Text Response Queries

[Adequace]

Hey,

I'm not sure how to make my TR essays better than average at the moment? I'm currently in Year 10 but I don't want to just write another bland Year 10 essay but I'm not sure how to improve since my junior year level essays were willy-nilly.

I've read some TR guides on VCE English websites which provide a good idea on how to achieve but I'm not sure how to interpret all the information. I'm a bit concerned that my writing ability is a bit lacking for the SS I want to hit in Year 12.

I'm studying "Maus" at school which I enjoyed reading but I'm curious how to write a TR regarding a graphic novel. What should I be including aside from the actual story? Do I talk about how the frames and techniques used in the novel help depict a greater meaning that the words themself?

Cheers.

[heids]

Firstly,

I'm a bit concerned that my writing ability is a bit lacking for the SS I want to hit in Year 12.

Don't be.  Read "I'm shit at writing", and remember that the fact that you're reading VCE English stuff in year 10 is already setting you apart.

I'm not sure how to make my TR essays better than average at the moment? I'm currently in Year 10 but I don't want to just write another bland Year 10 essay but I'm not sure how to improve since my junior year level essays were willy-nilly.

I'm studying "Maus" at school which I enjoyed reading but I'm curious how to write a TR regarding a graphic novel. What should I be including aside from the actual story? Do I talk about how the frames and techniques used in the novel help depict a greater meaning that the words themself?

Firstly, you'll just improve by writing more (though I'll confess I wrote a total of 4 essays in years 9-10, including exams).  The most important I think is to identify your specific problems and limitations - figure out where your writing is bland, formulaic, shallow or whatever.  If you're aware of this, you're well over halfway there.  Then you can come up with ways to fix your issues.

Maybe you could try to

• build up a bigger vocab, if you actively start now building wordbanks or just reading more, you'll get really comfortable with good words
• try to make your contentions complex, i.e. don't just have two paragraphs with 'yes because' and one with 'no but'
• try to steer clear of really formulaic writing - mix it up a bit, use different words, don't stick to TEEL like glue, don't do the 'firstly, secondly, lastly, in conclusion' and don't quote the prompt almost verbatim
• try to go as deep as you can with your analysis; this means analysing individual words and how they contribute to a theme, or the literary techniques/structure, or the values the author is trying to communicate, rather than just stating that a series of events show this this this.

but look, I don't know what your strengths and weaknesses currently are.

Remember that while it would be good to write a year 12 level essay in year 10, it's not necessary.  You don't have to stress about it; your teachers will teach you in time and you'll get it without any problem.

Ideally, you should discuss a mixture of characters, events, themes, the messages the author is trying to get across, and structure/frames/techniques. (btw by graphic novel do you mean film? I'm ignorant and don't know Maus - if so anyway you should discuss film techniques like camera angle, focus, lighting, zoom etc.)

Lauren normally answers anyway, don't know why I bother giving substandard advice

[Adequace]

Firstly,
Don't be.  Read "I'm shit at writing", and remember that the fact that you're reading VCE English stuff in year 10 is already setting you apart.

Firstly, you'll just improve by writing more (though I'll confess I wrote a total of 4 essays in years 9-10, including exams).  The most important I think is to identify your specific problems and limitations - figure out where your writing is bland, formulaic, shallow or whatever.  If you're aware of this, you're well over halfway there.  Then you can come up with ways to fix your issues.

Maybe you could try to

• build up a bigger vocab, if you actively start now building wordbanks or just reading more, you'll get really comfortable with good words
• try to make your contentions complex, i.e. don't just have two paragraphs with 'yes because' and one with 'no but'
• try to steer clear of really formulaic writing - mix it up a bit, use different words, don't stick to TEEL like glue, don't do the 'firstly, secondly, lastly, in conclusion' and don't quote the prompt almost verbatim
• try to go as deep as you can with your analysis; this means analysing individual words and how they contribute to a theme, or the literary techniques/structure, or the values the author is trying to communicate, rather than just stating that a series of events show this this this.

but look, I don't know what your strengths and weaknesses currently are.

Remember that while it would be good to write a year 12 level essay in year 10, it's not necessary.  You don't have to stress about it; your teachers will teach you in time and you'll get it without any problem.

Ideally, you should discuss a mixture of characters, events, themes, the messages the author is trying to get across, and structure/frames/techniques. (btw by graphic novel do you mean film? I'm ignorant and don't know Maus - if so anyway you should discuss film techniques like camera angle, focus, lighting, zoom etc.)

Lauren normally answers anyway, don't know why I bother giving substandard advice

I started making a word bank earlier in term 1 but slowly forgot about that, I'll probably gather more words for it again. Also, do you think it's better to list of sophiscated synonyms for words that I'll be encountering while studying my current text?

"Maus" is pretty much a comic-like novel about a suvivor's story and the story of a survivor's child.

Your advice was great, don't worry about it!