English Advanced Question Thread

[anotherworld2b]

Hi I was wondering if I could get help answering this question. I am really confused on how to approach and talk about how voice can be constructed.

[elysepopplewell]

Hi I was wondering if I could get help answering this question. I am really confused on how to approach and talk about how voice can be constructed.

Spoiler

Identify and explain the impact of aspects of the construction of the narrator’s voice.


In an excerpt of the novel ‘The Lovely Bones’ by Alice Sebold, the author’s uses a variety of technical conventions to construct the narrator’s voice. These technical conventions include tone, diction and stylistic choices.


Sebold uses blunt and straightforward sentences throughout the excerpt to construct the tone of detachment in the narrator’s voice. The way the author crafts the sentence ‘I was fourteen when I was murdered’ conveys a tone of detachment. This tone is evidently presented by the way the shocking fate of being murdered is dispassionately addressed. By the narrator. The tone of detachment is further emphasised by how the narrator casually addresses seemingly irrelevant things such as liking ‘border flowers’ and naming her favourite teacher ‘Mr Botte’.


In the excerpt the narrator uses informal language but appeared to be quite guarded. The author uses first person in the excerpt to convey how personal the narrator’s murder was.

It appears that you're off to a really good start! Here are some things to talk about in relation to the construction of voice:
-Modality
-Adverbs used to describe the actual delivering of the voice in dialogue
-Sentence type and variation (short, correctly formed? Long, jumbled?)
-First, second, third person narration?
-If in third person, the omniscient narration?
-The way that verbs compliment the dialogue.
-Tone (which you already have)
-Stylistic decisions (embellished language, simple language)
-Colloquialisms
-Informal or formal register
-Do they use nicknames for some people and full names for other people?

Of course, you can analyse these in relation to each other as well. So colloquialisms, or lack of, will link nicely when talking about the formality of the register. The use of verbs will influence the way that the content of the dialogue comes across to a reader, etc. Does this help? I think you're on the right track indeed, it's just about combining the different aspects together rather than dealing with them in isolation.

[anotherworld2b]

O.O so I'm not completely wrong at least 
I was wondering how could I write a good topic sentence to answer this question?
Also what is modality?

It appears that you're off to a really good start! Here are some things to talk about in relation to the construction of voice:
-Modality
-Adverbs used to describe the actual delivering of the voice in dialogue
-Sentence type and variation (short, correctly formed? Long, jumbled?)
-First, second, third person narration?
-If in third person, the omniscient narration?
-The way that verbs compliment the dialogue.
-Tone (which you already have)
-Stylistic decisions (embellished language, simple language)
-Colloquialisms
-Informal or formal register
-Do they use nicknames for some people and full names for other people?

Of course, you can analyse these in relation to each other as well. So colloquialisms, or lack of, will link nicely when talking about the formality of the register. The use of verbs will influence the way that the content of the dialogue comes across to a reader, etc. Does this help? I think you're on the right track indeed, it's just about combining the different aspects together rather than dealing with them in isolation.

[elysepopplewell]

O.O so I'm not completely wrong at least 
I was wondering how could I write a good topic sentence to answer this question?
Also what is modality?

Modality is the certainty of which something is said - or at least I think that's the easiest way of explaining it.

High modality looks like: There is no way you would make a good teacher. OR: This is definitely the path you should be taking.
Low modality looks like: There is a possibility you would make a good teacher, I suppose. OR: I'm not sure how to read maps, but I think you should go this way.

Perhaps, the construction of a narrator's voice is a concoction of harmonious language conventions. Something like this, but in your own words, might make a nice topic sentence!

[anotherworld2b]

Would this response be better?

[elysepopplewell]

Would this response be better?

Spoiler

Identify and explain the impact of aspects of the construction of the narrator’s voice.


In an excerpt of the novel ‘The Lovely Bones’ by Alice Sebold, the author uses a variety of language conventions to construct the narrator’s voice. Sebold’s use of colloquial and plain diction in ‘I was fourteen when I was murdered’ constructs the narrator’s tone of detachment despite the knowledge of being dead. The impact of crafting a tone of detachment in the narrator’s voice evokes a sense of shock by challenging the preconceived expectation of fear towards death. In addition, the use of first person narration further enhances the narrator’s voice of detachment and nonchalant. The author utilises first person to describe common mundane subjects such as the identity of her ‘favourite teacher Mr Botte’ and her mother liking her murder’s ‘border flowers’ to enhance the tone of detachment in the narrator’s voice.

Much better! And I think that with a conclusive statement that ties it all together, mentioning how each aspect works together, it would work wonderfully!

[shazziie]

Hi
I have a question and I'm hoping this gets posted in the right section... I'm really bad at using forums.
ANYWAY
I'm doing Tempest for AOS, could someone please explain to me if it's okay to use notions such as colonialism to explore discovery in The Tempest and then use a notion such as otherness to explore discovery in my related text ( eternal sunshine of the spotless mind)?
I know my speech needs to be cohesive and exploring colonialism in my RT, would make sense but there's no colonialism at all in my RT...

[anotherworld2b]

Thank you for your advice
Would I need to explain how each aspect works more?
I was wondering how could I write a good conclusive statement? I always end using the same boring statement starter 'hence'

Much better! And I think that with a conclusive statement that ties it all together, mentioning how each aspect works together, it would work wonderfully!

[elysepopplewell]

Thank you for your advice
Would I need to explain how each aspect works more?
I was wondering how could I write a good conclusive statement? I always end using the same boring statement starter 'hence'

How long is this response supposed to be? I think that you've explained how each works individually right now, but support it with evidence from the text. Find a quote that has evidence of several examples of different conventions to tie it all together

[elysepopplewell]

Hi
I have a question and I'm hoping this gets posted in the right section... I'm really bad at using forums.
ANYWAY
I'm doing Tempest for AOS, could someone please explain to me if it's okay to use notions such as colonialism to explore discovery in The Tempest and then use a notion such as otherness to explore discovery in my related text ( eternal sunshine of the spotless mind)?
I know my speech needs to be cohesive and exploring colonialism in my RT, would make sense but there's no colonialism at all in my RT...

What will you unite the texts is the exploration of discovery - so as long as you find similarities there, whether it be that the discoveries are physical, or emotional, that works. So, if you can compare and contrast the discoveries well, then you can follow whatever path you like with colonialism. I think it might make it easier that you have a theme of colonialism in both, if that's where you want to go with this. BUT, it isn't compulsory, you can definitely link it well. Does this make sense?

PS. Welcome to the forums!

[thataveragevegan]

What will you unite the texts is the exploration of discovery - so as long as you find similarities there, whether it be that the discoveries are physical, or emotional, that works. So, if you can compare and contrast the discoveries well, then you can follow whatever path you like with colonialism. I think it might make it easier that you have a theme of colonialism in both, if that's where you want to go with this. BUT, it isn't compulsory, you can definitely link it well. Does this make sense?

PS. Welcome to the forums!

THANKS FOR THE WELCOME!  I wanted to change my username,hence a different account but yes. that does make sense
Do you think there are notions of otherness within the tempest?

[elysepopplewell]

THANKS FOR THE WELCOME!  I wanted to change my username,hence a different account but yes. that does make sense
Do you think there are notions of otherness within the tempest?

Aha! I was wondering what happened there. That makes sense

Admittedly, I don't know the Tempest as well as someone who has read it. So I'm not in the best position to answer this unfortunately. A quick google doesn't bring up much either. It might be best to have a look through the AOS marking forum and see if anyone has touched on it, although nothing comes to mind for me based on what I've seen

[jamesq]

Hey guys,
This is probably more of an AOS type question but my first task is purely on unseen texts. I'm wondering if you guys have tips on how to study for the exam and how to approach the questions.
Thanks!

[sarahalwaili]

Hey guys! how can I make this 3rd person. I have been trying to do it, but it doesn't end up making sense. ". Drinking enough to forget your name . Peoples chants were enough to mask the burning sensation as the liquid slides down your throat. Slurring the destination to the taxi driver then giving them a hug before getting out. At least that's what Sarah pictured when she was 13."

[elysepopplewell]

Hey guys,
This is probably more of an AOS type question but my first task is purely on unseen texts. I'm wondering if you guys have tips on how to study for the exam and how to approach the questions.
Thanks!

Hey! Welcome to the forums My advice for unseen texts in terms of preparation:
-Know your visual techniques well. It might have been a while since you've analysed a visual text, so prepare that!
-Have some go-to techniques that you're always ready to rely on, and that you understand the purpose of really well. Things like metaphors, and similes, those big techniques you want to have in the forefront of your mind before the exam.
-Have some other language techniques that aren't as obvious. By this I mean, actually analysing the language: noun placement, use of adjectives, punctuation, etc. This is something students usually overlook, but I really think it is the easiest way into a text in an unseen text situation.
-In an exam, always link to discovery. Some unseen texts questions will specify the exact discovery that they want you to approach, like physical discoveries. Other questions won't specify a type of discovery, which means that you should be focusing on looking for a discovery, or type of, from your very first reading

I think it's a really good idea that you have an assessment on this. Most people won't do an unseen text until they do their first paper one in half yearlies or something like that. So that's great!