I have midterm exams next week and I have to write two essays in two hours, text response and Language Analysis. I haven't written a Text Response since term 1 and I can't fully grasp how to write it again. Can anyone help me, please?!! I have to write a Text Response on A Christmas Carol. What can I do to 'ace' this exam? Please, anyone? Thankyou
I think the key to success in English, or any other subject for that matter, is consistent practice. But since your exam is this week I still would not be worried. Just have the confidence (not arrogance) in yourself that you will do well. And you will.
A common misconception with the text response is that its purpose is to inform the audience. I disagree because this is essentially saying that you will earn marks by scrambling together a bunch of information, quotes and symbols and expecting to earn marks. In my opinion, the purpose of the text response is to persuade. You need to use evidence which informs the audience (ie. evidence, quotes, symbols) and use it to persuade them. Make sense?
For instance, this is an inform type response:
"Dixon Brown embarks upon her contradicting and 'comprimising' beliefs, demonstrating her selfish demeanor. Nevertheless, her efforts to engage in 'one of the biggest' of wildlife survival projects shows her care and value in the environment. Thus, she is not a villain"
A better response would look something like this:
"Hannie Rayson (the author) elucidates that in spite of some of the character's irreversible flaws, they should not be labelled as villains. Dixon Brown is often represented as an insular and narcissistic individual, regularly reminding others of authority, such as when she persists to remind her colleagues of her 'Phd in statistics'. This overconfident and praise seeking persona is further endorsed by Piper, who mocks Dixon Brown as 'such a self-effacing individual', which is evident in her scornful tone towards her when she says this. As a result, Dixon-Brown's self-motivated characteristics often instigates her to manipulate situations to suit her own benefit. Following a rumour that Piper slept with Harry Jewell, she berrated Piper, labelling this action as an 'obvious professional comprimise' and 'not a very good idea'. In the very following act, Rayson constructs a scene with Dixon-Brown leaving her bed wearing a dressing gown, and Harry Jewell in his 'boxer shorts', to symbolise their recent sexual activity. Here, Rayson demonstartes how Dixon-Brown's contradictory behaviour can be seen as villainous. Regardless, the damning stigma associated with the word 'villian' fails to warrant this term as an appropriate description of characters such as Dixon-Brown. Whilst she contributes to the damage involved in character relationships and environmental politics, she is also a key stakeholder in the deal which prevented 'mining' in the otway forrest' and the 'crap (released) in the atmosphere' which comes with it. In doing so, Dixon-Brown demonstrates a care for the environement, even though she engages in 'comprimising' deals and relationship breakdowns. Thus, Rayson highlights that the title of a 'villain' is not appropriate for characters in the text".
The previous paragraph is far from perfect, but it aims to use the informative side of the essay to persuade the audience of a certain point. So pick a part the topic sentence (every single word), to ensure that you can come with an appropriate argument, which challenges the topic sentence. Try to ensure that you define key words too.
Hope this helps.
If you need anymore assistance, feel free to contact me at:
[email protected].
Please do!
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