English is the hardest subject, in my opinion, to study for because of they can ask really specific questions or they can be lenient and go easy. My teacher has said that this year should be one of the hardest years for English, so she's preparing us for everything NESA can throw at us. Here are some suggestions to consider when preparing.
1. Prepare two related texts for Area of Study.
It's very, very,
very unlikely that they will throw in a question that asks for two related texts, but what's stopping them from doing that this year? At the very least, you can use a text from the comprehension as your second related material, but if you really want to be productive with any curveball that they may throw at you, have your second text as a backup, in case they
do ask it this year.
2. Have a bank of techniques in your mind.
This is in particularly useful for the comprehension. HSC markers HATE it when you repeat the same example and technique for your mini essay as you did in the previous questions. You can use the same technique if you really are stuck, but use a different example to the one that you already had. Remember that the comprehension is marked by a single person, and this is the only section that isn't cross-checked with another marker. So, make sure you have a wide range of techniques in your mind in order to maximise your mark.
3. Study smarter, not harder.
As cliche as it sounds, studying smarter by understanding the important sections of your text is a much more substantial way of studying than by perfecting an essay and trying to tailor it to the question. I mean, the latter
may work, but in the end, it all comes down to how well you're able to
answer the question. Questions, especially in Paper 2, are designed to pick out the top students, who are able to create a logical and sustained response that answers the question, to those who merely regurgitate a perfected draft essay.
Some strategies my teacher recommended include:
- Understand the context of the text.
By understanding the context of the text, we are able to draw out background information and allusive analysis that helps us to appreciate the form and construction of the texts. This allows us to have a deeper connection to the text, both in a macro and micro sense. English texts are designed in order to draw emotions that remain relevant to the modern world, so read up on their context. - Create a visual representation of the text.
Since I'm a visual learner, after every text, I tend to draw mind maps and flowcharts that connects every theme together. In this way, any specific theme that they ask can be inter-connected with three or four other themes that help to strengthen the analysis and thesis. Draw arrows, make it super neat, or make a rough diagram of the different elements that occur within the text. - Draft a planned essay.
What I mean by this is not writing a full essay. When you're practising, take five minutes to draw out key concepts within the question. In cases like the CSSA papers, each module question is neatly written so that it draws key concepts straight from the rubric. Use the reading time to create a drafted and outlined essay, integrating key elements as you go. - Write your thematic paragraphs in blocks.
When you're preparing, write possible thematic paragraphs and get them marked by a teacher (of course, with the question). In this way, your teacher can give you feedback on whether or not you're written paragraph is headed in the right direction. There's no point in writing a fully fleshed out essay if it doesn't answer the question. Sending multiple paragraphs or once is entirely optional; if you feel like you need to spend more time fleshing out your ideas, get them marked multiple times by your teacher and/or tutor.
4. Practice.
There's no point in saying this if you're not going to put it into action. There are a few ways to practice these essays (timed, at this point as well).
- Practice papers.
Of course, this is one of the most common ways in practising. This is because practice papers allow for a wide range of possible HSC questions, and since English questions are often recycled, doing past HSC papers are often the way to go. Take the time to deconstruct the question so you're clear what is being asked, and have a direction with your analysis and essay -- once again, there's no point in writing a 20/20 essay about Hal's manipulation when the question directly asks how Hotspur is used as a foil character to Hal.
Deconstruct the question, look for key words (such as "examine", "intertextual perspectives", "your perspective", etc), and begin to formulate a response. - Use the rubric as a starting point.
What a lot of people (myself, included) tend to miss is that all of these questions originate from one place -- the rubric. The rubric offers a wide range of themes that examiners can test you on, so make sure you know your syllabus well. On top of that, you can use it as practice by picking out different areas of the rubric and formulating a possible question.
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Topic: HSC English Preparation Advice (Read 1987 times)