VCE English Question Thread

[literally lauren]

Hey yoooooo
Peeps are always talking abt "defining themes" in theme based essays.
Is this as in to literally define the key word and explain it??
Can someone give me an example?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!??!?

Easiest way to do this is to use the "theme and synonym" method. So if the key theme you're dealing with is 'power,' you could have a sentence in your introduction like:

There are many different forms of power and authority that are seen in the text...
or
Throughout the novel, Ringo displays a great deal of power and self-control...
or
Although the characters initially struggle to come to terms with the oppressive power structures and societal pressures ultimately they are able to...

That way, you're explaining that key theme by linking it to another closely related term and clarify what kind of 'power' you're dealing with

Thank you
How can i structure words better? I now know how to implement qoutes but structuring words inca scetence i dont really know.

Read through some of the tips in this guide that HLS linked - that should help you get started!

[pha0015]

Hi,

How would one practice for English?

Also, when it comes to essays, if I have a few hours to do it, then I can produce an 800 word A+ piece easily. But when they're timed e.g. 1 hour, I get a huge writer's block and produce around 500 word B+ pieces. Do you have any suggestions? I also don't really make a plan beforehand, so should I start?

And when it comes to my main arguments in essays, it's hard for me to not go off on a tangent.

I feel like I have the potential to do better, but don't know where to start.

[Gogo14]

Apparently language analysis has been changed to argument analysis, and my school has a major focus on the argument. However, I have trouble identifying and "analysing" argument, and have no clue as to how to analyse it and compare it. Could someone give me a detailed example plz?

[clarke54321]

Hi,

Do I need a qualifier for this essay topic:

'Medea' is about the extremes of human emotion. Discuss.

With this prompt, I don't feel the need to disagree.

[HopefulLawStudent]

Hi,

How would one practice for English?

Also, when it comes to essays, if I have a few hours to do it, then I can produce an 800 word A+ piece easily. But when they're timed e.g. 1 hour, I get a huge writer's block and produce around 500 word B+ pieces. Do you have any suggestions? I also don't really make a plan beforehand, so should I start?

And when it comes to my main arguments in essays, it's hard for me to not go off on a tangent.

I feel like I have the potential to do better, but don't know where to start.

Writer's block is horrible. I feel like planning beforehand, even if it's just a couple of words that signpost your arguments would help you combat it and ensure that you don't go off on a tangent.

And it doesn't even have to be something that makes sense to anyone other than you because you're the only one who will be reading it!

For example, for one of my text response SACs my plan literally went along the lines of:
- M + J
- G + C
- crown
- pickles

I don't even like pickles and like looking back I still have no idea what I meant by pickles but at the time when I was doing the SAC, it helped to trigger some argument that I had and it made sense to me, I guess.

Hi,

Do I need a qualifier for this essay topic:

'Medea' is about the extremes of human emotion. Discuss.

With this prompt, I don't feel the need to disagree.

Generally, you should avoid agreeing completely; qualifying helps in that it shows that you've thought through the topic whereas completely dis/agreeing could make your argument seem more shallow and less carefully thought out, I guess? Like is there any aspect of that prompt that you *could* challenge/expand upon further?

Apparently language analysis has been changed to argument analysis, and my school has a major focus on the argument. However, I have trouble identifying and "analysing" argument, and have no clue as to how to analyse it and compare it. Could someone give me a detailed example plz?

Hey! Have you checked out the sample essays that are available here: https://atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=8375.0 ?

[seth]

Hi,

Do I need a qualifier for this essay topic:

'Medea' is about the extremes of human emotion. Discuss.

With this prompt, I don't feel the need to disagree.

Hehe me again. Generally, you shouldn't ever fully agree with a topic as it shows that all you've done is read it once without giving it much thought. For this prompt, you could disagree with the fact that Medea at time shows a moderation of emotion, being driven both by logic (i.e no emotion) and passion (i.e very emotional). You could also weave in discussion about the parts where the Chorus debates with itself; this embodying the mid-way between different sides of human emotion.

edit: beaten by HLS

[clarke54321]

Thanks for the advice HLS and Seth! Will check out these resources 

I suppose I'm just worried about over-complicating the essay. The only way I would challenge this prompt is by talking about the way Medea is capable of exhibiting logic and reason, as well as excessive passion. But at the same time, I don't think that she achieves moderation- which is getting towards my MC (that the principle of sophrosyne ought to be followed to prevent self-destruction).  How can I make these arguments without contradicting myself?

Or could I just say that:

Yes: 'Medea' is about the extremes of human emotions
But: The play is also a warning to find a balance between two extremes

Would that satisfy a qualifier? I'm not entirely sure.

[TheCommando]

How can i stop myself from reppetition in text response essays?
Sample is attached below

[geminii]

Hey! Does anyone have any ideas for a Medea creative writing piece? It's our next SAC and I'm trying to think of something unique. We need to write on a part/scene in the text that wasn't thoroughly explored, or write in someone's point of view, for example. Does anyone have some parts of the play that they think would make a good scene for a creative piece?
Thanks heaps!!!

[clarke54321]

Hi all,

For this prompt:

'In Medea, there are no heroes, only victims.' Do. you agree.

My contention is:

Despite the absence of a clearly defined hero, Euripides 'Medea' presents characters who exhibit heroic qualities but are ultimately victims to their own fatal flaws.

Could someone please give me some advice.

[NAT0003]

Do you really need to read your texts more than once in unit 1/2 english

[ish708]

Do you really need to read your texts more than once in unit 1/2 english

I liked to read once, then read and annotate. That's all I did in 1/2. It's personal preference how you think works best. I do more in 3/4 but that was my 1/2 strategy.

[Syndicate]

Thanks for the advice HLS and Seth! Will check out these resources 

I suppose I'm just worried about over-complicating the essay. The only way I would challenge this prompt is by talking about the way Medea is capable of exhibiting logic and reason, as well as excessive passion. But at the same time, I don't think that she achieves moderation- which is getting towards my MC (that the principle of sophrosyne ought to be followed to prevent self-destruction).  How can I make these arguments without contradicting myself?

Or could I just say that:

Yes: 'Medea' is about the extremes of human emotions
But: The play is also a warning to find a balance between two extremes

Would that satisfy a qualifier? I'm not entirely sure.

Personally, I think that would be perfectly fine. You just need to provide enough evidence to support your arguments. Medea, believe it or not, does exhibit reasoning as she, in her moral anguish, justifies the premature demise of her children (you can take this the other way around as well! Remember: you are never wrong in English).  I don't really think you would be contradicting yourself if you don't remain quite black and white throughout your piece (I can be wrong here, if so, please do specify why you think you might be contradicting yourself).

How can i stop myself from reppetition in text response essays?
Sample is attached below

I skimmed over your piece (do note that I have never read the text before), and found that you are repeating Isobel's childhood and the theme of isolation a lot. What I would suggest is breaking your prompt into key ideas, and then explore them by analysing your text multiple times. Even if your prompt focuses on one key theme, you can still create several different ideas from it (try to think differently from everyone, and view the text from a different perspective). 

Also, using higher standard vocabulary may eliminate such repetition.

Hi all,

For this prompt:

'In Medea, there are no heroes, only victims.' Do. you agree.

My contention is:

Despite the absence of a clearly defined hero, Euripides 'Medea' presents characters who exhibit heroic qualities but are ultimately victims to their own fatal flaws.

Could someone please give me some advice.

From following after your contention, I believe you can go on talking about how no one in the end was really were satisfied (especially Jason and Medea), as everyone did pay the price (more Jason than Medea) for their misdeeds (Medea didn't really get punished, but she did lose a lot in the end). You should also prove why there aren't any heroes in 'Medea', rather than just exploring how each of the characters were victim to their own political ambition/ passion (etc...), as you should be addressing every part of the prompt (summary of prompt: first part: why there aren't any heroes in 'Medea', second part: why are there victims). I also think you can also explore how Medea's innocent children were victim to such a horrible filicide, as it would show that you understand the text quite thoroughly. To further this, you can also talk about Euripides insertion of the theme of patriarchal abandonment, as Jason abandons his children to fulfil his ambition (do make sure you relate this back to the prompt, otherwise you can easily go on a tangent and lose marks for this), and then relate all this to how both Jason and Medea can be classified as villains rather than heroes. 

Do you really need to read your texts more than once in unit 1/2 english

Well, if you want to get different ideas from the rest of your cohort, I would suggest reading and then analysing your text to find helpful quotes, metalanguage etc...

[zhen]

Do you really need to read your texts more than once in unit 1/2 english

To add onto the previous responses. I think that reading your texts multiple times is a way to gaining a more in depth knowledge of the text. I think that the first time I read my text, I just get the general gist of what's going on without really analysing the themes and symbols. However, during my second reading I can better identify the important quotes and themes, because I already know what the text is about and what I should be looking for.

[lovebiology]

What will happen to the marks if i didnt finish the written explanation of my creative sac? will it drag down my marks by a lot?