Emily - Ask a State Ranker! (Q+A Closed)

[Sabrinita]

Hi Congrats on such amazing marks!

Do you like studying law? What's it like? Because it's something I am very interested in
By the way do you have any tips for adv English? What do you think was the secret to your success in the subject? I find English such a difficult subject to write essays about. I always struggle with linking and topic sentences 

Thank you !!!

[RoJoHo]

Hi Emily!
I'd like to ask, How do you prepare for English during year 11/early year 12 I'm talking like analysis, essay writing, articulation etc. Also how would you prepare notes for English and how would you study for English? Thanks!

[rizellepan]

Hi! Is it possible to achieved top marks with only two paragraphs for your essays? (integrated) Thanks!

[Disney]

Hey Emily!

I haven't put the effort into English until a few weeks ago because I just didn't have the motivation to do well, I have my trials starting tomorrow and have worked a lot harder for them than any other assessment. Any last minute tips for tomorrow? Still covering content tbh but feeling more confident about tomorrow than any other assessment so far because I understand what I need to have in my head to answer a question (YOUR LECTURE IS A LIFE SAVER)
I'm a little stuck on how to structure my discovery essay though: I have your notes from the lecture but I'm still confused. What do you recommend?

Also, what do you reckon should be my game plan between now and the English HSC?

[failure101]

How would you recommend studying for Paper 1 between now and 9am tomorrow? I have a creative and an essay structure but I have no idea how I am going to remember anything. Also, have you got any tips for improving ways to integrate and synthesis texts without being extensively long winded?

Thank youuu

[gemma.everest]

Hi Emily!

I have my trial exam for Paper 1 tomorrow, and Paper 2 on Tuesday, and was just wondering whether you had any tips for succeeding in Paper 2? Do you have any tips for what I can do to differentiate each essay and make them stand out?

Thank you!

[joeyelias99]

Hi Emily,

Could you please read my creative if you have time and give me some feedback, its very short I know i want to add something at the end and its very well shit hahah so any advice you have would be appreciated. Thank you!!!

[kaylagwork123]

hey emily,

firstly, what does one do if they find themselves going blank in an exam?

also, what do find is the best way to engage with the question in a sophisticated way?

thankyou!

[Bubbly_bluey]

Hi Emily!
I just want some thoughts about how to study for english. I find that this subject, for me, is quite difficult to prepare for. In the past I have always memorised my essays but now that trials are coming up, I could only manage to memorise quotes and key ideas.  So far I feel most nervous trying this method of studying especially if I'm going for it the first time in trials! (yes im crazy but I have done some past papers So I just like your thoughts on the best way to prepare English?
Did you focus a lot on english compared to all your other subjects?
How did you study or whats your routine for english leading up to HSC? -like did you set a specific goal to write this many essays in one week?
Thank you!

[banzoc]

Hey Emily,
I am a Yr12 student who will be sitting the English (Advanced) Trials within the next two day period. I am unsure as to whether my studying for this subject has been effective. In saying that, I have a few questions:
- In Paper 1 (AOS Discovery) how much time should we provide for each section of the paper?
- What is the most important aspect that markers look for in the Creative Writing? Is it character development? Is it an obvious link to the provided stimulus?
- How many quotes are we expected to memorise for the prescribed text, “The Tempest” in AOS Discovery?
- What is the most effective method of studying for Paper 2, which entails 3 extended responses?
- How do you develop a "personal voice" in extended responses?
- When writing a thesis, how do you not fall into the trap of simply restating the question or the stimulus?
- In Module B, I studied the Non-Fiction Speeches section of the syllabus, in our extended responses are we expected to continuously integrate “textual integrity”? Or only if the question requires it?

[bowiemily]

Hi Emily,

Just wondering whether you had any techniques for Paper 1 in terms of timing (which section did you do first) and also with Modules

I was also wondering how you memoriesd your Extension Creative and whether you learnt quotes for every prescribed text or just picked two and hoped for the best (I do After the Bomb btw)

Also how is English at uni, compared to at school. I am thinking I may dabble in it.

Thankyou so much

Hey there!

I made sure that I read the question before I read the text. That way, as soon as I saw where the question was in the text, I could get straight to writing.
I always did the paper in order, ie. Short Answer, Creative and then Essay. This is as I could complete the short answer in 20/25 mins, creative in 30. That gave me plenty of time to respond on the spot to the essay question. If I did it the other way round, I would have felt very rushed completing the short answer questions, and perhaps would have produced a weaker response because of the time pressure. So I would suggest completing your strongest section first, because that is the section where you have the greatest chance of cutting down time. The spare time you now have can be spent answering the harder parts of the paper.

As for extension I wrote learnt my creative by remembering it like a speech. It was also my discovery creative, so I had lots of practice with writing it. I alo just picked my two favourite texts for extension, its very unlikely they'll prescribe. I should say, however, I did practice writing with the text I left out - just in case. I had a much greater amount of notes for my two favourites, however.

English at uni is great!! I haven't had any exams, they really pay creativity and the lecturers are brilliant. If you're thinking about going to USYD, I would recommend Language, Texts and Time. I found it interesting as it went into the very specifics of language (ie grammar) that you rarely get to look at in school. Of course, there is also an introductory classics and modern course available. Reading is very heavy though, so make sure you take this into account when you're figuring out your workload for uni

[joeyelias99]

Hi Emily, was wondering if you could give me feedback/tips or anything that will make my creative less, well shit hahah

Thank you!!

[tmadden]

Hi Emily,

While revising for the English Advanced content, I continue to find myself a little more stuck than usual on module A. I understand the aim of the response and I know my texts, but I was wondering if you could give an insight as to how one might effectively incorporate context into the body paragraphs of the response? I am studying Metropolis/Nineteen Eighty-Four and I'm finding it a little bit difficult to thoroughly and effectively evaluate the significance of the context since it seems to require a slightly different paragraph structure than the one I usually stick to in other essays.

Alternatively, I could be entirely overthinking how difficult it is and i'm just struggling to focus haha

Thanks

[droodsh]

Hey Emily!

Thanks for doing this!

Jst regarding prescribed text and related text for AOS..... how much should there be of each in an essay? Would u say 60% prescribed and 40% related??

Also, in the exam for paper 1, are they likely to say we have to refer to a select poem in the essay or do they generally say 'refer to any of your prescribed texts?'

Thanks! 

[Vrikes]

Hi Emily!

I was wondering if you could give me some tips for my viva voce, I'm having trouble with repeating myself if I forget what I'm supposed to say quite often, thanks