Structure with 3 prescribed texts? (1 Viewer)

[iStudent]

For module B, some of us have to write essays that require 3 or more prescribed texts.

e.g we may be asked to compare 3 speeches or 3 poems

So how would one go about structuring their essay on this? (and the 3 texts have to be compared evenly, unlike AOS/Module C where you can focus less on your relateds).

What I thought of so far is 3 paragraphs focusing on 3 themes:

P1: text 1 + text 2 integrated
P2: text 2 + text 3 integrated
P3: text 1 + text 3 integrated

But this is quite complex and difficult to pull off. Any other ideas?

 

[strawberrye]

Don't integrate texts into the same paragraph-it is not only difficult to pull off, it is impossible with the word limit that you have to work with under exam conditions. You are much better off having three separate ideas for each of the three speech-so one idea and one speech per paragraph-(if possible, you might be able to link the ideas together)-but besides this, DON'T INTEGRATE!

 

[iStudent]

But we have to compare the speeches. It's difficult with 3 separate ideas to compare them. Furthermore, if I only use one idea/theme wouldn't that be insufficient? :/

 

[iStudent]

That said I'm probably going to go with your method since it seems the easiest.

 

[mreditor16]

For module B, some of us have to write essays that require 3 or more prescribed texts.

e.g we may be asked to compare 3 speeches or 3 poems

So how would one go about structuring their essay on this? (and the 3 texts have to be compared evenly, unlike AOS/Module C where you can focus less on your relateds).

What I thought of so far is 3 paragraphs focusing on 3 themes:

P1: text 1 + text 2 integrated
P2: text 2 + text 3 integrated
P3: text 1 + text 3 integrated

But this is quite complex and difficult to pull off. Any other ideas?

Hey there. I agree with what the other have said BUT try to include one or two references in your essay, where you draw attention to a link/similarity/difference between two of the speeches/poems (esp. for poems - because they are all written by the one person - so there is bound to be similarities galore - however, for speeches, they are all written by different people etc.). Drawing such comparisons will bring cohesion to the essay and won't make the marker think "the student is just chucking slabs of analysis at me with no flow/links".

Good luck!

 

[iStudent]

Hey there. I agree with what the other have said BUT try to include one or two references in your essay, where you draw attention to a link/similarity/difference between two of the speeches/poems (esp. for poems - because they are all written by the one person - so there is bound to be similarities galore - however, for speeches, they are all written by different people etc.). Drawing such comparisons will bring cohesion to the essay and won't make the marker think "the student is just chucking slabs of analysis at me with no flow/links".

Good luck!

I do speeches.
So you say make links within paragraphs?
and do 3 separate paragraphs focusing on different themes or similar themes?
that sounds possible

 

[mreditor16]

I do speeches.
So you say make links within paragraphs?
and do 3 separate paragraphs focusing on different themes or similar themes?
that sounds possible

yeh like a brief reference in one sentence in each section, when you're discussing an idea or concept or device (structural or stylistic) that is seen in another speech you're discussing.

 

[strawberrye]

I think the best thing for you to do is to send me an essay you have done with three speeches and I can give you some comments on it-to see whether the way you have done it actually is working out.

 

[Mdyeow]

yeh like a brief reference in one sentence in each section, when you're discussing an idea or concept or device (structural or stylistic) that is seen in another speech you're discussing.

+1

I would generally introduce with something like "In a similar manner to <previous speech>, this one uses a certain rhetorical device, but the effect is different."

Thank you strawberrye for beating me to the no-integration post

 

[iStudent]

What's wrong with integrating texts?

I only did it for Module A, Frankenrunner and it seems to work out fine (teacher said it was great)
For the rest of the texts, I'm doing it linear though.

And sure, I'll send one right after I get it done . Thanks

 

[Soulful]

My teacher said

First idea
Paragraph 1 - Text 1
Paragraph 2 - Text 2

Second idea
Paragraph 3 - Text 1
Paragraph 4 - Text 3

She said that was the only way you could do talk about three texts in a meaningful and coherent manner.

Edit: ignore this, I didn't realise this was for a different module

 

[iStudent]

Yea all the texts are prescribed so you have to talk about all of them equally.

 

[Mdyeow]

What's wrong with integrating texts?

I only did it for Module A, Frankenrunner and it seems to work out fine (teacher said it was great)
For the rest of the texts, I'm doing it linear though.

And sure, I'll send one right after I get it done . Thanks

Is it easier to talk about two texts in a paragraph, or one?

Now consider doing that under exam timed conditions, with the pressure of completing not just that essay but two more after/around that.

strawberrye calls the word limit/time as the main killing factor. I call the sheer complexity.

You win the HSC not through stellar results, but through consistency and risk mitigation. And text integration is a BIG risk. Like Russian Roulette with 4 bullets and hollow-points kind of big.

 

[Squar3root]

Don't integrate texts into the same paragraph-it is not only difficult to pull off, it is impossible with the word limit that you have to work with under exam conditions. You are much better off having three separate ideas for each of the three speech-so one idea and one speech per paragraph-(if possible, you might be able to link the ideas together)-but besides this, DON'T INTEGRATE!

should we differentiate instead?

 

[simplyinsanity]

What I thought of so far is 3 paragraphs focusing on 3 themes:

P1: text 1 + text 2 integrated
P2: text 2 + text 3 integrated
P3: text 1 + text 3 integrated

But this is quite complex and difficult to pull off. Any other ideas?

Personally, I think that integrating your texts is a good idea provided that you have a very clear point to make about each theme in the paragraph. And I think the structure you have here does work.

I have done paragraphs like: In poem 1, the persona reflects upon theme A --> But over time, there is a shift towards understanding something else about theme A and how it is highlighted by poem 2.

 

[Mdyeow]

should we differentiate instead?

Your thesis is your constant. DON'T FORGET IT.