English Advanced Question Thread

[elysepopplewell]

Hey there,

I wasn't sure where to put this and if enough people will see it, but I was wondering if anyone had any practice reading comprehensions that they'd be willing to share? It's personally a weak section of mine as I struggle to express myself clearly and I believe the more practice I can get, the better. You'd also be helping out the whole community which is also a pretty cool thing. If people are willing enough to share some papers, then we could possibly look into setting up a new post for this. I'd be really appreciative to any of you who can submit something plus I'm sure you can see how important this is with trials just around the corner.

Thanks so much again!

Hey! I'm working on something for this at the moment! Stay tuned and next week we'll try and start up a thread for this kind of thing!

Hey guys

Im studying brave new world and am pulling my hair out in trying to find examples of representation ( basically anything the author has done purposely) i dont sort of get it and since my teacher has been away and i dont even know what im looking for and how word it etc
Your help is truly appreciated
Thanks a lot

Hey Kia! You're right, representation is a purposeful decision that the author has made. So, this includes techniques. Any time you identify a technique, you can have a shot at working out what it represents. Here is an exemplar essay from a fabulous 2016 student! As you can see, the word "representation" is used only four or so times throughout the essay, but the analysis is focused on the way different tones, attitudes, relationships, and politics, are depicted (represented) in a literary form. So you're essentially looking for techniques: they are the decisions made by the author. Everything in a text is representative of something - it's a fictional or non-fiction depiction of something that lives beyond literature. So by default of the tone, the setting, the plot, whatever, being recreated in literature, it has to be represented by words. How are these words twisted and expressed to achieve this?

Post back if you'd like more help

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi!
Can I please have feedback on my AOS discovery essay?
I wasn't really sure where to post it, so I wouldn't mind this post moved
Thank you!!

I'll move this to our AoS essay marking thread! You'll find it here

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey, I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to link my creative writing to the stimulus. I wrote my current one based on the compass in the 2015 HSC. The compass features a lot, and when looking at the 2016 HSC, I couldn't adapt it. Here are a few sentences so you can see what I mean.

It was during Leanne’s 75th year that she first discovered age. Age unexpectedly became a buzzing fly, landing on each bone consecutively, draining her already deteriorating memories. Age whispered in Leanne’s ears, expressing the complexity of every frown line on her forehead, not allowing her to forget about her pale hair. Maturity was a map, with an abundance of empty land, full of opportunities, desperately waiting to be explored; yet age was the compass. Age inexplicably decided on direction and would not unveil its implication.

It was during Leanne’s 78th year that Wilbur fell victim to age as the compass revealed itself in a south direction...

Hey! This is a really tough thing to get the hang of, let me link you to Elyse's awesome creative writing guide - It has a section in the middle on exactly this topic (and loads of useful stuff around it)

[laurenf58]

Hey,

Just a quick question. For Module C my prescribed text is Brave New World. Currently my related text is an episode of Go Back to Where You Came From. Is it a strong enough related text or should I look for another one?

Thanks!

[elysepopplewell]

Hey,

Just a quick question. For Module C my prescribed text is Brave New World. Currently my related text is an episode of Go Back to Where You Came From. Is it a strong enough related text or should I look for another one?

Thanks!

Hey Lauren! Can you tell me what your links are at this stage? I'm keen to know how you're connecting it then I'll have a better idea about it's strength!

[winstondarmawan]

Hello! For Module C (People and Landscapes) my related text is an interactive documentary.
Just wondering if "interactivity" counts as a technique, because it fits really well with my argument and I'm not too sure if there are other proper techniques I can align to the examples.
Also, I have been getting feedback that I need to use more wholistic techniques, that apply to the specific text type (e.g. omniscient narration for novels), rather than techniques such as metaphor, tone etc. I am not entirely sure how to morph these wholistic techniques to suit my argument.
TIA

[elysepopplewell]

Hello! For Module C (People and Landscapes) my related text is an interactive documentary.
Just wondering if "interactivity" counts as a technique, because it fits really well with my argument and I'm not too sure if there are other proper techniques I can align to the examples.
Also, I have been getting feedback that I need to use more wholistic techniques, that apply to the specific text type (e.g. omniscient narration for novels), rather than techniques such as metaphor, tone etc. I am not entirely sure how to morph these wholistic techniques to suit my argument.
TIA

Hey! You'll need to tell me a little bit about interactivity? I imagine interactivity is brought about by techniques like dialogue, facial expressions, on-screen prompts? Do these together amount to interactivity?

I suppose the argument about this "wholistic" techniques is about looking at form and content. So in content, we find the language features which are these smaller and more precise examples of literary decisions. But when we look at the wholistic techniques, we analyse the form more. It is important to analyse both form and language! This way you're looking at your text in both a micro and macro level. If you're not sure how to engage with these techniques, just remember that you can connect them with the precise techniques. So, "The omniscient narration provides a voyeuristic view of the unfolding discovery, thus allowing the audience into the mind of Sarah as she rhetorically questions...." It doesn't have to be on it's own if it's causing a struggle for you! It can definitely be linked with a precise technique

[mjorfian]

Hey! I was wondering how the best way to structure a mod B (I'm doing Citizen Kane) response is? And exactly how much context do we need in each paragraph?

I was thinking it'd be like:

1. thesis
2. quotes+analysis
3. link quotes + analysis to context whenever possible
4. something about textual integrity (here or throughout? I'm not sure how to go about this one) / critics
5. link back to module / question

Is that the correct way to go about it? We're doing Citizen Kane, by the way. just incase anybody actually does that instead of Hamlet

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey! I was wondering how the best way to structure a mod B (I'm doing Citizen Kane) response is? And exactly how much context do we need in each paragraph?

I was thinking it'd be like:

1. thesis
2. quotes+analysis
3. link quotes + analysis to context whenever possible
4. something about textual integrity (here or throughout? I'm not sure how to go about this one) / critics
5. link back to module / question

Is that the correct way to go about it? We're doing Citizen Kane, by the way. just incase anybody actually does that instead of Hamlet

Hey, you are on it, that's exactly what you need. I'd do textual integrity throughout your analysis while you do context - Embedding it as you discuss the text feels more natural

This guide on Module B essays might help!

[mjorfian]

Hey, you are on it, that's exactly what you need. I'd do textual integrity throughout your analysis while you do context - Embedding it as you discuss the text feels more natural

This guide on Module B essays might help!

okay great! thank you for that Jamon

[katie,rinos]

Hey,
I always get really stuck trying to come up with good creative writing ideas, especially ones that aren't cliche or overused. Do you have any tips on how to come up with good ideas that can fit with multiple stimulus?
Thanks

[anotherworld2b]

Hi I've been trying to write a draft for a discursive essay. I looked at a guide my teacher gave on what needs to be included but I'm struggling to write my first paragraph. I'm not quite sure how to 'discuss the values and attitudes that you believe underpin his perspective with supporting evidence from the text.' I tried to identify the author's perspective but I'm having trouble discussing values and attitudes that support this. What would be the best way I could expand on my discussion? So far I only have a few sentences and was hoping if someone could have a quick look at it please

Spoiler

Inspired by the image of Voyager 1 on February 14, 1990, the excerpt of Carl Sagan’s book ‘Pale Blue Dot’ can be read as reflective of Sagan’s passionate perspective towards how science can be fantastic and improve our world. Sagan’s academic, proselytising and scientific voice further encapsulates this perspective. It represents the view of avid scientists of the time as being in a state of intrigue and curiosity towards exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial life. In this excerpt Sagan explores various values and attitudes through the clever use of language features. However, the reader may have a resistant reading based on a differing socio-cultural context than Sagan himself.

Paragraph 1: Discuss the values and attitudes that you believe underpin his perspective with supporting evidence from the text.
In this passage, Carl Sagan tries to underpin his passionate perspective towards how science can be fantastic in improving our world and fuel the thirst for knowledge beyond Earth through his values and attitudes. The pale blue dot described by Sagan represents Earth being ‘too small...sitting in a beam of light’. Sagan’s description of Earth being a pale blue dot underpins his perspective by inciting his readers to be receptive towards his perspective towards the exploration of the unknown by describing The Earth as a ‘very small stage in a vast cosmic arena’. It is significant that, while we see Sagan’s pro- science attitude, he also spends time is exploring the value of humility and a pro humanity attitude. Clearly, the pale blue dot, symbolic of Earth, has practical relevance to the way space research was often valued by Sagan as necessary because of what we could possibly learn and because of the possibility of other life out there in this extract.

[bellerina]

For Module B:
I'm doing Eliot's poetry and I have an exam the first week back at school. It's a listening exam (we listen to one extract of the poem) on either Prufrock or Preludes. We have to do two extended responses. But, we can only focus on ONE poem. What's the best way to prepare for this? Because I've done thematic body pargraphs for Prufrock..Should i just keep doing that? Or should i do something else?

[jamonwindeyer]

For Module B:
I'm doing Eliot's poetry and I have an exam the first week back at school. It's a listening exam (we listen to one extract of the poem) on either Prufrock or Preludes. We have to do two extended responses. But, we can only focus on ONE poem. What's the best way to prepare for this? Because I've done thematic body pargraphs for Prufrock..Should i just keep doing that? Or should i do something else?

Hey bellerina! Sounds like you've been preparing nicely for Prufrock - I'd probably just make sure you do the same sort of thing for Preludes! You want to make sure you are ready for a response on either

[justwannawish]

Hi again!

Thank you for your reply to my earlier question- I think I forgot to reply to it  but it was very appreciated
I was wondering how to adapt my story to the rubric statement which states discoveries can be spiritual. I think I have the other parts of the elective down somewhat, but was wondering what bostes (or nesa) means by spiritual? Is it the same as a self-discovery?

Thank you