Susie - Ask a State Ranker (Q+A Closed)

[sudodds]

Hey, so I've just finished my Trials, I was wondering whether it would be healthy to take a brake (focus on Majors etc) or to kind of just keep plowing down with the study, any advice?

Cheers

Take a break I say Though I was kinda lucky having all my exams spread quite far a part in trials, it did mean that I had an exam on the last day, going back to school on the next. I was suppppperrrrr tired, and I couldn't focus for like a week, which meant I ended up missing content because my brain was just fried. So I suggest taking a bit of a break for about a week - maybe a bit of light study here and there and finish up majors, but for the most part, relax

[donnamarie]

Hi Suzie

I am overwhelmed with the amount of content for modern history.  I have essay plans for Germany and indochina as well as notes for Speer and ww1. I am nervous about the question for Germany in the trials (this thursday) what is the best way to prepare for this? Also with Part B of Speer my teacher hasnt really gone through how to answer it - do you have any tips on determining what to include?

Thank you

[sudodds]

hi!!!
so I'm sorry if this is a bit of a boring question but since I feel I don't study 'enough' I was wondering if you could possibly explain how you studied? (Also, I'm pretty convinced about Sansa winning the Iron Throne too).
Thank you so much for doing this Q & A...!

Not a boring question don't worry! For me, studying was pretty much just doing a tonne of part papers, and getting them checked over by my teacher. I personally didn't write notes for any of my subjects. Though notes work well for many people, for me they didn't work at all, because I need to be actively engaged in in the content (eg. assessing significance, making judgements, etc.) in order to understand it - reading dot points just didn't cut it for me. I also found answering questions here on ATAR Notes (because I actually used this forum as a student!) was also really great - teaching the content is a fantastic way to learn it. If you can, study groups are amazingggggg Last year for Ancient the team work was incredible, and I credit a lot of my mark to that

And yeah 100% she is gonna win like - look at the history of it For anyone that thinks we're crazy - watch this video and become an enlightened individual 

No worries! Hope everything is useful 

Susie

[sudodds]

Hey Susie

What tips do you have for being able to get really good marks across all subjects? In other words, I find it hard to divide my time for all my subjects and feel as though I may be neglecting some. What should I do so that I give each subject enough time as well as perform really well in them?

Hmmm tbh my advice is don't do what I did ahaha. Though yes, I did "well" in most of my subjects, a lot of that was due to the fact that I really enjoyed most of my subjects as I am a massive history nerd, and was willing to spend a lot of time on them (modern often didn't feel like "study" too me, because I just found it so interesting). Economics on the other hand... lets just say I wrote some of my best essay in economics class (they just weren't economics essays aha). I definitely neglected economics because I just didn't enjoy the subject, and that is why it fell behind in comparison to my other subjects. I should have been more diligent. I think a lot of it comes down to managing your time effectively, and planning ahead. List what you need to get done, and try to stick to it (a habit forms after 12 days, so just aim to get to that mark!).

Another tip that I did do is try and link your subjects, so that you can sometimes kinda be studying both at the same time? For example, I picked related texts in english that related to what I was studying in Modern or History Extension That way, when I was analysing Reagan's "evil empire" speech, I was studying for both Module C for English, and the Renewal and End of the Cold War for Modern!

[ca052267]

Hey I study the same texts for Mod A and B. There are notes on the site which can help you with it!
Usually the themes for Mod A and B tend to come as binaries, especially for Mod A.
So Mod A usually the most common themes are: power vs control, rebellion vs revolution, hope vs despair, figurative vs literal machine, etc.
For Mod B its things like loyalty vs betrayal, revenge, justice, the human condition, mortality, fate etc.

Thanks

MOd C is literally killing me.

My essay structure is crappy, but I know what I want to say, it's just a matter of writing it down properly.

I can research a theme in a text and explain it in my head but it never sounds as good when i write it down, and then i don't know how to fix it.

Tips anyone?

[sudodds]

Hi Susanna,
my trials are in a couple of days, paper 1 and paper 2 for english are the first exams. I'm contemplating on whether I should memorise my better essays and just the quotes/techniques/themes for the ones i didn't do well in or just memorise them all. I have done 2 past papers for each but still unsure on what strategy i should use. Also english is my weakest subject and my trials aren't weighted that high, so I know my rank will not improve that much, so what should i do heading towards the hsc

Hey! So I memorised all my essays for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 ahaha. Controversial advice, but it worked for me, what is important is that you just make sure these essays are adaptable - ie. NOT specific. Focusing on the themes is the best way to do this in my opinion, as the themes will rarely ever change, no matter what the question! With the essays are you are not feeling as confident in, perhaps focus on plans, rather than a full essay?

English was my weakest subject for the majority of the year, pretty much until Trials, so don't worry! You can definitely pick up your mark at Trials, and in the HSC! Just takes some diligence and hard work I really recommend getting your essays marked here on ATAR Notes This is not a #spon - like legit I would not have received the mark I did without Elyse/Jamon/Brenden's help, marking my responses. For half-yearlies I was ranked around 22/69 (that isn't the overall rank, just the rank for my half-yearly assessment) - for Trials i was 2/69. Literally the only thing I did differently was get all my essays marked on here Along with that, just keep refining those essays, until you are comfortable with them, and then test their adaptability with multiple questions!

[sue.ibrahim]

Hi Susie, I was just confused. my teacher says to avoid a narrative in a history essay, however I never understand what she really means

[claireollivain]

Hello
How do you suggest studying for the 3 hour modern history exams (trials and HSC) ? I'm doing conflict in Indochina, Germany, and Leni Riefenstahl, and don't know how I would be able to remember all my judgements and content.

Did you use historiography in modern? How important would you say it is?
And generally, how did you get ready on the day of an exam, did you look at your notes again? does being stressed or calm help more on the day?

[sudodds]

Hey Susie!
Are there any good resources you could recommend for Extension History?
How important are the Extension History exams, as the major work is worth so much?

Hey! I highly rate the BOSTES source book of readings. You can find that here! I also recommend reading EH Carr's 'What is History' in its entirety - it is a staple. I'd also check out this thread, where you can test out your arguments, and read up on how other students (and myself) respond to different questions/ideas Developing a voice is essentially in history extension, and engaging in this thread will help with just that!

The exam is really important. The major work is marked internally, meaning it only contributes to your internal mark, which then contributes to your rank. So really, the major work (and all other internal assessments) are only important in so far as they give you the rank that you take into your final HSC exam, your final mark being (roughly) the mark you get in the exam + whatever you rank (might be you, might be someone else) got in the exam. So its definitely really important (not trying to scare you haha, I'm sure you'll be fine)!

[sudodds]

Hey, How did you try to remember your statistics for all your different topics in modern history,  and work out which are most necessary to remember !

Hey, when it comes to memorising stats - I personally used a detail table! Basically it had all the syllabus dot points down one side, and then a column for miscellaneous detail (eg. stats, terminology, names, etc.) and then a column for quotes (you can actually find mine in the notes section). I also recommend taking a look at this thread! made by jakesilove! Worksheets are a really effective form or study, because they are "active", meaning that your brain has to be switched on, rather than just reading and writing out different stats. When done often, its kinda like muscle memory - you will just know these stats, without even having to think!

In terms of working out which are the most important, I'd focus ones are the strongest in demonstrating the most common arguments - but also detail that is unique (ie NOT in your textbook). That way you can show a little bit of uniqueness in your response, and convince your marker further that you have really done your research. But really, its not about trying to work out what is the most important, when it comes to detail - more is more

[heids]

What's it like to literally be in the same room as jamonwindeyer? Also Elyse. Also Jake. Also Rui. Also yourself.

[sudodds]

Hello,
I don't have trials over the next few weeks, as i am still in year 11 so i understand if you dont want to give me priority...
But just trying to make up my mind if to do Extension History next year...anything you have to say that will dramatically convince me?
Thanks a ton

Heya everyone is important here I'd say that there is no other subject that changed my worldview, my conception of reality, and my understanding of society more than history extension. Like, the stuff that you go through is really mind blowing sometimes (in particular linguistics). On top of that, though the major work is a lot of work (it is a major work after all), the essay I wrote is something that I am super proud of - if you had asked me in year 11 to write an essay on Hegelian Marxist dialectical theory I would have laughed in your face. It is unlike any other subject (and if you do find that its not for you - only one unit so you can probably drop without a sweat )

Susie

[Ishodinkha17]

Hey Susie, I am really worried about my Modern Trial on Thursday. I always seem to storytell in my essay and I am horrible at writing historical essays. How do you manage to write three essays in three hours! I am really stressed out and I am so worried that my results will be horrible.

[sudodds]

Hey Susie,
I was wondering if you knew what the best way to reference textual integrity in my essay on speeches for critical study of texts?
Additionally, what's the best way to structure and answer comprehension questions for Paper 1: Discovery?

For Modern History,
is it better if I include quotes from historians in my essays? Moreover, what's the best way to structure the two short answer questions on WW1?
Thanks so much!!! 
Jade

Hey Jade! Unfortunately I didn't study speeches in English, so I'm unsure how to answer the first question I recommend posting this question here though! There are definitely some people on there that'll be able to help you out In terms of comprehension for paper 1, I structured my response according to the different techniques used (so roughly 1 technique per mark!).

In terms of quotes - it is "better", but at least in the HSC - not essential. Some schools have different opinions on this in terms of trials, so make sure you know what your schools view is on this, however in the HSC you don't actually need any quotes to get a good mark. The top students will often use quotes, as they are a fantastic form of detail, but if you are in the HSC exam and you forget a quote - don't sweat it You shouldn't have even lost a mark.

The best way to structure the two short answers is for WW1 to use the syllabus! When it comes to WW1, pretty much all the questions are just syllabus dot points reworded (lazy lazy NESA ) - which is great because you can use this as a framework for your response. Also make sure that you are consistently integrating the sources, but not the extent whereby it becomes like english - It doesn't matter what the vector lines are doing, or the symbolism of the colour red in the curtains haha. Like if Source A is a photo of a bunch of soldiers around a machine gun, use that as a way to propel yourself into a discussion upon the role of artillery It's important to remember not to go overboard with these questions as well - the lines (+ maybe a bit extra if you're keen) are more than enough

Hope this helps!

Susie

[riiisaa87]

Hey Susie!

Since there's so much content to learn for Modern History, specifically within the national, international peace and conflict and personality studies. How do you best narrow down your notes?

Thank you so much!