English Advanced Question Thread

[jamonwindeyer]

okay thank you 
I have another quick question if that's okay.
How would you effectively use metalanguage in a response?
I am currently trying to address characterization by focusing on the character's appearance but I'm not sure how to include it in my topic sentence.

Perhaps start with exactly what you think the characterisation achieves, and only then go into analysis after that?

EG - The use of characterisation communicates ____________.

Something appropriately broad, and then go into analysis:

The use of THIS TECHNIQUE develops the character in THIS WAY which HAS THIS EFFECT

[anotherworld2b]

  Thank you very much for answering my last minute questions

Perhaps start with exactly what you think the characterisation achieves, and only then go into analysis after that?

EG - The use of characterisation communicates ____________.

Something appropriately broad, and then go into analysis:

The use of THIS TECHNIQUE develops the character in THIS WAY which HAS THIS EFFECT

[The Timzone]

Hi there. I'm wondering if anyone's ever used a comic book as a related text?

I'm wondering if its a good idea to use a comic book as a related text?!

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi there. I'm wondering if anyone's ever used a comic book as a related text?

I'm wondering if its a good idea to use a comic book as a related text?!

Hey Tim! I've never heard of this, what sorts of techniques do you think you'd be picking up? Like all literary or would there be visual? If you can find techniques and it is conceptually strong I don't see why not

I deleted the same question you asked in another thread; try not to post them twice!

[hermansia12]

Hi there. I'm wondering if anyone's ever used a comic book as a related text?

I'm wondering if its a good idea to use a comic book as a related text?!

Hi Tim!

I agree with Jamon- It's definitely OK to use a comic book (although in Essays I would refer to them as graphic novels to amp up the sophistication)
Like anything in English it depends on how well you link back to the texts and the sophistication of concepts. Back when I did the HSC, my friend used "The Watchmen" comic as her related for module C in People and Politics and still received a 19/20 in trials. Since it is a graphic novel you should use both literary and visual techniques to emphasise the composers choice of medium in your analysis but apart from that go for it!

[elysepopplewell]

Hi there. I'm wondering if anyone's ever used a comic book as a related text?

I'm wondering if its a good idea to use a comic book as a related text?!

I used one (kind of?) in Extension One English as a related text for the longest time. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sis. It worked wonderfully. Colour, lines, juxtaposition, facial expressions, symbolism, plot structure, etc, etc. It will work wonderfully

[Nialllovespie]

Hiiii elyse!!

I was wondering if you could please mark my creative?

[elysepopplewell]

Hiiii elyse!!

I was wondering if you could please mark my creative?

Hey there! I totally can! I'm super excited. Post it here and I'll give you my thoughts

[katnisschung]

Hi anyone willing to help someone who is terrible at english and probably should have
taken english life skills  (if only they offered it)

i have a question about the following essay question
"discoveries can affirm or challenge our assumptions and beliefs about the world"

i must choose 2 related texts for this and they are Dead Poet's society (film) &
The adventures of Huckleberry Finn (novel)

in approaching the question i was thinking to have my thesis somewhere along the lines of
"The affirmation of challenge of beliefs is dependent on the perspective attained by an individual's discovery" --- yes it needs rewording which i will fix up later

points
discovery affirms "distrust of society's morals and precepts" (social class and order)
- Huckleberry's discovery allows him to identify the flaws of
society's indoctrination of right and wrong.
- Todd Anderson same as above

discovery challenges "social values and rules"
-  Huckleberry's discovery allows him to revalue the need to civilise
- Neil Perry's discovery causes him to reconsider the
need to conform to succeed." (discovery redefines his meaning of success)

for the "world" bit of the essay question i was considering to focus on
how the character's perception of their world changes as a result of their discovery
but also touch slightly on how this may affect/change our (audience) perception of the world.


also i grouped the texts under the same points even though it isn't a comparative essay
becos this is for a speech and thought it would be easier for the marker to follow
instead of jumping to different points every time.

am i on the right track or completely spiraling off into a black hole?
yeah i should have written an intro but before i commit  i wanted ANY advice.

thanks! 

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi anyone willing to help someone who is terrible at english and probably should have
taken english life skills  (if only they offered it)

i have a question about the following essay question
"discoveries can affirm or challenge our assumptions and beliefs about the world"

i must choose 2 related texts for this and they are Dead Poet's society (film) &
The adventures of Huckleberry Finn (novel)

in approaching the question i was thinking to have my thesis somewhere along the lines of
"The affirmation of challenge of beliefs is dependent on the perspective attained by an individual's discovery" --- yes it needs rewording which i will fix up later

points
discovery affirms "distrust of society's morals and precepts" (social class and order)
- Huckleberry's discovery allows him to identify the flaws of
society's indoctrination of right and wrong.
- Todd Anderson same as above

discovery challenges "social values and rules"
-  Huckleberry's discovery allows him to revalue the need to civilise
- Neil Perry's discovery causes him to reconsider the
need to conform to succeed." (discovery redefines his meaning of success)

for the "world" bit of the essay question i was considering to focus on
how the character's perception of their world changes as a result of their discovery
but also touch slightly on how this may affect/change our (audience) perception of the world.


also i grouped the texts under the same points even though it isn't a comparative essay
becos this is for a speech and thought it would be easier for the marker to follow
instead of jumping to different points every time.

am i on the right track or completely spiraling off into a black hole?
yeah i should have written an intro but before i commit  i wanted ANY advice.

thanks! 

Hey Katniss! It sounds like you've really given this a lot of thought. I love your structure and I like your Thesis (yep, just a little rewording to make it clearer), I think it all works really well! Those first two points seem a little similar, make sure you differentiate between them really nicely when you write the full thing

On the whole, as a start this is great! Definitely something to keep working forward with; if you need any additional feedback as you develop the speech do let us know! But I think you are definitely on the right track!

Disclaimer: Not seen Dead Poet's Society so can't comment on the suitability of ideas for that text

[katnisschung]

Thanks jamon
Phew
Well yeah the two points did seem quite similar but I honestly can't find any other strong ones

[jamonwindeyer]

Thanks jamon
Phew
Well yeah the two points did seem quite similar but I honestly can't find any other strong ones

I think they work, but you need to make sure you have a reason that they are separate. Make sure your examples are all different and that you (in a way of your choice) make them unique

[Yasminpotts1105]

Is there a specific literary technique for breaking down the fourth wall; like direct address to the audience? I know about asides and soliloquies but I was just wondering if there was something else.

[elysepopplewell]

Is there a specific literary technique for breaking down the fourth wall; like direct address to the audience? I know about asides and soliloquies but I was just wondering if there was something else.

This one is tricky, I've never analysed this myself. You could also talk about mise-en-scene. I'd be actually inclined to discuss the "fourth wall" as a technique that gives insight to an audience - which is then further enhanced by asides, soliloquies, etc, etc. So I'd definitely focus on the fourth wall as a technique in itself, and then you can feed from that

[jamonwindeyer]

Is there a specific literary technique for breaking down the fourth wall; like direct address to the audience? I know about asides and soliloquies but I was just wondering if there was something else.

There actually is a name for works that do this! The term is meta, it's an adjective, and when you use it you are saying that the film/novel/whatever is self referential, or acknowledges either itself or its form/genre, etc etc.

EG - The comedic post-credits scene in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is typical of the meta-film, and acts as a final accentuation of the comedic value of the work.

Pulled that example out of thin air, so it's not great, but you get the idea, that's the word you want!