2013 Exam Prep Questions Thread - Mod Assistance. Post questions in here.

[tcstudent]

Thanks werdna, going through the essay structure from your blog! hope it helps improve my structure for context.

[amylouise]

I am so stuck with this Year of Wonders topic:


 "I did not make the choice so much as to have it made for me." Is this true of other characters in the village?

I have no idea what to write, please help me!!

 

[Smiley_]

anyone have any good  on the waterfront exam topics?? or likely exam ones ?

[silverpixeli]

make of these what you will, this is my list of otw essay questions grouped by theme, last count there are 110 including the 6 past VCAA ones.

wish I could predict the exam topics for the day :P

EDIT: these are from all over the internet and no copyright infringement is intended

[silverpixeli]

I am so stuck with this Year of Wonders topic:

 "I did not make the choice so much as to have it made for me." Is this true of other characters in the village?

Okay I haven't revised Year of Wonders since the SAC, Term 1 (regretfully) but I'll have a shot,

Spoiler

I think the question wants you to consider how the characters are not really in control of their own lives/fates/destinies. Between their lack of means (the characters admit that they don't really have any choice but to quarantine the village, as suggested by the quote in the question), their isolation (as a small town with little connections they don't really hold much sway in the world, what happens in Eyam doesn't have any lasting effect on the outside) and their belief that their destinies are predetermined by God (their faith in God as the reason for the plague and all illness/events in their lives)

From this, it wants you to break it down into characters and consider any nuances and implications that are presented.
I'd start with Anna before the plague, an archetypical villager and therefore a representation of the rest of the village. She's religious, and believes that God's will is to be followed, as so is willing to comply with the proposed quarantine. Like the rest of the villagers, she doesn't really have much of a choice, and as a result, yeah, she has choices made for her, just like the rest of the villagers, who go with the quarantine, despite what they really want.

It's easy to say the choices are made for someone when they don't have the means to make the choice themselves, but if people DO have the means, they can make the choice themselves. A perfect example is the Bradfords, who choose to escape the town and leave their home behind in order to save themselves. They make this choice, which perhaps some of the villagers would have liked to have made, because they have the capability to get out of the village and survive. Another family of power is the Mompellions, who do stay in the village, but they make this choice. Michael and Elinor aren't overtly selfish like Colonel Bradford, and while they have the opportunity to flee, they choose to 'face the lion' blah blah quotes and stuff. This all goes to show the contrast between those who have the power to chose and those who don't, in conjunction with the above stuff about the villagers not having the means to decide for themselves.

Accepting the plague as the wrath of God, or even a test of faith, is accepting a decision that you haven't made, and as a result pretty much all the villagers are guilty of having their choices made for them in this regard. People like the guy who went up the hill and came down with his rooster after the illness had passed (pretty sure he wasn't religious), and more importantly, the Gowdies, who go against the group and against 'faith' in order to make their own way are the only ones who are not having their choices made for them. This stuff exemplifies how some villagers don't let religion determine their destiny, they don't let some guy in the sky make their choices for them.

To tie it all up I'd mention Anna after the plague, having gone through her transformation and beginning to question the role God plays in everyday life and even in death, because she doesn't let anyone make her choices for her. Despite the seemingly random nature of the book's ending, it does show that Anna is not going to let anyone control her life anymore. She escapes the village and the country because she can, just like why she rides on Anteros, because she isn't confined by a husband or a family or a religion anymore. Thus, Anna post-plague is able to make her own choices because she lets go of everything that she was letting control her in the past.

Not sure if that's the best way to structure it but hopefully that gives you some idea for what to write.

PS- Mod question: Is it too late to revise Year of Wonders? I've been having trouble with Waterfront questions and am considering a last minute change of exam text, or even the adoption of studying both. Appreciate some advice, thanks guys!

[brenden]

I don't think it's too late to study for YoW or both, especially considering OTW is a movie. You've still got a week to read the book once (or twice) prior to the end of the holidays, and time for another reading if you're super keen and want to jot down more quotes etc. And there is definitely plenty of time to write a lot of essays, so I don't see a problem with revising YoW starting now.

[09Ti08]

Hello all,
I have a question regrading the number of body paragraphs. Do you think that there is a golden rule for the number of paragraphs? My teacher always tells me to include 3, and according to him, that's the best "number". But honestly, I'm quite sceptical about this...
Thank you very much!

[Damoz.G]

Hello all,
I have a question regrading the number of body paragraphs. Do you think that there is a golden rule for the number of paragraphs? My teacher always tells me to include 3, and according to him, that's the best "number". But honestly, I'm quite sceptical about this...
Thank you very much!

I don't know if I should be responding to this because I'm not werdna or VivaTequila, but I'll give my response to your Question

In my opinion, the number of paragraphs doesn't matter. Obviously your not gonna have 1 or 2 body paragraphs. I say this because if you do, it means that you have too many ideas mentioned and described in the two paragraphs OR you are retelling the story and have no idea what you are discussing.

Coming back to your question though, I think 3 should be a minimum but it shouldn't be a maximum either. What really counts is how you present your ideas for your response and how it flows.

Sometimes, you may have 6 ideas, and may use 6 paragraphs for them - ABSOLUTELY no problem with that all (As long as it is relevant to the Topic/Prompt :p)! I speak this from recent experience, and it really helped me out because I was able to clearly distinguish my ideas and explanations for my TR Question, which helped my markers clearly identify my explanations for the Question and know which idea was which.

Good Luck!

[Stick]

I know this isn't of the same calibre of the questions asked so far but I need to know nonetheless. Are we allowed to consult dictionaries during reading time? I did another practice exam today and I initially didn't know what one of the words meant in the context prompt. I know that supervisors can sometimes get bothered by these sorts of things so I thought I should clarify.

[brenden]

I know this isn't of the same calibre of the questions asked so far but I need to know nonetheless. Are we allowed to consult dictionaries during reading time? I did another practice exam today and I initially didn't know what one of the words meant in the context prompt. I know that supervisors can sometimes get bothered by these sorts of things so I thought I should clarify.

I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure you can.

[Damoz.G]

I know this isn't of the same calibre of the questions asked so far but I need to know nonetheless. Are we allowed to consult dictionaries during reading time? I did another practice exam today and I initially didn't know what one of the words meant in the context prompt. I know that supervisors can sometimes get bothered by these sorts of things so I thought I should clarify.

Well this Link: http://www.vcehelp.com.au/201-vce-english-exam-resources-1532/
states that you can use a Dictionary during reading time.

The dictionary can be used for clarification of terms, as well as checking spelling, and may be used during reading time.

Even though that was for 2012, I highlight doubt that VCAA has changed the rules for this year. Even if they did, they would have stated this in a Bulletin or report.

[09Ti08]

I don't know if I should be responding to this because I'm not werdna or VivaTequila, but I'll give my response to your Question

In my opinion, the number of paragraphs doesn't matter. Obviously your not gonna have 1 or 2 body paragraphs. I say this because if you do, it means that you have too many ideas mentioned and described in the two paragraphs OR you are retelling the story and have no idea what you are discussing.

Coming back to your question though, I think 3 should be a minimum but it shouldn't be a maximum either. What really counts is how you present your ideas for your response and how it flows.

Sometimes, you may have 6 ideas, and may use 6 paragraphs for them - ABSOLUTELY no problem with that all (As long as it is relevant to the Topic/Prompt :p)! I speak this from recent experience, and it really helped me out because I was able to clearly distinguish my ideas and explanations for my TR Question, which helped my markers clearly identify my explanations for the Question and know which idea was which.

Good Luck!

Thanks for your reply!
But I would like to say, I often end up having 2-3 paragraphs. The problem is when I can work out a systematic and logic way (this is basically my essay plan) to dissect a particular topic, I always try to explore each idea in-depth. As a result, like you said, I will tend to present many ideas in one paragraph. For my SACs, I always tried to include 3 paragraphs, and my marks are quite ok, but I rarely/never find myself writing more than that.   

[Damoz.G]

Thanks for your reply!
But I would like to say, I often end up having 2-3 paragraphs. The problem is when I can work out a systematic and logic way (this is basically my essay plan) to dissect a particular topic, I always try to explore each idea in-depth. As a result, like you said, I will tend to present many ideas in one paragraph. For my SACs, I always tried to include 3 paragraphs, and my marks are quite ok, but I rarely/never find myself writing more than that.   

No worries at all!

Exactly, I know because I speak from experience. I always used to think like you as well (and we're not the only ones) - a lot of people still follow that Intro-3 Body Paragraphs-Conclusion format. I'm not saying its a bad approach, but I am saying its risky. One day it came to me, that it didn't have to be in that format, and it would be better to have more than 3 paragraphs to separate ideas. Yup, presenting too many ideas (in fact more than one) in a paragraph is risky because its simply too much. You will lose marks on flow, because its just a whole heap of ideas (which may still be good), but its just put together in a few paragraphs.

What I would suggest, is may be doing a plan for a few Text Response Questions, and list the ideas you would discuss. You may like to even try writing essays that don't follow the general Intro-3 Body Paragraphs-Conclusion format. See how you go, and may be even give a copy to your teacher and see what he/she says. As long as the ideas are relevant to the Question, I'm sure they would love it, because it shows your understanding of the text. Of course linking is important (There's no doubt about it), but if your ideas flow, that's what matters at the end of the day.

You still have just over a month before the Exam which is plenty of time to practice this style. If it doesn't suit you, then its completely fine, but try it and see whether you express yourself better. May be assess your work and compare it to another piece that you wrote. Critique it, and be harsh to see what's good and what's not. Then give it to your teacher and get some feedback on it as well.

I'm sure that if you do 3 or 4 drafts (may be 1 or 2 will even do it), you will have nailed the structure of doing it this other way.

Let me know how you go - Just send me a PM if you try this style.

[09Ti08]

Thanks I will try to break my ideas...

But my problem has to deal with the way I approach my essay. For example, for context writing, if we have a prompt like: Our identity is shaped by our experiences, then my 3 body paragraphs will discuss:
1/ Yes, our identity is shaped by our experiences when we're young and not self-aware.
2/ Yes and no, once we have an idea of who we are, we can shape our experiences. Sometimes, our experiences strengthen our identity.
3/ No, at the end of the journey of self-discovery, you know who you really are, and experiences can no longer alter our identity.

I hope you get the idea... But that's how I tend to analyze all essay topics, it's something like past-present-future, or cause-consequences-effects...

[Damoz.G]

Thanks I will try to break my ideas...

But my problem has to deal with the way I approach my essay. For example, for context writing, if we have a prompt like: Our identity is shaped by our experiences, then my 3 body paragraphs will discuss:
1/ Yes, our identity is shaped by our experiences when we're young and not self-aware.
2/ Yes and no, once we have an idea of who we are, we can shape our experiences. Sometimes, our experiences strengthen our identity.
3/ No, at the end of the journey of self-discovery, you know who you really are, and experiences can no longer alter our identity.

I hope you get the idea... But that's how I tend to analyze all essay topics, it's something like past-present-future, or cause-consequences-effects...

Is that for Identity and Belonging? That's a bit of a problem, because I do "Whose Reality?"

It's also a bit of a harder approach when using this style for Context because you should have a pre-prepared piece that you can tweak for different prompts, right? Looking at your plan, I'm guessing you do an Expository or Analytical piece, and not creative (just guessing here)?

If your doing it for context, look at your already polished piece, and then look at the BIG ideas of the prompt. I see how you have approached it with 3 different perspectives, but try look at it in more depth. Because I do a different Context type, its hard for me to explain what I mean to you. Basically, look at the bigger ideas of Identity and Belonging and see how they relate to the prompt, and how you can tweak your piece to make it fit the prompt that you are given (or currently using).

May be VivaTequila could help me out when he sees this please, to explain what I mean because he knows all 4 Contexts?