Tim Winton’s “The Boy Behind the Curtain” is a captivating collection of personal essays that delve into the nuances of human experiences. It’s well worth reading and rereading particular essays that you personally connect with as the autobiographical short stories really closely engage with the Texts and Human Experiences Common Module in the HSC English…
Are you preparing for the HSC English exams and looking for a comprehensive guide to Billy Elliot? This article delves into the film’s exploration of the human experience, offering insights into connections, empathy, emotions, and storytelling. Perfect for HSC students and parents looking for good resources, this guide will help you understand key themes and prepare…
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) trials in New South Wales (NSW) are often seen as a daunting hurdle for Year 12 students. But how important are these trials really? This article delves into the significance of HSC trial exams, their impact on final results, and why they are crucial for student success. Understanding HSC Trials…
Unlock the secrets to crafting powerful thesis statements and effectively using quotes in your HSC English essays. Discover expert tips, strategies, and examples to boost your exam performance and achieve top marks. English Standard, English Advanced and English Studies all have specific modules that need to be covered separately but the Common Module is the…
Shakespeare’s plays are renowned for their intricate exploration of human nature, power, and politics. One of the most compelling aspects of his work is the use of supernatural elements to influence and reflect these themes. From ghosts and witches to prophetic visions, the supernatural serves as a powerful tool in Shakespeare’s storytelling, particularly in the…
This is an example of a high range response of a TS Eliot essay. As a critical study, the respondent must assess his work as a whole and be aware of the broader contextual impact of the work. This response is for the 2013 English HSC. Explore how time and place are used in…
Students who have written a number of essays may be lulled into a false sense of security when approaching a comparative essay. This is a very different kind of essay to one that focuses on a specific text that may ask for related material to strengthen its arguments. With Module A: Comparative Study of Texts…
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…
With this in-depth analysis of Alain De Botton’s ‘The Art of Travel’, we examine his central thesis, reference material and quotes that will assist you in answering any difficult HSC English questions for Advanced Module C: Representation and Text, Elective 2: Representing People and Landscapes. This podcast is rather long as we have a chapter…
The key thing that advanced module a wants you to focus on is context. Metropolis and 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) are two great texts with a great deal of similarities to focus on this particular concept. How does context shape how composers perceive the world? How does when and where they live impact how they construct…
According to the Standard English Module C: Texts and Society, students are expected to ‘explore and analyse texts used in a specific situation.’ Quite often, texts focus on a particular event or issue. The Board of Studies wants students to be able to identify key information about how these specific texts convey bigger ideas about bodies of…
In terms of essay writing, Standard English Module B Close Study of Text is probably the best example of how a true essay looks. An essay is supposed to be an exploration of an idea or a question that is eating away at the respondent. To put it bluntly, it is the physical manifestation of…
In order to achieve a high grade in the HSC, it is important to know exactly what the syllabus and prescriptions are asking for which is why we have provided a breakdown for Module A Standard English. What this module is asking students to do is look at how people see and communicate about relationships…
In an act of supreme mercy on the part of our educational system, you don’t just sit the HSC once, you get to sit it twice. Yes, celebrate good times, come on, you’ve got the HSC trials coming up! Now is a good time to work with a tutor to quickly identify exactly how…
Being able to define a thesis statement is an imperative skill in the HSC. The success of your English essay almost entirely hinges on how good your THESIS is. Your essay should be understood as an extended exposition of your thesis, with every point being a further piece of evidence in favour of it. All our…
The Comparative Study of Texts and Context module in HSC English is an in depth yet interesting one. Emma and Clueless is a very commonly used pair of texts, and this is why we decided to help those who may be struggling with the module or just need some extra pointers on the topic. Let’s…
Analysing visual texts can seem daunting… Especially when it comes to essays. How can a simple image or picture book be broken down into a long-winded analysis? It’s easier than you think. Following are some techniques you can use when breaking down images to their basic elements: Body Language/Gaze This is for images with people…
(with reference to Frankenstein and Blade Runner) The comparative study of texts and context can be murky waters for many, but that boils down to a lack of understanding at what the question is asking. Context generally refers to what is happening outside the text at the time it is being created – this can…
Take note and learn from the way this essay has been structured. This essay received a mark of 20 out of 20 and captures the essence of the module with reference to a really good related text! Question: Compare how the texts you have studied emphasize the complexities evident in the interplay of history and…
One of the biggest complaints students have about the way their teachers mark essays is that they criticize what they have done without ever actually showing them what a good essay should look like and how they could have or should have written their essay. The following essay structure can be adapted to answer questions…
Most students consider Module B to be the most difficult of all three modules. It requires a close knowledge of text and language forms and features used to create meaning within texts. Refine your skills and test your knowledge with the following questions: How is your personal response to the poetry of Yeats shaped by…
Practice questions can be incredibly helpful when studying English Standard Module C as it will help you comprehend a broader range of questions. 2010 HSC ‘The experience of moving into the world can challenge individuals’ attitudes and beliefs.’ Discuss this view with reference to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of…
One of the most challenging things about writing an English paper is maintaining a good flow whilst answering the question effectively. Memorizing what you want to say would help if you knew the question at hand but each year the HSC questions change which means you need to develop a skill other than memorization. As…
The first elective in module A focuses on the connections between texts and the benefits of looking at connections between texts that exist across time. The syllabus states that students will explore “meanings of a pair of texts and how they can be shaped and reshaped by considering the nature of the connections between them.”…
This module requires you to compare texts and explore them in relation to their contexts. You will have to read/view two texts and compare their themes and the different ways they reflect their social, cultural and historical context. You will also have to consider the language used the purpose and audience, the values and…
A one hundred page syllabus document; modules; core texts; related texts; area of study and two completely different HSC English exams. To most students commencing their HSC, this terminology is on par with a foreign language. Success in HSC English begins with understanding exactly what this course is about, what is expected of students and…