English Advanced Question Thread

[lysscass]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything though I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's a good length for AOS as well as the module essays? My creative is around 800 which I'm happy with, but in class we always had to write 1500 word essays and i can never replicate essays that long in exam conditions. is around the 1000 mark going to be okay tomorrow?

[sudodds]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything though I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's a good length for AOS as well as the module essays? My creative is around 800 which I'm happy with, but in class we always had to write 1500 word essays and i can never replicate essays that long in exam conditions. is around the 1000 mark going to be okay tomorrow?

The average someone can write in 40 minutes is 1100 so 1500 is a pretty steep expectation! If you can get to the 1000-1100 mark I think you'll be fine, though I'm not really an expert on this stuff haha For the trials my narrative was 1300 (but I knew it off by heart no stopping, so I wrote it in 36 mins) and essay 1100 and it was fine

[:3]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything though I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's a good length for AOS as well as the module essays? My creative is around 800 which I'm happy with, but in class we always had to write 1500 word essays and i can never replicate essays that long in exam conditions. is around the 1000 mark going to be okay tomorrow?

As mentioned previously, some people are able to get to the point quickly and succinctly, whereas others require more words to do so.

So if you're comfortable with 800 words (and addresses the rubric), then do it!

Also, thanks elyse and sudodds for quickly answering my question.

[Elenaa]

Hey guys!
I just need some help with interpreting some questions
1) An inherent tension between stability and change is revealed through recurring images in Eliot's poetry
I'm not quite sure what it means by stability and change

2) The pursuit of individual recognition is an idea which connects King Richard III and Looking for Richard
How is this idea shaped and reshaped in these texts from different contexts?
I don't understand the pursuit of individual recognition part

Thanks

[studybuddy7777]

Hey ,,

This might seem like a really simple question... but what exactly is the purpose of linking texts in the AOS essay? I've been told to have link between related and prescribed, but without knowing why, I'm unsure as to how in depth the comparison needs to be and what aspects to compare.

Also.. for my related which is a speech - am I allowed to use aspects of audience reaction such as standing ovation to show they are affected by her speech? or is that ... not part of the speech (unsure of how to word this any better)

Thank you sooo much; sorry for all these question, I am low key (that's a lie - more like majorly) freaking out for tomorrow!!!

Hey isaac,
Good question!

The main purpose is to link everything to discovery, and then see how much of it relates to each other. This is because of flow, mainly. If you were talking about two completely unrelated topics, it would be very hard to bring them together in a cohesive integrated response.

You shouldn't be referencing your related text just once without linking it to anything you have studied.

I am doing poetry for AoS so I can relate my ORT to each poem in turn, and the poems to each other. This ensures that no matter what I talk about, there will always be some integration and integration is always good!

I'm sure you will be fine tomorrow, you have successfully completed the trials (Hunger Games anyone ), so you will successfully complete the HSC. It is much easier the second time around, because the Trials are harder than the HSC.

Also, if you want to do well, don't stress. Stressing causes an adrenaline rush and that is something you do not need in the exam, and your brain does not work well under pressure. Attempt to convince yourself this is not the actual HSC. The HSC does not start until November. This will make you feel so much calmer. Failing that, what you should do is act confident. I always act confident but I am packing it on the inside. Look at the questions and say in your head "this is easy, I can do this" or even write on your paper "Wow, this is such an easy question. This is exactly what I wanted" (trust me, this does wonders..).

Failing all that, if you feel the stress starting to get to you then take a sip of water count slowly to 10, with deep breaths and then refocus. Got a specific achilles heel in the exam? (Mine is module a) Do this first, so it is over and done with.

And you don't need to read all of this, this is mostly just me banging on about my life stories

But seriously, look at the amount of years people have been doing the HSC. They all turned out fine (well, after their hands were tended to ). You will do well.

If you are really that worried about getting into Uni, try UWS Guaranteed Entry Scheme. An ATAR of 55 (plus there are bonus points on top of that!) can get you into a lot of courses in there. Then simply transfer to the one you want after 6 months! Easy! This also can be your 9th preference if you want. Assuming you dont get any other offers and you get an ATAR of 55 (which you will get, the average is around 70.) you will get an offer on atar release night.

Oh god, I have just realised how much I have actually written. Seriously, do not read all of this, you'll be here until Christmas

Hope this helps and best of luck for your HSC I'm confident that you will absolutely smash it!!

[studybuddy7777]

Hey guys!
I just need some help with interpreting some questions
1) An inherent tension between stability and change is revealed through recurring images in Eliot's poetry
I'm not quite sure what it means by stability and change

2) The pursuit of individual recognition is an idea which connects King Richard III and Looking for Richard
How is this idea shaped and reshaped in these texts from different contexts?
I don't understand the pursuit of individual recognition part

Thanks

Hey elenaa,
I can help with the second one

Richard III is a manipulative little toad and he has basically killed off everyone to get to the crown right?

Recognition: he certainly did get recognised, which is what he wanted the whole time, that is he pursued it throughout the course of the play.

Why is he hellbent on being individually recognised? He says it (indirectly) in his first soliloquy. He wants to be recognised for something else rather than the 'spare to the spare to the heir'
He has lived his whole life in the shadow of his brothers, and he is "so ugly dogs bark at him", deform'd, unfinished, sent before my time yada yada ya.

In a sentence, he wants to seek revenge for all of those people who have humiliated him and make them pay, and realise just because he is a deformed hunchback, he can still be a force to be reckoned with.

This is all leads back to Richard's strengths and weaknesses. His manipulation, deceit but also his ambition. Basically in a modern context; he played with fire and got burnt.

Hope this helps and best of luck for tomorrow and Friday, im sure youll smash it!

[elysepopplewell]

Hey guys!
I just need some help with interpreting some questions
1) An inherent tension between stability and change is revealed through recurring images in Eliot's poetry
I'm not quite sure what it means by stability and change

Thanks

Seeing as studybuddy got the second one, I'll assist with the first Stability and change. Ok. So in most poetry, in fact, most texts, you'll observe tension. Tension between people, between people and politics, between ideas, between forces, etc. So stability can mean stagnant, reliability, dependable, not-changing. Change, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite to stability. So there is a tension seen in the work. I haven't studied Eliot's poetry but I studied Yeats and we looked at specific examples of this in my class. Often poetry is produced in response to an incident of some kind, and incidents usually are classified as incidents when something stable - changes. Emotions, relationships, politics, war, etc.

So essentially - there is tension in everything. The poetic treatment of tension is important, it is the basis of the poem in a lot of circumstances

[sian_pal]

Module B Speeches topic... Honestly how are we meant to go in knowing EVERY speech, techniques and quotes and be ready for whatever speech that they 'may' prescribe.
Pls help hahahahaha I don't even know what to do anymore

[jamonwindeyer]

Module B Speeches topic... Honestly how are we meant to go in knowing EVERY speech, techniques and quotes and be ready for whatever speech that they 'may' prescribe.
Pls help hahahahaha I don't even know what to do anymore

Hey sian_pal! Your best bet is to have a few favourites that you know well (like one or two), and then just know the bare minimum for the rest. Like, a few quotes and techniques. That way you can just structure your essays around your favourites every time, and just add the Prescribed speech if it shows up! try writing out some summary sheets today to try and memorise as much as you can!

[sian_pal]

Hey sian_pal! Your best bet is to have a few favourites that you know well (like one or two), and then just know the bare minimum for the rest. Like, a few quotes and techniques. That way you can just structure your essays around your favourites every time, and just add the Prescribed speech if it shows up! try writing out some summary sheets today to try and memorise as much as you can!

thank you!! i have got 2 speeches i know well, sadat and pearson.. in past exams, they have only prescribed deane once- do you think its highly unlikely they will prescribe that same speech again??

[jamonwindeyer]

thank you!! i have got 2 speeches i know well, sadat and pearson.. in past exams, they have only prescribed deane once- do you think its highly unlikely they will prescribe that same speech again??

It's still the same speech yeah? If it is, then extremely unlikely   (that was my cohort they specified for )

[isaacdelatorre]

Hey isaac,
Good question!

The main purpose is to link everything to discovery, and then see how much of it relates to each other. This is because of flow, mainly. If you were talking about two completely unrelated topics, it would be very hard to bring them together in a cohesive integrated response.

You shouldn't be referencing your related text just once without linking it to anything you have studied.

I am doing poetry for AoS so I can relate my ORT to each poem in turn, and the poems to each other. This ensures that no matter what I talk about, there will always be some integration and integration is always good!

I'm sure you will be fine tomorrow, you have successfully completed the trials (Hunger Games anyone ), so you will successfully complete the HSC. It is much easier the second time around, because the Trials are harder than the HSC.

Also, if you want to do well, don't stress. Stressing causes an adrenaline rush and that is something you do not need in the exam, and your brain does not work well under pressure. Attempt to convince yourself this is not the actual HSC. The HSC does not start until November. This will make you feel so much calmer. Failing that, what you should do is act confident. I always act confident but I am packing it on the inside. Look at the questions and say in your head "this is easy, I can do this" or even write on your paper "Wow, this is such an easy question. This is exactly what I wanted" (trust me, this does wonders..).

Failing all that, if you feel the stress starting to get to you then take a sip of water count slowly to 10, with deep breaths and then refocus. Got a specific achilles heel in the exam? (Mine is module a) Do this first, so it is over and done with.

And you don't need to read all of this, this is mostly just me banging on about my life stories

But seriously, look at the amount of years people have been doing the HSC. They all turned out fine (well, after their hands were tended to ). You will do well.

If you are really that worried about getting into Uni, try UWS Guaranteed Entry Scheme. An ATAR of 55 (plus there are bonus points on top of that!) can get you into a lot of courses in there. Then simply transfer to the one you want after 6 months! Easy! This also can be your 9th preference if you want. Assuming you dont get any other offers and you get an ATAR of 55 (which you will get, the average is around 70.) you will get an offer on atar release night.

Oh god, I have just realised how much I have actually written. Seriously, do not read all of this, you'll be here until Christmas

Hope this helps and best of luck for your HSC I'm confident that you will absolutely smash it!!

Duuudeee!!!
Thanks sooo much for this!!!! Dw about the length, it's the thought that counts
Perfect reassurance, can feel the stress levels going down
Thanks for answering the question as well, I wasn't sure how often to link either - thanks for clearing that up!!

[studybuddy7777]

Duuudeee!!!
Thanks sooo much for this!!!! Dw about the length, it's the thought that counts
Perfect reassurance, can feel the stress levels going down
Thanks for answering the question as well, I wasn't sure how often to link either - thanks for clearing that up!!

Hahaha glad you liked my essay practice
No problems at all! Any issues feel free to send me a pm, ill be more than happy to assist

Thanks again

[JemexR]

I'd talk about the "angel-mild" in contrast to the "horny fiend" earlier in the stanza. "A" in "a child" is an indefinite article which is different to a definite article (the). If it suits your analysis, you could talk about the indefinite article because it suits the dream like state, and it confirms that the "angel" child is not THE same person as the horny fiend - "a" indicates a lack of placement and identity. So in other words, the indefinite article implies that the child the father dreams of is not the same person as the horny fiend - it's all an illusion. Hopefully that makes sense! I always struggle to explain definite and indefinite articles - but it is a powerful thing to discuss

A/An = indefinite article. ... indicates lack of precision, non-confirmation of existence/presence.
The = definite article ...indicates definitiveness, precision, identification.

Haha thanks! That does make sense for me, but I was more thinking about something relating to the tone of the first section if that makes sense? Something to relate to how the persona seems to patronise the intelligence of the "Father".

[thecuttlefish]

I did this for my exam last year From memory, I talked about the Second Coming. I talked about the uncertainty of the world which has culminated in a occult-style approach from Yeats in his understanding of the world. The Second Coming is essentially allll about changing times - the renewal of life and the way it all comes back around again in a frightening way. I definitely recommend this poem for this question

An Irish Airman Foresees his Death - good one. So my thesis for this question was actually about how experiences of uncertainty in changing times is also met with certainty of identity. So for the Airman poem, I talked about how Yeats was certain that he didn't want to glorify war, but in uncertain times of the death of the Airman (I forget his name now, Gregory? Something like that?), there had to be a response. So I talked about his personal context a lot and his certainty of self as a poet and his vision, but this was met with the uncertainty of the war around him which he strived to NOT glorify (also seen in Easter 1916).

Thanks Elyse!