English Extension 1 2024 HSC exam pack

Students should:

• demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the module Literary Worlds through close engagement with the question
• consider all aspects of the question, reflecting an understanding of the values and ideas of a literary world
• demonstrate control of language and form, communicate clearly and take care with syntax, grammar, paragraphing and punctuation.

For Part A in better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to construct a literary world in response to the ideas in the extract
• demonstrate an understanding of the nature of literary worlds through their creative choices, and the way meaning is made in texts
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to engage with the stimulus and question
• construct a coherent and cohesive narrative
• compose a narrative that develops ideas from the stimulus in conceptual ways
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to control narrative form and language including a sophisticated ability to manipulate narrative form.

For Part B in better responses, students were able to:

• communicate a sophisticated understanding of the way they have constructed a literary world
• communicate a sophisticated understanding of purpose
• analyse the narrative choices they made to construct a literary world in response to the question
• employ a sophisticated critical vocabulary in their own discussion about how they constructed a literary world
• integrate literary terminology and theory in an appropriate and relevant way
• organise their ideas in a structured discussion that makes use of paragraphing and sequenced analysis.

Areas for students to improve include:

• engaging conceptually with the question and stimulus
• demonstrating sustained control of language and narrative form
• focusing on craft through control of narrative features including dialogue, perspective, setting, paragraphing, characterisation and authorial voice
• a consideration of form and narrative structure in their response, supported by a close analysis of language features
• integrating textual evidence from their own work in their analysis of how they constructed a literary world
• justifying their choices of a range of narrative devices.

General feedback

Students should:

• develop a strong understanding of all aspects of the elective description and syllabus content, its central ideas and its directives, in preparation for writing a response
• read the question carefully and ensure all components are addressed in the construction of their central ideas
• examine their elective through the lens of Literary Worlds
• judiciously select one related text that provides scope to respond directly to the question
• express their knowledge and understanding of the texts clearly and coherently
• demonstrate an understanding of language features and form in a cohesive and integrated response that reflects a holistic understanding of the prescribed and related text
• examine the role of contextual values and their impact on form and purpose
• respond to the question with an authentic voice that meaningfully integrates metalanguage
• sustain close analysis of texts by selecting relevant examples that support the central ideas of the response
• carefully plan their response so that they address all aspects of the question.

Areas for students to improve include:

• articulating an argument as to why we might value a Literary World, connecting those reasons to the central concerns of the elective
• choosing a related text that fits well into the elective and can offer some new ideas to extend the central argument
• engaging with all parts of the question throughout their argument, including an examination of why we value literary worlds, not just the challenging and powerful experiences therein
• constructing a response that provides a balanced treatment of the prescribed texts and their related text
• demonstrating an understanding of the elective, particularly the contextual upheavals that shaped the challenging and powerful experiences within the texts
• adopting a more sophisticated style, through choices in vocabulary and syntax.

Elective 1: Literary homelands

In better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to articulate an argument in response to why we value literary worlds in light of their elective
• select a related text that expresses connections to notions of ‘homelands’, including place and culture
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to express ‘why we value literary worlds’, foregrounding precision in their articulation of a thesis or line of argument
• engaging with all parts of the question throughout their argument, including an examination of why we value literary worlds, not just the challenging and powerful experiences therein
• constructing a response that provides a balanced treatment of the prescribed texts and their related text
• demonstrating an understanding of the elective, particularly the contextual upheavals that shaped the challenging and powerful experiences within the texts
• adopting a more sophisticated style, through choices in vocabulary and syntax.

Elective 2: Worlds of upheaval

In better responses, students were able to:

• articulate a clear argument that constructs a sustained and insightful thesis about why we value literary worlds of upheaval, whilst examining why these worlds immerse the responder in challenging and powerful experiences
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to express ‘why we value literary worlds’, foregrounding precision in their articulation of a thesis or line of argument
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to analyse their texts to support their argument with evidence
• select a related text that aligns with the conceptual intention of the elective
• write fluently, demonstrating a sophisticated ability to control their language.

Elective 3: Reimagined worlds

In better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to articulate why a literary world was reimagined with a consideration of the author’s purpose and audience
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to communicate an in-depth understanding of the way form immerses us in powerful and challenging experiences
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to express ‘why we value literary worlds’ foregrounding precision in their articulation of a thesis or line of argument.

Elective 4: Literary mindscapes

In better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to articulate the way authors immerse their reader in a literary world through a representation of interiority
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to communicate their understanding of the elective in relation to their prescribed and related texts
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to express ‘why we value literary worlds’ foregrounding precision in their articulation of a thesis or line of argument.

Elective 5: Intersecting worlds

In better responses, students were able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to articulate ‘why we value literary worlds’ through the way the elective explores the tension implied in ‘intersecting worlds’
• demonstrate a sophisticated ability to analyse the different ways representations of natural worlds give voice to perspectives and ideas.