50 in English - Feel free to ask questions.

[featheredbirds]

Thanks Yang!

Just wondering if you had any notes regarding structure, etc. for a context expository piece? (As I usually write creatively/do not want to just emulate a standard text response style essay)

Thanks again. 

[Yang Li]

Hi acorn,

I would stick with the expository for assessments, especially because they are timed.

If you are very comfortable with creative essays, and get consistent marks, then by all means go for it.

All the best,

Yang

[Yang Li]

Hi Starfish,

I have always written 3 body paragraphs and it has worked for me. It has also worked for my students and many of my friends who have done very well (above 45).

However, I feel that anywhere from 3 to 5 body paragraphs will work just fine.

All the best,

Yang

[Yang Li]

Hi featheredbird,

All my students get a guide that runs them through the structure of expository context essays. However, it would be unfair to them if I make all my notes available.

The most important thing to remember in context essays is to not concentrate solely on the text (thereby writing a text response). Your body paragraphs should have the format (almost like a sandwich):

[Discussion]

[Evidence] (text, history, news etc.)

[Discussion]

Do read Florian K's writing. Good writing is always a great resource to learn good essay structuring from.

[Emie]

Hi Yang,
I was just wondering if you had any advice on introductions for text response? I find mine are often too simple.
Thanks!

[featheredbirds]

Thanks Florian K, I will definitely check it now! 

And thanks again Yang, but with the 'sandwich' type structure, do you mean to think of each paragraph as a mini-sandwich or have a whole paragraph centred entirely on discussion?

Thank you!

[Yang Li]

Hi Emiebabe,

If you are quite comfortable with a standard intro, you can try and read some good writing and emulate some elements of how other people write.

I encourage my students to have the following in their intro:
- an answer to the prompt
- explanation of that answer
- signposting your main points

I cannot give you any specific advice unless I can read your writing, but I hope this helps.

N.B. For any students asking questions, I will be banging out a law assignment for the next few days. I may not be able to reply to questions quickly. Please check out http://www.aimandachieve.com.au if you are looking to get more guidance from me.

[abcdqdxD]

Is it recommended to have a conclusion in a LA, and if so, what are the key things that should be included?

[Yang Li]

Hey abcdqdxD,

Always write a conclusion in LA unless you study EAL.

In your conclusion, make sure you:
- talk about the writer's tone
- restate the writer's main contention
- talk about the target reader/audience and any alternatives
- maybe talk about how effective the writer was (without being judgmental)

All the best,

Yang

[Yang Li]

Hi featheredbirds,

Each body paragraph is a "sandwich".

All the best,

Yang

[abcdqdxD]

Hey abcdqdxD,

Always write a conclusion in LA unless you study EAL.

In your conclusion, make sure you:
- talk about the writer's tone
- restate the writer's main contention
- talk about the target reader/audience and any alternatives
- maybe talk about how effective the writer was (without being judgmental)

All the best,

Yang

Cheers

[Inhibition]

Hey Yang,
A constant problem with my Language Analyses is that I'm too verbose, wordy, and overall not concise or succint. I think this is because I have troubing deciphering the author's intended effect and which arguments/ language techniques to incorporate in my essays.
What can I do? This problem is ongoing and has left me jaded.

[jeanweasley]

Hey Yang,
A constant problem with my Language Analyses is that I'm too verbose, wordy, and overall no concise or succint. I think this is because I have troubing deciphering the author's intended effect and which arguments/ language techniques to incorporate in my essays.
What can I do? This problem is ongoing and has left me jaded.

This too. I feel like I understand the author's intent only after I've read an analysis of that article. It makes it difficult for me to figure out what the "point" of the article is. I know practising analyses would be beneficial but how do you start with figuring out the effect or the author's intent for using a particular persuasive technique?

[Billion]

Any tips on writing a great persuasive, imaginative and expository essay?
As well as the general structure?

[Yang Li]

Hi Inhibition, jeanweasley and Billion,

Let me address one issue at a time.

Firstly, on LA -

Verbosity - often a result of one of the following:
1) not being able to pinpoint what the writer is intending and spending too long explaining it
2) analysing every single sentence when there is no need to
3) expounding on each point too much and explaining every single step of the logical process taking you from what the writer wrote all the way to his/her contention

Let me know which one (or more) you think you may be experiencing (I think you pointed to (1) already).

As for the writer's "intent", let me break it up this way. The writer will, in their writing, have the following:
1) the contention (that is the writer's point of view on an issue)
2) techniques the writer uses to make a reader believe his/her contention

Do NOT mix the two up. I understand you both are having trouble with the latter of the above two. Remember that identifying what the writer is trying to do does not entail a technique finding exercise. There is no right answer.

I can write "By drawing attention to the alarming number of starving children, the writer both shocks and induces guilt in the audience;" I can also write "Using the statistics eluding to the number of starving children, the writer raises his own profile and credibility as an expert on the issue". They are both points you can assert on the same part of the passage. So, there is no "figuring out" to do, as long as the observation you are making is reasonable and valid.

Now, on context essays (for Billion) -

The form for creative essays is obviously very flexible (it is in fact, free-form). If you have read my previous posts, you know that I advocate concentrating on the expository form. All my students get a guide as to how to write expository pieces for context essays, and the subject will be covered in term 3 in my classes. See http://www.aimandachieve.com.au for more info.

I cannot share all my notes on this forum as that would be unfair for my paying students, but I am happy to answer specific questions.

All the best to all three of you,

Yang