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DECONSTRUCTING 'BELONGING': ANALYSING TEXTS FOR THE HSC AREA OF STUDY

DECONSTRUCTING ‘BELONGING’: 

ANALYSING TEXTS FOR THE HSC AREA OF STUDY

Belonging: contextual concerns

·         The key contextual concerns of belonging include social, cultural, historical, spatial and personal belonging. 

·         Your focus, as students of this study, is to hone in on the different representations of belonging and its counterpart, alienation. The deconstruction of your texts must include an intensive analysis of HOW these representations are constructed, studying the language and narrative techniques that composers’ have utilized in their text.

·         Of course, we want to arrive at a position of deep insight regarding the texts and their central message – exactly what is the agenda of your text, and its representation of belonging? Is it a critique of human society? Does it offer a solution to those that are suffering alienation? Does it carry a certain existential bleakness, commenting on the absurdity of existence? How do different representations compare, and do they reflect cultural assumptions and historical context?

Deconstructing Belonging

·         Identify the representations of belonging or alienation in your texts

·         Evaluate how these representations take place

·         Ask yourself: ‘So what?’ What do these representations reveal to us, as readers, about the nature of belonging and its impact on human society?

Thesis statement

·         Ensure your thesis statement works for you – it must refer back to the syllabus and rubric notions, and include your personal response to the overarching thematic preoccupation.

Paragraph structure

·         Aim for a tight integration of your core and supplementary texts

·         Ensure you discuss the use of narrative and language techniques. How do these techniques work to convey the text’s key thematic concerns? What is the impact of these techniques on meaning and interpretation?

Conclusion

·         Your essay must go beyond identifying representations of belonging or not belonging. Consider -  what is the consequence of your analysis? What broader comment about belonging is generated through this comparative study of you core and supplementary texts? What, for example, does it suggest about the nature of human identity?

In summary

·         Read your core text closely, annotate it intricately, and choose supplementary material that you can link clearly to your core text.

·         One reading is never enough – only multiple readings will unpack the deeper level of analysis that you need to achieve a Band 6 response in the HSC.

·         In order to generate the marks you want, you must constantly engage with the syllabus concepts and ensure that your arguments and insights support and demonstrate your personal relationship with the texts and your knowledge of the key ideas.

·         You must read widely, making sure you understand the broader implications of belonging or not belonging.

Any questions: lucy.swiatek@matrixeducation.com.au

Why is English so important to your ATAR?

·         English is the only compulsory subject

·         Your best two units of English are the foundations of your ATAR score

·         English is seen as a measure of your skills of expression, vital in all university courses 

How do you achieve English success?

·         Know your texts intimately – this requires multiple readings

·         Research critical material

·         Shape your essay responses to address the demands of the syllabus rubric

·         Practice questions – aim for an essay each night as you draw closer to exams