(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…
This time next week, the English exams will be over and you will never have to write another essay about belonging ever again! Important last minute preparation tips Do not try and pre-learn your essays. You will do a lot better if you write your essay from scratch, adapting your knowledge of the module and…
With English Paper One, it is important to practice as many exam-style questions as you can. The English exams are NOT memory tests-there is no prescriptive syllabus, and the board of studies can, and will, ask you anything about the topic you have studied. You should be trying to remember important quotes, techniques and ideas,…
It all comes down to this. Most of you will now have graduated and will be doing your final preparations for the HSC English Exams. It is a very stressful time, but rest assured that in a few weeks time it will all be over and you will never have to even think about area…
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…
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…
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…
The best, and perhaps only way to study for HSC English exams is to practice answering as many questions on your relevant module as possible. More exam papers are attached for you to attempt, or at least look at so you can get an idea of the kinds of questions you may be asked. A…
Do you find it difficult to write essays about belonging? Firstly, read our post on How to write band six essays ! Then, read the following band six response for further guidance, or Download it as a word document This sample HSC English essay received a mark of 14 out of 15. It is not perfect,…
This is the best resource you will find online! The new syllabus has only been in effect for over 2 years, so it is very difficult to find papers that are relevant to what you have been studying in class. We have collected a number of past papers from different sources and will continue to…
It is time to practice and improve your essay skills by having a go at this list of essay questions compiled by Save My HSC especially for you. All of these questions reflect the sort of questions you will have to answer in section three of Paper One. It is highly unlikely they will ask…
Still have no idea what a thesis statement is? Take inspiration from these sample thesis statements for belonging essays. All of these thesis statements can be used as starting points for arguments about belonging! Experience Our life experiences teach us that when we stop trying to belong we realise that we have always belonged We…
Even if you are running out of time and can’t write a proper conclusion, at least try to give one concluding sentence. The conclusion is one place you can be brief without being penalised severely. Nevertheless, sum up your argument and conclude well. In your conclusion you need to: Restate your thesis without restating your…
Now you know how to introduce your essay, and the fact that paragraphs are important, its time to learn what to actually put into each paragraph. Every year, the most common criticism from the marking centre is that students do not integrate their responses. Their complaint is that instead of structuring their essays by ideas,…
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…
In case the capital letters didn’t scare you enough I will repeat it just so you can gauge the severity of this warning—do not pre prepare your essays. Unless you genuinely want to fail HSC English there is no excuse for going into your English exams with one memorised essay for each unit you have…
A very wise English teacher (yes, they do exist) once remarked: “there are essays, and then there are the essays they expect you to write in HSC English.” This is one of the most important lessons you will need to apply when figuring out how to write a band 6 essay during your HSC…
The following is a handy quick-reference guide you can print and keep to assist you in writing essays. Introduction: -Thesis statement: Main idea you will argue in the essay -Briefly expand on the thesis -Name your texts and composers -Outline the arguments you will be making in the essay Body Paragraphs (May be more than…
There is no other way to describe Paper One, Section Two but as the bane of every HSC student’s existence. Yes, this section requires you to compose an imaginative text that demonstrates what you have learnt about belonging and/or non-belonging. It is essentially a living hell, but don’t be disheartened. Use the ten tips in…
Six: If you write a classic narrative, structure it well If you choose to write a narrative, write it properly. Think about WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, WHY, HOW to develop your storyline. Begin with your orientation-introduce the characters and setting and the details of the back story required to understand where your story is going….
Unfortunately, choosing a related text is not as easy as picking your favourite movie and somehow drawing abstract links to belonging. The aim of this post is to demonstrate the importance of picking solid related texts, and suggesting a large range of texts you could easily read/watch/listen to and use as related texts for the…
The Board of Studies tells us that “the Area of Study requires students to explore the ways in which the concept of belonging is represented in and through texts.” Simple enough, yes? Not quite. Anyone who has ever gone through the excruciatingly painful procedure of studying one concept for just shy of half the English…
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…
Yes you read that correctly, not only is English compulsory but it also is allowed to put you through the agony of two exams. Each exam tests different things so make sure you are prepared for the right exam on the right day! The Board of Studies is a very creative bunch, so the two…
Each school will conduct assessments differently; however there are some prescriptions from the syllabus which regulate how students can be assessed. For both standard and advanced English, listening, speaking, and viewing/representing assessments will account for 15% each of your total assessment. This means you may have a listening task, a speaking task and a viewing…
This is where HSC ESL, Standard and Advanced English diverge. Each of these courses has their own modules, otherwise known as units of study, and electives within these modules. Each student will study ONE elective from each module, with the modules conveniently named A, B and C to avoid confusion. Just like the area of…
The area of study is common to HSC ESL, Standard and Advanced English. From the 2009 HSC onwards, the area of study has been belonging. The aim of this study is to inquire into a particular concept in depth; to understand the essence of this concept through the way it is represented and commented on…
Syllabus is just a fancy word the Board of Studies uses to scare students, but essentially it is a document that outlines exactly what you can be tested on, what you need to know and the reasons why you have to study the various topics that you do. The first ten pages are simply the…