Planning

[LOVEPHYSICS]

I like doing text, LA and then Context last. Th reason being is that I am probably the most comfortable with the text. I dislike doing LA first because unless u can promise yourself to not go over the time limit of one hour, don't do it. I do LA second because it gives me a change or a break or whatever you wanna call it, thus keeping the pressure off from writing analysis/Expository writing. Also Analysis is probably the easiest one out of the 3. I like doing Context last because it is probably my weakest and I love using the adrenaline of the last minutes to maximize my effectiveness by writing clearly, succinctly and as quickly as possible.

[kyzoo]

I've noticed a lot of people tend to start with Section C first, but I feel that it's best to start with Section A. Since you need to recall quotes for the text response, it's better to get that one out of the way. Then you'd do the context (which also requires you to recall examples and other evidence) and the the language analysis last.

Hypothetically, imagine if you did Section C first and it didn't turn out well, and you started to get a little panicky. Chances are you'd probably forget some of your quotes or your context examples. The article, on the other hand, is, and always will be, right in front of you, so why not do it last once you've taken care of all the essays which involve using your memory?! Lastly, language analysis is the one that you can, probably, complete fastest. So at the very end, you can really rush through and finish it if you're strapped for time. (And think about it, you've been in there for 2 hours - so you'll be pretty weary - you'd prefer to be doing the easiest of the 3 essays last).

For the record, I ended up spending the last ~75 minutes of the exam on language analysis because I got a bit lazy Ended up not giving myself enough time to read over the other 2 essays, but that was my fault. And I don't bother annotating it! Read the article during reading time, let it sink in while you do the other essays, read it again and then just write

I never found the memory thing an issue - theoretically (or optimistically, at least), you'll have all these "memorised" things deeply embedded within your brain by exam time.

IMO it takes a lot more work to ingrain stuff for English than for Maths/Science

[EvangelionZeta]

I've noticed a lot of people tend to start with Section C first, but I feel that it's best to start with Section A. Since you need to recall quotes for the text response, it's better to get that one out of the way. Then you'd do the context (which also requires you to recall examples and other evidence) and the the language analysis last.

Hypothetically, imagine if you did Section C first and it didn't turn out well, and you started to get a little panicky. Chances are you'd probably forget some of your quotes or your context examples. The article, on the other hand, is, and always will be, right in front of you, so why not do it last once you've taken care of all the essays which involve using your memory?! Lastly, language analysis is the one that you can, probably, complete fastest. So at the very end, you can really rush through and finish it if you're strapped for time. (And think about it, you've been in there for 2 hours - so you'll be pretty weary - you'd prefer to be doing the easiest of the 3 essays last).

For the record, I ended up spending the last ~75 minutes of the exam on language analysis because I got a bit lazy Ended up not giving myself enough time to read over the other 2 essays, but that was my fault. And I don't bother annotating it! Read the article during reading time, let it sink in while you do the other essays, read it again and then just write

I never found the memory thing an issue - theoretically (or optimistically, at least), you'll have all these "memorised" things deeply embedded within your brain by exam time.

IMO it takes a lot more work to ingrain stuff for English than for Maths/Science

That's funny, because whilst I can remember a lot of English quotes after just one reading, I still don't remember the constant acceleration formulas after a whole year of using them.  :p

[d-ea-6]

I never found the memory thing an issue - theoretically (or optimistically, at least), you'll have all these "memorised" things deeply embedded within your brain by exam time.

That may be true for you (and, in fact, for me as well) but there are people who would, I think, benefit from my approach. And besides, we all know the things that can happen to your brain when you're under pressure

[m@tty]

That's funny, because whilst I can remember a lot of English quotes after just one reading, I still don't remember the constant acceleration formulas after a whole year of using them.  :p

Haha, wow, I'm the complete opposite - after one reading of science/maths books I find I can recall most of the important concepts (not the filler they put in); whereas, with English, it took much longer to commit to memory the relevant quotes and ideas, and even then I'm sure I missed some very important pieces for my essays on Thursday.

[Aden]

I never physically planned on a piece of paper until roughly three weeks before the English Exam when my English teacher said that it would be much better if I did (actually, I think she said something along the lines of 'one can only get so far without a plan to work with'). Previously I would just look at the prompt, think of four suitable ideas for the body paragraphs, and then start writing while I continued thinking. It worked well, but I wouldn't suggest anyone else to do it.

Then I started to actually write plans before I began to write the essay... to say the least, I really sucked at writing plans. I guess normally I would write down in a few words the gist of each paragraph and then write the evidence underneath it, while in Language Analysis I would find four approaches and use my pen to show where each one is.

However, in the exam (much to the disappointment of my teacher if she were to read this) I totally ditched this way of planning. Instead, for the prompts I would write the numbers 1-4 and have one to two words following each to show what I would be writing for each paragraph. I didn't even write anything on the Language Analysis speech and had the approaches already sorted in my head during reading time...

[EvangelionZeta]

I never physically planned on a piece of paper until roughly three weeks before the English Exam when my English teacher said that it would be much better if I did (actually, I think she said something along the lines of 'one can only get so far without a plan to work with'). Previously I would just look at the prompt, think of four suitable ideas for the body paragraphs, and then start writing while I continued thinking. It worked well, but I wouldn't suggest anyone else to do it.

Then I started to actually write plans before I began to write the essay... to say the least, I really sucked at writing plans. I guess normally I would write down in a few words the gist of each paragraph and then write the evidence underneath it, while in Language Analysis I would find four approaches and use my pen to show where each one is.

However, in the exam (much to the disappointment of my teacher if she were to read this) I totally ditched this way of planning. Instead, for the prompts I would write the numbers 1-4 and have one to two words following each to show what I would be writing for each paragraph. I didn't even write anything on the Language Analysis speech and had the approaches already sorted in my head during reading time...

My exam-style plans are actually just the 1-4 "one word following" style, as long as I know that the word is enough for me to remember what I'm writing about.

[kyzoo]

That's funny, because whilst I can remember a lot of English quotes after just one reading, I still don't remember the constant acceleration formulas after a whole year of using them.  :p

Haha, wow, I'm the complete opposite - after one reading of science/maths books I find I can recall most of the important concepts (not the filler they put in); whereas, with English, it took much longer to commit to memory the relevant quotes and ideas, and even then I'm sure I missed some very important pieces for my essays on Thursday.

Same omg. Having Maths/Science stuff embedded in my brain is second nature to me, I don't even have to do anything. But with English...took so much work and I still forgot one quote for my text response =X

[medge]

Detailed plans worked better for me. For most of the year I tried writing a few keywords and quotes to resemble a point made, but it took too much effort to formulate the better part of the plan in my head -___-

In the exam (and shortly before) I did it like this:

1. Brainstorm points/arguments and write down the details which would keep you going (eg. quotes, 'special insights', a few words about the context of the example)

2. List ideas in order of importance. ie If you were to discuss the prompt with another person, what order would you present your points in?

Am not strong in English, but doing vanilla plans like this eliminated a lot of mental blanks. When written in shorthand I can put out a decent plan in 5 mins.

Hope it helped.