English Advanced Question Thread

[angiezhang9]

Hey guys, i think my question was hidden in the merging of some of my questions and didn't get seen. This was the question:

For trials, our AOS essay question was "discoveries have the power to transform".

As I am doing Go Back to where you came from, should I discuss two characters that have obviously transformed (eg. Raye and Adam) or should I show how one character has transformed drastically eg. Raye whilst another character has transformed in a limited way e.g.. Darren.

After trials, my teacher commented that it would be hard to analyse darren in this question. But i feel like it adds a greater depth of analysis. What do you think?

Thanks

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey guys, i think my question was hidden in the merging of some of my questions and didn't get seen. This was the question:

For trials, our AOS essay question was "discoveries have the power to transform".

As I am doing Go Back to where you came from, should I discuss two characters that have obviously transformed (eg. Raye and Adam) or should I show how one character has transformed drastically eg. Raye whilst another character has transformed in a limited way e.g.. Darren.

After trials, my teacher commented that it would be hard to analyse darren in this question. But i feel like it adds a greater depth of analysis. What do you think?

Thanks

Hey Angie! Sorry about that!

So I don't know your text specifically, but I look at it this way. You need to reach a certain level of analytical detail. Like, you need enough to prove whatever your point is. How you do that is totally up to you. So for me, it doesn't matter how you achieve that. On the surface it might be better to give yourself more to discuss, but if you can get it done with one character, that might be a cool way to structure an essay! Purely around the character development of the protagonist? That is unique and really cool!

There is more than one way to get where you want to go. In my opinion, you should do whichever works best for you! So if adding Darren works better for you, I think you should go for it!

[zachary99]

Hey guys, i think my question was hidden in the merging of some of my questions and didn't get seen. This was the question:

For trials, our AOS essay question was "discoveries have the power to transform".

As I am doing Go Back to where you came from, should I discuss two characters that have obviously transformed (eg. Raye and Adam) or should I show how one character has transformed drastically eg. Raye whilst another character has transformed in a limited way e.g.. Darren.

After trials, my teacher commented that it would be hard to analyse darren in this question. But i feel like it adds a greater depth of analysis. What do you think?

Thanks

Hey i had the same question as you .....must have both done the cssa paper.
In my opinion, this question is an absolute beauty to talk about Raye or Adam or both!........i can kinda see your point about Darren.....but there is way more textual analysis and evidence on Raye and Adams transformation, so i would personally avoid your argument about Darren (just for this question). You and others may totally disagree however!! just my opinion 
In my essay i only discussed Rayes journey and transformation and scored full marks....

[caitie145]

Hey!

For module B I'm doing Hamlet and one of the themes i was looking at doing was the nature of humanity and i was wondering if a good point to make under that would be the guilt of Claudius. it would probably only be a couple of sentences long but maybe it would be better as a separate theme or something??
any thoughts?

Thanks !

[ssarahj]

Hey i had the same question as you .....must have both done the cssa paper.
In my opinion, this question is an absolute beauty to talk about Raye or Adam or both!........i can kinda see your point about Darren.....but there is way more textual analysis and evidence on Raye and Adams transformation, so i would personally avoid your argument about Darren (just for this question). You and others may totally disagree however!! just my opinion 
In my essay i only discussed Rayes journey and transformation and scored full marks....

Full marks!!?! Amazing! That's what we like to hear, congratulations! 

[fizzy.123]

would it be beneficial to make a paragraph on every character in Go back? and then choose the characters that best suit the q?

[elysepopplewell]

Hey guys, i think my question was hidden in the merging of some of my questions and didn't get seen. This was the question:

For trials, our AOS essay question was "discoveries have the power to transform".

As I am doing Go Back to where you came from, should I discuss two characters that have obviously transformed (eg. Raye and Adam) or should I show how one character has transformed drastically eg. Raye whilst another character has transformed in a limited way e.g.. Darren.

After trials, my teacher commented that it would be hard to analyse darren in this question. But i feel like it adds a greater depth of analysis. What do you think?

Thanks

Jamon answered perfectly above, I'm just going to comment on the end bit here. I analysed Darren and it worked wonderfully with my thesis about how one's extent of discovery is determined by their willingness to discover.

would it be beneficial to make a paragraph on every character in Go back? and then choose the characters that best suit the q?

Make a paragraph in your study? Totally! A paragraph on each character in an essay? No. If you want to prepare all characters, I'd be building up a fact sheet with quotes, ideas, concepts, for each person. Then picking and choosing the best in the exam!

Hey!

For module B I'm doing Hamlet and one of the themes i was looking at doing was the nature of humanity and i was wondering if a good point to make under that would be the guilt of Claudius. it would probably only be a couple of sentences long but maybe it would be better as a separate theme or something??
any thoughts?

Thanks !

Hey there! I don't know enough about Hamlet I'm embarrassed to say But, I do have a suggestion about the nature of humanity. Be specific. You need to separate your essay from all the people talking about the human condition and never actually explaining exactly what the human condition is. So if guilt is part of the humanity you want to discuss, then Claudius sounds like a great place to start!

[angiezhang9]

Hey i had the same question as you .....must have both done the cssa paper.
In my opinion, this question is an absolute beauty to talk about Raye or Adam or both!........i can kinda see your point about Darren.....but there is way more textual analysis and evidence on Raye and Adams transformation, so i would personally avoid your argument about Darren (just for this question). You and others may totally disagree however!! just my opinion 
In my essay i only discussed Rayes journey and transformation and scored full marks....

Thanks for your replies Jamon, Zachary and Elyse!!

[Lauradf36]

Mod B - if they ask for "our" understanding of the text, should we speak in first person at all?

[Lauradf36]

Mod B - if they ask for "our" understanding of the text, should we speak in first person at all?
Also when they give you a "statement" to evaluate (like they do in some mod questions), would you restate the statement as your first line of the intro? Or would just integrating it with your thesis be ok?

Mod Edit: Posts merged

[pels]

Make a paragraph in your study? Totally! A paragraph on each character in an essay? No. If you want to prepare all characters, I'd be building up a fact sheet with quotes, ideas, concepts, for each person. Then picking and choosing the best in the exam!

What do you mean ideas and concepts for each person - I'm doing Go Back as well

[fizzy.123]

What do you mean ideas and concepts for each person - I'm doing Go Back as well

every character had a different process of discovering and came out with different insights and beliefs. so by saying concepts and ideas, i guess exploring the different process and transformation of each character and their experiences throughout the journey.

[jamonwindeyer]

Mod B - if they ask for "our" understanding of the text, should we speak in first person at all?
Also when they give you a "statement" to evaluate (like they do in some mod questions), would you restate the statement as your first line of the intro? Or would just integrating it with your thesis be ok?

Mod Edit: Posts merged

Hey hey! Definitely don't use first person, what that question requires is an adaption of your personal viewpoints into your arguments! as for restating what was given in the question, I generally find integrating it into your Thesis to be a little more effective

[Celeriac]

Hi! 

I had a quick question about essays in general (for both the AOS and Modules).

Reading over some of the feedback in the essay marking threads over the past few days, I've become a bit concerned about linking techniques to the audience. I mostly linked to the audience in Module A and B but not in the AOS or Module C. In the latter two I was always more focused on concepts without much reference to the audience. For example, the trial question for Paper One asked about transformations. I focused on indicating how the discoveries made in the text induced transformations in the characters. I received 15/15 for my essay, but I'm concerned that this kind of essay wouldn't cut it for the HSC. In discussing the discoveries made within the text, I'm unsure as to how I could focus on the audience rather than the characters.

Also, should every single technique mentioned make specific reference to the responder/audience?

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi! 

I had a quick question about essays in general (for both the AOS and Modules).

Reading over some of the feedback in the essay marking threads over the past few days, I've become a bit concerned about linking techniques to the audience. I mostly linked to the audience in Module A and B but not in the AOS or Module C. In the latter two I was always more focused on concepts without much reference to the audience. For example, the trial question for Paper One asked about transformations. I focused on indicating how the discoveries made in the text induced transformations in the characters. I received 15/15 for my essay, but I'm concerned that this kind of essay wouldn't cut it for the HSC. In discussing the discoveries made within the text, I'm unsure as to how I could focus on the audience rather than the characters.

Also, should every single technique mentioned make specific reference to the responder/audience?

Hey Celeriac! Welcome back to the forums!! Haven't seen you for ages, great to have you back

This is a great question! So specifically on Module C, addressing the audience is really important. I'd argue probably the most out of the all the modules. The reason being this, it is a representation module. It is about how composers use techniques to represent ideas to their audience. So a link between the technique and what it actually achieves, in terms of audience effect, is a really big deal in Module C

For the AoS, less important. Considering it is a good way to raise sophistication, but conceptual understanding is the big deal for Discovery. Your 15/15 essay for your Trials would almost certainly do just as well in the HSC if you adapt it correctly!

I'd say that for audience links, the importance order would be Module C > Module A > Module B > AoS

All of that said, not every technique needs those links. On the whole though, there should be an attempt to portray exactly what the audience is shown through the use of techniques. The level required depends on the Module, but in any case, definitely not required for absolutely every example you give