Hey
When studying english: get a whole heap of past essay questions and you wil realise they are all prety much the same, except the wording. In things like Emma/clueless, they are looking at TRANSFORMATIONS. YOU MUST remember that this is the module, and so dont forget to have a sentence or two explaining that...because the whole topic is BASED on that. Ok, so, with that in mind, what are they doing to want you to discuss? the transformation of media, values and plot, and how the composer has changed this to make a statement of todays society...stuff like that...Thats a mouthfull, and a wank, but its what english teachers like...
lol
Thats the same with all of them, you look at the core and the main points of the module, and what your teacher has rammed down your throat. You pretty much write an essay based on the past questions, with an intro and topic lines that are easy to mold to the question given in the exams
Random notes on how i study for other exams:
Ok, well what i find really helpful, is doing the past trial papers for the past like, 3-5 years or sumthng. You do a couple REALLY well, look up detailed answers and stuff, and when answering questions, you take both possible answers for the question.
ie, if it says, why SHOULD we do this, or why does
this happen, then you should also write an alternative answer for a slightly modified version of this question, ie why this SHOULDNT happen, or
why this doesnt happen. Because year after year the papers ask nearly the same question, slightly changed. However, dont quote me on this, sometimes they wont do this, but this is the general case.
You'll understand when you see some questions, and read the questions asked in past papers over the past years. Then you get a feel for the types of questions they'll ask, and what you need to work on. Im a strong believer in practice. Study notes dont work for me, i need questions where i apply the content.
This seems like alot of work, but really, its not too much. Its less time then writing dot point summaries, which i would endorse, but which take AGES to write...haha
Hope this helps!
-Isabelle
edit: um, ur school shuld have copies of the past trial papers in the library. if they dont, then you should ask your teachers where you can get them. Im sorry i dont know where to get them because our school provides them in the library and we can just photo copy them
um, for king lear, they may seem unrelated, but generally they want you to talk about the same ideas.
intense human relationship: how do these show Shakespears point? this module is about a critical study of texts, so this is based on how the relationships are used to show Shakespeares purpose. To me, his purpose is showing that human nature is, fundamentally, flawed. In this, i think that the relationship between Lear and Cordelia shows that as Lears arrogance leads him to dismiss Cordelias sentiments of actual love. However, she could just as easily flattered him as her sisters, but chose not to, because shes too 'pure'. I believe that this was ridiculous, and that she should have told him that she loved him, as she did nd wouldnt be lying, and she caused way to much trouble fir her 'purity'. But yea...thts wat i think. this is my critical thesis of the plot. Um, in the critical study, you have to look at context, and stuff, so you would put that into any essay. King Lear is worthy of critical study due to its amazing insight into human flaws...this is why it has endured. why it remains popular, as it deals with a fundamental aspect of human nature. Its enduring nature means that there are many aspects to be analysed. there are lots of points. but
critical study of a text: you must have a thesis, what YOU think it is about. You then must be able to back it up using evidence from the text. You must relate it to context. You must look at other interpretations and see how they relate to yours. BUT this, is, fundamentally, about YOUR interpretation. Dont just list others, like "feminists say blah, marxists say blah etc etc." But do relate it to others. "My thesis is similar to this idea"
As it is Shakespeare, and a critical study, you need to say why it is so enduring, why its still relevant (pretty much why they believe we should study it)
heres what you should look at: page 50-52...this is what they will base all of their questions around:
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/english_syl.pdf This is the english syllabus outline for the modules
