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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
We all have a lot to learn from other people’s mistakes. Following on from this notion, each year the board of studies publishes a document with markers comments that give general feedback and provide some insight into what the markers will be looking for in your responses. Here are some helpful links to the markers…
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,…
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…
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…