EXAM struggle

[Perla]

Hi everyone,

I am an EAL student, and this year we studied Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. I know both stories and I know what happened in each, what are the themes, etc.... However, when I am given an essay prompt on any novel, I feel like 'lost'. I don't really know how to make connections with what I know, or what to use. I can take up to hours to plan and still. So, I am extremely worried about exam, we have a time frame to respect and two other section to complete, so I don't know what to do. I don't want to be penalise by that because once I know what to write about everything goes pretty easily. I tried to find the key words and stuff like that but it doesn't help much. If anyone has advice to give me, it will be awesome.

Thank you very very much

[clarke54321]

Hi everyone,

I am an EAL student, and this year we studied Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. I know both stories and I know what happened in each, what are the themes, etc.... However, when I am given an essay prompt on any novel, I feel like 'lost'. I don't really know how to make connections with what I know, or what to use. I can take up to hours to plan and still. So, I am extremely worried about exam, we have a time frame to respect and two other section to complete, so I don't know what to do. I don't want to be penalise by that because once I know what to write about everything goes pretty easily. I tried to find the key words and stuff like that but it doesn't help much. If anyone has advice to give me, it will be awesome.

Thank you very very much

Hi Perla,

I think your issue is a common one among English students. Often we feel as though we have a strong grasp on a particular text, but can't find a way to penetrate the particular prompt before us. As you are already doing, I'd encourage you to pay close attention to the 'key words' of a prompt. However, in addition to this, I'd also suggest that you try and define the scope of these key words. By defining important words, you are allowing yourself the flexibility to manipulate the prompt (to suit your own preferred interpretation).

Eg. ‘Malala demonstrates that there is power in unity and persistence.’

For this prompt, power can be understood in a myriad ways. Is it the inner strength that one feels when they belong to a group with a common purpose? Is it the impact that a group can have when they are unrelentingly determined? Is it the influence that this display of common courage has on other people, and their own willingness to realise change?

These are all the questions that you can tease out of one word. Power doesn't have to be a forceful concept. Rather, you can conceptualise it as one that is intensely internal, etc. If you are able to approach essay questions in this way, you will broaden the scope of the prompt- making it much easier to fit your ideas around it.

All the very best with your revision!