The Area of Study Response, also known as Section 3 of Paper 1, is a particularly strange type of essay. In it, you are asked to synthesise ideas from a range of texts with your own personal response, addressing a specific question or statement, under an umbrella concept: Belonging. It’s not an easy thing to do but here are some hints to help you:
- Know your texts. This knowledge is demonstrated through quotes and close references, not through vague or sweeping generalisations;
- Engage with the question and the concept. Don’t just talk about the texts, try to develop a personal response to the idea of Belonging. This can be done through having a two part intro, the first part addressing the question/concept/issues raised, the second part introducing the texts. Continue this engagement throughout your response, which brings me to the next point;
- Develop an argument. The AoS is not a persuasive piece but having an argument can help to keep your writing focussed and structured. What is your own concept of Belonging? How has this been influenced by the portrayal or Belonging in your texts?
- Use the magic circle. Quote – Technique – Effect. Every body paragraph should do this at least once. Make clear and distinct links between the text being discussed, the technique used in the text and how that portrays an aspect of Belonging;
- Write clearly. Yes, English teachers love big words and complex sentence structures, but not when they obscure meaning. You are not James Joyce. Clarity is more important than verve (if you can have both, however, go ahead). Read your work aloud to check that it makes sense.
Hi, I’ve stumbled onto this site during doing my research for this Area of Study- Belonging. Thanks for those hints that you’ve presented above. They are very comprehensive and somehow helpful to me in the painful process of completing my essays on Belonging.
If you don’t mind, would you please answer this question:
What you think about students using moulded essays as their “strategy” when sitting for HSC English exams?
Hi Annette
In response to your question, you should definitely have completed a number of practise exam responses, using different questions and stimuli before going into an English Exam. The danger with having an essay that is “pre-written” is that it won’t address the question. “Topping and tailing” (ie, only engaging with the question in the introduction and conclusion) isn’t really good enough at this level. Do have prepared the quotes, techniques, concepts and personal responses you want to discuss in relation to each text then practise putting them together in a response under simulated exam conditions. Hope this helps you.
Mrs Langford.
Hi, I’ve got an AOS essay-style exam coming up (ie, in 2 days) and am feeling totally underprepared. I’ve only done two practice essays, 1 mediocre and 1 quite reasonable, but I don’t think my understanding of the
texts is comprehensive enough.
Should I practice writing a few more essays, or just revise my concepts? Also, any tips with regards to writing enough in the given time? I find myself writing a lot less than I’d like in 40 minutes.
Hi TSB
The best way to prepare for exam-style assessments is to do practice exams at home. This will help you to clarify your ideas and to develop your ability to write more under pressure.
Mrs Langford.