English Extension 2 Question Thread

[michelleh]

Thanks Elyse for the helpful advice! Will consider checking out the article you recommended

[waterdancer]

Hi Elyse  
So, Major Works are due soon eek! My short story is done and dusted, but I'm yet to completely finish my Reflection Statement. I wanted to ask if perhaps you could take a look at it and see if I'm on the right track please? Still have 305 words to play with, and I will still give it the brutal culling my Major Work received, so if you've got any suggestions I would really appreciate it.

[eyw00400]

Hi quick question for formatting!
Is there a specific way of formatting footnotes in the reflection statement?
Currently I just have like the name of the person and the text. Do I need
to do the whole Harvard format for my footnotes?
Also I'm having issues articulating a specific phrase, I'm talking about how my work's thematic focus on identity and etc. makes it a
work that anyone can read. Obviously 'allows anyone to read my story' is way too colloquial so I was wondering if anyone had
a better word or way of phrasing this cos I'm a little stumped.

[waterdancer]

Hi quick question for formatting!
Is there a specific way of formatting footnotes in the reflection statement?
Currently I just have like the name of the person and the text. Do I need
to do the whole Harvard format for my footnotes?
Also I'm having issues articulating a specific phrase, I'm talking about how my work's thematic focus on identity and etc. makes it a
work that anyone can read. Obviously 'allows anyone to read my story' is way too colloquial so I was wondering if anyone had
a better word or way of phrasing this cos I'm a little stumped.

Hey there!
In regards to footnotes, all you really need to do is the author, year of publication and title of the text, publishing info if you have it, as well as the chapter, page or line number if relevant. So for one of my footnotes, it looks like this:
"Nietzsche, Friedrich, 1986, “Human, All Too Human: A Book For Free Spirits” Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, Section 122, p. 241"
You save the whole Harvard formatting for your bibliography attached to the entire submission
With your rewording, had a little play around. Hopefully something like this can help you out:
"The universal thematic concern of identity extending throughout my text ensures its relevance across all audiences."
Best of luck! 

[eyw00400]

Hey there!
In regards to footnotes, all you really need to do is the author, year of publication and title of the text, publishing info if you have it, as well as the chapter, page or line number if relevant. So for one of my footnotes, it looks like this:
"Nietzsche, Friedrich, 1986, “Human, All Too Human: A Book For Free Spirits” Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, Section 122, p. 241"
You save the whole Harvard formatting for your bibliography attached to the entire submission
With your rewording, had a little play around. Hopefully something like this can help you out:
"The universal thematic concern of identity extending throughout my text ensures its relevance across all audiences."
Best of luck! 

Thanks so much!

[bananna]

Hi Elyse!


I got my ext 2 back from school (Australians All, the short story about refugees) and I got 36/40, the main comments about syntax and punctuation, also footnoting. I was quite happy with that. However, for my reflection, I got only 8/10. I'd like to raise this mark to at least 9. (please help me achieve this!!!!)

Thank you for your comments about my MW, I'm trying to implement those changes, but I have trials right now!!!!

Attached is my reflection statement. Could you please take a read and leave some comments if you have the time?
My teacher and mentor's main concerns lie in the structure of it. So please please help me in restructuring it.



THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[elysepopplewell]

Hi Elyse  
So, Major Works are due soon eek! My short story is done and dusted, but I'm yet to completely finish my Reflection Statement. I wanted to ask if perhaps you could take a look at it and see if I'm on the right track please? Still have 305 words to play with, and I will still give it the brutal culling my Major Work received, so if you've got any suggestions I would really appreciate it.

Firstly, loved reading this. I can imagine your major work is very creative because the inspiration behind it is very impressive. I've just been referencing a checklist and there's a few things I'll bring up with you. Firstly, you'll need to number your pages. Secondly, I think the discussion of inspiration is exceptional - but your process seems flawless. Each time you read a new text, I don't get the idea that your concept or story was shaped, but it was like everything was researched at the beginning, and then the writing began and it was flawless. The discussion of the way independent research impacted your work as it evolved isn't really strong, so maybe this is an area for improvement for you? Whilst the way you've talked about the texts that influenced you, and the ideas, is good, the connection to the PROCESS of writing and the official outcome isn't clear.

I LOVE the bird quote and discussion at the beginning. Incredibly unique and creative!

[waterdancer]

Firstly, loved reading this. I can imagine your major work is very creative because the inspiration behind it is very impressive. I've just been referencing a checklist and there's a few things I'll bring up with you. Firstly, you'll need to number your pages. Secondly, I think the discussion of inspiration is exceptional - but your process seems flawless. Each time you read a new text, I don't get the idea that your concept or story was shaped, but it was like everything was researched at the beginning, and then the writing began and it was flawless. The discussion of the way independent research impacted your work as it evolved isn't really strong, so maybe this is an area for improvement for you? Whilst the way you've talked about the texts that influenced you, and the ideas, is good, the connection to the PROCESS of writing and the official outcome isn't clear.

I LOVE the bird quote and discussion at the beginning. Incredibly unique and creative!

Thanks heaps for taking the time to read through it, I really appreciate it!
Added in page numbers now, just an oversight on my part sorry. Right, yep I see what you're saying. So basically make it seem like more of a real process then, how the research shaped the idea over time? Even though the overall basis for my story didn't change drastically from the beginning of the course. I mean, the entire story changed HEAPS with drafts and revising and such, started off writing in first person before abandoning that and taking the third person approach etc. but I preferred to gather the majority of my research before I even put pen to paper, so that I knew I had a strong direction to take the story in. Would that be viewed negatively do you think, or just make my process really clear?

[elysepopplewell]

Hi Elyse!


I got my ext 2 back from school (Australians All, the short story about refugees) and I got 36/40, the main comments about syntax and punctuation, also footnoting. I was quite happy with that. However, for my reflection, I got only 8/10. I'd like to raise this mark to at least 9. (please help me achieve this!!!!)

Thank you for your comments about my MW, I'm trying to implement those changes, but I have trials right now!!!!

Attached is my reflection statement. Could you please take a read and leave some comments if you have the time?
My teacher and mentor's main concerns lie in the structure of it. So please please help me in restructuring it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Hey bananna!

Here's a few things:
-Your document is in US English, so you've got catalyzed instead of catalysed and utilize instead of utilised. Have a look for the z letters and you'll likely need to change them to an s
-A small thing in your intro, I'm reading that your appreciation for words (as inspired by Orwell) brought you to have empathy for the photograph? Just not following the connection between loving words and appreciating visuals.
-"In contrast, using third person to portray Campbell’s hard-headedness creates distance between him and reader, I, increasing the value of his final epiphany. " In this sentence I can't work out what the "I" in the comma splice is for?
-"However, this approach was disadvantageous as I inadvertently wrote all four perspectives in the same style. " In this part, I'd briefly identify that style. Whether it's narrative style, persona style, whatever it may be. Because style could refer to linguistics, your writing process, persona, anything.
-"Experimentation was crucial in the construction of Australians All. Experimenting with font was crucial in the development of Australians All to differentiate my characters. " These two sentences could really just be one, they're quite repetitive.
-"Through an extensive independent investigation, my intentions for undertaking this course have been realised, encouraging me to continue challenging hostile perceptions of refugees. " Maybe, 'continue challenging hostile perceptions of refugees through literature and political discourse' or something like this.
-I think potentially you'd benefit from outlining the stance of Australia on asylum seekers that troubles you most. "Turn back the boats" or "Nauru" or "offshore detention" - which policy is it in direct pertinence to? Because this might be nice at the beginning when contrasted with the anthem. Which, by the way, I adore the title and the way you've included the anthem.

So I think that part of your mark increase will come from the adjustment of language (as above) because the sophistication of your work will increase. Personally, I'm not unimpressed by your structure, and seeing as I don't see a whole lot wrong with it I guess I think I'm not in the best position to help you improve it. I struggled with my own structure - I remember reading some reflection statement's that had managed to put everything (EVERYTHING REQUIRED - y'know, all four million things they want you to talk about), into a perfectly smooth narrative. I ended up pulling mine apart and moving paragraphs around everywhere and then sliding them back into different spots and adjusting the framing sentences. So I suggest speaking to your teacher/tutor and asking them what they think is the downfall of your structure, and then don't be afraid to make big last minute changes to it!

[elysepopplewell]

Thanks heaps for taking the time to read through it, I really appreciate it!
Added in page numbers now, just an oversight on my part sorry. Right, yep I see what you're saying. So basically make it seem like more of a real process then, how the research shaped the idea over time? Even though the overall basis for my story didn't change drastically from the beginning of the course. I mean, the entire story changed HEAPS with drafts and revising and such, started off writing in first person before abandoning that and taking the third person approach etc. but I preferred to gather the majority of my research before I even put pen to paper, so that I knew I had a strong direction to take the story in. Would that be viewed negatively do you think, or just make my process really clear?

Surely wouldn't be viewed negatively. The people marking your work are writers themselves, or have been writers, and they understand the process of writing as flawed. So, I think that you're actually just fulfilling the criteria in terms of how the concept and writing evolved together to create the end product!

[bundahboy]

Heyyyy,

Major Works are due tomorrow, so I was wondering whether the stated word limit includes quotations? I'm about a hundred words over the limit for my MW at this point, so I won't have to cut anything if the word count were to exclude quotations. The NESA documentation isn't definitive on this, so any clarification would be useful.

Thanks!

[TheFreeMarketeer]

Heyyyy,

Major Works are due tomorrow, so I was wondering whether the stated word limit includes quotations? I'm about a hundred words over the limit for my MW at this point, so I won't have to cut anything if the word count were to exclude quotations. The NESA documentation isn't definitive on this, so any clarification would be useful.

Thanks!

I'm not sure. It doesn't include footnotes but that's all I know, sorry.

[elysepopplewell]

Heyyyy,

Major Works are due tomorrow, so I was wondering whether the stated word limit includes quotations? I'm about a hundred words over the limit for my MW at this point, so I won't have to cut anything if the word count were to exclude quotations. The NESA documentation isn't definitive on this, so any clarification would be useful.

Thanks!

I don't have definitive clarification on this either. My assumption is that quotations are included in the word limit unless stated otherwise.

[paigek3]

Major works are done!!!! Congrats everyone!

[bananna]

Congratulations, everyone!

We are now 1 unit down!

Hope everyone is happy with what they submitted and do not stress !!