There isn’t long to go now until you sit that final exam for English. Years of preparation has finally come to an end of this particular journey, so I’m going to offer you some tips for this exam and each of the sections.
I’m coming at this from someone who has watched her students prepare, stress, and feel that final moment of relief when they walk out of the exam when it’s over. I’ve seen it all. The tears, the tantrums, the stress, the elated joy when that question you prepared an essay for is exactly the same as the one on the exam. The breaking down of the argument analysis and questioning why is a Lollypop business joining forces with a gym? Like what is going on with those people who write those exams?? And I’ve even made an annual mockery of the Section C on my TikTok (very bad, but they are the videos with the most hits).
Here is my advice for each section and how to go about those three hours and 15 minutes.
Section A – Text Analysis
- The key to this section is to answer the topic that you’re given, not the topic that you want it to be. Many students will see a key word in the topic and hone in on that but miss what the question is actually asking you to discuss. Assessors are looking for your ability to engage with the implications of the topic.
For example if you are asked a question like, ‘The text explores how revenge is the only motivator for the characters. Do you agree?’ You might get fixated on the idea of revenge. However, that’s not what the question is asking you, it’s asking if it’s the ONLY motivator. And… because the question is asking if you agree, you need to make that clear in the contention. I always tell my students to look at both sides of the argument, that way they won’t get stuck for that last argument.
- You need to make sure that your supporting arguments link to the topic and the contention.
- Your evidence needs to support the idea presented in your topic sentence. Use characters to help you explain your argument and the structural and language features of the text. By including these features, it demonstrates that you acknowledge that the text is constructed intentionally by the writer/author/playwright/poet/director to convey a meaning linking to the ideas mentioned in your topic sentence.
- When you are stating the concerns and values of the author, explain what message the author is conveying about the world of the text. i.e. What is Trevor Noah saying about apartheid and how it treats disadvantaged people? What is Sophocles saying about those that are losing their faith in the Gods? What is Franklin condemning about society and their treatment of women? Etc. These sentences can be your linking sentences as you resolve the argument of that paragraph
- Resolve the topic in your conclusion. What is the overall mention that the author is conveying about the world of the text through the ideas and implications of the topic. This is linking back to what I said in my previous point about the concerns and values.
- Remember to use quotes in your responses and key moments that show an in-depth understanding of the text. Don’t be vague or broad about a particular idea. Deep dive into the specific moments to add weight to your explanation.
- Underline the title of the text, spell the author’s name correctly (and the text), quote the text, spell the characters’ names correctly. Miss a line between paragraphs.
Section B – Creating Texts
- For this area of study you would have focused on a specific framework be it play, protest, country and personal journeys. Answer the material for the framework that you have studied and prepared for.
- Ensure that the title is central to your piece. Look at the meaning of the title, what ideas stem from it? How can you integrate it throughout your response in a meaningful way? By including it explicitly in some places, that isn’t enough to show an insightful understanding of the implications of what it means, and this is important.
- Ensure your piece has a clear purpose and audience. If you are writing a speech, ensure that the language you use is appropriate for the audience that you are directing the speech to.
- Engage with the framework in a meaningful way. Don’t always look at the literal meaning behind the framework. When marking exams I see a lot of students write about going to a protest, or playing a sport, or going on trip to another country, or their journey through year 7. Go deeper. What does Play mean? Protest? Country? Personal Journeys? How do you challenge it? Accept it? Change it? Etc.
- The voice of the writing needs to be authentic. Use language and form that supports the voice. If you are a psychologist, then use the terminology that they would use. And again, also consider the audience to ensure that authenticity.
- Don’t forget the stimulus. You don’t need to use all the stimulus, just one is enough, but include it implicitly and explicitly in your response, but don’t actually say ‘stimulus 1’, be a bit more subtle than that.
Section C – Analysing Argument
- This is the only section of the exam that everyone that is sitting the exam does that is the same. This is what sets you apart. This section is skills based and you are being assessed on your ability to show an understanding of context, how an argument has been developed, supported and how it persuades a specific audience.
- The background information is key! This provides you with the context (the issue and why it is an issue which you will use to start your introduction), the author (who are they and why are they writing this piece), the form (what type of persuasive piece is important because it allows you to identify who the audience would be) and where it is published (again, directly linking to the audience).
- Your introduction should be simple. There is no need to overcomplicate. Three simple sentences – 1. Context 2. Author, form and contention. 3. Audience and intention.
- There is no need to include tone in your introduction as the tone varies in the piece. If you are mentioning tone you include it within your analysis and if it aids the argument that the author is presenting. There are so many students who pepper in the tone like they’re seasoning their essay and it actually does not add to their analysis. Use tone with purpose.
- The visuals. There is no need to include the visuals in your introduction. This does not add any value or purpose to the introduction. When you discuss the visuals you analyse how they complement an argument within the text. Usually in VCAA exams the visuals are positioned near to where they complement the argument. Connect the visual by describing it and explaining how it supports what is being said. DO NOT analyse the visuals separately in their own paragraph.
- Structure your paragraphs around the arguments and how they are developed and sequenced. The best way of looking at this is through the opening, body and closing. These sections will be the focus of your topic sentences plus the main argument being conveyed in that section. Then you go into your analysis through the what-how-why approach. What is the writer saying to support the argument, how are they using language to do so and why is impacting the audience.
- You don’t need a separate conclusion. The analysis of the closing of the article serves as a conclusion. Once you’re done, move on and start your next section.
Some other words of wisdom
- Complete practice essays in timed conditions
- Work on moulding your section b response to any title and stimulus in a meaningful way
- Practice annotating and reading section C texts in 10 minutes and then writing them in timed conditions.
- Seek feedback from your teachers
- Work with study groups to unpack different prompts for the text that you’re studying and how to approach the questions
- Flashcards for quotes
On the day
- Eat a healthy but not too heavy breakfast
- Bring spare pens as you can only write in blue or black pen (not pencil)
- Remember to clearly label which text and question you’re answering for Section A and Section B
- If you make a mistake cross it out
- Avoid sending your assessor on a pick your own adventure by finding stars and squares and arrows on your writing, try to be as cohesive and coherent as possible.
- Get sleep the night before
- Bring a dictionary!!!
I wish you all the best and hope that you achieve the result you desire knowing that you have done the best you can.
Ronnie 🙂
Ronnie's Ramblings 