Practice SAC feedback

The practice SACs demonstrated we're at a good point to tackle the upcoming real SAC but we will need to up the ante in terms of what we produce in this next instance. Some points of note arising from the practice SACs.

• Make sure you unpack the topic carefully. Misreading the question leads to you not answering it directly. You also need to consider the question in terms of the different perspectives it can be viewed with in order to open up your essay discussion.
• Aim to use 5+ quotes throughout your essay. Yes, there is a lot to address in terms of the filmic devices at work and commenting on the set up of the scenes but, if you have a variety of the short, snappy quotes available, you should be able to weave them throughout your body paragraphs.
• Comment on the values addressed in the text, e.g., responsibilty, loyalty, respect, care, acceptance, love, friendship, hope, courage, assertiveness, honesty, belonging, dignity, fearlessness, happiness, humour, etc.
• A 'sustained interpretation' is what we are looking for. Your discussion needs to contain insightful commentary in response to the topic. You should be presenting opinions and ideas that you support with evidence from the text. Your discussion needs to have depth to it which means writing that is detailed and explores a variety of perspectives. 5-6 sentence paragraphs won't cut it. View these sample essays - http://bhs-lookbothways.blogspot.com/2009/07/fear-of-death.html, http://bhs-lookbothways.blogspot.com/2009/07/animation-photomontage.html.
• Ensure you incorporate metalanguage within your discussion. Comment on how Watt constructs meaning in the film and the ways in which the viewer can interpret the film.

Another Round of Quotes

The seven stages of grief. Whats the point in knowing where youre up to if you've still got to go through it anyway? - Meryl

Cancer cancer? Youre dumping me because youve got cancer? Shouldnt I be dumping you if youve got cancer? - Meryl

Anna: You think everyones got an agenda.
Andy Walker: And they dont?
Anna: No. Things just happen.

My dad died two weeks ago. Why isn't my picture on front of the paper? Why isn't everybody who loses somebody on the front bloody page? - Meryl

Perfect. Someone's gone under a train right near your place. - Andy

There's always this stuff in the paper about a brave-battle-with-cancer but then you're also supposed to accept it and have a nice everybody-gather-round-and-hug-each-other death. And when's that turnaround supposed to happen? - Nick

I can't wait until they isolate that bloody politeness gene and breed it out, so I can tell people like you to piss off! - Meryl

Some More Quotes - Have you committed them to memory?

Nick - 'I've got cancer.'
'So, what are my chances?'
'I'm sure he was going to say something nice when he died.'
'Do you believe in God?'

Meryl - 'Maybe it was meant to be.'
'It's the natural order of things, isn't it?'
'Why isn't everyone who loses somebody on the front bloody page?'

Andy - 'It wasn't about her. It's about a guy jumping in front of a train.'
'I can't do this crap again.'
'Why do people have sex?'
'What's the matter with you?'

Anna - 'I didn't do it deliberately. You were there too.'

Joan - 'It doesn't matter how life ends. It matters how it was.'
'Everyone has to find a way to face their own death...'

Phil - 'I've given up smoking.'
'It's not about you Andy.'

'Cancer, cancer?' (several characters to Nick)

Train Driver - 'I'm the train driver. I'm sorry.' He hands a condolence card painted by Meryl
to Julia.
Julia - 'It wasn't your fault.'

Pertinent Points to Consider

View the comments by Ms. Ep. in response to her students practice SACs on Look Both Ways. They outline many important points about what we need to remember when we write up our SACs for assessment.

Interactive essay map

Some of you might find using this interactive essay map tool helps you practise planning out essays quickly and effectively. It sets you up to create a visual in your mind of the things you need to think about for each part of your essay.

- Remember to always include quotes and examples to support your ideas in the supporting details section of your plan.

- Our aim in the exam and SAC is to write four body paragraphs.

- You can plan for a number of different topics using this tool and print them off to review in the lead up to the exam.

Important to know

When you write for the exam you should be completing your planning for your essay in approx. 5 minutes.

Practising unpacking and planning for topics is key to setting yourself up to perform to your best in the exam.

Basic breakdown to setting up to write for the SAC and exam:

• Choose the topic you will respond to quickly
• Highlight the key terms in the topic - ask yourself what are synonyms for these terms you can use within your essay?
• Decide on the four key discussion points you will addres in response to the essay questions. Consider - characters, themes, ideas, values, quotes and metalanguage you can use
• Write the essay

An essay consists of:
1. An introduction - Identify the text and author. Present your contention in response to the topic. Briefly outline your key discussion points.
2. Body paragraphs - Aim to write four paragraphs where possible. Use your key discussion points to structure topic sentences as introductions to the paragraphs. Make your points that are responding to the essay question, use examples and quotes to inform and support the thoughts you present. Where relevant use metalanguage, refer to authorial choices and the reader/viewer's perspective.
3. Conclusion - Echoes the introduction, revisiting your main contention but making sure you present your point with new vocabulary. Delivers a sense of completeness for the reader by highlighting what was meaningful about your discussion overall. Works to leave a final impression on the reader.

Writing Your Text Response

When you set about to write your text response to Look Both Ways it is important to consider your approach. Taking a step-by-step approach ensures you cover every aspect you need to think about to do your best. When you break the process of writing a text response down, there are four key steps:

1. Unpack the topic
2. Plan
3. Write
4. Review and edit

The initial steps are crucial to setting yourself up to write well on an essay topic. So, what do you need to consider at these stages?

1. Unpacking the topic: What are you being asked to write about? Make sure you fully understand what words of the topic mean. What are the key aspects of the topic? Highlight them. NB: You must answer all parts of the question. What will your contention be? Remember: you do not have to fully agree with the topic.

2. Plan/Brainstorm: Focuses on the text itself. What ideas do you have about the text that might be relevant to the topic. What characters and events should you discuss? Which themes and values will you consider in your discussion? How will you incorporate metalanguage into the essay?

Use the some of the essay questions at your disposal to practise these two steps. Being able to unpack and plan for an essay topic quickly is vital when you face the exam. Extend yourself by also practising writing the introduction and first paragraphs to an essay. Being able to do these things well puts you in a confident position to develop essays that follow through in directly responding to the topic/question.