Why aren't my text responses up to scratch?

[derivativex]

I make kick ass context pieces and equally good language analysis pieces, yet my text responses (whilst decent) aren't half as good as the aforementioned pieces.

I plan my response out beforehand briefly, and usually find that whilst that plan would be good enough to develop an essay of roughly an 8/10 standard, by the time I reach my conclusion I usually have a crazy epiphany and magically reach a new profound understanding of the topic.

If you've ever had that happen then you know how devastating it is to look at a piece and know EXACTLY how you could have made it better, but have no time to start again.

Is the time limit of one hour? Is it pressure blocking me from thinking?
I don't know.  If you can think of a magic solution please let me know. 

Otherwise, may this thread fall into the dark depths of the double digit pages of VN's English forum.

[kendraaaaa]

The real problem here is that you're gay.

[kendraaaaa]

Hahaha, I'll go stand in a corner over there and stop this hijacking.

[derivativex]

Damn it I hate you Michael you killed my thread!

[xXNovaxX]

The real problem here is that you're gay.

I agree.

What a fucking homo.

Why all the rude comments? Somebody is merely asking for help, and all you have are criticisms of one's sexuality which is completely irrelevant.

Now to answer your question, I would say because text responses are a completely different style of writing! And they are hard! Whereas context gives you the FREEDOM to choose and master your own style of writing, and analysis is mainly self explanatory and straight forward (who can't pick up an angry tone...), text responses aren't that clear cut.

You may be a great writer (demonstrated by ur skills in the other two AOS), however you may not have the MINDSET to interpret texts, and characters, themes etc.

Unfortunately IMO you either have this skill or you don't, however I do knw that the more essays you write, the more samples you read, the more times you read your text, the better your text responses will be!

Make sure you read your texts 3-4 times in a year, once on the dec/jan holidays, once before a SAC, once between THAT SAC and the exams, and once before the exams (for year 11's going to year 12)

But unfortunately it might be to late now =S

EDIT: Didn't know you guys knew each other, my bad

[Stroodle]

I make kick ass context pieces and equally good language analysis pieces, yet my text responses (whilst decent) aren't half as good as the aforementioned pieces.

I plan my response out beforehand briefly, and usually find that whilst that plan would be good enough to develop an essay of roughly an 8/10 standard, by the time I reach my conclusion I usually have a crazy epiphany and magically reach a new profound understanding of the topic.

If you've ever had that happen then you know how devastating it is to look at a piece and know EXACTLY how you could have made it better, but have no time to start again.

Is the time limit of one hour? Is it pressure blocking me from thinking?
I don't know.  If you can think of a magic solution please let me know.  

Otherwise, may this thread fall into the dark depths of the double digit pages of VN's English forum.

If it's any consolation, I have the eaxct same problem - though I usually get 9/10 for text responses

[ninwa]

by the time I reach my conclusion I usually have a crazy epiphany and magically reach a new profound understanding of the topic.

So go through as many practice essay topics as possible, and construct essay plans for them. When you're done, go back and add to the essay plans your new "epiphanies". Voila, lots of essay plans full of really deep, well-developed ideas which you can take into the exam.

Unless I'm reading your post incorrectly ...

[xXNovaxX]

by the time I reach my conclusion I usually have a crazy epiphany and magically reach a new profound understanding of the topic.

So go through as many practice essay topics as possible, and construct essay plans for them. When you're done, go back and add to the essay plans your new "epiphanies". Voila, lots of essay plans full of really deep, well-developed ideas which you can take into the exam.

Unless I'm reading your post incorrectly ...

OOO THAT REMINDS ME! I udnerstand what you mean about getting an epiphany at the end. So one SUGGESTION is, if you have time/good time skills, um, read the text response question during reading come, come up with core ideas.....then when time starts move  onto context or whatever, and THEN at the end do text response, what I find is sometimes my brain is thinking about the essay question for text resp, even thought I am not doing it atm, so ur brain would constantly be processing new info/ideas.

but yeah, personally I wouldn't do that coz i struggle with time sort of.

[kdgamz]

I make kick ass context pieces and equally good language analysis pieces, yet my text responses (whilst decent) aren't half as good as the aforementioned pieces.

I plan my response out beforehand briefly, and usually find that whilst that plan would be good enough to develop an essay of roughly an 8/10 standard, by the time I reach my conclusion I usually have a crazy epiphany and magically reach a new profound understanding of the topic.

If you've ever had that happen then you know how devastating it is to look at a piece and know EXACTLY how you could have made it better, but have no time to start again.

Is the time limit of one hour? Is it pressure blocking me from thinking?
I don't know.  If you can think of a magic solution please let me know. 

Otherwise, may this thread fall into the dark depths of the double digit pages of VN's English forum.

If it's any consolation, I have the eaxct same problem - though I usually get 9/10 for text responses

its not a problem then haha...ahem...just kidding

[lacoste]

Use 10 minutes to plan?

Double plan quickly? ie at the very start of the exam and then another at the end

[derivativex]

Mmm I think that it's all about anticipating possible topics.

Thanks guys you've made it seem like I can improve in the next day! haha

[xXNovaxX]

Mmm I think that it's all about anticipating possible topics.

Thanks guys you've made it seem like I can improve in the next day! haha

lol, well then thats false hope
haha, I am joking, I was only making a personal reflection on myself =(

[krzysiek]

Naww nova haha