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February 07, 2026, 12:14:10 pm
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Halil

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Advice?
« on: February 06, 2011, 08:25:42 pm »
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Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know in what ways I can improve my English. I believe that my English is poor and I have been studying very hard and consistently lately to improve it.

First of all my Vocabulary sucks. I never use to read books pretty much until the summer holidays prior. In order to fix up my vocabulary I have been engaged in recording down every word I do not know from the texts I read. So far, since the beginning of school (1 week), I have jotted down over 100 words ( embarrasing), probably have doubled my vocabulary. I'm trying to read over time at times so that I do not forget them.

I also have some minor issues with writing essays. Sometimes I do not go in to the depths of topics and have trouble constructing the introduction part.


At the moment, all I am doing is reading different texts (other than the texts for Vce English this year) and continuing to jot down every word and defining them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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pi

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2011, 08:30:04 pm »
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Join the Essay Submission Scheme! It forces you to study!
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werdna

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2011, 08:36:42 pm »
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I think you're going wayyyy too overboard with the vocabulary. Just let new vocabulary come to you naturally, not forced upon you. In saying this, complex vocabulary is NOT favoured over complex ideas. I think you're too concerned about your essays sounding good, but not actually being good.

Before you tackle any essay, make sure you plan it out. Underline the key words, find synonyms of these words, ask questions of the question, come up with 3 or 4 key ideas, write out the topic sentences and trust me, you'll feel far more confident writing the essay.

Your essays are lacking depth because you haven't studied your texts deeply enough. Delve deeply into your texts and use abstract evidence as well. Make sure you develop your own unique interpretations of your texts.

Then again, I don't know what your writing is like. I suggest you do what Rohitpi said, and join the essay forum!
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pi

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2011, 08:38:31 pm »
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Quote from: Halil on February 06, 2011, 08:25:42 pm
First of all my Vocabulary sucks. I never use to read books pretty much until the summer holidays prior. In order to fix up my vocabulary I have been engaged in recording down every word I do not know from the texts I read. So far, since the beginning of school (1 week), I have jotted down over 100 words ( embarrasing), probably have doubled my vocabulary. I'm trying to read over time at times so that I do not forget them.


Also start with the bold word: 'embarrassing' ;)
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werdna

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2011, 08:40:09 pm »
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;D

By the way Halil, I've never really been an avid reader either. The only books I've read in the last 2 years have been my English school texts. No kidding! :P
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Water

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2011, 08:46:16 pm »
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Dw, My Vocab list on microsoft word is 3893 words,  and I don't even know 5/6th of them. So don't go panicking, with vocab explosion. It won't work ): <<<< I'm a failed product of it

Best tactic for short term? Make a list of words for each book, that you can weave into when writing an essay. That should do the trick.  
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About Philosophy

When I see a youth thus engaged,—the study appears to me to be in character, and becoming a man of liberal education, and him who neglects philosophy I regard as an inferior man, who will never aspire to anything great or noble. But if I see him continuing the study in later life, and not leaving off, I should like to beat him - Callicle

werdna

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2011, 08:47:21 pm »
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Yeah.. but don't think that you can sacrifice good ideas with good vocab.

HOWEVER, some people can have complex language AND complex ideas work awesomely together in an essay - iffets!
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tarek

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2011, 08:48:45 pm »
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Just be like Tarek and you'll be fine ;)
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pi

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2011, 08:49:07 pm »
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Quote from: werdna on February 06, 2011, 08:47:21 pm
Yeah.. but don't think that you can sacrifice good ideas with good vocab.

+1, many people get 50s using words that could be from a Harry Potter novel (ie people aged ~12 could understand their essays)
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Halil

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2011, 08:50:47 pm »
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So I should stop emphasizing on vocabulary for now and try to explore more deeply into the text I'm covering?
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pi

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2011, 08:52:12 pm »
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Quote from: Halil on February 06, 2011, 08:50:47 pm
So I should stop emphasizing on vocabulary for now and try to explore more deeply into the text I'm covering?

Thats what I am doing, my vocab is average and I'm happy with it
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Water

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2011, 08:53:42 pm »
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Quote from: Halil on February 06, 2011, 08:50:47 pm
So I should stop emphasizing on vocabulary for now and try to explore more deeply into the text I'm covering?



Sparknotes, is a start to exploring deeply into a text. Don't be reliant on it, its designed to give u a foundation so that you know, your heading in the right direction.


Then again, my older brother said, if you use the ideas in sparknotes and study guides, you secure yourself a 40 already. Soooo, your take :D
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About Philosophy

When I see a youth thus engaged,—the study appears to me to be in character, and becoming a man of liberal education, and him who neglects philosophy I regard as an inferior man, who will never aspire to anything great or noble. But if I see him continuing the study in later life, and not leaving off, I should like to beat him - Callicle

werdna

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2011, 08:59:19 pm »
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Quote from: Water on February 06, 2011, 08:53:42 pm
Then again, my older brother said, if you use the ideas in sparknotes and study guides, you secure yourself a 40 already. Soooo, your take :D

Wrong. The ideas and interpretations in these study guides are generic.
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Ghost!

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2011, 09:01:24 pm »
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Quote
Then again, my older brother said, if you use the ideas in sparknotes and study guides, you secure yourself a 40 already. Soooo, your take Cheesy

Woooah woah, settle. I disagree actually, examiners will have seen every idea raised on Sparknotes, and repeating them in your essays is just going to make your essay blend in with the thousands of others they read.
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werdna

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Re: Advice?
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2011, 09:02:55 pm »
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Imagine the amount of students who will read the guides and copy and paste the ideas into their essay. Instead of doing this, why not unlock your own potential and use your own interpretations, which only you have access to?
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