ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: koby on June 11, 2013, 09:50:06 pm

Title: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 11, 2013, 09:50:06 pm
HEY ALL,

I have an understanding of how to approach the second writing task on the GAT,

but i am clueless about the first one

just wondering, do we write it like a news article ?? :S


any thoughts and tips on how to do well on the GAT??


thanks in advance
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: shadows on June 11, 2013, 09:58:57 pm
first or second one?

Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 11, 2013, 10:00:18 pm
first one ???
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: shadows on June 11, 2013, 10:05:18 pm
haha you should fix up your post then!

you mention "second" twice.
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 11, 2013, 10:10:08 pm
:P


FIXED IT.


hehe, and i was wondering, why is 'shadows' asking me,  the first or the  second one... :P

thanks...
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: Damoz.G on June 11, 2013, 10:10:25 pm
Hello,

Here is something I posted on the GAT Thread (in another Forum Category). I'll re-post the information here.

WRITING TASK 1
Low-Range Response
* Brief
* Disorganised
* No structure of the material
* Limited understanding of the material

Mid-Range Response
* Attention to material
* Lack of structure and synthesis of material

High-Range Response
* Good control of material
* Demonstrates a good understanding on the material
* Sophisticated vocabulary
* DOES NOT START AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER AND GO AROUND THE PAGE TO TRY AND GET ALL THE INFORMATION INTO THE PIECE.

WRITING TASK 2
* Develops a very good line of argument
* Has a strong 'voice'

In Writing Task 2, I think the main thing to note is that you do not have to write an essay. e.g. A speech is completely acceptable.



Hope this helps you out a bit. If it doesn't, let me know, and I'll try explain it a bit more for you.  :)
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: shadows on June 11, 2013, 10:13:04 pm
so we could even write a story in section 2?
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: lunapie on June 11, 2013, 10:15:24 pm
For writing part 2 , what can you do besides an essay ?
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: silverpixeli on June 11, 2013, 10:16:04 pm
woah, is a speech legit okay for task 2? everything ive seen has said to write an essay.
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: sjayne on June 11, 2013, 10:16:37 pm
if we do persuasive i think we have to use evidence and I know I'll get stuck ><
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 11, 2013, 10:24:16 pm
Damoz. G

thank you so much,

a question ...

is the first writing task about you explaining the material given on a topic ??
and and in the body paragraphs should i use "TEEL", or approach it differenlty because its an informative piece??
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: brenden on June 11, 2013, 10:41:02 pm
For the writing task with pictures of shit (last year was Everest), I wrote a letters to and fro a mother and son - the son was planning on climbing Everest. The persuasive one - I wrote a speech from a VCE coordinator trying to convince kids that they shouldn't be sad about bad GAT results (the prompt was something to do with success. I ended up with >40 on the written component.
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 11, 2013, 10:48:19 pm
thanks

Brenden,

never new we could write a creative piece, (will think about it ;)
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: Damoz.G on June 11, 2013, 10:52:05 pm
so we could even write a story in section 2?

That's a risk. Doesn't sound very persuasive to me. Personally, I wouldn't take the risk.

woah, is a speech legit okay for task 2? everything ive seen has said to write an essay.

No. VCAA refers to Writing Task 2 as a "piece". This means you have the choice, but it must be legit.

if we do persuasive i think we have to use evidence and I know I'll get stuck ><

Yes, you will need evidence. If all fails, flip back to the information provided in Writing Task 1. Sometimes it may help, sometimes it won't.

Damoz. G

thank you so much,

a question ...

is the first writing task about you explaining the material given on a topic ??
and and in the body paragraphs should i use "TEEL", or approach it differenlty because its an informative piece??

You're welcome Koby.

Yes, Writing Task 1, is about explaining the material. Now, it's very easy to just go around the 2 pages and get everything in. Hence why, the Examiner is not looking for this. They are looking at the way you are able to compile the information into a nice informative essay that should include all the information, but it MUST flow. If you just go around the page to get everything into your essay, you will be marked down. Try and find links between the bits of information. For example, may be link a comment with something  you picked up from a graph?

TEEL is perfectly fine. However, don't spend a long time on the task. This should only be about 500 words. The examiner is not looking for a big essay with all the information. With the amount of information provided, it may be hard to use TEEL, so try and concentrate on linking pieces of information.

Hope this helps!
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: Damoz.G on June 11, 2013, 10:53:29 pm
For the writing task with pictures of shit (last year was Everest), I wrote a letters to and fro a mother and son - the son was planning on climbing Everest. The persuasive one - I wrote a speech from a VCE coordinator trying to convince kids that they shouldn't be sad about bad GAT results (the prompt was something to do with success. I ended up with >40 on the written component.

Okay. I didn't know that you could pick a different style for Writing Task 1. Good to know that. Thanks Brenden.

For Writing Task 2, I also did a speech. I feel more confident doing a speech, because you have a much stronger voice.
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: saba.ay on June 11, 2013, 10:56:34 pm
For the writing task with pictures of shit (last year was Everest), I wrote a letters to and fro a mother and son ...

Is it wrong if I don't do this/don't do a creative response? Last year for the Mt. Everest piece, I simply re-wrote the information they'd visually provided by categorized the information which I thought belonged together. Eg. Info about the mountain itself/stats, about climbing up it/path to take/things needed, info about people who've climbed it, etc.

I'm worried now. :/
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: Damoz.G on June 11, 2013, 11:01:25 pm
Is it wrong if I don't do this/don't do a creative response? Last year for the Mt. Everest piece, I simply re-wrote the information they'd visually provided by categorized the information which I thought belonged together. Eg. Info about the mountain itself/stats, about climbing up it/path to take/things needed, info about people who've climbed it, etc.

I'm worried now. :/

No. If you do an Essay, you won't be penalised. The examiner is just looking at how well you are able to put the information together into a coherent piece.

By this stage, I would say to just stick with an Essay for Writing Task 1. It's too late now to go and learn a different method of approaching the Task. I wouldn't take the risk.
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: lala1911 on June 11, 2013, 11:05:01 pm
For part 1, I'm just going to write an essay. Any suggestions?

For part 2, I'm going to write a speech definitely. I'm just not sure if I'll make it motivational. I like writing motivational speeches though. :)
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: brenden on June 11, 2013, 11:14:02 pm
There certainly isn't any 'one' way to be doing the writing tasks. Just have fun with it. I wrote letters because an essay would have been more boring than an episode of Ready Steady Cook. Write what you're most comfortable with :)
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: saba.ay on June 11, 2013, 11:19:18 pm
No. If you do an Essay, you won't be penalised. The examiner is just looking at how well you are able to put the information together into a coherent piece.

There certainly isn't any 'one' way to be doing the writing tasks. Just have fun with it. I wrote letters because an essay would have been more boring than an episode of Ready Steady Cook. Write what you're most comfortable with :)

Ok awesome, thanks :D.
All the best to everyone tomorrow! :)
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: koby on June 12, 2013, 06:51:42 pm
Damoz. G

and everyone else, thank you so much,

all the comments made helped me alot today,

i wrote a letter for the second piece. :D

 ;D
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: lala1911 on June 12, 2013, 07:43:09 pm
Same here. What was your letter about?
Title: Re: GAT how to tackle the two writing tasks
Post by: Damoz.G on June 12, 2013, 10:31:18 pm
Damoz. G

and everyone else, thank you so much,

all the comments made helped me alot today,

i wrote a letter for the second piece. :D

 ;D

No worries at all mate!

I wasn't a fan of Writing Task 1. Too much stuff going on. Radios at one point, then technology at another part, and then media in another part. Argh...I didn't like it at all!

I did a Speech for Writing Task 2. I think I did pretty good with it. As Lala asked, what did you write about in your letter?