J
jhakka
Guest
Ok, here's the thing. This is English Extension 2. This is where we make our own compositions. Our major works. Our babies. (I actually remember that at the St Dominic's study day, someone called our major works our babies, since in nine months time we'd be giving birth. Anyways, when they asked what we should be doing now, the word "sex" immediately came to mind.)
What I mean is that this is YOUR work. This is not the work of the markers. This is not the work of St John the Baptist. Not a master novellist. Yours. Essentially, what you put into your work is up to you.
What is the point of this post? Mainly to provide a guide to what is appropriate in a major work, and partly because I think that instead of giving up all form of individuality to please the markers (either by becoming very lame and overreaching or by wondering if anything slightly controversial, conventional or even funny is appropriate) we as students and composers should have some degree of common sense about what goes into our major works.
So let's move on.
QUESTION: Is *whatever* appropriate for my major work?
ANSWER: As long as it doesn't detract from the effect, purpose or readability of the work, yes.
Lemme see... Coarse language. People swear, ok? It happens. I swear occasionally, as shocking as that may seem. Heaps of authors swear in their works. Stephen King, Matthew Reilly and even Robin Hobb, to name a few all have the occasional shit, piss, bitch, bastard, cock, dick, arse, prick or fuck in their works. However, the use of profanity is not excessive or pointless. Essentially, what they have done is added to the effect of the scene, chapter or development of a character (a character that says "The dog pissed on the floor" would come across as more blunt than one who said "The dog gracefully lifted it's leg and urinated across the pavilion upon which it stood, as a fire hose releasing its life-giving contents", not to mention more real). So essentially, unless you're unfortunate enough to get a marker that thinks that all swearing is evil and that God will strike him or her down if they give you a good mark, it shouldn't be a problem if it adds to the effect of the work.
Moving on to comedy, now. Comedy is a great thing. It has many uses: making someone laugh, for example. Now, I know many people have a habit of becoming very pretentious when they write, and that's not a good thing. "If you're going to put humour in, make it satirical" is not good advice. It's awful advice. The use of humour is a legitimate technique in almost all types of texts, and should not be looked down upon if it's not satirical, a parody or making some kind of social comment. Comedy, even a stupid comment from a character, some dry wit, even some sarcasm, all add to the work, and especially to character development. I encourage it if, as always, it adds to the effect of the work.
Intertextual references. I don't use them, but I don't see why they would be seen as controversial. If a line from the Bible, a song, a quote from another author, it doesn't matter. Throw it in if you feel it is relevant. Sure you can take it out in a later draft or whatever, but as long as it serves a legitimate purpose (using it to make yourself look smart doesn't count) there shouldn't be a problem.
Getting the idea yet?
I'm sure there were other things, but I can't quite remember what they are. Essentially what I'm saying is that instead of heading straight to the forums and asking if any form of originality is ok, perhaps you should just add it in, experiment and wait until you're happy with it. If the markers don't like it, tough.
-Justin
What I mean is that this is YOUR work. This is not the work of the markers. This is not the work of St John the Baptist. Not a master novellist. Yours. Essentially, what you put into your work is up to you.
What is the point of this post? Mainly to provide a guide to what is appropriate in a major work, and partly because I think that instead of giving up all form of individuality to please the markers (either by becoming very lame and overreaching or by wondering if anything slightly controversial, conventional or even funny is appropriate) we as students and composers should have some degree of common sense about what goes into our major works.
So let's move on.
QUESTION: Is *whatever* appropriate for my major work?
ANSWER: As long as it doesn't detract from the effect, purpose or readability of the work, yes.
Lemme see... Coarse language. People swear, ok? It happens. I swear occasionally, as shocking as that may seem. Heaps of authors swear in their works. Stephen King, Matthew Reilly and even Robin Hobb, to name a few all have the occasional shit, piss, bitch, bastard, cock, dick, arse, prick or fuck in their works. However, the use of profanity is not excessive or pointless. Essentially, what they have done is added to the effect of the scene, chapter or development of a character (a character that says "The dog pissed on the floor" would come across as more blunt than one who said "The dog gracefully lifted it's leg and urinated across the pavilion upon which it stood, as a fire hose releasing its life-giving contents", not to mention more real). So essentially, unless you're unfortunate enough to get a marker that thinks that all swearing is evil and that God will strike him or her down if they give you a good mark, it shouldn't be a problem if it adds to the effect of the work.
Moving on to comedy, now. Comedy is a great thing. It has many uses: making someone laugh, for example. Now, I know many people have a habit of becoming very pretentious when they write, and that's not a good thing. "If you're going to put humour in, make it satirical" is not good advice. It's awful advice. The use of humour is a legitimate technique in almost all types of texts, and should not be looked down upon if it's not satirical, a parody or making some kind of social comment. Comedy, even a stupid comment from a character, some dry wit, even some sarcasm, all add to the work, and especially to character development. I encourage it if, as always, it adds to the effect of the work.
Intertextual references. I don't use them, but I don't see why they would be seen as controversial. If a line from the Bible, a song, a quote from another author, it doesn't matter. Throw it in if you feel it is relevant. Sure you can take it out in a later draft or whatever, but as long as it serves a legitimate purpose (using it to make yourself look smart doesn't count) there shouldn't be a problem.
Getting the idea yet?
I'm sure there were other things, but I can't quite remember what they are. Essentially what I'm saying is that instead of heading straight to the forums and asking if any form of originality is ok, perhaps you should just add it in, experiment and wait until you're happy with it. If the markers don't like it, tough.
-Justin
