This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, the poetry of Kenneth Slessor, answers the 2019 HSC question: To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Slessor’s poetry invite you to reconsider your understanding of struggle?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, the poetry of Rosemary Dobson, answers the 2019 HSC question: To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Dobson’s poetry invite you to reconsider your understanding of ageing?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, Favel Parrett’s novel Past the Shallows, answers the 2019 HSC question: To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Past the Shallows invite you to reconsider your understanding of loss?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Standard English Module B: Close Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, answers the 2019 HSC question: Literature reinforces or challenges our understanding of ordinary situations.
Discuss this statement, making detailed reference to your prescribed text.
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Standard English Module B: Close Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, The Truman Show, answers the 2019 HSC question: Literature reinforces or challenges our understanding of ordinary situations.
Discuss this statement, making detailed reference to your prescribed text.
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Close Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, Good Night, and Good Luck, answers the 2019 HSC question:
No one changes; no one grows. A disturbing paralysis prevails.
To what extent does this view align with your understanding of Good Night, and Good Luck?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Standard English Module A: Language, Identity, and Culture
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, The Castle answers the 2019 HSC question:
Film relies on dialogue to create cultural tension. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Close Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, An Artist of the Floating World, answers the 2019 HSC question:
An exploration of unreliability, ambiguity, and contradiction.
To what extent does this view align with your understanding of An Artist of the Floating World?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Critical Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I, answers the 2019 HSC question: Comedy steps into the path of history and is crushed.
To what extent does this align with your understanding of Henry IV, Part I?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Critical Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, Jane Austen’s Emma, answers a sample HSC assessment question:
Emma begins far from perfect and ends up a little less than perfect.
To what extent does this statement align with your understanding of the character development in Austen’s novel?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Close Study of a Text.
A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.
A sample essay for the prescribed text, The Hare with Amber Eyes answers the 2019 HSC question:
History provides the momentum, memoir the emotion.
To what extent does this align with your understanding of the work?
There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.
Memorized essays betray a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to commit to authentic answers. Examiners have always advised students to prepare ‘talking points’ instead - a selection of ideas that they can draw on and which convey solid analysis and interpretation of the text.
These talking points can be used by teachers, to focus discussion on higher-level or less-noticed features of the text and context. They also form effective student revision materials for formal assessment. Each point is supported by a piece of evidence from the text, and there are sufficient points to generate solid responses to almost any essay question. The Talking Points also model how students can articulate more complex thoughts about the text, and adduce evidence in natural and well-integrated writing.
Journey - the North Coast’, by the Australian poet Robert Gray, has been set for HSC study since 2015. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a relevant image and a handy grab-box explaining the Discovery element, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. Important points are in red.
A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.
‘Flames and Dangling Wire’, by the Australian poet Robert Gray, has been set for HSC study since 2015. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a relevant image and a handy grab-box explaining the Discovery element, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. Important points are in red.
A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.
‘Young Girl at a Window’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study since 2015. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a relevant image and a handy grab-box explaining the Discovery element, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. Important points are in red.
A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.
'North Coast Town’, by the Australian poet Robert Gray, has been set for HSC study since 2015. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a relevant image and a handy grab-box explaining the Discovery element, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. Important points are in red.
A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.
This poem by the Australian poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal, is a set text for HSC Standard English study. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a relevant image and a handy grab-box explaining the poem’s significance and poetic techniques. Important points are in red.
A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.