VCE English Question Thread

[Yertle the Turtle]

Hi,

How do you write a really good Introduction for an essay?

That depends on the type of essay. For LA, many teachers use the CCTAP method: Context, Contention, Tone, Audience, Purpose. In other words, begin by a broad statement about the context of the piece, its subject matter. Then discuss what side of this issue the author argues, and how, and then who they are targeting with their piece and why.

For TR, in general I like to have a wide statement about the author and main themes of the text, before delving in to the key focus of the question. Have the three main points you will be arguing in there, and then express an overarching reason for the theme, or an explanation of the theme in question.

How do you write a contention in an essay that isn't an opinion essay or an language analysis?

Only write about a contention in a language analysis piece. You don't need to talk about a contention in a TR or Comparative, just in the LA.

[emmawatsonlover990]

My teacher told me to write a contention in a TR. I am really confused as I thought that it was just for LA. Thank you for your help. 

[sdfg]

My teacher told me to write a contention in a TR. I am really confused as I thought that it was just for LA. Thank you for your help. 

A 'contention', by definition, is nothing more than your 'main argument'. In L.A (or argument analysis, whatever you want to call it), the contention you state in your introduction isn't actually your's but rather of the writer's of the text in which you're analysing. In TR, you give your own contention/argument, which provides your viewpoint or answer to the essay question you're given.

[abbeyrose]

How do you write a contention in an essay that isn't an opinion essay or an language analysis?

Are you meaning for essays such as those you would write for Sections A and B? 

Essentially with the essays that you would write for both types of text responses, you are arguing your own interpretation/point in response to a prompt and thus you can think of it as an opinion essay. Your contention will serve as your overall argument in response to the given prompt, and which the topic sentences in each of your body paragraphs should tie back to and support. When formulating your contention, just simply think of what your own response to the prompt is and what you are overall trying to argue through your response. If an example would help (however, this is by no means the most incredible example of a contention and is merely a contention I pulled from one of the few essays still on my computer) here is one in response to a prompt to I for Isobel:

" 'How does writing shape Isobel's journey to realising her identity?'
Through writing and realising that she belongs as ‘a writer’, Isobel is able to overcome the limitations of the upbringing and conservative society that prevented her from uncovering her identity. "

It's something that becomes easier with practise, particularly as you become more familiar with responding to prompts. An exercise that I always found helpful when planning an essay and generating a contention was to write my prompt in the middle of a piece of paper, identifying what themes/character(s) it related to, and then write down and link the points that come to mind (e.g. for the above contention I would write something like 'Isobel's creativity and imagination form her identity' and then link it with 'The mistreatment of her childhood hindered her from embracing her creativity'). Once you have done this, you can then see what arguments your interpretation creates, and then you can go about writing a contention. I also found that it also allows you to plan some topic sentences that flow well.

I hope this makes sense and helped a little.

[Poet]

Hi friends,

On the topic of I for Isobel, I'm struggling to find good sample essays to pick apart and get ideas from. Does anybody have an essay (highly scored, please) they're willing to share?

Thank you!
Poet.  :-)

[madhu04]

Hey guys, 

This is not really a question related to English,  but I didn't know where else to ask.  Sorry

I was wondering whether anyone what the range of marks are?  Like there is very low, low... High very high... High excellent...that stuff!!

Does anyone what all the categories are and the associated marks?


Thank you

[Sine]

Hey guys, 

This is not really a question related to English,  but I didn't know where else to ask.  Sorry

I was wondering whether anyone what the range of marks are?  Like there is very low, low... High very high... High excellent...that stuff!!

Does anyone what all the categories are and the associated marks?


Thank you

A lot of schools do give ranges of marks to students (including mine) although the actual range should very between each school since it is not standerdised by VCAA. It could be worthwhile asking your teacher if they don't make it clear after the first sac.

[clarke54321]

Hey guys, 

This is not really a question related to English,  but I didn't know where else to ask.  Sorry

I was wondering whether anyone what the range of marks are?  Like there is very low, low... High very high... High excellent...that stuff!!

Does anyone what all the categories are and the associated marks?


Thank you

In addition to the info provided by Sine, note that VCAA (as opposed to your school's individual system) marks your essays according to a number scheme. The highest you can achieve is a 10. Here is a more detailed breakdown.

[snowisawesome]

Few questions
1. What is the best way to prepare for an english text response sac on Medea?
2. How do you memorise quotes?
3. How many quotes should we be using in essays generally? How about for text response?
4. How many words should text response essays be?
5. How do you improve your essay writing skills?

Thanks

[Willba99]

Few questions
1. What is the best way to prepare for an english text response sac on Medea?
2. How do you memorise quotes?
3. How many quotes should we be using in essays generally? How about for text response?
4. How many words should text response essays be?
5. How do you improve your essay writing skills?

Thanks

1. I haven't done Medea, but from past experience the best way to practice is to pump out practice essays in the same time that you'll have on the day of your SAC (no use being able to write a great essay in 4 hours if your sac is only an hour long). People will disagree and say that too many practice essays is a waste of time, but I honestly think that as long as you know the text well then practice essays are the way to go. I probably did 5 practice essays for my text response sac
2. Once you've found the quotes you're going to want to use, practice using them, whether in small sentences, or in practice essays. I found that any quotes i used tented to be remembered, while I struggled to remember quotes I'd never practiced with.
3. I'd say 3-5 per para is a good base. They don't have to be long.
4. My English teacher always used to say "It's not about how big the pie is, its about how good it tastes". Regardless, you want to be writing 600 words minimum and preferably 800+.
5. Practice and Feedback. The English Work Submission forum is great for getting feedback!

[clarke54321]

Few questions
1. What is the best way to prepare for an english text response sac on Medea?
2. How do you memorise quotes?
3. How many quotes should we be using in essays generally? How about for text response?
4. How many words should text response essays be?
5. How do you improve your essay writing skills?

Thanks

1. This is an extremely broad question, which is best answered by the individual preparing for the text response. Which thematic ideas do you struggle with the most? Do you have a solid understanding of the play's relevant context? Have you developed coherent interpretations? These are the types of questions that I'd be asking myself before sitting a text response SAC. They will help you narrow down your focus, and make the task of preparing seem less overwhelming.

2. Again, this is a matter of personal preference. Some students like to make flash cards, others read them aloud, some place them on sheets around the house, and others keep using them in practice essays. I've always gravitated towards the last approach. The more you use the quotes in context the more likely it'll be that you'll remember them, because they serve some kind of relevance.

3. Enough to justify your points. On average, I had about 14 quotes in each body paragraph. However, a majority of these were only 2-4 words long.

4. 800-1000, but as always quality>quantity.

5. By unearthing your own specific weaknesses. This comes about through processes such as teacher feedback, careful editing and repetitive redrafting. Once you've identified your shortcomings, have a read through high-scoring essays and note how other students have overcome your weaknesses. The more essays you read, the more tools you'll have to counteract your writing concerns.

Hopefully these answers have provided you with some guidance

[Sine]

Few questions
1. What is the best way to prepare for an english text response sac on Medea?
2. How do you memorise quotes?
3. How many quotes should we be using in essays generally? How about for text response?
4. How many words should text response essays be?
5. How do you improve your essay writing skills?

Thanks

great advice by everyone thought it may be helpful to get another perspective
1. Know your text (obviously) but also know the details by taking notes and looking through any other resources. From here you can create "quote" banks + evidence that you can use in your essays. Practicing writing essays would definitely by the most important in order to get better but make sure you have someone to give you feedback after each one and try to ammend those mistakes in the next essay.

2. Use the quotes - you will generally memorise them without too much effort like this. Writing your first few essays open book is alright.

3. Maybe around 4-5 big quotes but you can sprinkle the paragraph with other 1-2 word quotes.

4. 1000+ obviously quality > quantity. However say two essays are the same quality but one is 1500 words but the other is 800 the 1500 will get the higher score, but maybe by only 0.5-1 marks/10

5. Practice -> get feedback --> implement feedback

[snowisawesome]

Thanks sine and clarke54321
Just wondering, for a book like Medea since the entire book is a play, can we use any word from the book as use it as a quote?

[Sine]

Thanks sine and clarke54321
Just wondering, for a book like Medea since the entire book is a play, can we use any word from the book as use it as a quote?

Yup you definitely can. Just make sure it fits in your essay and not forced.

[snowisawesome]

Yup you definitely can. Just make sure it fits in your essay and not forced.

What do you mean by "not forced"?