English Advanced Question Thread

[jamonwindeyer]

Was I able to emphasise on the 'how'?

I think you need more techniques! "How" means techniques and quotes, and you want a fair few of them in a paragraph to really hit the mark

[owidjaja]

I think you need more techniques! "How" means techniques and quotes, and you want a fair few of them in a paragraph to really hit the mark

I'm more concerned at whether I can fit more techniques in my paragraph. In each paragraph, I have about 4-5 techniques (the one I sent in was the beginning of my paragraph).

I can write 1000 words in ~40 ish minutes but handwriting is where I'm also concerned. (Also, I'm still salty over how in my Mod A essay I included 4 techniques but the teacher was like 'You wrote 1 and 1/2 pages and you only used two examples?')

So how many techniques would you say?

[jamonwindeyer]

I'm more concerned at whether I can fit more techniques in my paragraph. In each paragraph, I have about 4-5 techniques (the one I sent in was the beginning of my paragraph).

I can write 1000 words in ~40 ish minutes but handwriting is where I'm also concerned. (Also, I'm still salty over how in my Mod A essay I included 4 techniques but the teacher was like 'You wrote 1 and 1/2 pages and you only used two examples?')

So how many techniques would you say?

I hear different things from everyone about the magic number so I'll just say what I had per paragraph, which was about nine or ten techniques within probably six or seven quotes (I would usually pick quotes with two techniques in them). I don't think you need that many mind you! 4-5 quotes per paragraph is certainly fine, and obviously quality over quantity

[Mada438]

I hear different things from everyone about the magic number so I'll just say what I had per paragraph, which was about nine or ten techniques within probably six or seven quotes (I would usually pick quotes with two techniques in them). I don't think you need that many mind you! 4-5 quotes per paragraph is certainly fine, and obviously quality over quantity

Going to throw in my 20 cents, i don't tend to put more than like 3 maybe 4 techniques (so not neccessarily 3-4 quotes though) in my paragrqphs. Maybe thats a bad thing; but i look to extend out my critical analysis and evaluations and get my marks there. I find this works too!
Just wanted to present an alternate view! 

[zanibalh]

Hey guys,
What technique can I use to back up this quote;
“Poor death / thou art slave to fate”.

I used 'tone' at first, but my teacher said it was a weak technique for an analysis of poetry.

Thanks guys!

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey guys,
What technique can I use to back up this quote;
“Poor death / thou art slave to fate”.

I used 'tone' at first, but my teacher said it was a weak technique for an analysis of poetry.

Thanks guys!

Hey! Personification of death would be my pick

[zanibalh]

Hey! Personification of death would be my pick

thanks so much!

[zanibalh]

Hey guys,
For Module C; my prescribed text is 'Brave New World', I've chosen 'Dr. Strangelove' as a related text.
I've used politcal unrest as a theme; and I've analysed it. 
For my second theme; I've used identity. I've analysed it in terms of BNW however, I'm struggling to find points of analysis relating to 'Dr. Strangelove'.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[moq418]

HOW DO I STUDY FOR THE HSCE ENGLISH ADVANCED TRIALS ON AOS MOTORCYLCE DIAREIS MOD B = HAMLET, AND MOD C= GREAT GATSBY
PLEASE TELL ME THE EFFECTIVE WAY TO STUDY THIS EXAMS PAPER 1 AND PAPER 2 ALSO PLEASE TELL ME HOW DO I PREPARE THE ESSAY SHOULD I WRITE AND USE ON THE DAY OF EXAM ??

THANK YOU ALLL SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION!!!

[NowYouTseMe]

HOW DO I STUDY FOR THE HSCE ENGLISH ADVANCED TRIALS ON AOS MOTORCYLCE DIAREIS MOD B = HAMLET, AND MOD C= GREAT GATSBY
PLEASE TELL ME THE EFFECTIVE WAY TO STUDY THIS EXAMS PAPER 1 AND PAPER 2 ALSO PLEASE TELL ME HOW DO I PREPARE THE ESSAY SHOULD I WRITE AND USE ON THE DAY OF EXAM ??

THANK YOU ALLL SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION!!!

I've just come out of trials because my school does them early and what I'd recommend is as follows:
Paper 1:

• Comprehension: Just practice a ton of them and mark them according to actual marking criteria. I like to take a (n-1) approach with comprehension with n being the number of marks UNLESS it's a 5 or 6 marker in which I'd do 6 examples/techniques/analysis.
• Creative: Memorise, but have settings in the story or motifs which you can switch out for the stimulus.
• Essay: Memorise analysis within body paragraphs and the sentence used to introduce your texts and paragraphs in your introduction. Don't memorise topic sentences as it's good to link them to the question and thesis on the day.

Paper 2:

• Mod A (EBB and Gatsby I presume): I did different texts, but presumably you can go in with memorised analysis and adapt your topic sentences on the day as there are always the core concepts that each text has differing perspectives on that make your paragraphs.
• Mod B(Hamlet): Again, I did Citizen Kane, but the same issue arises with the question being able to test everything. It is in this case that you just have to prep body paragraphs based on character and themes and practice adapting those to a ton of essay questions.

Just in general, prep your essays and creative as early as possible so you can get teacher feedback or peer feedback and then get onto practice papers. Find as many practice papers online as you can and do them progressing from open book without time restrictions to open book timed, to closed book timed because the best way to be prepared for English is to be able to think on your feet come exam time and practising adapting to stimuli and questions will help you do that.

[fallenorigins]

Hey gyus,

What would be an appropriate technique for
“he has enjoy’d/ Greatly, have suffer’d greatly, both with those/that loved me, and alone”? (Other than enjambment?)

It's from the poem Ulysses by Tennyson.

Any help would be gretly appreicated,
Thanks! 

[aadharmg]

Hey guys!
Quick question. If I wanted to write an essay that I would eventually memorise and adapt it to the question given, should I be writing that essay based on any random question that I can find, like a past HSC question, or should I use a very broad question for the initial essay that allows me to discuss more widespread concepts (questions as such I am unable to find)? OR should I be making a thesis based essay that can virtually be altered to any question, but this makes it a lot more tricky to discuss my evidence in response to the question because I will realistically end up making up a lot of the essay on the spot? I want to write an essay for Citizen Kane but I can't figure out what I should write the essay in response to so I can actually get it marked and then use the adapted version of the essay in the exam.
Is it even worth it to memorise essays? So far I haven't done it for my exams and it's probably the reason I've been consistently achieving high C range marks.

[Mada438]

Hey guys!
Quick question. If I wanted to write an essay that I would eventually memorise and adapt it to the question given, should I be writing that essay based on any random question that I can find, like a past HSC question, or should I use a very broad question for the initial essay that allows me to discuss more widespread concepts (questions as such I am unable to find)? OR should I be making a thesis based essay that can virtually be altered to any question, but this makes it a lot more tricky to discuss my evidence in response to the question because I will realistically end up making up a lot of the essay on the spot? I want to write an essay for Citizen Kane but I can't figure out what I should write the essay in response to so I can actually get it marked and then use the adapted version of the essay in the exam.
Is it even worth it to memorise essays? So far I haven't done it for my exams and it's probably the reason I've been consistently achieving high C range marks.

Hey!
I would argue against writing essays completely. I recconmend developing say 5 different concepts (that are broad enough to adapt) with like 3-4 pieces of evidence each. This way you have the backbone of your essay regardless of the question and you can alter these to suit the question.

Then once you develop them, you then look at questions and practice constructing your argument around these malleable concepts and analysis; because all the other parts like critical analysis and links depend on the exact question.
This is what i do for my essays.
Hope this helps!

[owidjaja]

Hey guys!
Quick question. If I wanted to write an essay that I would eventually memorise and adapt it to the question given, should I be writing that essay based on any random question that I can find, like a past HSC question, or should I use a very broad question for the initial essay that allows me to discuss more widespread concepts (questions as such I am unable to find)? OR should I be making a thesis based essay that can virtually be altered to any question, but this makes it a lot more tricky to discuss my evidence in response to the question because I will realistically end up making up a lot of the essay on the spot? I want to write an essay for Citizen Kane but I can't figure out what I should write the essay in response to so I can actually get it marked and then use the adapted version of the essay in the exam.
Is it even worth it to memorise essays? So far I haven't done it for my exams and it's probably the reason I've been consistently achieving high C range marks.

Hey there,
A lot of people have different opinions about memorising and not memorising essays. I personally don't memorise essays only because if I break down in an exam, I'll most likely end up regurgitating my prepared essay and my prepared essay might not even answer the question. And when you don't answer the question, it's really difficult to get out of the D range. I usually go into an exam room with a malleable thesis, especially for Mod B and C. As for Mod A, I go through the different themes of my texts and try and fit my thesis to different types of questions. That way, all I need to worry about is memorising quotes rather than memorising a bunch of essays. Essentially, if you know your points and examples really well, then you should be fine walking into an exam room with a malleable thesis, some points you can discuss and quotes.

Again, someone else in the forums may have a different opinion!

Hope this helps

[joannelovescake]

Hi!

Okay, so, about writing/memorising essays. What works for me is that I always make some notes / analyses for my texts and then proceed to write an essay on a past question. Most modules have  similar questions (except maybe my option for module b) and therefore my essay can be adapted to a new question sufficiently. I do 'memorise' my english essays or at least my very strong sentences because for me personally it works, and then I change them during the exam.
I tend to memorise my essays paragraph by paragraph, not the whole thing. It's much easier and more organised. And by doing this you technically just memorise your key ideas with an explanation. Another trick of mine: I stick post it notes with the topic sentence of each paragraph on a page (total of 4-5 paragraphs) and that triggers my brain into remembering my key points for each pararaph.

What I usually do is I write a very general introduction with a very strong yet broad thesis, then address the question in every of my paragraphs. I try to keep my points of discussion as broad and relevant as possible so I could take out / add things during the exam. This prevents you from writing a very specific essay that doesn't ultimately answer the question.

My options are:
Discovery - Frank Hurley + my related text (i find this topic is the easiest to have a generalised essay for). Memorised my essay / key paragraph ; 14/15 in assessment + half yearly
Mod A: Richard III/ Looking for Richard ; comparative study; can be a bit tricky but if you know BOTH the texts very well it won't be as hard. Memorised my essay; got 18/20 in half yearly.
Mod B: Poetry of WB Yeats ; this is the hardest of the modules for me and I haven't written an essay for it yet because the question can ask ANYTHING AND SPECIFY A POEM which makes it challenging. And it isn't possible to memorise essays using combos of different poems ; so my plan for this is to write a general paragraph for each poem, analyse its techniques, memorise a few quotes, and go from there. (we did a speech for this so I haven't written an essay under exam conditions for this one or the next one yet)
Mod c: Brave New World + related text - my favourite module because I love politics and I can write alot about it. This module is about representation so my essay will be centered around that to a very high extent. I will most likely 'memorise' this essay.

Remember everyone learns differently! Good luck on your trials.