EvangelionZeta's Guide to Preparing for the English Exam

[m@tty]

You mean, for instance, 8 contexts, 8 text response and 4 language analysis?

That seems a fair amount.

Offtopic: How many are you going to do for Lit?

[8039]

I'm aiming for about 20 overall!

Whoa what a go-getter I've yet to read the books so I should probably limit myself to about 8 or so as we're approaching exam time. Are you going to be focusing on 2 main texts or everything that your teacher set for the year? also I saw your essay for A Farewell to Arms which was really great, where about did you get your notes for it (if any)?

[98.40_for_sure]

I'd say it's pretty realistic that from now to the exam (exactly 21 days), that at least 15-20 essays can be done by anyone. 5 a week isn't too much and would prepare you very well for the exam. That 15-20 & the 20+ or so that should have already been done = ~40? So EZ's 20 isn't that much, but he's just out of this world and would still ace it doing 0 practice essays

[EvangelionZeta]

You mean, for instance, 8 contexts, 8 text response and 4 language analysis?

That seems a fair amount.

Offtopic: How many are you going to do for Lit?

Lit I'm aiming for around 20 as well - I did ten of each over the term 3 holidays.

I'm aiming for about 20 overall!

Whoa what a go-getter I've yet to read the books so I should probably limit myself to about 8 or so as we're approaching exam time. Are you going to be focusing on 2 main texts or everything that your teacher set for the year? also I saw your essay for A Farewell to Arms which was really great, where about did you get your notes for it (if any)?

I'm only focusing on one text (Richard III) for the exam - studying for two just isn't practical.  =/  As for my A Farewell to Arms essay, I actually didn't use any notes for it - at the time, the book was fresh in my mind, and I just used what I'd gotten out of reading it and what the teacher had pointed out in class.

[8039]

I'm only focusing on one text (Richard III) for the exam - studying for two just isn't practical.  =/  As for my A Farewell to Arms essay, I actually didn't use any notes for it - at the time, the book was fresh in my mind, and I just used what I'd gotten out of reading it and what the teacher had pointed out in class.

Oh well we have one text (AFtA) and a movie (Look Both Ways) for the text response area of the exam and two texts for the context area (The Crucible & The Secret River). I hate LBW and don't have time to read all of TSR (even tho it's probably much better for my encountering conflict context). Kinda worried that I might get a really ambiguous question for my chosen text which will jeopardize my entire exam. i.e "Hemingway's female characters are less convincing than his male characters, do you agree?"... how the hell would anyone manage to write a 1,000+ word essay about that?!

[2317]

Can you use both texts for context?
btw Great Post EZ

[Abdi]

Can you use both texts for context?
btw Great Post EZ

you can as long as one text is dominating the other in terms of how much you actually write about it! well that's what I was told......

[EvangelionZeta]

I'm only focusing on one text (Richard III) for the exam - studying for two just isn't practical.  =/  As for my A Farewell to Arms essay, I actually didn't use any notes for it - at the time, the book was fresh in my mind, and I just used what I'd gotten out of reading it and what the teacher had pointed out in class.

Oh well we have one text (AFtA) and a movie (Look Both Ways) for the text response area of the exam and two texts for the context area (The Crucible & The Secret River). I hate LBW and don't have time to read all of TSR (even tho it's probably much better for my encountering conflict context). Kinda worried that I might get a really ambiguous question for my chosen text which will jeopardize my entire exam. i.e "Hemingway's female characters are less convincing than his male characters, do you agree?"... how the hell would anyone manage to write a 1,000+ word essay about that?!

Off the top of my head there's enough in AFtA to answer a question like that (compare Catherine and that nurse woman against Frederic, the priest, the drunk guy, etc.) - what really dig into the text whilst making notes, and you should find yourself a bit better off.  If you follow the process I recommend (making notes for all the major "themes" or "strands"), then you shouldn't get a topic that's too ambiguous to answer. 

Can you use both texts for context?
btw Great Post EZ

What Abdi said - my school recommends using two texts, but writing two paragraphs on one and one on the other.

[2317]

Can you use both texts for context?
btw Great Post EZ

you can as long as one text is dominating the other in terms of how much you actually write about it! well that's what I was told......

Just wondering coz ive never come across one that included twp but
 In last years exam:
"Section B requires students to complete an extended written response.
In your writing, you must draw on ideas suggested by one of the following four Contexts.
Your writing must draw directly from at least one selected text that you have studied for this Context
and be based on the ideas in the prompt.
Your response may be an expository, persuasive or imaginative piece of writing.
If you write on a selected film text in Section A, you must not write on a selected film text in
Section B.
Section B is worth one-third of the total assessment for the examination.
Your response will be assessed according to the criteria set out on page 14 of this book."


...at least one selected text that you have studied for this Context...

[8039]

I'm only focusing on one text (Richard III) for the exam - studying for two just isn't practical.  =/  As for my A Farewell to Arms essay, I actually didn't use any notes for it - at the time, the book was fresh in my mind, and I just used what I'd gotten out of reading it and what the teacher had pointed out in class.

Oh well we have one text (AFtA) and a movie (Look Both Ways) for the text response area of the exam and two texts for the context area (The Crucible & The Secret River). I hate LBW and don't have time to read all of TSR (even tho it's probably much better for my encountering conflict context). Kinda worried that I might get a really ambiguous question for my chosen text which will jeopardize my entire exam. i.e "Hemingway's female characters are less convincing than his male characters, do you agree?"... how the hell would anyone manage to write a 1,000+ word essay about that?!

Off the top of my head there's enough in AFtA to answer a question like that (compare Catherine and that nurse woman against Frederic, the priest, the drunk guy, etc.) - what really dig into the text whilst making notes, and you should find yourself a bit better off.  If you follow the process I recommend (making notes for all the major "themes" or "strands"), then you shouldn't get a topic that's too ambiguous to answer. 

I just don't get what it means by "less convincing", as in relation to what? the only thing I was able to come up with was to write about the actual author, his era and his background of being a "man's man" which may have influenced his depiction of female characters (I remember him being criticized for his female characters being weak). Although I don't think we're supposed to write about the author till part 2 of the exam :/

[EvangelionZeta]

I'm only focusing on one text (Richard III) for the exam - studying for two just isn't practical.  =/  As for my A Farewell to Arms essay, I actually didn't use any notes for it - at the time, the book was fresh in my mind, and I just used what I'd gotten out of reading it and what the teacher had pointed out in class.

Oh well we have one text (AFtA) and a movie (Look Both Ways) for the text response area of the exam and two texts for the context area (The Crucible & The Secret River). I hate LBW and don't have time to read all of TSR (even tho it's probably much better for my encountering conflict context). Kinda worried that I might get a really ambiguous question for my chosen text which will jeopardize my entire exam. i.e "Hemingway's female characters are less convincing than his male characters, do you agree?"... how the hell would anyone manage to write a 1,000+ word essay about that?!

Off the top of my head there's enough in AFtA to answer a question like that (compare Catherine and that nurse woman against Frederic, the priest, the drunk guy, etc.) - what really dig into the text whilst making notes, and you should find yourself a bit better off.  If you follow the process I recommend (making notes for all the major "themes" or "strands"), then you shouldn't get a topic that's too ambiguous to answer. 

I just don't get what it means by "less convincing", as in relation to what? the only thing I was able to come up with was to write about the actual author, his era and his background of being a "man's man" which may have influenced his depiction of female characters (I remember him being criticized for his female characters being weak). Although I don't think we're supposed to write about the author till part 2 of the exam :/

You have to define less convincing for yourself, but personally I'd discuss it in terms fo strength of character.  So for instance, Frederic is becomes quite fleshed out and strong as an individual as the novel progresses, but equally, Catherine's determination and love leaves her as a "convincing character".  Then contrast with the rest fo the cast. 

[m@tty]

Can you use both texts for context?
btw Great Post EZ

What Abdi said - my school recommends using two texts, but writing two paragraphs on one and one on the other.

Where do you fit outside examples in? Do you just slot them in the appropriate paragraphs?

[EvangelionZeta]

Pretty much - I usually dedicate a whole paragraph to them.

[m@tty]

So you normally do four body paragraphs? Ah, that's how you get 1500 words. Ok.

EDIT: What about text response, 4 body paragraphs there also?

[EvangelionZeta]

Five.  =)