English Advanced Question Thread

[elysepopplewell]

Hey  Someone has probably asked this before but for Mod B I'm doing poetry, and since the question can specify certain poems or 1 and another which you pick etc, how do you study for that? Do I memorise quotes and a snapshot of each poem and find the links between? We've only done 3/5 so that makes it slightly easier to do something like that, but my last module B essay didn't go down too well and I want to get it right this time 
Thanks 

Hi! I studied Yeats' poetry for Module B so I definitely get this! For trials, I made sure that I knew all of the poems well enough to get me over the line, and then I knew like three in detail. It is too risky to ignore one or two poems entirely. You need to know enough about each poem to sustain a response. You'll be kicking yourself hard if you don't study a poem, and then the question specifies that you talk about that poem!

For the HSC exams, I took no risks, and I made sure I knew every single poem in detail! So when I studied a poem in detail, I tried to find the more "universal" techniques and quotes from within. Y'know, the ones that are relevant beyond one very specific theme. And I tried as best as I could to just know the poems really well, as in, like memorising the poem? But not actually MEMORISING the poem, that would be intense. But knowing it well enough that when I was in an exam, I could draw on a quote that I hadn't specifically studied, but I knew it existed and I knew it had some relevance. It's not an easy task, poems!

Looking at past papers will tell you the trends of the themes that they might question you about

[Elenaa]

Hello,
So i'm having a little bit of trouble coming up with a good thesis for my mod c (brooklyn) response. The ones i currently have are just the generic ones like "a shift in landscape can be challenging and transform an individual". I'm not quite sure how to make it more strong... and interesting and different...

Thankss

[brontem]

Hey again hahah    I am really struggling with my creative (as you could probably tell hahahah) but my biggest problem is that I come up with 23638384329 ideas and then when it gets to the actual discovery, I stop and can't figure out how to phrase it (the amount of half-finished creatives I have omg). How do I write the actual discovery part without it coming out as cliche, anticlimactic or tacky??

[MarkThor]

I had written a few practice essays, so I had used versions of the themes as well for sure!! Changed a little, but yep, I was able to use themes that I'd used before in other essays, which helped immensely  you're welcome! 

Just out of curiosity how many past papers did you do? (Thanks again btw)

[angiezhang9]

Hey, just wondering how we write the title of our texts in our essays. As in, which types of texts should be underlined and which should in inverted commas? Thanks heaps

[specclee]

Hey, just wondering how we write the title of our texts in our essays. As in, which types of texts should be underlined and which should in inverted commas? Thanks heaps

Hi there!
It doesn't really matter how you choose to highlight your texts (inverted commas or underlining) just as long as you are consistent!
Personally, I prefer inverted commas

[specclee]

Hi guys! I was hoping someone could take a look at my thesis/topic sentences to see if they're valid? And if not, I would really appreciate advice on ways to fix them:
Question:

“Whether discovering something for the first time, or rediscovering something, it is our attitude towards the process of discovery that is important”

Thesis:

The impact of an individual’s discovery is dependent on their willingness to embrace life’s opportunities to explore, allowing one’s greater understanding of themselves, others and the world around them. These attitudes towards discovery are ultimately shaped by the individual’s perspectives, birthed from their context.

Topic Statements:

1) An individual’s apprehension towards different experiences and perspectives birthed from their personal context may experience a sense of dissatisfaction in response to the process of discovery and the meaning that it may carry for the individual as they don’t realise its potential. (This is the one I'm most iffy about haha)

2) It is through daring to venture in unfamiliar environments that individuals encounter meaningful experiences that may challenge their assumptions, renewing their perceptions on themselves, others and the world.

Thanks!

[jamonwindeyer]

Just out of curiosity how many past papers did you do? (Thanks again btw)

I recently found all my English HSC study. I didn't do that many for Trials, I spent a little too much time remembering quotes, I just did a few past CSSA Exam Questions  For the HSC I did much better, I did probably 4 or 5 past HSC exams 

[conic curve]

I recently found all my English HSC study. I didn't do that many for Trials, I spent a little too much time remembering quotes, I just did a few past CSSA Exam Questions  For the HSC I did much better, I did probably 4 or 5 past HSC exams 

Just out of curiosity but why are distributing CSSA trials illegal?

Also why are the rules for CSSA so strict? What's so "special" about them (i.e. do they have really hard exams or what)

[jamonwindeyer]

Hello,
So i'm having a little bit of trouble coming up with a good thesis for my mod c (brooklyn) response. The ones i currently have are just the generic ones like "a shift in landscape can be challenging and transform an individual". I'm not quite sure how to make it more strong... and interesting and different...

Thankss

Hey Elenaa!  I feel your pain, I had a lot of trouble with formulating my Thesis statements for my essays. And it's hard to give advice on the issue too because everyone has their own style for handling this sort of thing 

One suggestion I'll make straight away is to try nominalisation. Nominalising involves forming nouns from typical verbs or adjectives, for example, intensity from the word intense. Nominalising, in conjunction with some slight expression shifts, can add a bit of extra power to a statement:

A shift in landscape can be challenging and transform an individual.

Individual transformations are spurred by shifts in landscapes.

Very similar, but by changing "transform" to "transformations," I add a little more oomph. This is an easy way to raise the sophistication 

Besides this, think about your ideas a little more in depth. WHY are transformations spurred by shifts in landscapes? If you keep digging deeper with the ideas you have, asking more questions, then you'll be on the way to finding something really cool 

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey again hahah    I am really struggling with my creative (as you could probably tell hahahah) but my biggest problem is that I come up with 23638384329 ideas and then when it gets to the actual discovery, I stop and can't figure out how to phrase it (the amount of half-finished creatives I have omg). How do I write the actual discovery part without it coming out as cliche, anticlimactic or tacky??

Whoa, big question  to be honest, I would say the best answer to that is that the best creatives don't have explicit discovery sentences. There is no need to be explicit with the concept because it comes out clearly in the plot. For example, we don't need Harry Potter to be hitting us heavy with the concept of love to know that it is a big focus of the series. Rowling brings it out in the novel (and indeed, through dialogue)

So I think a light touch is really appropriate. Try to be as subtle as possible to avoid tackiness, and make it less likely you'll cross into cliched territory. Don't use the word 'Discovery!'

Another thing to explore is if you do need to say something about Discovery, it's not coming through in the plot itself and you absolutely need to say it more directly, do it with dialogue. For example, in Harry Potter, Rowling does it through the conversations between Albus and Harry. Albus becomes like the character that reminds us what Rowling wants to say, Rowling uses Albus almost like her own voice in the series (although the character of Hermione is the one based on her). You could do a similar thing in your story, use character dialogue to push concepts  this can be tricky, but might seem less forced and less tacky 

Elyse may have her own ideas, but hopefully this helps! 

[wesadora]

HELLO. So, I have my English Trial this monday right.
Wrote up my essay plan and everything for discovery, tried to memorise it, thought I was all G and try do do a practice essay and spend over 20 minutes trying to think of how to structure my essay. I feel hopeless.

What's the extent to which you must absolutely ADHERE to the question...like is it totally okay to go against what the question is stating or asking?
For example, the question I got was 'unexpected discoveries may emerge from a process of planning. Explore this statement in terms of your set text and a text of your own choosing'.
I find it much easier to talk about unexpected discoveries NOT emerging from a process of planning (which even makes sense logically, right? No plan = everything is unexpected).
What i'm trying to ask is...how do you know when it's okay to not agree with the question? Or is it a general rule to assume the question is stating something universally true we all need to blindly support. thanks

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi guys! I was hoping someone could take a look at my thesis/topic sentences to see if they're valid? And if not, I would really appreciate advice on ways to fix them:

Hey there!! Happy to do it 

Thesis statement is great! No comment, looks awesome, you could keep exploring with expression but the idea is spot on and addresses the stimulus really well 

First topic sentence has some expression issues primarily, I think that could be why you are iffy? It definitely needs to be more succinct, try making some better word choices. The essence of that topic is that individuals may reject discoveries because they don't recognise the benefits. Bring it back to bare bones, the idea is great, but its expression is a bit too much ramble for my taste 

Second one is much better because it was shorter! You have a better clarity in this one, and it shows, because you need less words convey the point.

Essentially what is happening with that topic sentence in the middle is that you are unsure, so you use more words. It's kind of like stumbling over giving an answer in class, you keep talking to hope you get there. Take a step back, look at your concept, and just be a little more succinct with your expression, the idea is great 

[brontem]

Whoa, big question  to be honest, I would say the best answer to that is that the best creatives don't have explicit discovery sentences. There is no need to be explicit with the concept because it comes out clearly in the plot. For example, we don't need Harry Potter to be hitting us heavy with the concept of love to know that it is a big focus of the series. Rowling brings it out in the novel (and indeed, through dialogue)

So I think a light touch is really appropriate. Try to be as subtle as possible to avoid tackiness, and make it less likely you'll cross into cliched territory. Don't use the word 'Discovery!'

Another thing to explore is if you do need to say something about Discovery, it's not coming through in the plot itself and you absolutely need to say it more directly, do it with dialogue. For example, in Harry Potter, Rowling does it through the conversations between Albus and Harry. Albus becomes like the character that reminds us what Rowling wants to say, Rowling uses Albus almost like her own voice in the series (although the character of Hermione is the one based on her). You could do a similar thing in your story, use character dialogue to push concepts  this can be tricky, but might seem less forced and less tacky 

Elyse may have her own ideas, but hopefully this helps! 

Thank you for this!! I get to the point of the discovery and I essentially quit because I don't know what to do 
P.S the harry potter references were very swift but you're going to be very surprised to know that I haven't actually read/seen harry potter But they were still helpful references nonetheless 

[jamonwindeyer]

Just out of curiosity but why are distributing CSSA trials illegal?

Also why are the rules for CSSA so strict? What's so "special" about them (i.e. do they have really hard exams or what)

Because (unlike the school written papers) they are a paid product, schools pay for the papers for their students 

The CSSA is strict about things like when marks can be released and such, purely because so many students sit it. Schools all have to agree to abide by the rules because if questions get out, exams are completed late, etc, it can offer unfair advantage/disadvantage. There are strict policies in place to ensure everyone gets a fair go, just because many many schools are sitting those papers (the most of any of the Trial Papers)