So you have been asked to write an essay. Easy! You are supposed to be getting ready for an exam or a speech and then go to the NESA… formerly and infamously known as the dreaded BOSTES website. Teachers and ex-students alike have told you that in order to do well in the first half…
Today we will be discovering The Motorcycle Diaries. If you are looking for more of an overview of the module please read this article. The most resounding question that comes to mind whilst reading Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ is, how in the world did a medical student (yes, get a nice clear picture…
What is discovery? This question really does not need to be very perplexing. It is a word. It is about finding things. That is as complicated as it needs to be. Here is a complete breakdown of the Area of Study Discovery concept. If you are unsure about any term search for definitions. Do not…
Context. There’s a great word! But what is it? If you are an Advanced or Extension student, you have probably been wondering about how to use context for a HSC English essay. Let’s start with the basics. Regardless of the complexity of a topic, every piece of learning in the study of English as a…
One of the great sadistic joys that a teacher can feel each year is watching students dodge, dip, dive, duck, and dodge away from their responsibilities as the exam period looms closer and closer. Where I see most students falter is in their dismal lack of planning for the HSC English trials. The Higher School…
Area of Study Discovery is the big scary phrase that you will be accosted with for a good portion of the year. This portion of the syllabus relates to your first HSC examination or as it is more notoriously known ‘Paper 1’. This paper is broken up into three sections. Section 1: Comprehension Throughout your…
In Part 1 of this post, we explored some of the subjective hurdles that may be encountered by students when drafting their Creative Writing for Discovery. Now we will delve more explicitly into the craft of constructing a powerful short story, of allowing a potent discovery to unfold in the short space allocated to you…
The Creative Writing section of the HSC Paper 1 exam offers students the chance to display their understanding of Discovery by using their imagination to construct a short fictional piece. As enjoyable as this is, similar words of caution made about the comprehension section apply a propos of creative writing, for pitfalls abound in preparing for this part of…
English Paper 1 Comprehension is one of the most ignored sections in the HSC for both English Standard and Advanced students. If you are looking for an introduction to Paper 1: what it is comprised of, what to expect, and how best to prepare for your first ever HSC exam read our Introduction to Discovery post which is…
As you may know by for now for HSC Discovery, students of both English Standard and English Advanced share the challenge of tackling common content for their English Paper 1, the first hurdle in the HSC (rat) race. Mercifully, those responsible for the administration of the HSC appreciate that this is a stressful and challenging…
The first thing the marker reads is your introduction, and thus a solid introduction can engage the marker and make them actually want to read your essay. The other advantage of a decent introduction is that if for some reason you don’t get to finish your essay, the marker will at least know what you…