"Whose Reality" help please

[Limista]

Hi,

So my context at school is "Whose Reality". I like it and I'm excited about studying it!

Just wondering if people could give me historical and contemporary events linked to Whose Reality which I can potentially discuss in my context essay...

I've been scouting the papers for stuff and have come across the latest Gillard scandals in politics, which I think I could somehow link to my context, but I'm not fond/passionate about politics and would prefer not to discuss it in my context essay for this reason.

As a result, any help would be appreciated 

[pi]

What texts are you studying?

I found that researching the author's of my texts and drawing parallels between their real-life history and the novels they wrote was very helpful

[Limista]

What texts are you studying?

I found that researching the author's of my texts and drawing parallels between their real-life history and the novels they wrote was very helpful

I am studying "The Lot" by Leunig and "Spies" by Frayn.

Wow I didn't think of what you suggested...hmm I could get a lot out of comparing and contrasting the real life history with the content of the novels. Thanks!

[pi]

Frayn in particular has a LOT of history behind him that relates to Spies. One of my essays (it's in the Notes section somewhere) uses that information

[dilks]

Whose Reality isn't really about contemporary and historical events, per se. Rather, I would recommend researching psychological and/or philosophical and/or sociological perspectives on aspects of reality related to the texts you are doing and use these to inform your writing.

[Limista]

Rather, I would recommend researching psychological and/or philosophical and/or sociological perspectives on aspects of reality related to the texts you are doing and use these to inform your writing.

Aah k.. this makes my job easier! 

[Stick]

I am studying "The Lot" by Leunig and "Spies" by Frayn.

Wow I didn't think of what you suggested...hmm I could get a lot out of comparing and contrasting the real life history with the content of the novels. Thanks!

Wow, same texts as me!

Alright, so this is what I've been doing to get some external sources for my Whose Reality essays (I'm an expository writer). I'm a fan of keeping a scrapbook, but a lot of people aren't, so I'm not sure if that's something you'd want to consider. Anyway, the very first thing I did was brainstorm my topic very extensively on the front page, and I use the ideas that stemmed from the context as a basis for finding a relevant external source. Then, after I had found something, I'd write a page reflection fleshing out the significance of reality (and whose realities were affected - EXTREMELY IMPORTANT), highlighting some of the ideas and linking it (just a little bit) to one of these texts. To give you an example, I found an article in The Herald Sun relating to an overly 'bogan' response to Australia Day - something Michael Leunig references frequently in his compilation of essays.

If you're struggling to come up with some ideas, I thought that people with disabilities or impairments would make for a good starting point. One of my reflections refers to a young man who has lost his sight and relies on a guide dog and I discussed how his perception of the world has drastically changed on a physical level, as well as how he uses his dog for a sense of visual reality. I think I mentioned the role of the dog's reality in all of this as well.

As you can see, there's a whole heap of things you can use for this context (which, in my opinion, is the most expansive of all the prescribed contexts) but you need to identify little pockets in the concept to come up with some good external sources. Remember, you can also use your own personal experiences in your essays too. Anecdotally, I've heard that examiners love this (if it is done correctly).

[Limista]

Wow, same texts as me!

Alright, so this is what I've been doing to get some external sources for my Whose Reality essays (I'm an expository writer). I'm a fan of keeping a scrapbook, but a lot of people aren't, so I'm not sure if that's something you'd want to consider. Anyway, the very first thing I did was brainstorm my topic very extensively on the front page, and I use the ideas that stemmed from the context as a basis for finding a relevant external source. Then, after I had found something, I'd write a page reflection fleshing out the significance of reality (and whose realities were affected - EXTREMELY IMPORTANT), highlighting some of the ideas and linking it (just a little bit) to one of these texts. To give you an example, I found an article in The Herald Sun relating to an overly 'bogan' response to Australia Day - something Michael Leunig references frequently in his compilation of essays.

If you're struggling to come up with some ideas, I thought that people with disabilities or impairments would make for a good starting point. One of my reflections refers to a young man who has lost his sight and relies on a guide dog and I discussed how his perception of the world has drastically changed on a physical level, as well as how he uses his dog for a sense of visual reality. I think I mentioned the role of the dog's reality in all of this as well.

As you can see, there's a whole heap of things you can use for this context (which, in my opinion, is the most expansive of all the prescribed contexts) but you need to identify little pockets in the concept to come up with some good external sources. Remember, you can also use your own personal experiences in your essays too. Anecdotally, I've heard that examiners love this (if it is done correctly).

Making a scrapbook seems engaging. I also like how you reinforced that it is important to consider WHOSE reality we are talking about  I'm exploring the concept of attractiveness, and why it is a reality to the majority in society to be beautiful or that one-step closer to our contemporary perception of what is beautiful. As fashion evolves over the ages, so does beauty -the high forehead that was considered beautiful during Nefertiti's rule has now been abandoned & replaced with chiselled cheekbones and a lithe, skinny figure. Beauty is also a product of culture. In Western cultures, particularly, beautiful people have a proclivity to earn more, get more job opportunities.

I think I've decided to approach this context idea by idea.

You're saying that examiners like it if you input some personal anecdotes into essays...subtending the comment to anyone in general -how would one go about doing this?

[Stick]

Well I haven't done it for Whose Reality yet, but when I was doing Identity and Belonging last year, I referred to my grandparents migrating from Italy to Australia during the 1950s, and the personal challenges associated with this. Your style of writing has to be quite relaxed (I'm hesitant to say informal) for this to work because you're really reflecting and opening yourself up quite personally with the examiner. Just describe the situation as reflectively as you can, ensuring it doesn't sound out of place tone-wise relative to the rest of your essay. I like my context essays to be somewhat like a diary entry, where I'm using the essay to flesh out and make sense of my own ideas about the context, whilst also conveying them to someone else.

[Limista]

^ I'm guessing you chose to write creatively for this context essay last year?

I'm aiming more towards an expository style. Is it possible to use personal anecdotes in an expository context essay?

[Stick]

No, I wrote in an expository style. It's just very relaxed and reflective (much like creating a brainstorm, except doing it using an essay) and has to tie in well with one of your ideas.

[Limista]

I was under the impression it is best not to use the term "I" in an expository style essay or employ first person. I thought this would detract from the formality of a context essay. In order to write personal anecdotes, don't you have to use first-person? 

[Stick]

In context, you *can* get away with it, if you do it correctly. If you're not certain, perhaps discuss it with your teacher and have a go at it yourself.

[Limista]

In context, you *can* get away with it, if you do it correctly. If you're not certain, perhaps discuss it with your teacher and have a go at it yourself.

Think I'll stray from the risk. Plus I think there's heaps for me to say without having to refer to personal anecdotes anyway. Thanks Stick!

[pi]

I wouldn't use personal anecdotes in anything that isn't creative, and even then I would probably not refer to it as a personal anecdote.