English Advanced Question Thread

[pikachu975]

What are everyone's tips for improving writing speed??... obviously without sacrificing legibility!

And does anyone have an favourite pens that write really well/fast? Some of my friends swear by basic ballpoints, some super inky pens and others rollerball. Any favourites?

I think the general idea is that ballpoints write the slowest because rollerball, with roller in the name, the tip rolls while you write. Also just keep writing stuff out and practice writing faster for longer I think because your writing speed could diminish by the end.

Another tip is to shorten your essays if you can't improve, and possibly writing with a heavy pen (not with batteries... when you use an actual pen it'll feel way different to batteries), just use a heavier pen and swap/practice with a lighter one closer to the exam.

[jamonwindeyer]

hey would anyone know any techniques for this quotes: Its for henry iv related

"Her refusal to condemn, or even fully acknowledge, the state-sponsored repression of her fellow countrymen and women, not to mention the violence meted out to them by Buddhist extremists ... makes her part of the problem, not the solution"

and

"In a genocide, silence is complicity, and so it is with Aung San Suu Kyi,"

Thanks

Hey! Hmm, in the first one, you've got the sibilant "state sponsored repression" which is really prominent, the repeated use of 2nd person creates a nice distancing and accusatory effect, "part of the problem" is sort of an idiom, but not really 

Second one, figurative language in "silence is complicity"

[jamonwindeyer]

I think the general idea is that ballpoints write the slowest because rollerball, with roller in the name, the tip rolls while you write. Also just keep writing stuff out and practice writing faster for longer I think because your writing speed could diminish by the end.

Another tip is to shorten your essays if you can't improve, and possibly writing with a heavy pen (not with batteries... when you use an actual pen it'll feel way different to batteries), just use a heavier pen and swap/practice with a lighter one closer to the exam.

I hear you! I tried that battery thing and it just felt so off - My girlfriend used a AA battery and the trick worked quite well for her!

Great advice pikachu, cheers!

What are everyone's tips for improving writing speed??... obviously without sacrificing legibility!

And does anyone have an favourite pens that write really well/fast? Some of my friends swear by basic ballpoints, some super inky pens and others rollerball. Any favourites?

You can give this article a read too! It's on exactly this - Increasing speed but without it getting messy

[elysepopplewell]

hey would anyone know any techniques for this quotes: Its for henry iv related

"Her refusal to condemn, or even fully acknowledge, the state-sponsored repression of her fellow countrymen and women, not to mention the violence meted out to them by Buddhist extremists ... makes her part of the problem, not the solution"

and

"In a genocide, silence is complicity, and so it is with Aung San Suu Kyi,"


Thanks

Hey! Adding to Jamon's suggestion:

In the second one, sibilance in the S sound is very prominent.
In the first, I think you could talk about "the problem, not the solution." The repetition of the definite article "the" but divided by the negation "not" forces a reader to make a comparison between the problem and the solution: the antithetical pairing All of this just brings prominence to this part of the sentence.

[sophroberts812]

I think the general idea is that ballpoints write the slowest because rollerball, with roller in the name, the tip rolls while you write. Also just keep writing stuff out and practice writing faster for longer I think because your writing speed could diminish by the end.

Another tip is to shorten your essays if you can't improve, and possibly writing with a heavy pen (not with batteries... when you use an actual pen it'll feel way different to batteries), just use a heavier pen and swap/practice with a lighter one closer to the exam.

thanks for the advice! i really appreciate it 

I hear you! I tried that battery thing and it just felt so off - My girlfriend used a AA battery and the trick worked quite well for her!

Great advice pikachu, cheers!

You can give this article a read too! It's on exactly this - Increasing speed but without it getting messy

thanks jamon! i'll have a read 

Mod Edit: Post merge

[parthie]

Hey! Hmm, in the first one, you've got the sibilant "state sponsored repression" which is really prominent, the repeated use of 2nd person creates a nice distancing and accusatory effect, "part of the problem" is sort of an idiom, but not really 

Second one, figurative language in "silence is complicity"

Thankyou!!!!!

[kiiaaa]

Hello

Would anyone have any notes on Richard III and Looking for Richard they could please send? Im planning to read and go through them to get a jist of what is coming up.
Thank you very much

[jamonwindeyer]

Hello

Would anyone have any notes on Richard III and Looking for Richard they could please send? Im planning to read and go through them to get a jist of what is coming up.
Thank you very much

Hey kiiaaa! Just a heads up to make sure you grab the ones from the Notes section if you haven't already

[elysepopplewell]

Hello

Would anyone have any notes on Richard III and Looking for Richard they could please send? Im planning to read and go through them to get a jist of what is coming up.
Thank you very much

Be sure to post any questions you have when you start the topic! I studied Richard III and Looking for Richard so I'm happy to chat on the forums about it

[SSSS]

Hey guys!! I have completed module A where our prescribed texts included 1984 and Metropolis. I wanted to ask if anyone could provide a basic question on module A, because in comparison to Discovery, I feel like there's so many ideas so by writing a generic essay, I would be more confident attempting more specific questions as I would have an overall holisitic view. Thanks!! 

[sageziman]

How many short stories should you prepare for creative section?

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey guys!! I have completed module A where our prescribed texts included 1984 and Metropolis. I wanted to ask if anyone could provide a basic question on module A, because in comparison to Discovery, I feel like there's so many ideas so by writing a generic essay, I would be more confident attempting more specific questions as I would have an overall holisitic view. Thanks!! 

Hey! For Module A the most general I could come up with would be:

How does a comparative study of Shakespeare's Richard III and Al Pacino's Looking for Richard, enhance your understanding of key themes explored in each text?

I'd recommend checking out some of the questions in past Trial papers (see here) to make sure that your preparation equips you to handle the variety of questions that can be asked properly good luck!

[jamonwindeyer]

How many short stories should you prepare for creative section?

Hey! You should try and prepare one adaptable story idea, where you can change certain elements to address different aspects of the Area of Study. I personally prepared a character, and I always used that one character when writing my stories, so by the time I got to the HSC I could take on the characters role and portray their personality really easily. Then I just shoved them into situations that matched the stimulus

That's not for everyone, but in general, the most efficient way to prepare is to prepare in a way that is adaptable. Being able to swap a physical Discovery with a spiritual Discovery without too much hassle, for example. But preparing a story for every possible outcome is possible - I'd stick to one, maybe two, really strong and adaptable ones in my opinion

[sudodds]

How many short stories should you prepare for creative section?

Hey! To add to what Jamon said about adaptability, the way that I attempted to do that was to have an example of each type of discovery (eg. physical, geographical, emotional, spiritual, etc) feature within my creative They may not all have been the most important, central discovery, but having them all at least there meant that if the stimulus was geared towards one form I didn't have to change my creative too much in the exam - just maybe spend a bit longer on one of them/emphasise it more

[kiiaaa]

Hey kiiaaa! Just a heads up to make sure you grab the ones from the Notes section if you haven't already

thanks you jamon! i wasnt aware you guys had notes and resources for english as well! you guys are the best

Be sure to post any questions you have when you start the topic! I studied Richard III and Looking for Richard so I'm happy to chat on the forums about it

thank you elyse for the offer. i sure will be posting alot about it on the forums (shakespeare and i arent the bestest of friends). you guys are wonderful