Yr 12 VCE Encountering Conflict Context Blog: When you write your STATEMENT OF EXPLANATION...

'The pen is mightier than the sword.' Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1839

- Who/what would humans be without conflict?
- How does conflict shape who we are?
- Freedom, peace, justice, equality, love. What do these ideals
mean? In what ways can they be achieved?

Encountering conflict can be difficult. However, it is ultimately worthwhile. Bearing witness, acknowledging conflict, is how humanity can work to grow and evolve in a positive way. This is why your Yr 12 English study of the Context 'Encountering Conflict' is so exciting. You have the opportunity to go on a journey where you can consider the world from many different viewpoints and through many different mediums. You can inspire and be inspired, you can have your say, you can affect change in the world - locally, nationally and globally.

This blog is intended to be a portal that will transport you into a place where you can consider the Context in a way that allows you to share your thinking and ideas. It is designed to let you:

- learn about the set texts; The Secret River by Kate Grenville and The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif by Najaf Mazari and Robert Hamilton

- go beyond the set texts to develop your thoughts about the Context

- study language features that occur in the set texts

- practise different forms of writing in a forum where you can recieve feedback from teachers, experts and peers.

There are a number of areas for you to access and contribute to in this blog. They are:

- Conflict Concerns: is the blogging space on this home page for general discusssion about the context and set texts. Exploration and challenging discussion about 'Encountering Conflict' is the aim. Also, questions about the course and what you are meant to be doing can be shared here.

- Music Matters: a space to share and comment on music that is relevant to the Context. You can also discuss how the songs might relate to the set context in ideas, themes, values and language features.

- Text Tremors: discuss how written texts have moved and shaped your ideas in regards to the Context.

- Film Flogging: inspire others by sharing your thoughts on how films, documentaries and t.v. shows you have viewed encounter conflict in their narratives. Comment on parallels that may arise between films and the set texts.

- Picture Panic: share images that make you think about the context and the world you live in. Explain how the pictures you encounter represent the idea of 'encountering conflict' and how they impact on your view of life and how it should be lived.

- Prompt Response: respond to prompts that you have been given and that appear in this space to practise writing 'Creating and Presenting' responses. Upload them here for conferencing that will help you hone your skills to meet the criteria for this area of study to the best of your ability in SACs and the exam.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

When you write your STATEMENT OF EXPLANATION...

Consider the pnemonics - FLAP+C

F = Form
L= Language
A = Audience
P = Purpose (prompt)
C = Context

Your piece of writing needs to obviously link to the set text (The Crucible or The Rugmaker), but it also needs to demonstrate that you have looked beyond the set text to inform your thinking and ideas. To make sure this is something we are working towards achieving it is a requirement that your statement of explanation presents a bibliography. This will demonstrate background reading and research you have undertaken to explore the context - Encountering Conflict.

You must respond to the prompt you are given to shape your writing piece. Addressing the prompt is critical to achieving the task requirements. Unpack the prompt, identify its key words and think about their synonyms and antonyms, what does the prompt make you think about - in relation to events in the set text and on a world scale, what are the differing perspectives that the prompt can be viewed with, how do you agree or disagree with the prompt, how will you impart a response to the prompt clearly in your writing.

View p.108 of your Insight English to see a range of expository, persuasive and imaginary writing forms you can choose.

Remember the Creating and Presenting mantra:

1. Consider the Context - explore it
2. Address the prompt
3. Draw from the set text - obviously