English Advanced Question Thread

[dancing phalanges]

If the question in a HSC essay (Mod B) specifies one work out of a collection of works that you study as a set texts. Does that work have to then become the primary focus of the essay?
For example my set text includes 5 poems and say they specify one in the question. In a 4 body paragraph essay, would it be expected that it make up 2 of the paragraphs?

Hey I can only answer in reference to Citizen Kane, where sometimes they give you stills from a scene. Essentially, in this case, I would analyse this scene drawing out the relevant themes and ideas and then bring in other scenes/examples and how they also contribute to the understanding the themes and ideas from that scene. Also, in the example of Citizen Kane, one past question was about how the last scene contributed to your understanding of the film as a whole, to which case I interpreted the final scene as the consequence of Kane's moral degradation and ambition etc. and then found scenes relating to this and then in one paragraph wrote about how the product of this is represented in the final scene. Those are 2 ways I interpret what i think you are alluding to but for Kane. In the context of having to do one poem, i would choose the first option, looking for ideas that come out of it and how these are reflected in other poems. but spend 1-2 paras on the specific poem you have to do

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi, Can't seem to find a quote in
“Nay let the silence of my womanhood commend my woman love”
could you help?
Thank you

I'd say this is figurative language!

Hello!
What are better ways of using evaluative language to answer 'to what extent' questions rather than explicitly stating 'to a great extent'?
TIA.

I think any sort of evaluative adjective will work here, "proves to be an obvious representation of..." for example - It can be a little subtle (though being obvious is never a bad thing either)

[sidzeman]

Hey just wondering for the discoveries are viewed differently from other peoples perspective dotpoint - would it be valid to refer to the two roles of the same individual as those different perspectives, rather than 2 whole different people?
E.g. different ramifications for an individuals role as an author and mother - rather than different ramifications for a coloniser and Native American

[eyw00400]

Hello!
What are better ways of using evaluative language to answer 'to what extent' questions rather than explicitly stating 'to a great extent'?
TIA.

If the question says for example "to what extent does the composer effectively explore this idea through dramatic techniques.."
You can just affirm the statement by saying The composer effectively explores this idea through the use of dramatic techniques or like 'discoveries lead to new values. To what extent do your texts explore this' --> Both text and text demonstrate how transformative discoveries lead to etc.

[dancing phalanges]

Hey just wondering for the discoveries are viewed differently from other peoples perspective dotpoint - would it be valid to refer to the two roles of the same individual as those different perspectives, rather than 2 whole different people?
E.g. different ramifications for an individuals role as an author and mother - rather than different ramifications for a coloniser and Native American

If you are referring to this dot point: Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed from different perspectives and their worth may be reassessed over time - then definitely that sounds like it could work. For instance, you could discuss if your character ages over time, how a more mature perspective on a discovery can change its impact etc. I think I would take that sort of argument for Diptych by Robert Gray. But the thing is that is very easy to interchange this dot point for An individual’s discoveries and their process of discovering can vary according to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values, so it is certainly one of the harder dot points so fingers crossed it doesn't pop up.

[eyw00400]

Just a question about the AOS creative on Monday. If they prompted you to write about how discoveries can be meaningful in ways that are emotional, intellectual, spiritual, creative and physical - could they ask you to write a story about only one aspect. creative or intellectual because my story has only really emotional and spiritual elements to it along with obvious physical discoveries

You can do that if they only say meaningful discovery. They could however actually specify for a specfic kind of discovery- since there isn't much time to rewrite a new creative (unless you can do it) I suggest writing up an alternative scene for your current story so that it can cover creative and intellectual just in case. Keep in mind that intellectual and creative are both pretty broad so it maybe likely you are already kinda covering it --> if your spiritual discovery is about seeing something in a new way logically then it would work as an intellectual discovery

[SSSS]

Guys!! Please tell me they can not ask about technology or gender for metropolis/1984?!! And would a speech be specified like Deane or lessing as they were mentioned ... I really hope they specify keating or pearson

AND with utopia for metropolis, I was going to talk about the scene of the eternal gardens with the plethora of women. It projects a utopic world filled with excessive luxuries ... yet doesn't this show how women are dehumanised to satisfy mens desires ... thus does not reflect a utopic vision ... which is why the innocence and purity Maria possesses is emphasised to illustrate how her focus on "the mediator between the head and hands is the heart" is paramount that will lead towards an egalitarian society (that is utopic) ...

Post merge

[dancing phalanges]

You can do that if they only say meaningful discovery. They could however actually specify for a specfic kind of discovery- since there isn't much time to rewrite a new creative (unless you can do it) I suggest writing up an alternative scene for your current story so that it can cover creative and intellectual just in case. Keep in mind that intellectual and creative are both pretty broad so it maybe likely you are already kinda covering it --> if your spiritual discovery is about seeing something in a new way logically then it would work as an intellectual discovery

Yeah thank you Elyse helped me out with the intellectual aspect so I should be g now

[LochNess Monster]

Dear Elyse,

Where can I find the list of prescribed texts for every module?!

It's not in the rubric I downloaded...I came across it once but now I don't know where it is. Please tell me where I could find it!

(I also looked over BOSTES syllabus for English and downloaded the PDFs but nothing in there is the prescribed list?....)
I hope your reply comes soon!

[Natasha.97]

Dear Elyse,

Where can I find the list of prescribed texts for every module?!

It's not in the rubric I downloaded...I came across it once but now I don't know where it is. Please tell me where I could find it!

(I also looked over BOSTES syllabus for English and downloaded the PDFs but nothing in there is the prescribed list?....)
I hope your reply comes soon!

Hi LochNess Monster!

Are you looking for this?

[sidzeman]

If you are referring to this dot point: Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed from different perspectives and their worth may be reassessed over time - then definitely that sounds like it could work. For instance, you could discuss if your character ages over time, how a more mature perspective on a discovery can change its impact etc. I think I would take that sort of argument for Diptych by Robert Gray. But the thing is that is very easy to interchange this dot point for An individual’s discoveries and their process of discovering can vary according to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values, so it is certainly one of the harder dot points so fingers crossed it doesn't pop up.

Yes exactly what I'm worried about hahahaha. I had to write up and memorise a whole new essay just for those 2 specific dotpoints was such a hassle

[hobocop]

Hi,
Is it necessary for our creative pieces to have a title?
And when we are actually writing our creative, are we required to indicate the visual stimulus (if it is visual) we chose? In case our piece doesn't do a good enough job in alluding to a specific one.

[mlarsson]

Hi , just wondering how long is the recommended time for writing  one page?

[winstondarmawan]

Hello!
Just wondering what if the creative question is rediscovery, but your creative does not really encompass that?

[dancing phalanges]

Hi,
Is it necessary for our creative pieces to have a title?
And when we are actually writing our creative, are we required to indicate the visual stimulus (if it is visual) we chose? In case our piece doesn't do a good enough job in alluding to a specific one.

Not at all - you won't get extra marks for a title. Only stipulate what visual image you chose if it asks for it otherwise if taking it metaphorically, refer to it once in the start, 1-2x in the middle and once at the end and hopefully it will be clear enough obviously don't overdo it but use it metaphorically to blend into your piece as if already there, these are examples I made if the stimulus was like one i did in a practice of a boat going through a storm:
-   HER STRUGGLE WAS A SOLITARY ONE – LIKE A LONE FISHERMAN FIGHTING THROUGH BRAWLING WAVES.
-   THE HORIZON WAS NO LONGER IN SIGHT.
-   RATHER, ALL SHE COULD SEE WAS THE RAGING STORM WAITING TO CONSUME HER WHOLE.
-   IN GRACE, SHE COULD FIND THE STRENGTH TO PUSH THROUGH THE WAVES.
-   THE STORM HAS PASSED (DIFFICULTIES) THE HORIZON IS NOW IN SIGHT.

Hello!
Just wondering what if the creative question is rediscovery, but your creative does not really encompass that?

Depends how flexible your creative is! I can't really answer this without knowing your creative and its plot! Sorry!

Hi , just wondering how long is the recommended time for writing  one page?

Hey, have no idea specifically haha but typically for Paper 1 and Paper 2, aim for at least 6-7 pages for each essay and 5 for the creative. So for the essays, if we take 6, that means it should take 6-7 minutes to fill up one page. But don't worry about it too much! Just make sure you are constantly making sure what you are writing makes sense and answers the Q rather than focusing on speed