English Advanced Question Thread

[theblackswan]

Thanks for the tip!!  Is there a way to make the jumps across time obvious to the reader though? Like putting 3 asterisks to signify a jump in time like:
***
or can you just start off stating the time and place for each paragraph?

[justwannawish]

Thanks for the tip!!  Is there a way to make the jumps across time obvious to the reader though? Like putting 3 asterisks to signify a jump in time like:
***
or can you just start off stating the time and place for each paragraph?

Just doing asterisks worked pretty well for me. Maybe mention it subtly in your story. "His mouth fell open when he saw the time. An whole hour had passed." That could also work. If it's a huge time gap, maybe talk about the change in fashion etc

[jamonwindeyer]

Thanks for the tip!!  Is there a way to make the jumps across time obvious to the reader though? Like putting 3 asterisks to signify a jump in time like:
***
or can you just start off stating the time and place for each paragraph?

Agree with above - I'll add that actually writing the data/time would probably kill the immersion unless you are actually using a journal format

[Ellie__]

Hey everyone,

So for Module C do I need to have 2 related texts or am I safe with just 1??

Thankyou!

[elysepopplewell]

Hello? I was wondering if your ORT needs to be a different form as your prescribed text. My prescribed text is a novel, will I get marked down if a choose a novel as my ORT?

I've heard a lot of people being advised to use different text types but this isn't something I was ever advised about, and there's nothing on the NESA FAQ page about this either. So I wouldn't give it too much thought

Hey everyone,

So for Module C do I need to have 2 related texts or am I safe with just 1??

Thankyou!

There's no requirement for two - and previous exams show a pattern of just asking for one. I'd be a hypocrite if I said you need to prepare more than 1! I only prepared one. However, it isn't impossible that they will ask you for a second related, so it is a small risk. If your discovery related text is different to your Mod C - then you could use that in worst case scenario!

[justwannawish]

How would you show the process of an intellectual and spiritual discovery in a story? Is spiritual linked to self discovery?
As well as that, how do you show the ramifications of a discovery? Does it have to be a negative thing or could it be positive?

[bsdfjnlkasn]

How would you show the process of an intellectual and spiritual discovery in a story? Is spiritual linked to self discovery?
As well as that, how do you show the ramifications of a discovery? Does it have to be a negative thing or could it be positive?

Hey there!

So if we're focusing on the process of an intellectual discovery, I would try and frame it around something concrete, like your protagonist seeking to understand or solve a difficult concept/problem. Then if we want to show the process, we will need to include both moments of enlightenment and confusion, to show that discovery is complex (i.e not linear where you go from not knowing to knowing).

In fact, you could approach the spiritual discovery in a similar way, by looking at someone coming to a new faith, or more interestingly, coming to question their previous faith (doesn't strictly have to be religious by the way, it's better to focus on their values and how they're being challenged/changed). Then by showing moments of challenge and progress, we can capture the discovery process. I think that spiritual can be linked to self-discovery because it sort of makes intuitive sense. If you choose to interpret it this way, it might be helpful to ground this personal development to a physical symbol in the world around them. So literally showing that the protagonist's spiritual growth is tied to this item. This is just an idea, so let me know if you wanted to discuss a few ways of doing this. I think it's important to distinguish the very internal and introspective way of looking at self-discovery and the kind that is spiritual and more focused on the soul (sorry if that just made you gag a little )

Now, I think it's really important to explore the ramifications of a discovery. The best way to ensure that you do this, is by starting off with the discovery and then using the rest of the story to explore the different impacts it has, whether on the protagonist, their perceptions/values or the relationships about them. Ramifications isn't exclusive to either good or bad impacts, and I think that's deliberate on NESA's part because it's really important to recognise that a discovery (often) won't have bad or good results. It'll have a mix of both, and I think that you should really explore this in your piece. Plus, by considering both sides of the coin, you can be confident that your ending will be really unique (just imagine how many predictable stories the markers read)!

Hopefully this helped!!

[justwannawish]

Hey there!

So if we're focusing on the process of an intellectual discovery, I would try and frame it around something concrete, like your protagonist seeking to understand or solve a difficult concept/problem. Then if we want to show the process, we will need to include both moments of enlightenment and confusion, to show that discovery is complex (i.e not linear where you go from not knowing to knowing).

In fact, you could approach the spiritual discovery in a similar way, by looking at someone coming to a new faith, or more interestingly, coming to question their previous faith (doesn't strictly have to be religious by the way, it's better to focus on their values and how they're being challenged/changed). Then by showing moments of challenge and progress, we can capture the discovery process. I think that spiritual can be linked to self-discovery because it sort of makes intuitive sense. If you choose to interpret it this way, it might be helpful to ground this personal development to a physical symbol in the world around them. So literally showing that the protagonist's spiritual growth is tied to this item. This is just an idea, so let me know if you wanted to discuss a few ways of doing this. I think it's important to distinguish the very internal and introspective way of looking at self-discovery and the kind that is spiritual and more focused on the soul (sorry if that just made you gag a little )

Now, I think it's really important to explore the ramifications of a discovery. The best way to ensure that you do this, is by starting off with the discovery and then using the rest of the story to explore the different impacts it has, whether on the protagonist, their perceptions/values or the relationships about them. Ramifications isn't exclusive to either good or bad impacts, and I think that's deliberate on NESA's part because it's really important to recognise that a discovery (often) won't have bad or good results. It'll have a mix of both, and I think that you should really explore this in your piece. Plus, by considering both sides of the coin, you can be confident that your ending will be really unique (just imagine how many predictable stories the markers read)!

Hopefully this helped!!

Thank you for such an in depth answer! It was extremely useful

My creative writing idea is about someone discovering a bomb and how he is confronted with the damage that it will cause- both to society in general and his own conscience. In it, I planned for him to challenge his own ideas about his identity- were his actions morally right? And I think that was meant to be the ramifications and spiritual discovery aspect of it. Eventually he realises despite his dedication and commitment to such a lethal weapon, the scientific advancements cannot outweigh the immorality of his discovery.

However, my current story (it's posted on the creative writing thread if you want to make more sense of my description- but don't feel like you have to check it out ) is more about the ramifications on the protagonist with the scientific discovery being more in the background, and more attention on the self-discovery. If the exam specifically asks for the process, would I have to include more attention on the invention?

The physical symbol as a motif also seems really cool! I really like it but am not sure how to implement into my story? Any tips

[Lachlan Morley]

Hi All,

Just a general question on essays:

Should I directly answer the question in the first sentence of my introduction and then get into my thesis  and subthesis or should i do my overall thesis first and then answer the question later and throughout my intro

[hazzaizmine]

Hey just wanted to ask, so for the question The focus in the intellect and the use of wit in Donnes poetry and W;t suggests that both composers were aware of the harsh realities of life. Evaluate this, statement with detailed reference to both your prescribed texts. This is a Module A essay question and i am not sure on how to answer this.

[justwannawish]

Hi All,

Just a general question on essays:

Should I directly answer the question in the first sentence of my introduction and then get into my thesis  and subthesis or should i do my overall thesis first and then answer the question later and throughout my intro

From what I've heard on atarnotes, I think it's recommended to answer the question first and then launch into your more generic thoughts about discovery. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

[carina1157]

Hi,

In regards to Module C: Representing People and Landscapes with de Botton's Art of Travel, just wondering if anyone has some tips on how to integrate quotes from across multiple chapters into one paragraph (as the notes from the makrer centre hinted at band 6 students should be doing)?

Thanks so much! 

[bsdfjnlkasn]

Thank you for such an in depth answer! It was extremely useful

My creative writing idea is about someone discovering a bomb and how he is confronted with the damage that it will cause- both to society in general and his own conscience. In it, I planned for him to challenge his own ideas about his identity- were his actions morally right? And I think that was meant to be the ramifications and spiritual discovery aspect of it. Eventually he realises despite his dedication and commitment to such a lethal weapon, the scientific advancements cannot outweigh the immorality of his discovery.

However, my current story (it's posted on the creative writing thread if you want to make more sense of my description- but don't feel like you have to check it out ) is more about the ramifications on the protagonist with the scientific discovery being more in the background, and more attention on the self-discovery. If the exam specifically asks for the process, would I have to include more attention on the invention?

The physical symbol as a motif also seems really cool! I really like it but am not sure how to implement into my story? Any tips

Hey!

That sounds like a really good premise, you can probably look at Oppenheimer's speeches because that would really enhance your response if you reference a few of his lines. He was involved in the Manhattan project which eventually led to the deployment of the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and similarly dealt with the struggle of reconciling that nation's militaristic strength, with his own moral compass.

I think it is better to focus on the moral side of things because it adds complexity, both in the characterisation it allows you to develop, but also in the way you can tick off a lot more of the rubric that way. I think  anything could made into a symbol, which I know is a fairly unhelpful thing to say. I've read through your piece and I think you could definitely make a candle your symbol. Why? Because it's not unusual to have one at dinner and it's fire, so there's your link to the bomb. You could have it slowly melting away as their conversation gets more and more heated, and then at the end of the night, he blows it out (after coming to his conclusion). You may have to rewrite bits of the final scene because you already have a fire... but this is just the first thing that came to mind. 

Sorry if that suggestion seems really lame :I , let me know if you have any ideas, and maybe we could discuss them too?

[klauren]

hey does anyone happen to have made any predictions for any of the 2017 modules essay questions??

[sidzeman]

Hey for Mod C People and Politics, do we have to refer to the composers representation of his characters, or can we also speak about the character representing himself
"e.g. Hal portrays himself as a skilful politician through his quick alternation between prose and verse during his court rehearsal with Falstalff"
or do we have to speak about it in terms of
"Shakespeare represents Hal as a skilful politician through his..." blah blah blah