Tips for the English exam

[ggxxx]

‘RUNS ON THE BOARD’
Greetings fellow 2011 English students
It’s your lucky day today! Had a chief examiner come to my school last Friday (Gippsland Grammar), and he’s from Mt Scopus with heaps of people getting over 45 in English year after year (according to Topscores.info). He’s tips were:
•   Best to prepare for two text responses as questions can be VERY ambiguous
•   In general, aim for approx 15-20 quotes in your text response
•   Language analysis: Use 5-6 strategies (max), use the holistic approach
•   Creating and presenting: (I am studying Whose Reality?) He mentioned that expository essays are generally bland and it becomes tedious to mark. He strongly suggested to do creative if you are aiming high for English. (For examples look at sample Creative Pieces on VN and Assessor’s Report)
•   Language analysis: What is the writer intending to bring forth to the reader/audience?
Good luck guys! I really hope this heaps
Less than two weeks to go! 

[geoftw]

Thanks so much for the tips

Thankfully I've been doing Creative Pieces + I've been doing pretty well in them

YAY! best of luck 'ggxxx'

[costa94]

expositories are bland if youre shit

[seretide]

15-20 quotes for the text response? T_T

Can barely remember 5

[burbs]

‘RUNS ON THE BOARD’
Greetings fellow 2011 English students
It’s your lucky day today! Had a chief examiner come to my school last Friday (Gippsland Grammar), and he’s from Mt Scopus with heaps of people getting over 45 in English year after year (according to Topscores.info). He’s tips were:
•   Best to prepare for two text responses as questions can be VERY ambiguous
•   In general, aim for approx 15-20 quotes in your text response
•   Language analysis: Use 5-6 strategies (max), use the holistic approach
•   Creating and presenting: (I am studying Whose Reality?) He mentioned that expository essays are generally bland and it becomes tedious to mark. He strongly suggested to do creative if you are aiming high for English. (For examples look at sample Creative Pieces on VN and Assessor’s Report)
•   Language analysis: What is the writer intending to bring forth to the reader/audience?
Good luck guys! I really hope this heaps
Less than two weeks to go! 

Only thing I'm a bit uncertain about is learning two texts for TR. Can be a bit unnecessary IMO. The last two points seem to be something they really want these days.

[Ghost!]

Thanks for sharing, although as burbs said there are several items in that list that need further discussion.

- Expository essays can be for the most part bland, but clever construction and use of language as well as generally interesting discussion + ideas solves this problem.

- Preparing for two Text Response essays can help a student avoid a confusing or ambiguous question, but is for the most part a waste of time. If a student prepares to the full extent possible for a text then there should be no question which is for the most part unanswerable.

- Personal opinion now, I think 20 quotes is probably too much evidence not enough explanation. Generally three key pieces of evidence is appropriate per paragraph, and going any longer than 5 paragraphs is definitely too long.

[chemkid_23]

the thing with context is that to write a creative you gotta be a gun, otherwise it's to risky and could cost you dearly. I'm doing expository, safest option and I think easiest to get out every idea you have. It won't be blund, mix it up with anecdotes and bit humorous and interesting for them to read.

[lexitu]

I disagree with point 1 and 2.

1: Ambiguity can be made up for with better preparation, and if they are ambiguous then that means you have more scope for interpretation of the topic!
2: Do this if you want a shallow commentary on your novel.

[chemkid_23]

And with quotes you guys do know that it can be single words, doesnt have to be long sentences. Single words or short quotes to weave in work best.

[werdna]

What do you mean by the holistic approach to language analysis? :/

[lexitu]

I am guessing not to talk about persuasive techniques in isolation and to link them with the greater intention?

[chemkid_23]

means how everything is related/connects together

[Andiio]

Why does everyone condemn expository - I for one believe that it's a great medium for the top marks!

[Dr.Lecter]

expository = safe/ fallback

[illuminati]

Expository by itself is a very good means of exploring the prompt - and thats what examiners do tend to look at
But of course, if your expository essay has some kind of format: i.e in a newspaper, magazine, report, then it does make it much more enjoyable to read than a straight expository essay and if the examiner is tossing up between giving you 8 or 9 you might just get the 9.