ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: BasicAcid on September 26, 2013, 07:17:40 pm

Title: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: BasicAcid on September 26, 2013, 07:17:40 pm
I'm pretty curious, I most (99%) of the state start with the language analysis, but what do you begin next? Context or text?

I'm trying to select an order to do them in so that there's just one less thing to think about when I walk into the exam room.

Cheers.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: vashappenin on September 26, 2013, 07:35:16 pm
I usually do LA, then TR, then context. This is because the quotes/etc relevant for TR will still be fresh in my head, and I'm more likely to finish a context piece quicker than a text response in the case that i run out of time :)
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: lala1911 on September 26, 2013, 07:37:52 pm
Language analysis and then either depending on how easy the prompt is.
Reading time is another phrase for "Read the article time"
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: jeanweasley on September 26, 2013, 07:57:01 pm
Same with vas.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: BasicAcid on September 26, 2013, 08:52:16 pm
Hmm both text responses and context pieces require a lot of quotes though, I guess if I study enough then it won't be a problem :P
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Stick on September 26, 2013, 09:05:54 pm
Language analysis first, then context, then text response. This is also the order from my strongest work to my weakest work. Context used to be by far my worst area but I've finally discovered a style that works for me so it's something I'm quite happy with now, and can pump out easily in an hour.

In the 15 minutes reading time, you should first look at the text response and context prompts and decide which text/topic you will do. That way you're subconsciously thinking about them and planning them while you spend the rest of the time reading the persuasive text, before starting on your language analysis.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: werdna on September 26, 2013, 09:37:40 pm
Wrote mine in the exact order - a, then b then c.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Limista on September 27, 2013, 10:54:38 am
I'm planning to do text, then context, then language.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: DetteAmelie on September 27, 2013, 11:07:57 am
 I'll be writing in the order: text response, language analysis and then context.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: brenden on September 27, 2013, 11:13:12 am
Same as Vas. C, A, B. Saved me in the exam five times over.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Damoz.G on September 27, 2013, 06:44:38 pm
I do Language Analysis, then Text Response, and Context last.

It makes sense to do Language Analysis first. My English teacher told us last week (and I agree with her because it makes sense): You read the piece that is given to you during Reading Time, right? When the sign to start writing is given, why wouldn't you start with Language Analysis if you just read the piece? When you practice Language Analysis, do you read the piece and analyse and write your analysis for it 2 days later? No, you write it straight after you read it. If you read the piece during Reading Time, and then do Section A and/or B and then come back to C, you would have forgotten what the Language Analysis piece techniques were, and then you would have to re-read it again and thus waste time.

Some people may argue that Context is fresh in their mind, so it's easier to go with that and if you have done the topic before or a similar prompt, it makes more sense to start with that.

I guess its how quickly but well you can do Sections A and B if you do them first. If you can smash them out with time spare from each section because you nailed it in half an hour, then you can use that extra time to read the Language Analysis piece again. It's personal preference, but I hope that this has given those who aren't doing Language Analysis first a re-thought about their approach.

I'm not downplaying the idea (I just finished doing a Language Analysis, as you can see. :p) of doing Section A and/or B before C, but I do want to raise this point. :)
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Limista on September 27, 2013, 06:48:03 pm
^ yes I agree BUT:

I'd rather use those 15min for formulating a plan in my head for my text and context essays.

I find whenever I need to analyse a LA, I need to actually scribble down the techniques. I cannot remember techniques in the same way that I can remember my plans for text/context.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: jeanweasley on September 27, 2013, 06:49:18 pm
^ yes I agree BUT:

I'd rather use those 15min for formulating a plan in my head for my text and context essays.

I find whenever I need to analyse a LA, I need to actually scribble down the techniques. I cannot remember techniques in the same way that I can remember my plans for text/context.

But it's not about technique identification, it's about explaining its intended effect and how it aims to persuade the reader.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Damoz.G on September 27, 2013, 06:51:28 pm
^ yes I agree BUT:

I'd rather use those 15min for formulating a plan in my head for my text and context essays.

I find whenever I need to analyse a LA, I need to actually scribble down the techniques. I cannot remember techniques in the same way that I can remember my plans for text/context.

I guess its different for everyone.

For me, I simply highlight key phrases and terms in a piece, and then discuss the impact of them on the reader. A lot of people end up highlighting most of the piece that is presented to them. I only highlight key phrases and terms that I will discuss in my analysis.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Limista on September 27, 2013, 06:52:01 pm
@ Jean: How can you explain its intended effect if you don't identify how it's attempting to persuade you in the first place?
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: pi on September 27, 2013, 06:56:33 pm
Just because something is persuasive, doesn't mean its got a "technique" name-tag attached to it. Some of the best analyses can got through an article without mentioning anything like that but by instead focusing on specific words which just have a great effect on the target audience(s).

As I said earlier, looking for "techniques" is pretty superficial and probably isn't the best way to go about it (not that I was ever great at English).
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Limista on September 27, 2013, 06:59:09 pm
Just because something is persuasive, doesn't mean its got a "technique" name-tag attached to it. Some of the best analyses can got through an article without mentioning anything like that but by instead focusing on specific words which just have a great effect on the target audience(s).

As I said earlier, looking for "techniques" is pretty superficial and probably isn't the best way to go about it (not that I was ever great at English).

that's true. Should've watched how I used the term; wasn't pedantic enough.

But you get my gist  :P

edit: As for the part I underlined in your post - if the writer used adjectives like 'demoralising' and  'horrid', you can say that these are persuasive techniques. But I agree with the fact that you wouldn't explicitly pinpoint these as 'techniques' in your LA.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Alwin on September 27, 2013, 07:37:40 pm
My method is probably the most retarded out there, so I'll share it with you guys :P

15 minutes reading time:
  5 minutes brainstorming and planning for all four TR prompts, deciding which one I can write the best with
10 minutes reading and analysing the article/(s), deciding how I'll break down the piece into paragraphs to write about


Start:
10 minutes planning for everything, the "shotgun" approach. Jot down all my ideas onto 3 separate pages - one for each section
40 minutes or so writing the first half of my LA (section C). Meanwhile, I'll be thinking about TR and C&P prompts and jotting any other ideas I have about them on my planning sheets
50 minutes write my C&P (section B)
45 minutes or so writing my TR (section A), everything except the conclusion
30 minutes finish LA then go back reread my TR essay and write the conclusion

Last 5 minutes (if that) stress about why I did my essays in such a stupid order (done the same thing for both practise exams so far) and try to pick up as many of my mistakes as I can :P


Sometimes I even change halfway between essays... please don't bag me. Sheets are always everywhere when I write LOL
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Damoz.G on September 27, 2013, 08:00:25 pm
My method is probably the most retarded out there, so I'll share it with you guys :P

15 minutes reading time:
  5 minutes brainstorming and planning for all four TR prompts, deciding which one I can write the best with
10 minutes reading and analysing the article/(s), deciding how I'll break down the piece into paragraphs to write about


Start:
10 minutes planning for everything, the "shotgun" approach. Jot down all my ideas onto 3 separate pages - one for each section
40 minutes or so writing the first half of my LA (section C). Meanwhile, I'll be thinking about TR and C&P prompts and jotting any other ideas I have about them on my planning sheets
50 minutes write my C&P (section B)
45 minutes or so writing my TR (section A), everything except the conclusion
30 minutes finish LA then go back reread my TR essay and write the conclusion

Last 5 minutes (if that) stress about why I did my essays in such a stupid order (done the same thing for both practise exams so far) and try to pick up as many of my mistakes as I can :P


Sometimes I even change halfway between essays... please don't bag me. Sheets are always everywhere when I write LOL

WOW! That's a lot on your mind during the Exam, Alwin!

I for one, could not be thinking about so many different things within such a small amount of time. If I tried that, my three pieces would be all over the shop, with no flow!  :P

If it works for you, then that's great! :)
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Alwin on September 27, 2013, 08:24:14 pm
Do you have ADHD? LOL how do you seriously do that!?

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374165_343810439000200_905093863_n.jpg)

But seriously, its just weird. Like I'll be half way through a TR or something and suddenly have an idea for the C&P. Rather than wait, I just switch essays completely :P
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: BasicAcid on September 27, 2013, 08:38:58 pm
(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374165_343810439000200_905093863_n.jpg)

But seriously, its just weird. Like I'll be half way through a TR or something and suddenly have an idea for the C&P. Rather than wait, I just switch essays completely :P

Is that a GIF? It's vibrating...
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: aprilda on September 27, 2013, 08:54:08 pm
I would go LA > TR > C only because I know I struggle more in context than TR.
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Alwin on September 27, 2013, 09:00:07 pm
Is that a GIF? It's vibrating...

its a .jpg

must mean there's something wrong with your eyes ;)
Title: Re: What order do you guys do your essays in?
Post by: Shenz0r on September 27, 2013, 09:03:59 pm
During reading time, read over the language analysis article, definitely. Think about the main arguments and how the author is using specific words and connotations to argue her point. In the last 5 mins of reading time, glance over the prompts for the context and text response. When writing time commences, quickly jot down your points/plans for each of your essays on the side - this should take less than 2 minutes.

My order of writing was always first language analysis, then context, then text response.