English Advanced Question Thread

[dancing phalanges]

Hello,
Does anyone have any tips for how to adapt your essay scaffolds or properly engage with the question asked during an exam?
I have always struggled with this component and have been told that I only skirt around the question asked.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Hey!

So first thing - if you have a main essay or central ideas you are wanting to discuss about a text - make sure to find as many past paper questions on the planet and then just see if you can adapt them to the question!

For instance, if your discovery in your preferred text fits the unexpected/confronting aspect of the rubric but not the part about discovering for the first time, try find another back-up text as the discovery essay questions always come from the rubric.

In your essay itself, make sure to pick out the key words and constantly address them in every paragraph. This doesn't just mean repeating them but also coming up with synonyms.

Here's an example of how I did that in a Mod C essay - I have put in bold all the references to the question.

Politics illustrates the ultimate powerlessness of ordinary people. To what extent is this view represented in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?

Both Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Malala Yousafzai’s speech to the UN Youth Takeover explore through representation the impacts of individual defiance against repressive governments. However, they differ in the extent to which they demonstrate the power of these acts. Huxley determines, through the characterisation of John the Savage that such acts, although inspiring, are ultimately crushed by dominant political forces. Yousafzai, on the other hand, recognises the transformative role of individual political action on society. Thus, to a large extent, Huxley represents the futility of individual actions against authoritative governments. Conversely, Yousafzai speaks of the power of one voice in changing society and encourages the influence of ordinary people in overcoming authoritarian Governments.

See how the bolded terms aren't just repeating powerless etc. - the question is asking you to highlight how these different texts illustrate the amount of power ordinary people have. Identify who those ordinary people are in your text and what influence they have on power. Consider how politics/government hinder or benefit this.

Try get those key concepts into your essay throughout and explore them. It is about picking those concepts and exploring them rather than slapping the key words everywhere.

Hope that made sense

[chickenlaksa123]

Hey!

So first thing - if you have a main essay or central ideas you are wanting to discuss about a text - make sure to find as many past paper questions on the planet and then just see if you can adapt them to the question!

For instance, if your discovery in your preferred text fits the unexpected/confronting aspect of the rubric but not the part about discovering for the first time, try find another back-up text as the discovery essay questions always come from the rubric.

In your essay itself, make sure to pick out the key words and constantly address them in every paragraph. This doesn't just mean repeating them but also coming up with synonyms.

Here's an example of how I did that in a Mod C essay - I have put in bold all the references to the question.

Politics illustrates the ultimate powerlessness of ordinary people. To what extent is this view represented in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?

Both Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Malala Yousafzai’s speech to the UN Youth Takeover explore through representation the impacts of individual defiance against repressive governments. However, they differ in the extent to which they demonstrate the power of these acts. Huxley determines, through the characterisation of John the Savage that such acts, although inspiring, are ultimately crushed by dominant political forces. Yousafzai, on the other hand, recognises the transformative role of individual political action on society. Thus, to a large extent, Huxley represents the futility of individual actions against authoritative governments. Conversely, Yousafzai speaks of the power of one voice in changing society and encourages the influence of ordinary people in overcoming authoritarian Governments.

See how the bolded terms aren't just repeating powerless etc. - the question is asking you to highlight how these different texts illustrate the amount of power ordinary people have. Identify who those ordinary people are in your text and what influence they have on power. Consider how politics/government hinder or benefit this.

Try get those key concepts into your essay throughout and explore them. It is about picking those concepts and exploring them rather than slapping the key words everywhere.

Hope that made sense

Thank you so much!
This has cleared up my doubts quite a bit.
I will now try and apply this to my practice essays

[kauac]

Hi...

Can we use coup de theatre as a technique for a play or film? Or is it more just a description of the plot line?

[theyam]

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could give me suggestions on how to adapt my plot line to all aspects of the rubric. My story is about a granddaughter who is forced to visits her grandfather for the first time in a nursing home and is shocked by his deterioration, recognises his loneliness and  begins to mature a bit.

At the moment my story plot line doesn't fit:
- Intellectual discoveries (because she doesn't discover any like new logical knowledge?)
- The impact of these discoveries can be far-reaching and transformative for the individual and for broader society (There is nothing about the society, it only focuses on the individual)
- Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed from different perspectives and their worth may be reassessed over time (my story only has the perspective of the granddaughter and it happens within the span of a few minutes so she can't really assess it?)
- The ramifications of particular discoveries may differ for individuals and their worlds ( it doesn't match the world aspect, I only focus on the individual)

This is my story for further reference haha: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JDhfzbuW7x-QGNWSf3Z87TrUeqxyx08Bns7NSH1CXwg/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you
From theyam

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi...

Can we use coup de theatre as a technique for a play or film? Or is it more just a description of the plot line?

Hey! You definitely can, provided you can explain its use in such a way that doesn't get too 'retell-y'

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could give me suggestions on how to adapt my plot line to all aspects of the rubric. My story is about a granddaughter who is forced to visits her grandfather for the first time in a nursing home and is shocked by his deterioration, recognises his loneliness and  begins to mature a bit.

At the moment my story plot line doesn't fit:
- Intellectual discoveries (because she doesn't discover any like new logical knowledge?)
- The impact of these discoveries can be far-reaching and transformative for the individual and for broader society (There is nothing about the society, it only focuses on the individual)
- Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed from different perspectives and their worth may be reassessed over time (my story only has the perspective of the granddaughter and it happens within the span of a few minutes so she can't really assess it?)
- The ramifications of particular discoveries may differ for individuals and their worlds ( it doesn't match the world aspect, I only focus on the individual)

This is my story for further reference haha: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JDhfzbuW7x-QGNWSf3Z87TrUeqxyx08Bns7NSH1CXwg/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you
From theyam

Hey! Really good that you are challenging your story against the rubric.

- Intellectual discoveries is a tough one, I tend to link that one to politics and political viewpoints which doesn't really match your story in any obvious way. Would be keen to hear other thoughts on this!
- For the stuff on world/society, perhaps the Discovery becomes a catalyst for the granddaughter not only visiting her grandfather more, but also visiting the others, and hearing their stories and recognising how much they can contribute to her maturity and understanding. Perhaps even that could be bent to intellectual. You don't need to have an impact on millions to satisfy this dot point, just more than the individual
- Potentially this doesn't happen in a single visit, maybe over several. Maybe the first one they don't notice anything, the second one they get an inkling, etc etc. That could satisfy that aspect.

Keen to get more thoughts/brainstorming from others

[kauac]

Hi...

My essays with 2 related texts are always too long to finish within 40 min. Where/what should I be trying to cut down on?

[theyam]

Hi...

My essays with 2 related texts are always too long to finish within 40 min. Where/what should I be trying to cut down on?

What module is this?

[theyam]

Hey! You definitely can, provided you can explain its use in such a way that doesn't get too 'retell-y'

Hey! Really good that you are challenging your story against the rubric.

- Intellectual discoveries is a tough one, I tend to link that one to politics and political viewpoints which doesn't really match your story in any obvious way. Would be keen to hear other thoughts on this!
- For the stuff on world/society, perhaps the Discovery becomes a catalyst for the granddaughter not only visiting her grandfather more, but also visiting the others, and hearing their stories and recognising how much they can contribute to her maturity and understanding. Perhaps even that could be bent to intellectual. You don't need to have an impact on millions to satisfy this dot point, just more than the individual
- Potentially this doesn't happen in a single visit, maybe over several. Maybe the first one they don't notice anything, the second one they get an inkling, etc etc. That could satisfy that aspect.

Keen to get more thoughts/brainstorming from others

Thank you Jamon

[kauac]

What module is this?

AOS and module c.

Tends to be worse in my discovery essays, because the prescribed text is poetry, so I have to compare 4 different texts for each microthesis.

[zanibalh]

AOS and module c.

Tends to be worse in my discovery essays, because the prescribed text is poetry, so I have to compare 4 different texts for each microthesis.

Hey,
I'm pretty sure you can NEVER do 2 related texts for module C. It always ONLY asks for one.

Hope this helps; but would love for someone to back me up on this one just in case.

[owidjaja]

Hi...

My essays with 2 related texts are always too long to finish within 40 min. Where/what should I be trying to cut down on?

Hey there,
Considering how it's taking AOS and Mod C too long to finish, maybe it would be better to have 1 related text. Plus, I think it would be better to have 1 related text considering how a lot of the essay questions say: "in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing." (this is copied and pasted from a Mod C 2017 question). Maybe you can have a bit more room with AOS since your creative may not take 40 minutes to write (creatives tend to be shorter than an essay) but I would highly suggest doing 1 related text for Mod C.

Hope this helps!

[kauac]

Hey there,
Considering how it's taking AOS and Mod C too long to finish, maybe it would be better to have 1 related text. Plus, I think it would be better to have 1 related text considering how a lot of the essay questions say: "in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing." (this is copied and pasted from a Mod C 2017 question). Maybe you can have a bit more room with AOS since your creative may not take 40 minutes to write (creatives tend to be shorter than an essay) but I would highly suggest doing 1 related text for Mod C.

Hope this helps!

Hey,
I'm pretty sure you can NEVER do 2 related texts for module C. It always ONLY asks for one.

Hope this helps; but would love for someone to back me up on this one just in case.

Hi...
For AOS and Mod C, I normally use just one related text in my essays, and I have no issues with time when writing them. I have just been practicing using two related texts in case they ask for two in the exam.

I thought we could be asked for two in module c as well? My teacher made sure I prepared two... But perhaps I'm mistaken.

[theyam]

Hi...
For AOS and Mod C, I normally use just one related text in my essays, and I have no issues with time when writing them. I have just been practicing using two related texts in case they ask for two in the exam.

I thought we could be asked for two in module c as well? My teacher made sure I prepared two... But perhaps I'm mistaken.

Hey,

Not sure of this will help but this is how I set out my essays for when I have 2 related texts:

AOS (cos my prescribed is poems)
Paragraph 1:
Poem 1
Related 1

paragraph 2:
Poem 2
Related 2

Mod C (mine is crucible)
Crucible
Animal Farm

Crucible
2nd related- haven't found it yet haha

when i set out  my essays like this, they're still about 1k

hope it helps

[owidjaja]

Hi...
For AOS and Mod C, I normally use just one related text in my essays, and I have no issues with time when writing them. I have just been practicing using two related texts in case they ask for two in the exam.

I thought we could be asked for two in module c as well? My teacher made sure I prepared two... But perhaps I'm mistaken.

I feel like it's more likely for NESA to ask for 2 related texts in AOS than Mod C. That being said, my teacher said it's been years since they've asked for 2 related texts in AOS.

Maybe instead you could know another related text but not in the greatest detail like your prescribed text? (Not sure if this makes sense)

[rh1A]

Hello...
Just need some help on finding some techniques in the below quotes and analysis for MOD A - RIchard III & Looking for Richard.........
If ya cud reply ASAP tht wud be great!!!

1. "does not have his humanity, that he’s lost it”
However, although Pacino agrees with Shakespeare when he says that Richard does not have his humanity, that he’s lost it”, the depiction of Richard is as if he is more psychologically flawed, rather than evil.
2. “I love the silence. After silence, what else is there?”   
Following Richards death, Pacino’s focus on silence rather than the restoration of moral and spiritual order becomes a final reminder, according to critic Steve Henry, that “postmodern philosophy remains unsure as to our place in an impersonal universe”


Thanks so much!!!!