HSC EnglishHSC English

PAPER 1PAPER 1

How Meaning Is MadeHow Meaning Is Made

Meaning is made when the Meaning is made when the responder comes to an responder comes to an understanding of texts. understanding of texts.

There are two important areas to There are two important areas to consider:consider:

1. What the text means1. What the text means2. How meaning is made2. How meaning is made

How Meaning is MadeHow Meaning is Made

It is a good idea to think of a ‘how meaning It is a good idea to think of a ‘how meaning is made’ question as having 3 parts:is made’ question as having 3 parts:

1) What is happening1) What is happening 2) What techniques are used by the author 2) What techniques are used by the author

to influence the reader’s to influence the reader’s thinking/understanding/response?thinking/understanding/response?

3) What do the first two questions do to my 3) What do the first two questions do to my understanding of journey?understanding of journey?

How Meaning Is MadeHow Meaning Is Made

Prose: paragraph structure, sentence Prose: paragraph structure, sentence construction, punctuation, language construction, punctuation, language level, imagery, word choice etc.level, imagery, word choice etc.

Poetry: stanza construction and length, Poetry: stanza construction and length, imagery, sound techniques etc.imagery, sound techniques etc.

Visual: framing, use of colour, Visual: framing, use of colour, positioning of people and objects etc.positioning of people and objects etc.

Lyrics: textual and musical featuresLyrics: textual and musical features

Paper 1Paper 1

Use your reading time very carefully; it is a Use your reading time very carefully; it is a reading reading examination. examination.

Read question very carefully, Read question very carefully, underline key ideasunderline key ideas in the in the questionquestion

Don’t use highlighters, pencil or red penDon’t use highlighters, pencil or red pen Use the letters of each question; don’t make up your ownUse the letters of each question; don’t make up your own Take note of the allocated marks for each section, leave Take note of the allocated marks for each section, leave

enough time for the later question with the higher paying enough time for the later question with the higher paying marksmarks

Avoid giving large chunks of quotations, select your quotes Avoid giving large chunks of quotations, select your quotes carefullycarefully

Treat each question separately, don’t assume because you Treat each question separately, don’t assume because you have answered it in a previous question, marks will be have answered it in a previous question, marks will be carried over…they won’tcarried over…they won’t

Question1 – a, b, c and dQuestion1 – a, b, c and d

Be concise with questions worth 1 or 2 marksBe concise with questions worth 1 or 2 marks Answer the questions very specifically; don’t ‘rave Answer the questions very specifically; don’t ‘rave

on’ about the different types of journey if it isn’t on’ about the different types of journey if it isn’t relevant to the questionrelevant to the question

Support your answers with textual referencesSupport your answers with textual references Use the wording of the question in your answerUse the wording of the question in your answer

Question 1 - fQuestion 1 - f

Leave enough time for this questionLeave enough time for this question Don’t waste time with an introduction or conclusion Don’t waste time with an introduction or conclusion

for this questionfor this question Answer the question; stay away from prepared Answer the question; stay away from prepared

answers with generic insightsanswers with generic insights Support your answer with well-chosen textual Support your answer with well-chosen textual

references. Show the link between ideas and references. Show the link between ideas and conceptsconcepts

Quality of expression must be there to gain full Quality of expression must be there to gain full marksmarks

DESCRIBE, EXPLAIN AND DESCRIBE, EXPLAIN AND ANALYSEANALYSE

Make sure you understand these terms and use them Make sure you understand these terms and use them appropriately.appropriately.

DESCRIBE: Provide characteristics and featuresDESCRIBE: Provide characteristics and features

EXPLAIN: Relate cause and effect; make the relationship EXPLAIN: Relate cause and effect; make the relationship between things evident; provide why and/or howbetween things evident; provide why and/or how

ANALYSE: Identify components and the relationship ANALYSE: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implicationsbetween them; draw out and relate implications

Question 3Question 3Essay QuestionEssay Question

In your answer you will be assessed on how well In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:you:

Demonstrate understanding of the concept of Demonstrate understanding of the concept of belonging in the context of your studybelonging in the context of your study

Analyse, explain and assess the ways belonging is Analyse, explain and assess the ways belonging is represented in a variety of textsrepresented in a variety of texts

Organise, develop and express ideas using Organise, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose and language appropriate to audience, purpose and contextcontext

2006 HSC2006 HSC

Focus- Physical journeysFocus- Physical journeys More than anything else, physical journeys are More than anything else, physical journeys are

about the interpretation of the newabout the interpretation of the new Do you agree?Do you agree? Argue your point of viewArgue your point of view In your answer, refer to your prescribed text, ONE In your answer, refer to your prescribed text, ONE

text from the prescribed stimulus booklet and at text from the prescribed stimulus booklet and at least ONE other related text of your own choosingleast ONE other related text of your own choosing

2006 HSC2006 HSC

Focus - Imaginative journeysFocus - Imaginative journeys More than anything else, imaginative journeys are More than anything else, imaginative journeys are

about the process of speculation.about the process of speculation. Do you agree?Do you agree? Argue your point of viewArgue your point of view In your answer refer to your prescribed text, One In your answer refer to your prescribed text, One

text from the prescribed stimulus booklet, and at text from the prescribed stimulus booklet, and at least ONE other related text of your own choosingleast ONE other related text of your own choosing

2006 Paper 12006 Paper 1

Question 1 (a)Question 1 (a) According to McBride how are According to McBride how are

photographers like nomads?photographers like nomads? Either by direct quoting or paraphrasing Either by direct quoting or paraphrasing

name one way photographers are like name one way photographers are like nomads: e.g. they wander the earth, go in nomads: e.g. they wander the earth, go in search of inspiration, travel in pursuit of search of inspiration, travel in pursuit of material, have no fixed homematerial, have no fixed home

Question 1 (b)Question 1 (b)

Choose one photo and explain the way it Choose one photo and explain the way it supports an idea expressed in the quotationsupports an idea expressed in the quotation

2 marks for explaining, 1 mark for describing2 marks for explaining, 1 mark for describing Possible answers: appears to be selecting photos Possible answers: appears to be selecting photos

to construct a photo, the photographer is working to construct a photo, the photographer is working outdoors with light and the camera to compose a outdoors with light and the camera to compose a story, the Great Wall suggests an imaginative story, the Great Wall suggests an imaginative narrativenarrative

Question 1 (c)Question 1 (c)

Comment on the significance of Comment on the significance of landscape created by the writerlandscape created by the writer

3 marks for effectively discussing with aptly 3 marks for effectively discussing with aptly chosen textual reference. One example chosen textual reference. One example could be done very well or a few good could be done very well or a few good examples explored effectively. 2 marks for examples explored effectively. 2 marks for discussing with some textual reference. 1 discussing with some textual reference. 1 mark for describing with limited textual mark for describing with limited textual reference. 0 marks = no significancereference. 0 marks = no significance

Question 1 ( c)Question 1 ( c)

Answers could include:Answers could include: The landscape is significant because it The landscape is significant because it

provides an evocative setting for ht ejourney provides an evocative setting for ht ejourney to the caveto the cave

Several significant landscapes, natural, Several significant landscapes, natural, domestic, metaphoricaldomestic, metaphorical

The cave is a place of self discovery as well The cave is a place of self discovery as well as a symbol of solitude and retreatas a symbol of solitude and retreat

Question 1 (d)Question 1 (d)

Provide one reason for the girl’s desire Provide one reason for the girl’s desire to travelto travel

1 mark for providing one reason for the girl’s 1 mark for providing one reason for the girl’s desire for different experiencesdesire for different experiences

Answers may include: she wishes to escape Answers may include: she wishes to escape the farm, she would like to have adventures, the farm, she would like to have adventures, reading travel stories has triggered her reading travel stories has triggered her imagination, she dreams of freedom and imagination, she dreams of freedom and independenceindependence

Question 1 (e)Question 1 (e)

How does the final stanza shape your How does the final stanza shape your understanding of the poem as a whole?understanding of the poem as a whole?

3 marks for analysing effectively with aptly 3 marks for analysing effectively with aptly chosen textual reference (link is needed). 2 chosen textual reference (link is needed). 2 marks for explaining with textual reference marks for explaining with textual reference and 1 mark for describing with limited textual and 1 mark for describing with limited textual reference some understanding of the poemreference some understanding of the poem

Question 1 (e)Question 1 (e)

Answers could include:Answers could include: There are powerful contrasts between the There are powerful contrasts between the

exuberance and vitality of the first stanzas and the exuberance and vitality of the first stanzas and the sombre disappointment of the final stanzasombre disappointment of the final stanza

In the final stanza the girl returns to a reality which In the final stanza the girl returns to a reality which contrasts with the world of her imaginative journeycontrasts with the world of her imaginative journey

There are cold, dark images in the final stanza There are cold, dark images in the final stanza compared to the light, active imagery established compared to the light, active imagery established earlier in the poemearlier in the poem

Question 1 (f)Question 1 (f)

Analyse how any TWO of the texts Analyse how any TWO of the texts emphasise the personal nature of the emphasise the personal nature of the journeyjourney..

3 marks for analysing effectively with 3 marks for analysing effectively with support through well chosen referencessupport through well chosen references

2 marks for explaining with appropriate 2 marks for explaining with appropriate reference to two textsreference to two texts

1 mark for describing aspects of the journey 1 mark for describing aspects of the journey with some textual referencewith some textual reference

Question 1 (f)Question 1 (f)

Markers’ CommentsMarkers’ Comments Through analysis, Through analysis, stronger responsesstronger responses

focused on the personal aspects of the focused on the personal aspects of the journey in both texts and were supported journey in both texts and were supported with well-chosen textual references. Many with well-chosen textual references. Many candidates chose to respond conceptually candidates chose to respond conceptually while others analysed the personal nature of while others analysed the personal nature of the journeys through a close consideration the journeys through a close consideration of language featuresof language features

Question 1 (f)Question 1 (f)

Mid- rangeMid- range responses explained rather than responses explained rather than analysed the personal nature of the journey and analysed the personal nature of the journey and supported their ideas with appropriate textual supported their ideas with appropriate textual referencereference

WeakerWeaker responses tended to describe generalised responses tended to describe generalised aspects of journeys with limited textual references. aspects of journeys with limited textual references. Some weaker responses listed the focus terms: Some weaker responses listed the focus terms: physical, inner or imaginative, without effectively physical, inner or imaginative, without effectively engaging with the personal nature of the journeyengaging with the personal nature of the journey