English Written Examination Tips for students

Reading & Planning time Practice not writing You can only be assessed on your response (not plans or ‘written explanation’)

Practice not writing

You can only be assessed on your response (not plans or ‘written explanation’)

Approaching Reading time Be strategic Section A: What jumps out? Opportunities Section B: Read & reflect on the context prompt Read and “ listen” to the unseen material for the Section C writing task

Be strategic

Section A: What jumps out? Opportunities

Section B: Read & reflect on the context prompt

Read and “ listen” to the unseen material for the Section C writing task

Section A: Text Response Inheritance - Rayson In the Lake of the Woods - O’Brien

Section A: Text Response Audience awareness They know the text well - don’t retell They are teachers - use formal language They are trying to give you marks - let them Avoid 1st person - the examiner doesn’t know you, or want to know what you think!

Audience awareness

They know the text well - don’t retell

They are teachers - use formal language

They are trying to give you marks - let them

Avoid 1st person - the examiner doesn’t know you, or want to know what you think!

Section A: Text Response Quotations Short and sharp Weave into statements Links to text and relevance is essential Salt & pepper

Quotations

Short and sharp

Weave into statements

Links to text and relevance is essential

Salt & pepper

Section A: Text Response Answer the question! Not just everything you know about the text Initial contention Sustained reference Plan and tick off points as you address them

Answer the question!

Not just everything you know about the text

Initial contention

Sustained reference

Plan and tick off points as you address them

Section A: Text Response Unpacking the question Consider all parts Look for keywords Look for subtle points How can you show insight? Direct questions must be answered Quotes must be referred to

Unpacking the question

Consider all parts

Look for keywords

Look for subtle points

How can you show insight?

Direct questions must be answered

Quotes must be referred to

Section A: Text Response The 4 Cs Contention Initial argument, sustained Content Your knowledge of text Coherence Have you made an argument/answered the question/made sense? Clarity Written expression

The 4 Cs

Contention

Initial argument, sustained

Content

Your knowledge of text

Coherence

Have you made an argument/answered the question/made sense?

Clarity

Written expression

Section B: Writing in Context BIG Ideas Develop an understanding of what the context is about Write it down Have an opinion

BIG Ideas

Develop an understanding of what the context is about

Write it down

Have an opinion

Context Text/s Prompt Link

Persuasive Expository Imaginative Writing

Play to your STRENGTHS Which form suits best? What is your IDEA? How can you best make links to the text/context?

NOT a text response Requires you to manage Your writing The prompt The context The text All at the same time

Requires you to manage

Your writing

The prompt

The context

The text

All at the same time

Section C: Analysis of Language Use Develop a reading strategy to allow you to read in detail

Develop a reading strategy to allow you to read in detail

Section C: Analysis of Language Use Not just the technique, but also ITS EFFECT

Image credits ‘ This page is blank’ http://www.flickr.com/photos/amulligan/301040817/ '.....past, present, future..'''' www.flickr.com/photos/57617841@N00/511930514 'The Calm After the Show' www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/155918164 'Concordance' www.flickr.com/photos/35237096015@N01/176626 'Questions' www.flickr.com/photos/42788859@N00/318947873 'Parmiter Antiques Southsea Luggage' www.flickr.com/photos/49503154413@N01/2580661428 'Letter C, in Neon (Crazy California)' www.flickr.com/photos/66606673@N00/429154325 'bigger?' www.flickr.com/photos/45409431@N00/2521827947 'Link Assuaged' www.flickr.com/photos/66916774@N00/1357054666

Image credits 'imagine what 2008 will show' www.flickr.com/photos/26835318@N00/2154098422 'Dance / 20080130.10D.47688 / SML' www.flickr.com/photos/48973657@N00/2229602977 'Louis' www.flickr.com/photos/17859327@N00/2316625494 'Fitness' www.flickr.com/photos/8039539@N03/2087859238 'telekinetic half-shower' www.flickr.com/photos/57845051@N00/2506695192 'gotcha' www.flickr.com/photos/68539663@N00/530245516 'RGB .:. Stairs to the power 3' www.flickr.com/photos/68868401@N00/247337810 'what to do first....' www.flickr.com/photos/22151055@N00/2519465662 All images licensed under Creative Commons Share alike attribution license.

Content credits Many ideas in this presentation may be credited to Ross Huggard and his presentation to teachers ‘Maximising Student performance in the VCE Examination.”