English Advanced Question Thread

[elysepopplewell]

hello guys!

for paper 1 for HSC AOS, is there any good order to 'do' the paper?  (doing comprehension first, essay first or creative first)

Thanks

This definitely changes from person to person. For me, I always used the reading time to start smashing out the initial readings of the unseen texts - that was most important to me because it meant that as soon as I got to the writing time, I'd spend an extra few minutes just finishing off the readings and then I'd start smashing the responses. So I was using the reading time for reading, and the majority of the writing time for writing. I went onto my creative next because I knew that most confidently, so I'd just sit on autopilot for a bit just getting that all onto the paper. And then when it came to the essay, I'd have bought myself some time from the other sections, so I could spend some more time on that because it was my weakest component. So when I got to the end, I could assess how much time I'd managed to save from the other sections, and I'd run like the wind from there!

[herb123]

had a quick read, although ur overall message is sophisticated, id suggest adding more techniques, seems like you only have 2 in this paragraph despite having 3 quotes.

Thanks for the feedback bro
In terms of the order, typically it should be comprehension first cos u can utilise the reading time to the max to go through all the stimuli, and then essay/creative
But im gonna go essay first for mine cos thats my weakest area and need the areas fresh in my mind
but its subjective i suppose. play to ur strengths

[elysepopplewell]

Hello.
I have an English exam tomorrow for Module A [texts: 'Metropolis,' and '1984']. I have barely prepared for this due to stress and avoidance, so consquently I have not composed a practice essay. I am finding it extremely difficult to find contextual links to seamlessly integrate into analysis, and I am freaking out.
Does anyone have any tips to a) remain calm; b) retain essential details; and c) locate pertinent context?

Thank you
 

Heya! You're under the pump!

1. Remaining calm. You have a choice: flight or fight. You can panic and put yourself way above the situation in complete panic and then come crashing down to Earth in a frazzled mess. OR, You can fight the panic by being proactive and actioning the plan. The panic won't go away immediately but as you get closer to ticking things off even in small successes, you've got yourself a plan that's working. Other things that might help, is staying hydrated (actually guarantee this will help), maybe drinking tea, getting fresh air, consistent breaks, natural lighting, etc.

2. Essential details: If visually organising things works for you, then do it. Colour coordinate, move things around on a page, or just write! For me I just had to write the essential things over and over. Say them out loud, kind of sing/songey them as I go.

3. If you're stuck for time, I'd hit google and be schmooping these texts for their context. Dot point the essentials - and run with it. Time is of the essence, so you just need to know the most important points now, and in time for trials you'll be able to flesh out your knowledge!

[elysepopplewell]

Hey Herb and Jyrgal, thanks for helping each other out!

Hey can I get some feedback and tips on this first paragraph of my Discovery essay:
Im pretty much trying to talk about the repercussions  which arise when a desire for discovery turn into a obsession but i need some tips on clarity so i can cut down:

Catalysed by the innate human desire to understand more about the world and ultimately themselves, discoveries have the ability to alter an individual’s identity and subsequently their emotional compass. nice! Bradley’s "Wrack" explores this notion through the characters of David and Kurt in their paralleled pursuit of the remains of a Portuguese Caravel. From the commencement of the novel, David’s desire to recover the Wrack is quickly established as obsession in “it is not something he wants, more something he needs,” By describing his yearn for discovery as that of intoxication, the degree to which his infatuation has reached is evident further resulting in significant consequences upon the relationships he has with those around him. Here we've got a quote, some analysis of the effect, but no analysis of the writing. We need to source and analyse a technique in here to strengthen this This is reinforced through the gradual demise and breakdown of David’s relationship with his ex-lover Claire as depicted in the juxtaposition of Claire’s perspective, “she sees the distance in his eyes” and that of David’s, “something about her that frights him, an urgency, a needing”, David’s hypocritical observation reveals his failure to realise the extent to which his obsessive pursuit has engulfed his values and purpose thus resulting inability to empathise and connect with others. This does not simply effect David individually however, but is rather a universal consequence of the obsessive pursuit of discovery as seen through its paralleled repercussions upon the character of Kurt. The desire for enlightenment is so overpowering for both David and Kurt that it is ultimately necessary for self-validation: “I felt something move within me, something dark, primeval… the ship had become part of me.” Kurt uses jarring, disrupted syntax to reflect the fragmented nature of an individual who is obsessed with discovery to the extent that it forms a part of their identity. Through his depiction of overpowering desire for knowledge, Bradley ultimately discusses the complex impact of a discovery on an individual’s psyche.

The ideas are all here, and I genuinely think they are unique. But we need more work on the way the texts are being analysed. There needs to be a stronger push for this kind of analysis, rather than analysis of ideas and plot. If you need to follow a structure of quote, technique, analysis, then go for it, and only then once you have that move out of the frame a little and mix it up! But your ideas are great - so hold on to them!

[Wales]

Hey guys. What is a technique for "dirty work", as the text is referring to the major violations the British empire has completed? Thanks!!

Euphemism seems like the right term You're trying to cover up something darker.

Edit: don't you hate it when you click on the topic and dont realise it was 5 hours ago and already answered ):

[Wales]

hello guys!

for paper 1 for HSC AOS, is there any good order to 'do' the paper?  (doing comprehension first, essay first or creative first)

Thanks

I like doing my Creative then Short answer and end with essay. It gives your hand a break from the intense writing BUT I feel it does kill the flow. I did Creative>Essay>Short Answer for my halfies.

How well do you take writing? Do you struggle to write quick and it's physically fatiguing?

[miss_demeanour]

Heya! You're under the pump!

1. Remaining calm. You have a choice: flight or fight. You can panic and put yourself way above the situation in complete panic and then come crashing down to Earth in a frazzled mess. OR, You can fight the panic by being proactive and actioning the plan. The panic won't go away immediately but as you get closer to ticking things off even in small successes, you've got yourself a plan that's working. Other things that might help, is staying hydrated (actually guarantee this will help), maybe drinking tea, getting fresh air, consistent breaks, natural lighting, etc.

2. Essential details: If visually organising things works for you, then do it. Colour coordinate, move things around on a page, or just write! For me I just had to write the essential things over and over. Say them out loud, kind of sing/songey them as I go.

3. If you're stuck for time, I'd hit google and be schmooping these texts for their context. Dot point the essentials - and run with it. Time is of the essence, so you just need to know the most important points now, and in time for trials you'll be able to flesh out your knowledge!

Thank you so much! This helped me gain some perspective (although I am still a little anxious).
Oh well, it is only weighted 15% I guess so I should not worry too much.

[Wales]

Thank you so much! This helped me gain some perspective (although I am still a little anxious).
Oh well, it is only weighted 15% I guess so I should not worry too much.

Don't stress but don't act as if 15% isn't a lot.

My task 1 was 15% and task 2 was 15%. Task 1 I ranked 19/21 and Task 2 I ranked equal 3rd. Overall rank of 17th

Not trying to scare you but take every assessment seriously. You want to do your best in every single one. (sorry if it instilled more anxiety in ya but it just isn't the right mindset )

You've still got a night and morning to do some last minute study Best of luck.

[beau77bro]

how philosophical can we be about mod C - my elective is people and politics. im not super far into my prescribed text, brave new world, but ive been having interesting discussions with people about human existence and how society/politics effects human life and like a lot of philosophical stuff.


specifically the idea of religion based societies being inherently evil, due to the nature that people predicate their existence and actions based on the life they will have - be it the fiery depths of hell, or eternal pleasures of heaven and rewards. and in focussing so much on where they want to go people don't get to experience the vital moments that help us grow and change - and in changing so much as we move towards a goal we dont realise the significance of all we have become and done rendering much of our lives meaningless and without passion.

furthermore this is contrasted to the other extremity in the world state where people do not live for their own selves and betterment but the development of society and the world state - that individuality is squashed out and moments that are so vital to human existence become blurred and similarly meaningless. this goes along with the idea of happiness in the text, whilst happiness is 'bliss' it is the bliss of forgetting all around you in a moment - knowing YOU are in a perfect moment, knowing YOU are in love, remembering a fond moment, having fun, it is not forgetting everything else their could be or not knowing there is more, or not experiencing the different moments that promote growth and human development. stability is a means of confinement and emotional 'safety', it is not happiness (sorry i thought this much better than i wrote - my main problem hahah). there is also already an evident theme of learning happiness - that people are programmed with happiness as though it is a condition and not a spontaneous occurence which inevitably lends meaning to life, the monotony described it not living it is existing - there is no light without dark and there is no happiness without sadness. similarly there is no evolution without obstacle - people's lives being so stable and static removes the key aspects that drive human growth and development and can be credited with every development human kind has seen - it is adversity and diversity that breeds modern human evolution, not stagnant plainness.

ok sorry for jumbled essay - a series of thoughts really. just wondering how philosophical (and if these are good ideas) we can be about meaning and human growth - abd how we should relate these to people and politics.

[jamonwindeyer]

how philosophical can we be about mod C - my elective is people and politics. im not super far into my prescribed text, brave new world, but ive been having interesting discussions with people about human existence and how society/politics effects human life and like a lot of philosophical stuff.

Hey! These are really cool arguments that will definitely be useful in Module C. Module C is about representation, exploring how techniques create meaning around people and political situations. You normally can't get too philosophical - You can't spend paragraphs discussing these ideas. However, they can definitely be used as your themes (and usually work quite well in this circumstance). Like the one you were discussing about the idea of individuality versus society, that's perfect for this Module

[beau77bro]

idk if you've read brave new world, but is there a position we can take where we talk about how helmholtz watson represents both the negative nature of conformism - by reflecting how people require further growth and mediums to express and explore individuality, but on the other side of the coin the character (as well as marx) represent the turmoil evident in those that do not conform - the chaotic nature of human existence without stability and how they compare to the stability and happiness of those or conform.

also wanna slide in the feeling of inadequacy and isolation/rejection people feel due to how narrow society sets it's standard - and how that negatively effects humans. idk very multidimensional text i feel -  i will be back with more solid/grounded and structured ideas in essays later. thankyou for the advice and i appreciate the compliments - sorry they arent reformed yet

[jamonwindeyer]

idk if you've read brave new world, but is there a position we can take where we talk about how helmholtz watson represents both the negative nature of conformism - by reflecting how people require further growth and mediums to express and explore individuality, but on the other side of the coin the character (as well as marx) represent the turmoil evident in those that do not conform - the chaotic nature of human existence without stability and how they compare to the stability and happiness of those or conform.

also wanna slide in the feeling of inadequacy and isolation/rejection people feel due to how narrow society sets it's standard - and how that negatively effects humans. idk very multidimensional text i feel -  i will be back with more solid/grounded and structured ideas in essays later. thankyou for the advice and i appreciate the compliments - sorry they arent reformed yet

I have indeed, and I agree with your interpretation - The challenge would be linking to People and Politics. It seems like you are bordering on politics but also a bit of "nature of humanity" style stuff - It needs to be firmly rooted in the way people interact with each other and express positions of leadership, power or subversion. It's all there, just about expressing it correctly

[Wales]

idk if you've read brave new world, but is there a position we can take where we talk about how helmholtz watson represents both the negative nature of conformism - by reflecting how people require further growth and mediums to express and explore individuality, but on the other side of the coin the character (as well as marx) represent the turmoil evident in those that do not conform - the chaotic nature of human existence without stability and how they compare to the stability and happiness of those or conform.

also wanna slide in the feeling of inadequacy and isolation/rejection people feel due to how narrow society sets it's standard - and how that negatively effects humans. idk very multidimensional text i feel -  i will be back with more solid/grounded and structured ideas in essays later. thankyou for the advice and i appreciate the compliments - sorry they arent reformed yet

You can write about anything as long as it's related to the syllabus in some way and you can articulate it well.

The contrast between the consequences of those who conform and those who don't is really evident in the way they send people to iceland. They're afraid of people not conforming and clearly dislike individuals who can think for themselves. By contrasting the consequences you can explore the innate fear instilled within the world leaders and their obsession over power and will to keep the citizens powerless.

It's such an awesome book

[herb123]

Hey guys
so i got a Citizen Kane Mod B Essay coming up
and ive mainly prepared an essay on transient and corruptive nature of power and complexity of identiy
but ive looked at past hsc and trial questions for my school and the questions look to be really specific asking u to explore ego, conflict etc.
so my question is, are there any arguments that you would you'd really recommend i take or giving that its a personal response memorise a ton of quotes and techniques and just give my own view on how kane represents whatever the question asks?
cheers

[maria1999]

hiya everyone!!
Could someone please tell me if there is a technique remotely in this quote ---

“To understand why Flaubert found Egypt exotic, it may therefore by useful to first examine his feelings towards France. What would strike him as exotic - that is, both new and valuable about Egypt was in many ways the obverse of what had driven him to rage at home.

It's from Alain De Botton's Art of Travel. I have an exam tomorrow and it's actually painful trying to extract techniques from this book. Any help at all would be much appreciated!