ATAR Notes: Forum
Archived Discussion => English Studies => 2013 => Exam Discussion => Victoria => English => Topic started by: pi on October 30, 2013, 10:24:56 am
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How's you guys go? :D All discussion here :)
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Thought the identity and belonging prompt was somewhat tough. What did people think?
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The imaginative landscape prompt was slightly different to what I had been preparing for.
Think it still went okay.
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Thought the identity and belonging prompt was somewhat tough. What did people think?
I thought it was a brilliant prompt for those writing creatively, very open-ended; shame that Bruce Dawe's Sometimes Gladness is no longer on the VCAA book list, it was the perfect text for this (and every I+B) prompt.
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Thought the identity and belonging prompt was somewhat tough. What did people think?
Yes. I had a bit of trouble but I think I went ok. It was probably the hardest one since 2008.
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I thought it was a brilliant prompt for those writing creatively, very open-ended; shame that Bruce Dawe's Sometimes Gladness is no longer on the VCAA book list, it was the perfect text for this (and every I+B) prompt.
Yeah it was a creative goldmine, but harder for kids doing expository I thought.
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The Whose Reality? prompt was quite different, but I still found it good. I predominantly used historical examples that resulted in some sort of physical or emotional damage for ourselves and others, and highlighted briefly why losing one's reality may not necessarily be a bad thing, for a short period of time anyway. For those that don't have access to the paper, the prompt was:
Losing touch with our reality is often dangerous.
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Yeah it was a creative goldmine, but harder for kids doing expository I thought.
Fair enough, but I still reckon it's manageable from an expository perspective.
I hope no one tried a persuasive piece, I would have struggled a lot with that. (N.B. Least objective statement of the exam period, what up)
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How's you guys go? :D All discussion here :)
This was the best Encountering Conflict topic that I'd seen, was very pleased with my essay.
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I died during encountering conflict :[
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I salute anyone who tried expository with encountering conflict ;;
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Identity and belonging prompt was a field trip for my imaginative piece.
I explored a number of concepts around it. Section B went smoothly.
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Do you think it was wrong that I did a paragraph on ageing for Identity? I heard assessors are quite old.. It wasn't derogatory.
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I salute anyone who tried expository with encountering conflict ;;
me, fml.
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I died during encountering conflict :[
Same! Was terrible
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How's you guys go? :D All discussion here :)
I think I did alright but I realised that I only had 30 minutes to complete context before the end of the exam so I was only able to do two body paragraphs. I hope that the assessor is drunk when they mark my section for context and give me a high mark ;P
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I know this might sound weird, but I actually enjoyed myself whilst answering the Whose Reality? prompt. That said, I don't know if the examiner will like it all too much. I did make quite a few bold statements haha.
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Damn that I&B prompt looked hard. I would've mind blanked for an hour or two lol
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lol the Whose Reality one gosh ><
I saw the prompt, wanted to talk about so much in my creative, but then didn't get to write as much as I wanted gosh. Wanted to challenge the prompt that we can use fantasies to escape a more dangerous reality etc etc
tl;dr: didn't work sigh. Hope everyone else did good tho :)
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I thought I could do a hybrid but I didn't have enough time! I minutely addressed the question but hopefully it'll scrape me a mark I want to get. I'm hoping for the best :D
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Conflict seemed pretty easy compared to A and C, should be my best mark as long as the examiners like what I write.
What text/s did you write about? I used Rugmaker and Quiet American, I hope that using two pays off though...
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lol the Whose Reality one gosh ><
I saw the prompt, wanted to talk about so much in my creative, but then didn't get to write as much as I wanted gosh. Wanted to challenge the prompt that we can use fantasies to escape a more dangerous reality etc etc
tl;dr: didn't work sigh. Hope everyone else did good tho :)
LOL! I liked the prompt for Whose Reality? as well. But yeah if I had 2 more minutes, I would have been able to include another paragraph. But I don't think it will jeopardise my mark, because it wasn't crucial. :P
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Ugh, identity and belonging was the WORST! My piece was so shocking I think I'll be lucky to get a 6! I've never encountered a prompt like that before and spent at least ten minutes just trying I think of what to write :(
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Ugh, identity and belonging was the WORST! My piece was so shocking I think I'll be lucky to get a 6! I've never encountered a prompt like that before and spent at least ten minutes just trying I think of what to write :(
Don't worry, a lot of people will have had that experience :), you'll do better than you think! When I looked at the prompt, my first thought was "shiiietttt". Put it out of your mind and go do some spesh or something :)
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Death to those who did an expository with the encountering conflict prompt, ie. me
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The Whose Reality? prompt was quite different, but I still found it good. I predominantly used historical examples that resulted in some sort of physical or emotional damage for ourselves and others, and highlighted briefly why losing one's reality may not necessarily be a bad thing, for a short period of time anyway. For those that don't have access to the paper, the prompt was:
It was surprisingly generic for a VCAA prompt, it looked more like one from a free Engage Education exam, not that I'm complaining I just expected something more constrictive and difficult as I quickly glanced over at the other contexts that had more complex specific prompts.. But hey, it's over! :D
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Death to those who did an expository with the encountering conflict prompt, ie. me
Me too
it was terrible hahaa and i was not prepared for imag or hybrid so expos had to be it
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It was surprisingly generic for a VCAA prompt, it looked more like one from a free Engage Education exam, not that I'm complaining I just expected something more constrictive and difficult as I quickly glanced over at the other contexts that had more complex specific prompts.. But hey, it's over! :D
Yeah, if anything, it was a bit of a challenge to unpack and find more questions in that prompt. I took the path of discussing different ways of 'losing sight of our reality' (namely an obsession for power, fantasy and conformity) and highlighted how each resulted in some sort of danger for either those directly involved or for others, despite the minor benefits that exist for the aforementioned three ideas. I probably should have made it more persuasive since the slight lack of scope would have been accommodated more, but I'm not too upset with this piece.
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Identity & Belonging (Skin) was tough as heck for me.
I just wrote an analogy about Clay being moulded and integrated some stuff about how clay is somewhat resistant to change bleghlashfasdlkas
*tears*
It was kind of a curve ball.
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Yeah, if anything, it was a bit of a challenge to unpack and find more questions in that prompt. I took the path of discussing different ways of 'losing sight of our reality' (namely an obsession for power, fantasy and conformity) and highlighted how each resulted in some sort of danger for either those directly involved or for others, despite the minor benefits that exist for the aforementioned three ideas. I probably should have made it more persuasive since the slight lack of scope would have been accommodated more, but I'm not too upset with this piece.
What was your primary text? I used The Lot, though I hated it, it was a treasure chest of random english ideas to use. I couldn't bring myself to Spies or Death of a Salesman *shudders*
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The texts that I wrote on the exam (On the Waterfront and The Lot: In Words) were the two texts I actually liked the least. lol
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I did expository for encountering conflict! It went okay, the prompt could have been worse
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I thought that the Whose Reality prompt was pretty standard. Seemed kind of similair to last year's (both prompts were about fantasies/illusions), but that didn't bother me, fits in really nicely with Death of a Salesman
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I just hope the examiner gets my implicit links to the prompt in my creative piece, because they're all there they just aren't 'oh why oh why is this conflict of conscious JUST AS DIFFICULT as the conflicts between people going on around me', they're more subtle. I'll get a good score if the examiner's like my story, otherwise bleh
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Put it out of your mind and go do some spesh or something :)
Nothing like spesh to get your mind worried on a new level.
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Nothing like spesh to get your mind worried on a new level.
Hhahahaha fantastic.
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The texts that I wrote on the exam (On the Waterfront and The Lot: In Words) were the two texts I actually liked the least. lol
I had studied OTW too, but I just got so bored with the whole truth and conscience ideas :-X And though this year it seemed the prompts were basic, in the past the prompts go on tangents to the score or cinematography to very general themes then specific characters so I used Year of Wonders as a novel just because I had a fair idea of what could come up ;)
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did expository for encountering and loved it ;D id already done the same prompt as a practise piece and many other similar so my plan id made succeeded :D
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I finally decided on my creative topic about a week out from the exam. Nearly cried with joy when I opened up the section B bit and read the prompt for Imaginative Landscape. Applied a few Peripheal Light quotes here and there as well as the idea of droughts and issues with low yields.
Just did my best to keep bringing up 'threats' and 'comforts'.
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LOL! I liked the prompt for Whose Reality? as well. But yeah if I had 2 more minutes, I would have been able to include another paragraph. But I don't think it will jeopardise my mark, because it wasn't crucial. :P
So though, okay so I'm doing creative, have like 3-4 story skeletons I can apply to various situations. Addressed memory, alternate realities, fantasy vs reality etc etc.
and then I saw this and thought:
2008 Prompt: ‘We can evade “reality” but we cannot avoid the consequences of doing so.’
Oh there probs WON'T be another prompt about the consequences of living in fantasies etc
So didn't prepare a response on consequences or dangers of evading reality
NEKMINUT
2013 Prompt: ‘Loosing touch with reality is often dangerous’
Did a pretty mundane pedestrian creative piece that I had to make up on the spot.
Isn't that I minded that I had to make it up, it was pretty fun, but I bet there were people that memorised answers for the 2008 prompt and could use it for today's exam :(
Moral of the story: screw vcaa :P
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You made one up on the spot? Oh dear. You're scaring me, Alwin!
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What sort of mark do you reckon I'll get for my context essay if I was heading for around a 6/10, but I only completed 3/4 of my essay? I was halfway through the last body paragraph when they said "pens down".
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What sort of mark do you reckon I'll get for my context essay if I was heading for around a 6/10, but I only completed 3/4 of my essay? I was halfway through the last body paragraph when they said "pens down".
4.5
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4.5
Really? So they don't make huge mark deductions when you hand in an unfinished essay?
I was worried they would give me like a 2/10 for handing in an uncompleted essay... if I can get a 4.5 for my context then I'll be really happy!
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Hi
Did anyone draw on ideas from Summer of the Seventeenth Doll? :D :D
I wrote a short story (I & B). Footy captains and leaders going to have to forgo their captaincy and role in the team, to give way for younger players... ROO AND JOHNNIE DOWD
Any good? i felt stressed
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Oh kmerhi that's a mad idea but I memorized a change essay and just put in I had a gut feeling change would be the prompt and I was right
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Really? So they don't make huge mark deductions when you hand in an unfinished essay?
I was worried they would give me like a 2/10 for handing in an uncompleted essay... if I can get a 4.5 for my context then I'll be really happy!
You're not gonna get a 2! Don't stress. What's done is done and you can't change it. You've done what you could, so all you can do is worry about your other exams. :)
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You're not gonna get a 2! Don't stress. What's done is done and you can't change it. You've done what you could, so all you can do is worry about your other exams. :)
I have no other exams. My entire year was just English.
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I have no other exams. My entire year was just English.
Oh oops...Didn't see that in your Signature.
Wait....I'm confused. I'm not saying this in a disrespectful way, but could you please explain the situation?
I'm curious to know. :)
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Oh oops...Didn't see that in your Signature.
Wait....I'm confused. I'm not saying this in a disrespectful way, but could you please explain the situation?
I'm curious to know. :)
Yeah sure. I did year 12 last year at Flinders College, did 5 VCE subjects like normal and got an ATAR score.
Then I applied for university and all my preferences were for Monash or Melbourne. I had the ATAR score I needed, but they wouldn't let me in because I didn't get a 25 in literature. I got no first or second round offers. I thought about applying elsewhere like Deakin university through a direct application, but I had my heart set on Melbourne and I was worried that they might not let me transfer from Deakin to Melbourne.
So instead, I decided to do VCE English at the Frankston Chisholm. I was only required to attend class once a week and I was able to work full-time throughout the year and save up a bit of cash. So it's been almost like a gap year for me, just going to class once a week. If I get the 25 in English that I need, then I will get direct access into Melbourne uni and I will have redeemed myself. Otherwise I will have screwed up 2 years in a row. I guess I'll just have to wait and see which one it is...
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Yeah sure. I did year 12 last year at Flinders College, did 5 VCE subjects like normal and got an ATAR score.
Then I applied for university and all my preferences were for Monash or Melbourne. I had the ATAR score I needed, but they wouldn't let me in because I didn't get a 25 in literature. I got no first or second round offers. I thought about applying elsewhere like Deakin university through a direct application, but I had my heart set on Melbourne and I was worried that they might not let me transfer from Deakin to Melbourne.
So instead, I decided to do VCE English at the Frankston Chisholm. I was only required to attend class once a week and I was able to work full-time throughout the year and save up a bit of cash. So it's been almost like a gap year for me, just going to class once a week. If I get the 25 in English that I need, then I will get direct access into Melbourne uni and I will have redeemed myself. Otherwise I will have screwed up 2 years in a row. I guess I'll just have to wait and see which one it is...
Ohh okay. That makes a lot more sense to me now. Thank you for explaining that, really appreciate it. So is it a guaranteed acceptance at Melbourne Uni with a 25 in English?
But I really do wish you all the best with it! I'm sure you will be fine with the dedication that you have put into English this year. Keep us posted - I would like to know how it goes, but I understand if you don't want to share anymore details with us. :)
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I did a persuasive piece for the identity and belonging prompt with like no more than 30 minutes to spare, lost all my vocabulary! How many pages are examiners expecting? Only did like 2.5 pages. :(
My hatred for English is sososo strong at the moment!
Did anyone else have difficulty sleeping?
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Context was my fave! I wrote in third person about Vigot in the Quiet American and his crushing inner conflict as he sits ruminating at his desk about Fowler and the wife he so strangely loves. ;) Mentioned Pascal's wager and the French idea of justice because I thought both were relevant to guilt, conscience, etc. Felt soso good about it considering my er, false start...
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Ohh okay. That makes a lot more sense to me now. Thank you for explaining that, really appreciate it. So is it a guaranteed acceptance at Melbourne Uni with a 25 in English?
But I really do wish you all the best with it! I'm sure you will be fine with the dedication that you have put into English this year. Keep us posted - I would like to know how it goes, but I understand if you don't want to share anymore details with us. :)
I'm happy to share details with whoever is interested :)
Last year they had what was called "Access Melbourne" where anyone who went to an underrepresented school would get guaranteed access into Melbourne uni with much lower ATAR scores than would normally be required. Since my old school (Flinders College) was underrepresented, I could get guaranteed entry into a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with only a 78 ATAR score, when they would normally require around a 91. But of course, you also need to reach the prerequisites, which was 25 in an English subject (or 30 in ESL).
I'm not sure if I'll be eligible for Access Melbourne with my weird circumstance of changing schools, but hopefully I'll get a decent English score that will raise my ATAR anyway. I still have SEAS to count for something, so I'm fairly confident that if I can get a 25 in English, then I'll make it into UoM.
And even if Melbourne doesn't accept me with a 25 in English, then Monash will. I would be happy with either university.
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I'm happy to share details with whoever is interested :)
Last year they had what was called "Access Melbourne" where anyone who went to an underrepresented school would get guaranteed access into Melbourne uni with much lower ATAR scores than would normally be required. Since my old school (Flinders College) was underrepresented, I could get guaranteed entry into a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with only a 78 ATAR score, when they would normally require around a 91. But of course, you also need to reach the prerequisites, which was 25 in an English subject (or 30 in ESL).
I'm not sure if they still have Access Melbourne this year and I'm not sure if I'll be eligible for it with my weird circumstance of changing schools, but hopefully I'll get a decent English score that will raise my ATAR anyway. I still have SEAS to count for something, so I'm fairly confident that if I can get a 25 in English, then I'll make it into UoM.
And even if Melbourne doesn't accept me with a 25 in English, then Monash will. I would be happy with either university.
WOW! Thank you again for taking the time to explain that. :)
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Encountering conflict was such a good prompt! I was relieved when I saw it.
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Encountering conflict was such a good prompt! I was relieved when I saw it.
I think you're the first person who does Conflict to say that on here. HAHA! I haven't seen anyone else say that. :P
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Encountering conflict was such a good prompt! I was relieved when I saw it.
Funny because that was the only essay I couldn't finish...
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Encountering conflict was such a good prompt! I was relieved when I saw it.
agreed it was a good one!: D
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I loved the identity prompt
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Conflict was different to the essays I'd wrote to prepare, my piece is a newspaper article, which addresses america's potential involvement in Syria through considering their interference in the First Indo Chinese War. (The Quiet American.)
My piece usually goes on to discuss the difference between academic and literal approaches to war (Pyle v Fowler, to those who know the text)
So basically I wrote about how soldiers from different nations are pitted individually against each other due to the conscience of government officials blah blah blah. That the two concepts are not only comparable but actually entwined.
I felt terrible while writing it, but now I think I will get seriously either a 4 or an 8. War isn't exactly an interpersonal conflict, it's a global conflict. ??? Duhhhhhh, all I can do is cross my fingers now!
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Are you kidding? That sounds like pure genius :)
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I really liked some of my practice pieces but I'm really uncertain about how I addressed conflicts between people. >:(
I'm just trying not to think about it or I will go insane haha! Thank you though that is very lovely of you :D
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I really liked some of my practice pieces but I'm really uncertain about how I addressed conflicts between people. >:(
I'm just trying not to think about it or I will go insane haha! Thank you though that is very lovely of you :D
I'm the same, I'm pretty sure I addressed the conflict of conscience part of the prompt well, but not so sure about the people bit either.
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Yeah, I thought Whose Reality? was a fair question. I spent a bit of time exploring philosophy, filtering it throughout my texts which I really wanted to do. Fingers crossed.
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I think you're the first person who does Conflict to say that on here. HAHA! I haven't seen anyone else say that. :P
It was basically two prompts in one. I found it really easy to address.
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The encountering conflict topic was exactly what i had been researching all year. I really licked out there
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Lucked*