English Advanced Question Thread

[elysepopplewell]

A lot of questions, I apologise

2. For AOS, would it be better to do recent trial exams or do past HSCs and change belonging/journey to discovery? Are there any websites besides thsc online for practice papers?
3. If there's a HSC question and it's a quote followed by a question, “One cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore”. To what extent does curiosity and necessity manipulate the process of discovery.  How much of our essay should directly reference the quote if at all?
4. Last one haha, how personal should a personal response be? e.g. How has your study of discovery changed you?
Some of the teachers at my school do not recommend using 'I', which I also prefer because it's been ingrained in me  but my class teacher thinks we should?

Thank you so much

Hey there! I can't answer the first, but someone else might be able to!
2. I'd get your hands on as many discovery ones as possible first, and also go through the rubric picking out the things you would struggle to talk about (maybe spiritual discoveries is tricky for you, or the unplanned nature of discoveries, for example) and use them to formulate your own essay questions.
3. With the quote - this is interesting because I haven't seen it before for AOS. My inclination is to say you should be talking about the quote in every paragraph, although some paragraphs maybe focus on the essence of the metaphor more than the actual quote. The wording of this question doesn't say "With reference to the quote..." it's almost like the quote is there to inspire you!
4. I prefer staying away from "I" because I find students don't have a lot of training in how to do it well. I'm a uni student and I tried to write an alternative-style essay this semester using "I" for an academic topic and realised I didn't know how to do it either. For this reason I personally have always preferred to use the inclusive pronouns, like "we", or embody myself in the third person of, "A contemporary reader can understand..." to take a step back and universalise it beyond my experience, despite also being quite personal. I hope this makes sense!

Hi All,

Im struggling in english to make it out of the 12-14 / 20 range for essays

I read our schools sample 17/20 essay samples and they seem very achievable,

What do i need to do to make the jump from the c/b range to the A range

To be most helpful to your specific circumstance I recommend looking at the feedback you're getting from the markers - which parts of the criteria are you lacking in? Where are you falling behind? For some people it's about answering the question, for some people it's about language and vocabulary, and for some people it's about the analysis. For some, all of the above!

[elysepopplewell]

Hello!
I'm sorry to ask this, the answer's probably somewhere in this forum but I couldn't find it through the masses of questions.
How would you suggest structuring essays for all modules? The structure I've had so far has worked at school, but I just want to know if it's sophisticated enough for HSC:
Mod A - Richard III
Intro
Paragraph 1: Text 1 Analysis
Paragraph 2: Text 2 Analysis and compare with Text 1
Paragraphs 3 and 4: Repeat
Conclusion
-----> Is it recommended to compare texts side by side in the same paragraph? Or is it ok in seperate paragraphs?

Mod B - Yeats
Intro
Para 1: Poem 1 analysis
Para 2: Poem 2 analysis
Para 3 and 4: Repeat
Conclusion

Mod C - Brave New World
Paragraph 1: Text 1 Analysis
Paragraph 2: Text 2 Analysis
Paragraphs 3 and 4: Repeat
Conclusion

My main question is whether I should have a context paragraph after the introduction for all essays, and if yes, does it need a thesis? I've read so many sample essays, but none from NESA so have no idea which one to follow!
Thank you!

Hey there! Super valid question here. There's no right, or even BEST, way to structure an essay for a particular module, in my opinion. What is best for someone studying poems for Module B won't be the same for someone studying speeches, for example. I think all of the structures you have above are great and very practical. I do want to point out that the better essays I've read have engaged with both texts, even if just on a conceptual level, in every paragraph rather than leaving them in complete isolation. It doesn't need to alternate between one text this sentence, other text for the next sentence. It doesn't need to be like that at all, but it can be integrated in a textual or conceptual way.
A context paragraph is definitely not required. For Module A, I also studied Richard III, and I think incorporating the context into the analysis is the best thing you can do in this situation, not just put the context in isolation. My own Module A essay on Richard III is available in the notes tab if you'd like to have a look at the way I incorporated context. It was something I struggled with - finding the right balance between telling a story about context and engaging with the text in the right way. But in the end I was very happy with the balance I managed to achieve! (Also, my Yeats notes are in the note tab as well)

[anotherworld2b]

I was wondering what would be the best structure to use to write a opinion piece?
I was wondering if anyone had any good opinion pieces they would recommend I should read?

[bundahboy]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any insights as to how the HSC markers deal with shoddy handwriting? I know markers have a subconscious bias towards pieces that are more legible, but how would they deal with sentences or paragraphs that they flat out cannot read? My teacher told me that she and her colleagues skipped parts of my essays in Trials due to this 

Also, would you recommend sacrificing speed (and potentially amount of material) in favour of making one's writing neater?

Thanks!

[bundahboy]

I was wondering what would be the best structure to use to write a opinion piece?
I was wondering if anyone had any good opinion pieces they would recommend I should read?

I trust that you're a fellow fan of unconventional creative responses like me! I actually attempted an opinion piece for my AoS Trial because I couldn't be stuffed to think up a plotline for my narrative. It didn't end well, so i'd also be quite interested to hear if anyone's able to answer this.

[prickles]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any insights as to how the HSC markers deal with shoddy handwriting? I know markers have a subconscious bias towards pieces that are more legible, but how would they deal with sentences or paragraphs that they flat out cannot read? My teacher told me that she and her colleagues skipped parts of my essays in Trials due to this 

Also, would you recommend sacrificing speed (and potentially amount of material) in favour of making one's writing neater?

Thanks!

Well if teachers/markers can't read your handwriting I personally think you should address this. The parts they skipped could have potentially lost you marks. Have a look at this to find ways to improve your writing! https://atarnotes.com/handwriting-improving-speed-neatness-and-legibility/

[anotherworld2b]

i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or ideas for a topic I could do to fulfil this task.
I was thinking about writing euthanasia but was hoping to explore other possible topics
Create a persuasive opinion piece for a specified audience in which you persuade your target audience to share your point of view as well as raise awareness of the problems and difficulties confronting your chosen marginalised group/ the significant impacts a particular chosen issue has on society.

[bsdfjnlkasn]

trying to understand this critic quote for mod b ts eliot

"What happens is that he achieves a kind of filigree without pattern" --> Aiken
so my understanding of it is a filigree is some sort of ornate jewelry so Aiken is complementing
Eliot's work in his ability to depict complicated subject matter.
In regards to the second part "without pattern" is this a reference to his style?
Eliot's divergence away from traditional styles of poetry that relied heavily on pattern to achieve
a responder's understanding of the subject matter, rather uses disparate symbols/ ideas which seamlessly come together as a whole, being sophisticated rather than in your face (like repetition of the same idea) because I feel like his his very disparate until you do critical readings and then they fall into place...

I hope this makes sense....if anyone could provide their interpretation that would be great

Hey!

I definitely think Aiken is commenting on the complexity of Eliot's work and I think you could even add a thematic interpretation to the great suggestions you put up for symbolism. So if we take 'without pattern' as implying that Eliot's work is difficult and unpredictable, we could discuss how his work evokes uncertainty to disturb his readers - to show typical Modernist concerns that life isn't as the Romantics portrayed it. The effect of this compositional choice is definitely one that I think is worth expanding on and will help you engage with the quote which is crucial considering that most students just plop them in without discussing the ideas.

Hopefully that helped, that critic is in my bank of critics but I have yet to include it in an essay. Maybe now, I will do that soon

[Lachlan Morley]

Hi all,

When i write essays i try to  have a overarching thesis and then two sub thesis

I get a common bit of feebakc on my essay being " you do not have a sustained thesis" which reults in me struggling to get above a 15

Does anyone know what this means and how i can fix it

[Poporo]

Hey there! Super valid question here. There's no right, or even BEST, way to structure an essay for a particular module, in my opinion. What is best for someone studying poems for Module B won't be the same for someone studying speeches, for example. I think all of the structures you have above are great and very practical. I do want to point out that the better essays I've read have engaged with both texts, even if just on a conceptual level, in every paragraph rather than leaving them in complete isolation. It doesn't need to alternate between one text this sentence, other text for the next sentence. It doesn't need to be like that at all, but it can be integrated in a textual or conceptual way.
A context paragraph is definitely not required. For Module A, I also studied Richard III, and I think incorporating the context into the analysis is the best thing you can do in this situation, not just put the context in isolation. My own Module A essay on Richard III is available in the notes tab if you'd like to have a look at the way I incorporated context. It was something I struggled with - finding the right balance between telling a story about context and engaging with the text in the right way. But in the end I was very happy with the balance I managed to achieve! (Also, my Yeats notes are in the note tab as well)

THANK YOU! I feel a bit better now knowing what track to follow! Phew.

[left right gn]

Hey!
Can someone help me identify a technique in "If anything should go wrong, there’s soma". This is from Brave New World.

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi all,

When i write essays i try to  have a overarching thesis and then two sub thesis

I get a common bit of feebakc on my essay being " you do not have a sustained thesis" which reults in me struggling to get above a 15

Does anyone know what this means and how i can fix it

Is it possible that your two sub-theses are not linked correctly to your big idea? There needs to be one, centrally flowing argument - Any other sub-arguments should fall under the umbrella of that over-arching Thesis. It is possible that yours are straying too far from that central point?

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey!
Can someone help me identify a technique in "If anything should go wrong, there’s soma". This is from Brave New World.

I wouldn't associate any techniques with that line specifically, but soma is absolutely a physical symbol of humanities happiness and desires (and other things if you chose to spin it that way).

A way better technique for soma is the one where it says it is "Christianity, without the tears."

[beau77bro]

what should our steps be in preparing for HSC english Paper 1 and Paper 2? i feel very lost about approaching and it's making it very hard to start.

[jamonwindeyer]

what should our steps be in preparing for HSC english Paper 1 and Paper 2? i feel very lost about approaching and it's making it very hard to start.

1. Memorise quotes, techniques and evidence
2. Practice response
3. Get feedback on practice response
4. Repeat Steps 2-3

Just get writing my friend! Don't overcomplicate it - Do some practice, get some feedback, practice more until you improve. Focus on the modules you struggle with most, but still do a bit of everything!