ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: Gazza15 on October 27, 2012, 03:09:27 pm
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Just curious, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 in Language Analysis by simply going chronologically, but being sophisticated / making links throughout the analysis?
And also, with Context, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 with a well written expository article? Because most of the high scoring VCAA pieces have elements of creativity in them...
thanks :)
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Just curious, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 in Language Analysis by simply going chronologically, but being sophisticated / making links throughout the analysis?
And also, with Context, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 with a well written expository article? Because most of the high scoring VCAA pieces have elements of creativity in them...
thanks :)
If you write the most beautiful and lyrical language analysis using chronological method then yes you can get a 9 or 10, but IMO its quite hard to score high using this method as your writing tends to turn out really blocky.
And yes if you write the best expository piece ever seen in context writing you will get a 10
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Just curious, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 in Language Analysis by simply going chronologically, but being sophisticated / making links throughout the analysis?
And also, with Context, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 with a well written expository article? Because most of the high scoring VCAA pieces have elements of creativity in them...
thanks :)
If you write the most beautiful and lyrical language analysis using chronological method then yes you can get a 9 or 10, but IMO its quite hard to score high using this method as your writing tends to turn out really blocky.
And yes if you write the best expository piece ever seen in context writing you will get a 10
Ok, so what is the best method to go for to score very highly in LA? thx
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Structure paras by argument was the best technique for me :)
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Structure paras by argument was the best technique for me :)
Was that a technique that persuaded the examiner that yours was best? ;)
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Do you guys have any examples of (high scoring) LAs with paragraphs structured by argument?
Most of the ones I find, like on TSFX, are just slabs of urghhh.
I go about doing mine chronologically, but I definitely don't have insanely "beautiful" writing to pull off a 9 (which is what I'm aiming for).
If there aren't any samples, maybe could you provide a bit of guidance on how to approach a certain article?
I'm trying to analyse this article at the moment, which seems to kinda sit on the fence.
http://engageeducation.org.au/engagedownloads/Practice%20VCE%20Exams/English/Unit%203%20&%204%20English%20and%20ESL%20-%20Practice%20Exam.pdf
I know we're like 5 days away from the exam, but I'm willing to change my approach if it'll help me potentially get a better mark.
Cheers :)
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Theres's heaps of language analysis examples here: English Work Examples Directory
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Can someone please go into more detail about what they mean by structuring by arguments?
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Can someone please go into more detail about what they mean by structuring by arguments?
The author of the article will be presenting some kind of point of view or idea. Throughout the entire article you can pick out a few major points or "arguments" that they put forward, and then use each of those as the basis for a paragraph. If there's supplementary material, you should be able to figure out what argument that relates to (is it agreeing or opposing) and slot things in that way etc.
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Just curious, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 in Language Analysis by simply going chronologically, but being sophisticated / making links throughout the analysis?
And also, with Context, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 with a well written expository article? Because most of the high scoring VCAA pieces have elements of creativity in them...
thanks :)
You can definitely score well with a straight expository essay, I did this in the exam and it worked out okay. But I'd recommend starting with a quote, creative element or metaphor if you have the time to think of some to include - eg. for identity and belonging - identity is like a blank canvas, we can mould who we are like clay, we are the authors of our own stories and lives etc...
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I split LA paragraphs by 'aim'.
For instance, evoking fear (generally of a particular thing); inspiring to action; establishing authority as an expert; discrediting alternatives; etc.
I find aims to be better than arguments because rather than being 'content' focused they are 'effect' (on audience) focused. Also, since the aim is not limited to one specific argument you can draw text examples from across the entire piece (plus any images, layout, paratextual components) to connect in the one paragraph.
I also find this structure works well for comparative analyses, as often pieces will each try to achieve similar aims, but go about them in different ways. Thus the comparative analysis.
Regarding Context, I find one of the easiest ways to turn an expository into something a little more 'pizzazzy' is to contextualise it. For example, an expository only needs a little tweaking in order to become a pretend speech, a debate presentation, an advice/opinion column. Same essential intro and paragraph structure, but you put a specific 'voice' through it and tweak the intros/outros for each point.
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I split LA paragraphs by 'aim'.
For instance, evoking fear (generally of a particular thing); inspiring to action; establishing authority as an expert; discrediting alternatives; etc.
I find aims to be better than arguments because rather than being 'content' focused they are 'effect' (on audience) focused. Also, since the aim is not limited to one specific argument you can draw text examples from across the entire piece (plus any images, layout, paratextual components) to connect in the one paragraph.
I also find this structure works well for comparative analyses, as often pieces will each try to achieve similar aims, but go about them in different ways. Thus the comparative analysis.
Regarding Context, I find one of the easiest ways to turn an expository into something a little more 'pizzazzy' is to contextualise it. For example, an expository only needs a little tweaking in order to become a pretend speech, a debate presentation, an advice/opinion column. Same essential intro and paragraph structure, but you put a specific 'voice' through it and tweak the intros/outros for each point.
thanks heaps! makes sense :)
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How does one pick out the key arguments of an article?
So
Intro:
- Form
- Author
- Contention
- Issue
- Tone
- Date
Para 1:
- Argument 1
- Language Technique
- Example
- Impact
- Effect
etc?
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I split LA paragraphs by 'aim'.
For instance, evoking fear (generally of a particular thing); inspiring to action; establishing authority as an expert; discrediting alternatives; etc.
I find aims to be better than arguments because rather than being 'content' focused they are 'effect' (on audience) focused. Also, since the aim is not limited to one specific argument you can draw text examples from across the entire piece (plus any images, layout, paratextual components) to connect in the one paragraph.
Awesome, thanks!
Can it be applied to more "unconventional", if you will, texts?
Kinda like last year's blog, which I'd like to be prepared to have something similar this year.
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I've got 9 with expository a few times (marked by teacher) but you can get high marks despite what form you do. There is no form that will automatically bump up your mark.
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Can someone please go into more detail about what they mean by structuring by arguments?
The author of the article will be presenting some kind of point of view or idea. Throughout the entire article you can pick out a few major points or "arguments" that they put forward, and then use each of those as the basis for a paragraph. If there's supplementary material, you should be able to figure out what argument that relates to (is it agreeing or opposing) and slot things in that way etc.
This is what I would be doing to plan my LA during the first 2 mins of writing time:
-Bring highlighters of a different colour
-Identify the separate points/arguments in the article.
-Highlight different arguments with different colours. This will give you a visual plan of what to write.
For each point/argument, you expand on the techniques which the author uses to support them. For example, this is what you'd do in Insight 2010's article:
P1: Grey insinuates that all teenagers want to gain glory and fame by undertaking solo voyages. Encouraging such reckless behaviour will be inevitably destructive as it is persuading more teenagers to embrace danger as a result.
Evidence: "Crude publicity stunt", "daredevil acts", "modern culture of thrill-seeking...pours fuel on the spreading fire of teenager risk-taking", "death-defying feat", "wild adventures", "unjustifiable level of risk".
P2: Grey establishes parents who support this behaviour as irresponsible
Evidence: "Eager parents", "the motives of such parents need to be examined - are they needlessly endangering heir children's lives merely to gain a brief flash of publicity?", "Valuing reckless acts....robs children of the chance to lead normal lives", "parents who allow [such behaviour]....are unfit for the responsibility of child-raising".
P3: Grey portrays the mental fragility of teenagers, who may be psychologically harmed by the realistic nature of solo voyages - one of solitude and depression.
"Endless days and nights pass by in lonely succession", "...child is confronted with the emptiness and immensity of the ocean, the reality of being alone and vulnerable would sink in", "intense loneliness and awareness of vulnerability can be very harmful for young minds", VISUAL IMAGE
P4: Grey portrays adult annoyance at such activity
"It is, of course, we taxpayers who have to foot the bill for a rescue operation every time an inexperienced teen runs aground", "why would those in society who act responsibly have to fund the activities of whose who do not?"
Conclude.
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Just curious, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 in Language Analysis by simply going chronologically, but being sophisticated / making links throughout the analysis?
And also, with Context, is it possible to get a 9 or 10 with a well written expository article? Because most of the high scoring VCAA pieces have elements of creativity in them...
thanks :)
I only analysed chronologically in LA and I only wrote "expository" pieces for context and I got full marks in both. Yeah, sure it's possible, why not?
They're not assessing you on the essay style you pick. They assess you on how well you write in the way that you choose.
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I split LA paragraphs by 'aim'.
For instance, evoking fear (generally of a particular thing); inspiring to action; establishing authority as an expert; discrediting alternatives; etc.
I find aims to be better than arguments because rather than being 'content' focused they are 'effect' (on audience) focused. Also, since the aim is not limited to one specific argument you can draw text examples from across the entire piece (plus any images, layout, paratextual components) to connect in the one paragraph.
Awesome, thanks!
Can it be applied to more "unconventional", if you will, texts?
Kinda like last year's blog, which I'd like to be prepared to have something similar this year.
Absolutely! If anything, I find it an easier approach for unconventional texts - in fact, I get students to practice analysing creative texts such as Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' using that exact formula. With unconventional texts the aims are more subtle, but there are always three broad categories:
1. They want to establish a specific relationship with the audience (expert, sympathy, lecturing, encouraging, etc) that forms the basis of the trust.
2. They want to paint something or someone as negative: they will be *against* something (an idea, a behaviour, a policy, a social structure, etc) and want the audience to disapprove of it, too.
3. They want to paint something or someone as positive: they will be *in favour* of something, and want the audience to be in favour of it, too.