English Advanced Question Thread

[justwannawish]

If it's an essay about the significant thematic concerns of speeches, do we need to outline how it's significant? How would we do that

[georgiia]

Could I please have feedback for my thesis? Thanks:)

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
How is this idea explored in Levinson’s representation of People and Politics in Wag the Dog and ONE other related text?
When representing the complex relationship between people and politics, the composer holds absolute power over their audience, making a seeming portrayal of reality inherently subjective.

I want to know what more I need for it to EXACTLY address the question

[miraxx]

Hey 

For Module A what should be the distribution between the texts? 50-50% or 40-60%?

[justwannawish]

Hey 

For Module A what should be the distribution between the texts? 50-50% or 40-60%?

Pretty sure it's meant to be 50% for each since it's a comparative study. That's what I've usually done At school and it has worked well for me

[elysepopplewell]

If it's an essay about the significant thematic concerns of speeches, do we need to outline how it's significant? How would we do that

When you're making your analysis you might be able to slide this in. Something like, "Another prominent theme in the speech..." using the word prominent makes the significance known really seamlessly!

Could I please have feedback for my thesis? Thanks:)

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
How is this idea explored in Levinson’s representation of People and Politics in Wag the Dog and ONE other related text?
When representing the complex relationship between people and politics, the composer holds absolute power over their audience, making a seeming portrayal of reality inherently subjective.

I want to know what more I need for it to EXACTLY address the question

Hey there

Not sure what "seeming portrayal" means. I think the sentence reads best without the word "seeming" - do you agree? You have answered the question, but what comes in the rest of your introduction will determine how well you are addressing the question. You've responded to the question and the module in your opening sentence - it's a wonderful sentence. But in order for you to explore the idea of corruption further, I'm interested to know if you'll be exploring this as a theme of the texts, or only the view that the author has the power. You'll explain this in the rest of your intro. Have you written that far ahead yet? Happy to have a look at that if so

[georgiia]

When you're making your analysis you might be able to slide this in. Something like, "Another prominent theme in the speech..." using the word prominent makes the significance known really seamlessly!

Hey there

Not sure what "seeming portrayal" means. I think the sentence reads best without the word "seeming" - do you agree? You have answered the question, but what comes in the rest of your introduction will determine how well you are addressing the question. You've responded to the question and the module in your opening sentence - it's a wonderful sentence. But in order for you to explore the idea of corruption further, I'm interested to know if you'll be exploring this as a theme of the texts, or only the view that the author has the power. You'll explain this in the rest of your intro. Have you written that far ahead yet? Happy to have a look at that if so

Oh thanks so much!
I get what you mean about the 'seeming' but what I was trying to communicate was that it isn't actually real. I guess it works the same without it though. For my core text I'm exploring corruption within the text as a fictional theme, and fir my related text I'm attempting to argue how the composer in a way exercises absolute power over the viewer in his representation.
Here's the rest of my intro so far, Is it effective/clear or a bit confusing in terms of setting up a markers expectations for the remainder of the essay?

When representing the complex relationship between people and politics, the composer holds absolute power over their audience, making a portrayal of reality inherently  corrupted by subjectivity. Barry Levinson embeds his concern regarding political corruption within the blackly humorous narrative of ‘Wag the Dog’, where he engages in direct dialogue with his audience to warn them of the reality of political corruption. Similarly, Michael Moore’s 2004 documentary ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ represents the corruption, manipulation and distraction within the Bush administration before, during and after the events of 9/11. However in this inherently subjective representation of political corruption, Moore abuses his absolute power as a filmmaker, thus corrupting his argument absolutely.

Thanks!!

[justwannawish]

When you're making your analysis you might be able to slide this in. Something like, "Another prominent theme in the speech..." using the word prominent makes the significance known really seamlessly!

Hey there

Not sure what "seeming portrayal" means. I think the sentence reads best without the word "seeming" - do you agree? You have answered the question, but what comes in the rest of your introduction will determine how well you are addressing the question. You've responded to the question and the module in your opening sentence - it's a wonderful sentence. But in order for you to explore the idea of corruption further, I'm interested to know if you'll be exploring this as a theme of the texts, or only the view that the author has the power. You'll explain this in the rest of your intro. Have you written that far ahead yet? Happy to have a look at that if so

Should we explicitly say why it's significant. Like if one of the themes is justice (like for Sadat, sorry Elyse, I know you didn't do speeches  )- should we say that it's essential bc it's relevant throughout time (textual integrity) and is an important message we can still use for the future.

[elysepopplewell]

Should we explicitly say why it's significant. Like if one of the themes is justice (like for Sadat, sorry Elyse, I know you didn't do speeches  )- should we say that it's essential bc it's relevant throughout time (textual integrity) and is an important message we can still use for the future.

Right I see what you're saying (even though I didn't study speeches )

The theme can be one of the things that connects audiences through time, so you absolutely could argue that, in fact I think it's a great idea. I don't want to say you SHOULD like it's the ONLY way to do it, but I think it is a really solid way and it definitely makes the most sense to me.

[justwannawish]

Right I see what you're saying (even though I didn't study speeches )

The theme can be one of the things that connects audiences through time, so you absolutely could argue that, in fact I think it's a great idea. I don't want to say you SHOULD like it's the ONLY way to do it, but I think it is a really solid way and it definitely makes the most sense to me.

Will do so another question I'm sorry for the myriad I have!
But if we get asked to talk about three speeches/poems, how should we do it? One paragraph linking A and B, one linking B and C, one linking A and C? Or could we just focus more on one? So basically I'm asking what the ratio of the speeches should be like

[miraxx]

Pretty sure it's meant to be 50% for each since it's a comparative study. That's what I've usually done At school and it has worked well for me

Okay, thanks, what about the other modules? Want to make sure I have the correct number of quotes haha

[justwannawish]

Okay, thanks, what about the other modules? Want to make sure I have the correct number of quotes haha

Not entirely 100% sure that there are definite restrictions but I think Module A is 50-50. For Module B if you do speeches or poetry, it should also be in that range. For AOS and Mod C, more like 60-40 (since you have a related text and a core you want to emphasise). I'm sure that no marker is going to mind if it's slightly higher or lower but you don't want to be writing an essay on discovery with two lines analysis for your related and 1,000 words for your core!

Also, does anyone know the rhetorical technique that involves repeating the same phrase with a conjunction in between?
Quote to make more sense: "because they are about human beings and human beings divide behaviour into good and bad" Is it a diacope?

[theblackswan]

For Module A, how do we introduce context in the intro? DO we need to introduce context into the intro? Below is an intro I wrote on the spot and too late I realised I neglected to include context. I actually cannot comprehend the question because most essay questions don't make sense to me for some reason. Feedback appreciated
Q: The importance of living a full life is an idea which connects Mrs Dalloway and The Hours. How is this idea shaped and reshaped in these texts from different contexts?

Through a comparative study of texts, the audience is able to glean a sense of appreciation for living a full life through the human experiences of joy and despair. By examining the intertextual connections expression the importance of these emotional experiences that unite humanity, the audience is urged to recognise the value of life. Virginia Woolf's modernist novel 'Mrs Dalloway' (1925) amplifies the connectivity which exists between humans through her presentation of empathy. This is explored through the themes of mental illness, the appreciation for life and the reconciliation of the public and private self. Stephen Daldry's post modern film 'The Hours' (2000) pays homage to Woolf's explores of the human experience and exhibits the diverging paths of three women from separate time periods and how the contextual influences shape their identities . Both composers avidly paints the journey of humanity and how experiences stimulate us to acknowledge the worth of living a full life.

[Lachlan Morley]

Hi All,

I've been told that in order to get in the A range for an essay, all quotes must be intergrated into the sentence

Is this true? and if so does anyone have any tips on how to do this without falling into plot retell and wasting words that could be used in analysis?

Thanks

[Potatohater]

Yeah I've been told the same thing. Some times I do it without realising but others I need to think about. A good way to do it is do technique, quote, effect. Eg. Imperfect souls are seen to create perfect love, as seen through the extended metaphor of a "worn viol" from which "perfect strains may float neath master hands/from instruments defaced" which reveals that flawed individuals can connect in a way that is pure and loving.

[mohanedibrahim1]

Hi there, i was thinking of having two strong techniques and two strong quotes that link up with each of those techniques for each of my body paragraphs for the English exam, is this a good idea and thanks.