how exactly to increase it, the consequences of not increasing it or even the benefits of increasing it.
So if you think about it, every argument doesn't necessarily have to be persuasive (I'm only saying this because you're having a hard time finding them).
Sometimes the writer may refer to another study or someone else's opinions and provide a rebuttal or agree with it - that is sort of an 'argument.'
The writer may even compare Australia's legal age with say a different country and then talk about if an increased age in that country has benefited them, and so should happen in Australia so we can have a healthier environment.

Hope this helps just to guide you perhaps to analysise more closely and really dig deep into it!

(It'll be great if you could attach one of the articles, or if you can't then post the link of that article (a newspaper link) so we can read it and understand the arguments)
Or you can just take a photo of the article and just post it! It'll be really helpful!

[Lear]

It'll be great if you could attack one of the articles

Please don't attack one of the articles!
Anyway, I've been taught to look for choices in language first before trying to link them together to form an argument. More often than not I find arguments can be spread out through the piece and aren't necessarily in each paragraph. I find it easier to connect choices in language/techniques throughout to form arguments. Is this a viable method of doing it?

[MissSmiley]

Please don't attack one of the articles!
Anyway, I've been taught to look for choices in language first before trying to link them together to form an argument. More often than not I find arguments can be spread out through the piece and aren't necessarily in each paragraph. I find it easier to connect choices in language/techniques throughout to form arguments. Is this a viable method of doing it?

Hahahahahahaha!!! 
I just can't stop laughing, Lear!!!! I meant to say 'attach' not 'attack' 

I've changed it now, so you're right, no need to attack an article!! 

And yes, I really like where you're coming from with understanding the purposes of the language devices and then coming to an argument.
I've never gone with this method, because I sometimes fall into the trap of generalising an argument. So I tend to stick to the paragraphing method of separating arguments, regardless of how the paragraphs and their arguments may be all over the place.

Thanks for making me laugh!!!!! 

[Lear]

Gave me quite a giggle too

[Lear]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before but how would I go about incorporating specific words into my writing? I feel there are three types of words for me. Ones I know and automatically use in writing, ones I know but never occur to me when writing and words I don't know. Say I have a list of words which I hope to include in my writing, what kind of techniques would I use to have them come naturally to me?

[clarke54321]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before but how would I go about incorporating specific words into my writing? I feel there are three types of words for me. Ones I know and automatically use in writing, ones I know but never occur to me when writing and words I don't know. Say I have a list of words which I hope to include in my writing, what kind of techniques would I use to have them come naturally to me?

Hello!

Expanding vocabulary, in a conscious sense, can be very difficult in English. To make it feel more natural, I'd recommend that you construct text specific vocabulary lists. For each word, try and incorporate it into a sentence or two (that relates to your text). By actually applying the word, and not blindly writing it down, you will be more likely to remember it and its applicable usage when writing.

Hopefully this helps

[Lear]

Thanks for your response Clarke.
I am trying to incorporate some words into my Argument Analysis essays. I will try to have my vocab book open next to me when writing my next essay to see if it helps

[skrt skrt]

Can someone please give me a general direction on where to start on these creative responses.
The topic are -Write a piece about a place and time where both beauty and hardship exist
                      -Routines and rituals help maintain connections and security. Reflect on your own daily practices and ceremonies

Ive been sitting here for the past 30 minutes just staring into the abyss and as each minute goes by I question the importance of English(this is bad)
And also are there any general techniques on tackling these sort of questions or do you just write straight from the mind.
Thankss