English Advanced Question Thread

[Lauradf36]

Anyone got ideas about how to establish a setting in 1800s Paris?? (for a creative piece!)

[fizzy.123]

i am also doing Go Back and was wondering if it is fine to explore the discovery and the transformation process of all the characters ? is it better to choose 2/3 characters and just focus the essay on their transformation ?

[angiezhang9]

i am also doing Go Back and was wondering if it is fine to explore the discovery and the transformation process of all the characters ? is it better to choose 2/3 characters and just focus the essay on their transformation ?

Hey fizzy.123 My teacher has suggested to choose 2-3 characters rather than spread your analysis thinly. She has also suggested to look at the process as well as the transformation. The essay question may ask you to discuss the process of discovery so you don't want to limit yourself by only discussing the transformation. Hope this helps a bit

[Deng]

Hey i was wondering for Module B Critical Study of Texts my prescribed text is T.S Eliot. This means there are five poems as a prescribed text and i was wondering is it likely if BOSTES specifices a poem ?

[RuiAce]

Hey i was wondering for Module B Critical Study of Texts my prescribed text is T.S Eliot. This means there are five poems as a prescribed text and i was wondering is it likely if BOSTES specifices a poem ?

Likely is a bit hard to say. I don't believe BOSTES sees it a problem in requesting a specific poem be asked.

(I know CSSA definitely does not care since they've done so twice now.)

I would stick to it being "feasible", but leave a disclaimer on "likely".

[Elenaa]

Hi !!
I was just wondering, how do you like prepare/study for Module B - specifically poems? I'm doing T.S Eliot and the HSC could specify some poems, or some types poems could relate more to the question than others and what not. So i don't really know how to study for it because i don't think i can prepare essays for all of the poems as i'm only focusing on 2 poems in one essay

Thanks !!

[zachary99]

i am also doing Go Back and was wondering if it is fine to explore the discovery and the transformation process of all the characters ? is it better to choose 2/3 characters and just focus the essay on their transformation ?

For my trial question (CSSA paper) i only talked about Rayes transformation (in depth) and scored 15/15. However in most instances i would discuss 2 characters to enforce 2 points. So personally, i think it is better to discuss 1-2 characters in depth rather than all 6 participants.

[Elenaa]

I have a question about AOS Section 1 (reading section)

For the last extended response question, can we use the same analysis as we used for the earlier short response questions? I read a band 5/6 response on the Board of studies website (2015) and they have reused their analysis. here is the link to the website if you wanted to have a look http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/stds-matl/english-std-advanced-paper-1/english-standard-advanced-15-paper1-q1-band-56-sample2.pdf

Yes, i'm pretty sure you can, well thats what my teacher tells us to do anyways since it all relates to discovery. Just make sure you're answering the question, but you can use the same techniques and quotes and stuff

[ssarahj]

I have a question about AOS Section 1 (reading section)

For the last extended response question, can we use the same analysis as we used for the earlier short response questions? I read a band 5/6 response on the Board of studies website (2015) and they have reused their analysis. here is the link to the website if you wanted to have a look http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/stds-matl/english-std-advanced-paper-1/english-standard-advanced-15-paper1-q1-band-56-sample2.pdf

Hey! I've actually heard some mixed opinions on this topic. I don't think you would get explicitly marked down for repeating the same analysis HOWEVER it may be more sophisticated to reframe the analysis, using the same quote/technique, so that it suits the specific point you're trying to make the 5/6 mark question. For example:

2 mark question: The composer uses the "big and dark and hanging and wrinkled tree", to symbolise the transformative nature of discovery of new life and hope for the future

5/6 mark question: The composer uses the "big and dark and hanging and wrinkled tree", to represent the catalyst for discoveries about the protagonist's family history which gives one hope for the future.

Obviously if you're just completely "copy/pasting" the analysis from a previous question you're kind of missing the point of the whole Section 1, its about responding to each question individually and insightfully 

Anyone got ideas about how to establish a setting in 1800s Paris?? (for a creative piece!)

Hey! Establishing such a specific setting like that can be tricky, but try to focus on distinguishable features in the place during that time period. So that could be things like landmarks, smells, fashion, people's actions or colloquialisms etc. I don't know much about Paris in the 1800s but thats where research comes in to make it as authentic as you can (movies are really helpful for this)! (And I would be so keen to read this story

[Lauradf36]

Hey! Establishing such a specific setting like that can be tricky, but try to focus on distinguishable features in the place during that time period. So that could be things like landmarks, smells, fashion, people's actions or colloquialisms etc. I don't know much about Paris in the 1800s but thats where research comes in to make it as authentic as you can (movies are really helpful for this)! (And I would be so keen to read this story

Thanks! I've done some research & tried to use events around the time to make it sound authentic... if I post it on the Extension english 1 creative thread, you are welcome to have a look!

[angiezhang9]

Hey! I've actually heard some mixed opinions on this topic. I don't think you would get explicitly marked down for repeating the same analysis HOWEVER it may be more sophisticated to reframe the analysis, using the same quote/technique, so that it suits the specific point you're trying to make the 5/6 mark question. For example:

2 mark question: The composer uses the "big and dark and hanging and wrinkled tree", to symbolise the transformative nature of discovery of new life and hope for the future

5/6 mark question: The composer uses the "big and dark and hanging and wrinkled tree", to represent the catalyst for discoveries about the protagonist's family history which gives one hope for the future.

Obviously if you're just completely "copy/pasting" the analysis from a previous question you're kind of missing the point of the whole Section 1, its about responding to each question individually and insightfully 

Hey! Establishing such a specific setting like that can be tricky, but try to focus on distinguishable features in the place during that time period. So that could be things like landmarks, smells, fashion, people's actions or colloquialisms etc. I don't know much about Paris in the 1800s but thats where research comes in to make it as authentic as you can (movies are really helpful for this)! (And I would be so keen to read this story

Thanks so much Sarah and Elena

[nay103]

Hi, I have a couple of last minute questions 
1. When a questions asks something like,"How has your understanding of text A been shaped by text B?" or for example, Mod B, " *some statement about your text*. Does your opinion agree with this statement?" Is it advised that we write in first person?
2. If they give us an extract for poetry, with something like "How do these lines reflect the broader concern of Eliot's poetry as a whole?" do we have to continually make links between that extract and the other poem/s? Or is it alright to simply have the first paragraph on the extract and then relate the other three paragraphs to the first paragraph? I don't know if that quite makes sense haha.
Thanks!

[lozil]

Hi, I have a couple of last minute questions 
1. When a questions asks something like,"How has your understanding of text A been shaped by text B?" or for example, Mod B, " *some statement about your text*. Does your opinion agree with this statement?" Is it advised that we write in first person?
2. If they give us an extract for poetry, with something like "How do these lines reflect the broader concern of Eliot's poetry as a whole?" do we have to continually make links between that extract and the other poem/s? Or is it alright to simply have the first paragraph on the extract and then relate the other three paragraphs to the first paragraph? I don't know if that quite makes sense haha.
Thanks!

Hi! I'm not an expert or anything but 1. I've heard that you can use first person, but keep it minimal and 2. sorry I don't do poetry but your second suggestion sounds good
Someone else may want to verify this though :p

[lozil]

For the phrase "A few moments in the countryside …. could number among the most significant and useful of one’s life”, i want to say it's an adage/maxim/aphorism, but can these words only be applied to already well-known sayings? Thanks

[elysepopplewell]

I have a question about AOS Section 1 (reading section)

For the last extended response question, can we use the same analysis as we used for the earlier short response questions? I read a band 5/6 response on the Board of studies website (2015) and they have reused their analysis. here is the link to the website if you wanted to have a look http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/stds-matl/english-std-advanced-paper-1/english-standard-advanced-15-paper1-q1-band-56-sample2.pdf

You absolutely can reuse your analysis! Part of the reason why, is because although you may identify a metaphor in a shorter answer question, it's unlikely you're going to reuse that identical analysis again, because the new question will mean you need to redirect your work. So, don't stress about that one! Absolutely, it makes most sense to reuse your short answer analysis - in some texts there are a finite amount of things to discuss!