ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: TheAntiSocialist on December 20, 2012, 07:30:45 am

Title: Developing a Context file
Post by: TheAntiSocialist on December 20, 2012, 07:30:45 am
Developing a Context file
I have heard about this from quite a few people - but what exactly am I meant to do?

Should I be researching? Defining key terms? Or is it basically anything that will help my content in my context essays?

TY for reading... :D
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: McFleurry on December 20, 2012, 09:58:03 am
Developing a Context file
I have heard about this from quite a few people - but what exactly am I meant to do?

Not sure what your context is, but I've just been reading the paper every day, looking for something that has to do with my context (encountering conflict)--so stuff like war, politics esp. laws (e.g. the gun laws in US is a good one) etc. Just keep up to date with what's happening in the world
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: jazza97 on December 20, 2012, 10:44:43 am


Find a recent event or person of interest that ties in with your context.  Then try to find links between this and historical events/idealisms, your text-e.g. links between characters and people associated with your examples, and thirdly, find links between the historical/cultural context of your text and your wider research.

Doing this essentially allows you to have a broad perspective, compare and contrast and form a complexity that will stand out in your essays.

At this early stage, don't do any written work, just think about how your context can be interpreted and dissected through your examples.  Take some notes, collate some quotes that interest you and try to get a broad image of what your context entails.
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: pi on December 20, 2012, 10:45:24 am
Most people I know who kept a context scrapbook or file found it to be largely useless.
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: alphamale on December 20, 2012, 10:51:22 am
Not sure what your context is, but I've just been reading the paper every day, looking for something that has to do with my context (encountering conflict)--so stuff like war, politics esp. laws (e.g. the gun laws in US is a good one) etc. Just keep up to date with what's happening in the world

Yeah for encountering conflict, the paper is a good resource as it is flooded with ideas related to the context.
But what about whose reality? Theres not much in the paper about that
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: dilks on December 20, 2012, 11:15:01 am
But what about whose reality? Theres not much in the paper about that

Well for Spies for instance Memory is a pretty big topic/theme, so doing some research on the psychological underpinnings of memory is something that might go in your context file.

Your context file is basically where you put anything you find that you might use as a source of ideas for writing a context piece. Try not to put stuff in there for which there is no chance you will ever use it (although you probably will) as it creates clutter.
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: Stick on December 20, 2012, 11:37:46 am
Most people I know who kept a context scrapbook or file found it to be largely useless.

Well I certainly found it useful (I guess learning by reference is ideal for me :P).

What I've been doing is reading the paper like fleur has and finding relevant articles relating to my context. Then I write a page discussion just exploring some of the ideas the stimulus provides. :)
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: TheAntiSocialist on December 20, 2012, 09:43:50 pm
with my context (encountering conflict)

 ;D...am doing the same context
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: vashappenin on December 20, 2012, 09:51:43 pm
Maybe this can help us all throughout the year :) Context: Encountering conflict discussion thread
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: Art Vandelay on December 21, 2012, 02:54:09 am
I had a bookmarks folder on my browser dedicated to chrome, and wrote some ideas/small notes down on Evernote. It'll depend on you personally. The holidays might be a good idea to do some light testing as to what your preferred method is :P
Title: Re: Developing a Context file
Post by: teacher28 on December 21, 2012, 07:46:52 am
There is an abundance of programmes on SBS and ABC each week that relate to the various contexts.

Check the TV guide for documentaries, real life stories and non-fiction resources that will provide you with fresh and engaging content for your context responses.