English Advanced Question Thread

[arleee]

Hey, I'm not sure if this has already been covered, but I'm wondering what your approach was to answering essay questions in the exams. I really struggle with this and was the main reason I lost my marks in the Trials. How can I bring an essay in and adapt it without losing too much time trying to think of what the hell to do? I am desperate for some advice here!
Thanks

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey, I'm not sure if this has already been covered, but I'm wondering what your approach was to answering essay questions in the exams. I really struggle with this and was the main reason I lost my marks in the Trials. How can I bring an essay in and adapt it without losing too much time trying to think of what the hell to do? I am desperate for some advice here!
Thanks

Hey arleee! Unfortunately there is no formula here, the only key is practice. You should spend some time over the next few days reading as many Trial paper questions as possible and brainstorming essays to respond to them; just main ideas. This will give you practice responding to questions properly and might help you adapt your essay to make it more flexible!

Elyse might be able to help more; I never memorised my English essays so I'm not a huge authority on this issue

[isaacdelatorre]

Hey guys,

For my area of study trial essay, I was told to include more techniques relevant to the texts' medium.
The texts I had were a documentary a speech and a sonnet.
What are some of the techniques that are unique to these textual forms?

I used some of the techniques I knew such as camera angles for documentary, pace for speech and enjambment for sonnet; but any suggestions are welcome

[elysepopplewell]

Hey, I'm not sure if this has already been covered, but I'm wondering what your approach was to answering essay questions in the exams. I really struggle with this and was the main reason I lost my marks in the Trials. How can I bring an essay in and adapt it without losing too much time trying to think of what the hell to do? I am desperate for some advice here!
Thanks

If you want to bring in a prepared piece then you need to keep in mind that flexibility is key - and flexibility doesn't come with memorisation, but instead, with a deep understanding of the topic.

I always go in with the quotes, techniques and the effect. I just adjust the effect according to the question. I also usually go in with a prepared thesis statement and a few smaller arguments, which I'll also manipulate. I memorised my essays which happened partly organically because I'd used the same essays throughout the year. Basically, the more surprise you can take out of it, the better. So work on things that will be useful no matter what (quotes, techniques, perhaps context, etc) but keep flexibility at the forefront of your mind!

[elysepopplewell]

Hey guys,

For my area of study trial essay, I was told to include more techniques relevant to the texts' medium.
The texts I had were a documentary a speech and a sonnet.
What are some of the techniques that are unique to these textual forms?

I used some of the techniques I knew such as camera angles for documentary, pace for speech and enjambment for sonnet; but any suggestions are welcome

This is just a bit of a brainstorm:

Documentaries:

Spoiler

Camera angles
mise-en-scene
Lighting
Diagetic sounds
Non-diagetic sounds
Cinema verite
Cross-cutting/Jump-cutting
Music
Dialogue

Speech:

Spoiler

Low/high modality
Rhetorical question
Pace
Connotations
Syntax
Length of sentence
Climax
If you are analysing the actual delivery of the speech, perhaps hand gestures.

Sonnet

Spoiler

Iambic pentameter
Or, iambic tetrameter
similes
metaphor
enjambment
rhyme scheme
imagery
allusions

Note: The petrarchan sonnet is different from the Shakespearean sonnet, sonnets can vary

[marynguyen18]

With TS Eliot poem's for Mod B are there any techniques that he uses that can be able to be linked across all his poems

if we are given a stimulus for Creative Writing how do we incorporate it into our story? and what happens if they ask for the PROCESS of discovery rather than its IMPACT or OUTCOME how would we get our creative to fit that?

Moderator Action: merged double posts

[isaacdelatorre]

This is just a bit of a brainstorm:

Documentaries:

Spoiler

Camera angles
mise-en-scene
Lighting
Diagetic sounds
Non-diagetic sounds
Cinema verite
Cross-cutting/Jump-cutting
Music
Dialogue

Speech:

Spoiler

Low/high modality
Rhetorical question
Pace
Connotations
Syntax
Length of sentence
Climax
If you are analysing the actual delivery of the speech, perhaps hand gestures.

Sonnet

Spoiler

Iambic pentameter
Or, iambic tetrameter
similes
metaphor
enjambment
rhyme scheme
imagery
allusions

Note: The petrarchan sonnet is different from the Shakespearean sonnet, sonnets can vary

Thanks Elyse, this is very, very helpful I was just wondering what is the significance of using techniques relevant to textual form? and how I should go about embedding them into my essay? i.e. finding a technique in the evidence I already have, or finding other examples of these techniques in the text and trying to fit it into my argument??

Thank you again; I know how popular these forums are getting and I greatly appreciate your input

[vyca]

Hi! could someone help me out with the technique in this line?

“all she could do was count the days before she went back”,

[marynguyen18]

Hi! could someone help me out with the technique in this line?

“all she could do was count the days before she went back”,

i haven't read the novel from where this is from but is there a possible trope for time because if there is the technique could possibly be a time trope as it is all to do with counting down of days etc.

[jakesilove]

Hi! could someone help me out with the technique in this line?

“all she could do was count the days before she went back”,

Potentially hyperbole, however would it not be better to choose a good quote based on the technique within it, rather than choose a quote and THEN find a technique?

[thecuttlefish]

Hey there! I did exactly this! You can read my essay here to see how I did it

Thanks Elyse! These essays are absolutely fantastic 

[Justina Shehata]

Hey guys,

For my area of study trial essay, I was told to include more techniques relevant to the texts' medium.
The texts I had were a documentary a speech and a sonnet.
What are some of the techniques that are unique to these textual forms?

I used some of the techniques I knew such as camera angles for documentary, pace for speech and enjambment for sonnet; but any suggestions are welcome

Techniques for documentary could be hues and lighting.

[marynguyen18]

whats another way to write her, she and the character's name? Im trying to write my creative writing from a third person perspective but i keep repeating those words I've mentioned.

[Justina Shehata]

Hi! could someone help me out with the technique in this line?

“all she could do was count the days before she went back”,

You could possibly get away with a hyperbole but it wouldnt be the best quote to use in an exam because its not very flexible

[Justina Shehata]

whats another way to write her, she and the character's name? Im trying to write my creative writing from a third person perspective but i keep repeating those words I've mentioned.

If you are looking to address her gender, then you could only use the ones you've mentioned above. Otherwise, depending on the context of your sentence, you would use they, them, it, their