Question on selected texts

[dekoyl]

We are doing the following texts next year:

• Richard the Third
  In the Lake of the Woods
  Crucible
  Secret River
  

I'm yet unfamiliar with the structure of the course but I'm wondering which one would be best to start off with in the holidays. (I'll try to get through all four, though.)

[shinny]

Richard the Third and In the Lake of the Woods are your texts for 'Reading and Responding'; the section where you write a direct essay on your text and need to know them back to front. Given that, definitely start on these on the holidays, read through each once and try and take an early preference in one or the other. If you're still undecided, it doesn't matter too much but of course it helps to prioritise your studies early. Once you've decided, try and read through the one you want a second time and highlight all the important quotes. Either text is good IMO, but Richard might be a turn off if Shakespearean language pisses you off. However, I'd say the ability to mention stagecraft puts you at an easy advantage over others since not many others bother to mention this stuff. On the other hand, from what I've heard, In the Lake of the Woods had a pretty ugly topic this year that no one was prepared for, so I think that goes to show that this text leaves a lot of room for topics you've never seen. Besides, McRob is doing this text too so you MIGHT want to stay away =P (but of course, this shouldn't affect your decision if you want to do this text)

The Crucible and The Secret River are your texts for the Encountering Conflict context, so you won't need to know these very in-depth, but it helps to have general understanding of the plot so a skim read might do it. I'd say its hard to start using these until you start doing the context and know exactly what you're looking for in these texts, since they're really just a source of examples. So I'd say hold back on these, and focus on your other two.

[dekoyl]

Richard the Third and In the Lake of the Woods are your texts for 'Reading and Responding'; the section where you write a direct essay on your text and need to know them back to front. Given that, definitely start on these on the holidays, read through each once and try and take an early preference in one or the other. If you're still undecided, it doesn't matter too much but of course it helps to prioritise your studies early. Once you've decided, try and read through the one you want a second time and highlight all the important quotes. Either text is good IMO, but Richard might be a turn off if Shakespearean language pisses you off. However, I'd say the ability to mention stagecraft puts you at an easy advantage over others since not many others bother to mention this stuff. On the other hand, from what I've heard, In the Lake of the Woods had a pretty ugly topic this year that no one was prepared for, so I think that goes to show that this text leaves a lot of room for topics you've never seen. Besides, McRob is doing this text too so you MIGHT want to stay away =P (but of course, this shouldn't affect your decision if you want to do this text)

The Crucible and The Secret River are your texts for the Encountering Conflict context, so you won't need to know these very in-depth, but it helps to have general understanding of the plot so a skim read might do it. I'd say its hard to start using these until you start doing the context and know exactly what you're looking for in these texts, since they're really just a source of examples. So I'd say hold back on these, and focus on your other two.

Thank you! I think I'll start with In the Lake of the Woods (I do get slightly annoyed at times with Shakespearean language and the constant interruptions that I may encounter when I don't understand something.)

[Eliseblack]

in the lake of the woods is such a good book,
i read it 7 times, each time finding new stuff so i would recommend reading that first!!
the essay topics weren't that bad, they were pretty expected i think..

[xox.happy1.xox]

The Secret River was basically all I talked about in my context essay this year. Now that I think of it, I wish I was still in school.

[shonakennedy]

crucible fails. althought i would recommend watching the movie before reading the book simply because it helps you understand wft is going on. its confusing otherwise.

[Glockmeister]

The Secret River was basically all I talked about in my context essay this year. Now that I think of it, I wish I was still in school.

crucible fails. althought i would recommend watching the movie before reading the book simply because it helps you understand wft is going on. its confusing otherwise.

Ya serious? I totally dug The Crucible, thought it was a great play.

[shonakennedy]

nah i spent the whole time just wanting to slap out all the characters and force them to grow up. it was an ok play. but you can fall into the trap of only talking about basic concepts in terms of encountering conflict very easily.

[dekoyl]

crucible fails. althought i would recommend watching the movie before reading the book simply because it helps you understand wft is going on. its confusing otherwise.

Thanks I'll consider getting the movie. It'll serve as a good distraction anyway

[beezy4eva]

Crucible is stupid. Might want to look up some of the background information on it, like details about why Arthur Miller wrote it, the red scare & Mcarthyism. Helps you relate it to Encounering Conflict.

[xox.happy1.xox]

crucible fails. althought i would recommend watching the movie before reading the book simply because it helps you understand wft is going on. its confusing otherwise.

Thanks I'll consider getting the movie. It'll serve as a good distraction anyway

Anything to get out of reading the play

[Glockmeister]

I can't believe all this hate over the Crucible ... it's an awesome play.