English Advanced Question Thread

[aadharmg]

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!

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

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.

Thank you guys! That gives me a lot more perspective on probably the more intelligent route to go. My only concern with having points written is that I end up waffling a little bit and blow my arguments out of proportion. Hopefully I can fix that with some practice. Appreciate the advice though.

[kauac]

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! 

Hi...

Here's what I've found:
- anastrophe (reversal of ususal word order, like when 'greatly' comes after the verbs)
- asyndeton
- depending on what your analysis is, talking about the emphasis on past tense might work too. 

[moq418]

For the discovery essay I am doing motorcycle diaries and my related text felks skrzynecki (poem) by Peter Skrzyneck. should i use that for my related text or choose another. please tell me ASAP  becuase im currently preparing my essay for paper 1 trail exam. Also how do i write a thesis for example this question: The process of discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and reconsidering what is known. How is this perspective on discovery explored in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?
can i start off by saying: Discovery is defined as... or The process of discovery is...

Thanks everyone.

[zanibalh]

Hey guys;
Can someone explain to me how I'd approach this question?

“Whether motivated by need, wonder or curiosity, discovery has the power to be transformative.” How accurately does this statement reflect the view of discovery explored in your prescribed text?

Thanks guys.

[LaraC]

@zanibalh
Hey!!
I'm no expert...but if I were you I'd think about the following points to start you off:
- Think about the discovery explored in your prescribed text. Is it motivated by need, wonder or curiosity?
- Decide which it is motivated by and then think about whether the discovery in your text has had the power to be transformative or not.
- If so, try to explore how each of your catalysts (need/wonder/curiosity) lead to discovery, and then think about why that catalyst can be transformative, and HOW it is transformative. It could also be good to explore HOW and WHY the composer explores discovery in this way and the effect it has on the audience (techniques and analysis).

Sorry they're only some ideas that might help you to get started - as I said I'm far from an expert!!

Good luck!!

LaraC

[LaraC]

Hello guys!!

Just wondering what ideas people have for creative writing for AOS Discovery?! I've been trying quite a few avenues but can't seem to come up with an interesting/out of the box storyline that will catch a reader's attention!!
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I'm quite stuck!! 

Thanks heaps!!! 

[zanibalh]

@zanibalh
Hey!!
I'm no expert...but if I were you I'd think about the following points to start you off:
- Think about the discovery explored in your prescribed text. Is it motivated by need, wonder or curiosity?
- Decide which it is motivated by and then think about whether the discovery in your text has had the power to be transformative or not.
- If so, try to explore how each of your catalysts (need/wonder/curiosity) lead to discovery, and then think about why that catalyst can be transformative, and HOW it is transformative. It could also be good to explore HOW and WHY the composer explores discovery in this way and the effect it has on the audience (techniques and analysis).

Sorry they're only some ideas that might help you to get started - as I said I'm far from an expert!!

Good luck!!

LaraC

Thanks so much lara!!

[zanibalh]

Hello guys!!

Just wondering what ideas people have for creative writing for AOS Discovery?! I've been trying quite a few avenues but can't seem to come up with an interesting/out of the box storyline that will catch a reader's attention!!
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I'm quite stuck!! 

Thanks heaps!!! 

My teachers say that everything has already been written because creatives for AOS have been going on for so so long & there's only so much stories people can write about. So don't base the strength of your story on the basis of what it is about but how you can creatively incorporate techniques and the concept of discovery throughout the story you already have. Markers don't focus much on the plot of the story but the way you've creatively executed that storyline w/ the incorporation of discovery ofcourse.

Hope that helps!

[prickles]

Hello guys!!

Just wondering what ideas people have for creative writing for AOS Discovery?! I've been trying quite a few avenues but can't seem to come up with an interesting/out of the box storyline that will catch a reader's attention!!
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I'm quite stuck!! 

Thanks heaps!!! 

Hey Lara 
I suggest moving away from the whole 'I need to find a really creative plot that the markers have never seen before' thing, because no one is going to be able to just 'give' you an idea that you are able to write about really well. Often some of the most simplest things work, because you have the time to explain them really well, and most of all, you understand them. The marker is going to be more impressed if you bring discovery into a daily bike ride that you are really familiar with, than if you try to entwine discovery into some magical event where a little girl travels to another country to find a lost family member. The latter could be an interesting story, but much harder to do well under timed, pressured conditions. So write about something that's happened to you, or something you have researched THOROUGHLY. That way, you will know what you are talking about, can potentially show the markers something new in a plotline that is seemingly 'overused', and if you have a blank/can't adapt to the stimulus, at least you know enough about your context/setting so that you can stick something else in that still makes sense.
Instead of trying to dream up some creative storyline, try to dream up a character. The character is the one that is going to do the discovering right? Your storyline may well enhance the character's discovery, but the character is an integral part of your creative. I believe the centre of any great creative is a great character that makes a discovery.
Just forget a setting, a discovery, a plotline for now. Put a bubble in the middle of the page (don't fill it, because you will eventually put a name inside) and draw arrows off the bubble. Just put anything coming off it that forms your character. Try be specific, and creative.
It has brown eyes, ok cool. Maybe it has eyes the colour of pine cones? Does it have any scars? Birthmarks? Glasses?  Does it only ever wear blue clothes? Does it rely on its family, or not even know who they are? Does it have all of its toes? Walk with a limp? There are so so so many possibilities. The marker will probably be drawn closer to a character with a lopsided smile, pencil grey eyes and a nervous twitch in his left hand than a young girl with a blond ponytail and brown eyes. Not to say there is anything against young girls with blond ponytails and brown eyes. The point is make a character that is interesting, that the audience wants to know more about, and wants to learn what happens or happened to them
Once you get an idea of what your character looks like, acts like, what it's morals/values are, etc, you can start to think of other things, like the context, story line, other characters etc.
In terms of context, just briefly, context doesn't mean you can't make it from what your life has been, or the time period you live in now. Just be conscious that there probably weren't many kids named Chicago or Saint in the 1800s, so write about a time period you know well.
Ok, that was way longer than I was expecting! Sorry
Atb, and lmk if I can explain anything more

[prickles]

Sorry for the double post, but I can't seem to modify and get rid of that last little half sentence.

Feel free for a mod to fix it and delete this one

[jamonwindeyer]

Sorry for the double post, but I can't seem to modify and get rid of that last little half sentence.

Feel free for a mod to fix it and delete this one

Doneskies

For the discovery essay I am doing motorcycle diaries and my related text felks skrzynecki (poem) by Peter Skrzyneck. should i use that for my related text or choose another. please tell me ASAP  becuase im currently preparing my essay for paper 1 trail exam. Also how do i write a thesis for example this question: The process of discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and reconsidering what is known. How is this perspective on discovery explored in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing?
can i start off by saying: Discovery is defined as... or The process of discovery is...

Thanks everyone.

Hey!! I think Skrzynecki makes a great related for Discovery, roll with it if you like it!

Here's a bit of an essay guide which includes some stuff on Thesis statements, or you can try to write one and get feedback here. In general, a definition of Discovery isn't necessary - Focus on proposing an idea that relates to the question. Extrapolate on aspects of the question, think about whether you agree or disagree, that sort of stuff

[kauac]

Hello guys!!

Just wondering what ideas people have for creative writing for AOS Discovery?! I've been trying quite a few avenues but can't seem to come up with an interesting/out of the box storyline that will catch a reader's attention!!
Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I'm quite stuck!! 

Thanks heaps!!! 

Hi...

Zanibalh and prickles have already given some awesome advice, but just had something extra to add:

If its a writer's block type thing, and you just don't know where to begin, some research can be super helpful! Think about any events in history that particularly interest you, or perhaps read some online articles about things that are currently being discovered, e.g. new species, medicine, missing people, archaeological finds, you get the picture... Perhaps you could appropriate an idea like this?

If you find something that sparks your interest, try and work a plot line around it, but add in your own personal flare, of course! Play with the discovery a bit so that it focuses on a different part of the rubric then you would immediately expect. This is what I did last term after having to rewrite a creative from scratch, and can honestly vouch for this method! 

[3.14159265359]

Hey I was at Emily’s lecture today for Adv Eng. BOMB LECTURE BTW!
But I was wondering what the names of the 2 related text she showed us for modC were? Because I can’t seem to find them online.



Also what are some good related texts for people and politics. Prescribed is WH Auden.

Thanks

[kauac]

Hey I was at Emily’s lecture today for Adv Eng. BOMB LECTURE BTW!
But I was wondering what the names of the 2 related text she showed us for modC were? Because I can’t seem to find them online.

Mount Analogue by Imants Tillers

Much ado about not very much (not sure if that's its proper name) by John Shakespeare 

[3.14159265359]

Much ado about not very much (not sure if that's its proper name) by John Shakespeare 

nope. it doesn't come up