To get a high mark in the context piece, do you have to be very creative?

[DiMennzzaa]

For example do you have to start your introduction with lyrics from a song or write your piece in a letter to the editor style or diary entries or use really unknown social parallels to make your piece really stand out....

...or can you just do a simple, well-balanced, deeply explored expository piece and still get a good mark?

[saheh]

Hey I do the latter and get good marks. I often start with a quote that reflects the prompt (from someone well known) or a personal anecdote
And my teacher says try not use obscure parallels, as it still should be something most people can relate too, maybe just try something not everyone uses...

The thing I say to everyone is don't be bored by your own writing, have fun!

[Surgeon]

I've had great successes and terrible failures with creative context pieces. They either work superbly, or they don't at all with me.

I find that expository pieces are much safer to write, but more difficult to gain an outstanding score, so you need to have ideas that are previously unheard of to the assessor, have a succinct yet grandiose vocabulary and writing style, to get that esteemed 9/10+.

I have heaps of fun writing creative pieces, I don't particularly have fun, although I do enjoy, writing expository pieces.

[paulsterio]

For example do you have to start your introduction with lyrics from a song or write your piece in a letter to the editor style or diary entries or use really unknown social parallels to make your piece really stand out....

...or can you just do a simple, well-balanced, deeply explored expository piece and still get a good mark?

You can do a simple, well-balanced, deeply explored expository and still get a good mark - like my pretty mediocre expository managed to get 8.5/10 on the Exam and another expository of mine got 46/50 for a SAC - so you can defs pull it off.

Obviously choose the style that suits you and allows you to show off your knowledge of the text, control of language and vocabulary. I know a lot of students choose the wrong form - for example, a lot of artistic writers choose expository because they think that form is "safer" and hence, they end up getting a lower mark than they could have got. Whereas I know other students who really can't write creative pieces (they sounded dry, boring, uncreative) even though they knew their text well and their phrasing and language was quite good - so you have to choose what suits you best - there isn't a "one-size-fits-all".

[charmanderp]

My two pretty standard expository essays (text responses framed within the context of exploring Encountering Conflict) got me 29/30 and  30/30 and quite a few other high scorers for the SAC wrote in a similar fashion.

This is the 29/30 essay: Re: English Work Examples Directory. Not very creative at all.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

A good creative beats a good expository ten out of ten times. But that doesn't mean you can't score highly with an expository. It is just a bit more difficult.

Just remember in the end, it is the ideas that they are looking for and if you can nail that bit in a presentable manner, you will get a good mark regardless. Learn to be creative and original with your ideas first if you want to stand out more.

[paulsterio]

A good creative beats a good expository ten out of ten times. But that doesn't mean you can't score highly with an expository. It is just a bit more difficult.

Do you actually have any evidence to support this statement?

[charmanderp]

A good creative beats a good expository ten out of ten times. But that doesn't mean you can't score highly with an expository. It is just a bit more difficult.

Not only is this untrue, it's not even what this thread is asking. The topic is whether or not you have to have a creative approach to an expository piece ie. with the structure, framing, etc, in order to score highly in this style.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

 If you have read the whole thing, and not take it out of context, you would probably understand that the above serve only as a point I am trying to make. That being, although a creative or different approach/style if done well, will get you the exceptional marks, it is fundamentally important to understand first and foremost, that the foundation of all good essays remains to be the depth and quality of the ideas explored.

No i don't have empirical evidence or stats if that is what you are looking for. It is my honest opinion, from the experiences that I have had, and from what my tutor have taught and told me time and time again.

[paulsterio]

No i don't have empirical evidence or stats if that is what you are looking for. It is my honest opinion, from the experiences that I have had, and from what my tutor have taught and told me time and time again.

Then it's not true - because I know many 10/10 essays which were written as an Expository style - furthermore, why does Expository continue to be popular amongst students if it's that hard to score well in. Just because your tutor told you something doesn't mean that it's true.

He might be telling you that because he thinks you are more suited to writing creative pieces...etc.

In my view and according to what I've read (Assessor's Reports...etc.) you should choose the form you are most comfortable writing with.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

So you are saying, if there is two ten out of ten pieces, one a creative and another an expository, then they are both equally good? Well, that logic doesn't work because we all know the standard marking is that every piece is marked from a scale of a 10, or a 100, or whatever. Both may deserve the mark of a 10/10 in the given cohort, but that does not mean both pieces are equal in quality.

"furthermore, why does Expository continue to be popular amongst students if it's that hard to score well in."
Because it is more accessible and perhaps because writing a good creative which links to the prompt and the ideas which it requires is just too damn difficult under one hour. Why do you think most ESL students pick Expository in the exam? Because it is relatively easy to write a decent expository, than it is to write a decent creative. And why? Because creative pieces usually need more thought, and therefore more time, and it is more demanding in the language department. Why is that so? Perhaps, in part, it is because of the culture, or the era where we live in, a time where students are more comfortable with consistent, formulaic and systemic type assessments.

" Just because your tutor told you something doesn't mean that it's true. "
Honestly, I don't know where you are heading. If you want to go to the philosophy bit about truth and knowledge and start question your very existence, that is one thing. But from my knowledge, this is an advice thread, and we give advice as we see fit- as best and as honestly as we can. Like I have said before, I have only given a strong expression of my honest opinion.

"In my view and according to what I've read (Assessor's Reports...etc.) you should choose the form you are most comfortable writing with."
You said it yourself, and I agree. You just answered your previous question. They are more comfortable with it, however, as a consequence, the competition is likely to be stronger to write a standout expository piece.

[rachaelcool]

Do you think its better in the exam to write a hybrid or creative context as opposed to expository due to the examiners reading so many expository from text response/lang analysis? As in to not bore them any more? Or is it better just to play to your strengths if that's expository?

[nisha]

@rachaelcool: Play with your strengths.

I have a question:

What language features can enhance a piece to be more creative?
I know I can fiddle with the form, the tense, the way it is written, the voice, add imagery, add multiple perspectives, and weave it with the prompt and stimulated text...but what else can I do?

I consider myself an artistic writer as I am terrible at expository, and when I even try persuasive my pieces are not balanced (as I sit on my own polemic and act as if I am a dictator....). I have tried persuasive...it just doesn't work, but I like to write one once in awhile just to change it up. Anyways...are there any ways to make a creative piece MORE creative? I read quite a bit so I add ideas that I have seen from other's writing, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips.

[charmanderp]

You can be an artistic writer even if you're writing expository/persuasive...

That being said, your question is a tough one! I think tone of voice is the major feature of creative writing, so try to fiddle with that. From passive to confronting, etc, that's how you'll really connect with the audience.

Try to be spontaneous with your writing too. I think if you try to be 'too creative' it can come across as contrived and artificial. Maybe try to use your own experiences to guide your content and then let your imagination run wild a little? Think of ideal situations or romanticised notions of how situations can turn out. I know for me, I reflect on pretty much all of my daily events and think about how they could have progressed, from zombie apocalypses to my own tragic death to going to Narnia haha.

But yeah, it's hard. Creative writing is all about how you can manipulate writing to say the same thing in different ways and hence portray different meanings. Prey on the emotion of the reader.

[brenden]

@rachaelcool: Play with your strengths.

I have a question:

What language features can enhance a piece to be more creative?
I know I can fiddle with the form, the tense, the way it is written, the voice, add imagery, add multiple perspectives, and weave it with the prompt and stimulated text...but what else can I do?

I consider myself an artistic writer as I am terrible at expository, and when I even try persuasive my pieces are not balanced (as I sit on my own polemic and act as if I am a dictator....). I have tried persuasive...it just doesn't work, but I like to write one once in awhile just to change it up. Anyways...are there any ways to make a creative piece MORE creative? I read quite a bit so I add ideas that I have seen from other's writing, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips.

Have you read a lot of S. King? I always find things I've picked up from his books coming through in my stories. I like to switch from thid to first person writing as well. In one of my SACs I used 2nd person (for the first time lol). It mixes it up a little and lets you explore your given theme pretty well.
On topic: Paul is right. Definitely write to your strengths/enjoyments. I wouldn't bother considering what 'usually' scores highest etc. I've never written an expository context essay in my life and don't plan on starting. Many people have recommended that I don't do a story and write an expository piece because it's easier or 'what if you get writer's block?' but honest to God, easy is a subjective term, statistics on the highest scoring responses aren't worth much, because writing to what scores the highest average mark doesn't mean you'll be up there. Do what you enjoy and are good at.