2014 Notes from the Marking Centre – English Extension 2
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 English Extension 2 course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2014 Higher School Certificate examination, highlighting their strengths in particular parts of the examination and indicating where candidates need to improve.
This document should be read along with:
- the English Stage 6 Syllabus
- the English Extension 2 marking guidelines
- English Extension 2 – Major Work Frequently Asked Questions
- English Extension 2 Major Work Fact Sheets
- Advice for HSC students about examinations
- other support documents developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW to assist in the teaching and learning of English in Stage 6.
Short Stories
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- demonstrating a high level of originality in concept and/or form
- using structural, stylistic or language features to create unity within the text
- creating an authentic voice that is maintained throughout the text, for example relying on sophisticated research into the context of the story
- communicating complex concepts in a subtle way rather than taking a didactic approach
- evaluating the stylistic features of the work in the Reflection Statement using specific examples.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- developing original rather than derivative ideas such as plots of a TV series or a well-known novel
- editing the work and punctuating dialogue correctly
- writing a piece that meets the required word length
- demonstrating understanding of the Short Story form as distinct from the novel
- making judicious choices about material to include in Reflection Statements rather than just listing and describing sources.
Critical Responses
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- choosing engaging and insightful concepts as the basis of their argument
- making connections between ideas and textual detail
- demonstrating understanding in either breadth or depth in their chosen argument
- using footnotes
- demonstrating understanding of form
- showing the effects of research on both concept and form in their Reflection Statements.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- critically evaluating rather than just describing the work of theorists and critics
- demonstrating control of their chosen critical form
- researching the critical form
- synthesising their arguments
- evaluating the influences on their work in the Reflection Statement.
Poems
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- demonstrating originality and strong research in relation to ideas and subject matter, in ways which were integral to the work rather than imposed on it
- presenting a fresh, authentic and contemporary poetic voice throughout the work or an authentic voicing of a range of perspectives across different contexts
- understanding a range of poetic forms and techniques, including tone, unifying motifs, imagery, voice, rhythm and sound patterns
- articulating concepts explored through the poetry
- demonstrating in the Reflection Statement an understanding of the effects on the writing process of investigation into concepts, forms and style.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- not relying on versions of earlier poetic styles such as Romantic poetry or early 20th century models
- understanding poetic form, especially contemporary poetry
- creating a Reflection Statement that is self-referential rather than being descriptive or explanatory.
Scripts
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- demonstrating originality and engagement with relevant contemporary social, cultural and political discourses
- understanding the power and unique qualities of this form for the expression of complex ideas and concepts
- demonstrating the links to research and conceptual development in the work
- discussing the effects of research into both concept and form in the Reflection Statement
- controlling the use of irony and comedy.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- developing an understanding of the relationship between the script and the realised performance
- being concise but not overly prescriptive in stage directions
- being aware of the practicalities of performance spaces in the chosen form
- avoiding large sections of monologue or dialogue that are overly verbose
- narrative development – a script needs to move forward.
Speeches
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- creating speeches of technical quality, often incorporating appropriate sound effects
- showing conceptual depth and clear links to both Advanced English and Extension 1 English
- producing Major Works following a tripartite structure, often with conflicting perspectives
- demonstrating finesse in delivery; that is, in tone, modulation, variation, colour, pause, emphasis
- analysing in the Reflection Statement the link between research (of concept, ideas, form) and its realisation in the Major Work.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- editing the work
- using rhetorical devices
- demonstrating awareness of audience
- avoiding clichéd topics and arguments; for example, gender stereotypes, women in politics
- listing sources of research in the Reflection Statement.
Performance Poetry
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- making full use of the resources of the form particularly in employing poetic features such as rhyme, rhythm, consonance, assonance, dissonance, word play, puns, repetition, juxtaposition, irony, satire etc
- using voice to enhance the poetic qualities in the writing
- using variations in pitch, pace, loudness, intonation, pausing and character to engage the audience
- developing subject matter and ideas appropriate for the form and style, throughout the Major Work
- using sound effects and music sparingly and selectively
- in the Reflection Statement, evaluating their script and performance in the light of their independent investigation into the form of Performance Poetry.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- showing an awareness of possibilities in Performance Poetry as a form
- not impeding meaning of and engagement in the poetry by using sound effects or music
- sustaining clever or inventive use of performance poetry throughout the work
- meeting the length requirements.
Digital Media
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- making the relationship between the concept(s) and choice of the multimedia form clear
- controlling the media to combine sound, movement, images, written text and video into the piece of multimedia
- investigating the multimedia programs used to construct the Major Work
- navigating effectively.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- investigating the Digital Media form
- connecting the investigation into the form with the creation of the work.
Video
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- demonstrating proficient control of camera editing and sound
- casting the most appropriate people for the script
- shaping the narrative
- controlling the use of sound to complement the visual elements
- developing concepts
- demonstrating strong links to courses in both the Reflection Statement and the video.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- exploring the concept in depth
- using dialogue effectively
- using voice-over as a technique to convey tone and expression
- editing.
Radio Drama
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- having a narrative that unified the action and gave momentum to the entire Radio Drama
- demonstrating creativity and variety in use of voice (accents, tone, syntax, pace) to differentiate characters, as well as to enhance audience engagement
- communicating a believable world through the soundscape (use of music, SFX and chorus or overlapping of voices)
- demonstrating a sense of context, direction and dramatic purpose for the desired audience
- communicating a sense of dramatic conflict and interest through conceptual complexity.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- demonstrating creativity and believability in terms of setting and characters’ behaviours and motivations
- using voice and accents
- creating descriptive imagery within the listeners’ mind
- communicating insight and emotional tension through voice.
NSW Government