English Advanced Question Thread

[eyw00400]

Hey!  I have always just gone into exams with a list of quotes and analysis memorised and constructed my essay in the exam room.  But, almost everyone I talk to seems to think memorising an essay, at least to some extent, is basically essential.  I was wondering what the best way to prepare for essays is, especially since we have to be able to write so many essays in such little time.
Thanks heaps!

If you find your way works then just stick with it, you don't have to do what others do.  Personally I find it really helpful to remember the analysis/quotes from my pre-written paragraphs. Normally I write quite flexible paragraphs in my practice essays and I just adapt it accordingly in the exam.
Definitely don't remember an entire essay and rely only on that because it might not fit the question given. 

[elysepopplewell]

If you find your way works then just stick with it, you don't have to do what others do.  Personally I find it really helpful to remember the analysis/quotes from my pre-written paragraphs. Normally I write quite flexible paragraphs in my practice essays and I just adapt it accordingly in the exam.
Definitely don't remember an entire essay and rely only on that because it might not fit the question given. 

Thank you SO much for adding your advice! You're definitely very correct in your last sentence. It's not enough to memorise the essay and nothing else, because you really sell yourself short in terms of being able to adapt in an exam.

Hey!  I have always just gone into exams with a list of quotes and analysis memorised and constructed my essay in the exam room.  But, almost everyone I talk to seems to think memorising an essay, at least to some extent, is basically essential.  I was wondering what the best way to prepare for essays is, especially since we have to be able to write so many essays in such little time.

Thanks heaps!

The above statement does essentially ring true in my eyes too. I'm going to link you to my opinion on memorising essays here (it also says how I did it) and I'm linking you to Jamon's perspective as well, which goes in the opposite direction. I'm sure after reading both you'll feel confident to make the decision that's best for YOU!

[elysepopplewell]

Hey i was wondering if you had the link or a pdf copy of the english advanced syllabus. i cant seem to find it anywhere. Thankyou!!!

Hey! This is the link to the document you're after!

[eyw00400]

Hey I was wondering does anyone have some good advice on integrating and articulating the importance
of dramatic techniques and contextual values for Hamlet? I'm having a bit of difficulties expressing these
 aspects as well as the other parts of my essay.
What can I do to improve this?

[dancing phalanges]

Hi,
I am just struggling to relate the 2015 HSC Question for Module C 'Political motivations may be ambiguous, but control is the ultimate goal' to Brave New World. Would I essentially argue that political motivations are not ambiguous as through the Bokanovsky Process, for instance, the World State proves it's clear stance on it's key tenets of Community, Identity, Stability. I am not overly sure on what political motivations means in this context. My related text I have prepared for this module was Malala's speech at the Youth Takeover, it basically stresses the power of the individual in rising up against the Taliban. Is there any way I could argue this with the set question?
Thanks guys!

[seventeenboi]

hello!!

Regarding the discovery creative, do you think that having the discovery occurring around 4/5 (or maybe 5/6) into the story is risky/preferable not to be done?? I understand that it's important to show character progression in these creatives, but in case my creative turns out to be this way, do you think it would be penalised for it??

[limtou]

Hey! I would just like to ask, what are some related texts that are considered "over done" for Mod C, people and landscape?
For instance my teacher warned against the 2015 movie 'The Revenant'.
If anyone has any idea, please share I would like to avoid doing the same related as everyone else haha. Thanks!

[Lachlan Morley]

Hi All

Currently my english essays are avergaing about 13/20 in regards to marks

Does anyone have some keys in which i can lift thatup to like a 16/20, my lengh of my essays are good i think , about 6-7 pages in 40 mins, i feel like i struggle coming up with two differing ideas for a question to form my thesis

Anyone got any tips

[magnesium4]

Hello,

What are some good ORTs for AOS Discovery along with the prescribed text, The Tempest?
Also, is it advisable to have two ORTs of different forms for AOS Discovery, or is that only relevant to MOD C? - This for the HSC Exam

Thanks in advance.

[studybuddy7777]

hello!!

Regarding the discovery creative, do you think that having the discovery occurring around 4/5 (or maybe 5/6) into the story is risky/preferable not to be done?? I understand that it's important to show character progression in these creatives, but in case my creative turns out to be this way, do you think it would be penalised for it??

This is only my view from doing English Advanced last year. I think personally it is quite risky but they shouldn't be penalising you really for it. Something with creatives however is that there should be multiple discoveries or the rubric interwoven through the piece - not just an aha moment (an I discovered I was adopted! moment - I know that's a bit extreme but still don't leave your discovery until the last paragraph.
There should be character growth and transformation throughout the poem. Remember all the different types of discovery as well - if you go over it with a fine tooth comb (what is a tooth comb?) they may be more discoveries than you think!

Also as my parting piece of advice, have you considered only going in with a character developed and working the story around that way? Or making up the creative on the day?

[studybuddy7777]

Hey! I would just like to ask, what are some related texts that are considered "over done" for Mod C, people and landscape?
For instance my teacher warned against the 2015 movie 'The Revenant'.
If anyone has any idea, please share I would like to avoid doing the same related as everyone else haha. Thanks!

My view on this: if lots of people do a particular RT then there is a lot of people there who will do it badly. So hence you can shine above the others.
Personally I think if you do an overdone prescribed text than you run the risk of sounding the same more than an overdone related text. I can't really say of the top of my head which ones not to do but some recommendations are:
Distant Lands by Tim Winton (think that's what it is called)
Ode to A Nightingale by Keats - I have awesome analysis on this if you want, although this didn't help me with the 2016 question, I used my AoS RT (below)
The Rabbits by Shaun Tan and John Marsden

May I also suggest having two? One can simply be your AoS RT if it fits well enough, otherwise prepare yourself adequately please. BOSTES don't like to actually give you a good question

[NESA]

Hey,
I'm doing To Kill A Mockingbird as a related text to The Crucible for my Module C People and Politics module and I was just wondering how to link To Kill A Mockingbird to the Module C rubric. I am defining politics as "activities aimed at improving someone's status or increasing power within an organization" and have recognized Bob Ewell as a political figure as he aims to improve his status in the community through the conviction of Tom Robinson, taking advantage of the unfair racial politics at the time, but I am having loads of trouble linking ideas to the rubric.
Thank you in advance!

[studybuddy7777]

Hello,

What are some good ORTs for AOS Discovery along with the prescribed text, The Tempest?
Also, is it advisable to have two ORTs of different forms for AOS Discovery, or is that only relevant to MOD C? - This for the HSC Exam

Thanks in advance.

Not having done the tempest myself, I can't give a real exhaustive list but in saying that I have heard that "Distant Lands" by Tim Winton (at least I think that's what its called!) is a nice linking ORT.
Check out if "The Rabbits" by Shaun Tan and John Marsden works as well - picture book full of visual and literary techniques alike and meets various discovery points.

As for your question of how many related texts? It depends on how you want to do it - I used one for AoS and one for Mod C but I made sure that the AoS one worked for Mod C and vice versa. So technically I had two for each and two in total. Make sense? If you can do this it is awesome, as it halves the number of quotes techniques and the like you need to remember. Just make sure to tick all the boxes for all the potential questions (the points of the rubric) they can ask. If you have all but one, BOSTES will probably make it that point just because that always seems to be how the cookie crumbles.

Hopefully that helps

[katie,rinos]

Hey guys,
I'm finding it really hard to get into my module C text: The Art of Travel. I'm finding it really boring and just don't want to do all the questions that i've been given for it. We've also never really analysed a philosophical text before so i'm finding it a bit hard.
Do you have any tips on how to  analyse module C texts and any ways that I could find the text more interesting?
Thanks heaps

[winstondarmawan]

Hello! Just a question about speech writing. In a 5 minute time frame, I  only have a limited word count (800-850 words) and thus I do not think I can fit all the analysis from my notes, especially considering everything else I need to add to make it a "speech". I am not sure if I should cut analysis to make it seem more "speechlike", or focus more on the analysis.
Also, any other general tips for speechmaking/speaking are appreciated, because I am not very good at it.
TIA