HSC madness is upon us… let’s learn how to write a killer essay.

But I don’t know anything…… We still have further content to cover in this course. None of you would be expected to be able to fully answer an essay question yet. This will change over the next few weeks as you learn more, and review artists and movements we have already looked at. Plan to attend all the classes between now and the Exams, especially the sessions between the Trials and the actual Exams…because you may accidentally learn something useful….:P They will all be revision. Believe me, these are worth attending. The more reading you do of previous lessons, the more familiar you will be with the material you will need to know.

The HSC Exam is divided into two halves, each worth 25 marks. The first half of the exam is 3 short answer questions (you have to answer all three.) The other half is a single essay question. There will be six questions to choose from. They will be listed under the headings of: Practice (2 questions) Conceptual Framework (2 questions) Frames. (2 questions.) You choose ONE question from the six options. Just choose the one you feel most comfortable with, and go for that one. On your answer booklet, write clearly which question you are answering. Half the pie is 3 short-answer questions; the other half is a single essay question. Enjoy!

How will I be marked? Section II In your answer you will be assessed on how well you: present a well-reasoned and informed point of view apply your understandings of the different aspects of content as appropriate (Practice, Conceptual Framework and the Frames) use relevant examples Note that they expect you to understand what practice, conceptual framework and frames are. Also, they expect you to use examples. That means the names of specific artists or movements. Bear this in mind as you review what we have covered as we get closer to the exams. The following instructions (rubric) will be written on Section II of the exam paper. This tells you what the markers are looking for in your answer. (It’s always the same, btw.)

What actually is an essay? An essay is an exploration of an idea. It’s a given structure (introduction, body, and conclusion) into which you fit as much info as you can about a given topic. It’s a way to showcase what you know, in a logical fashion. Everyone writes using this same structure. What holds this structure together are the topic sentences that are at the start of each paragraph, and tell the reader what each paragraph will be about. Um, what’s a paragraph again? Just a group of sentences that all relate to the same idea. Generally when you go to a new idea, you start a new paragraph. You put an extra line between paragraphs.

An essay is like a crocodile. It has a head, body and tail. The head (the ‘introduction’) … a small paragraph. The body (the main part of the essay)… several paragraphs. The tail (‘the conclusion’)… another small paragraph. No matter how long or short essays may be, or how complex, they are all built the same way: Intro / Body / Conclusion. Don’t start with the head. It bites. Do it last. We write the body first; then the conclusion. The introduction is written LAST. Why? Because the introduction tells the reader what you are going to say in the body of the essay. You won’t know that till you’ve actually written it. The introduction will sound much better if you wait to see what you’ve been able to write in the main part of the essay.

In the essay, you need to respond to the question asked. How do we ‘respond to the question’? You need to read it carefully and see what is being asked of you. Read it a couple of times…don’t panic if you are not sure. Circle key words. (Get familiar with the ‘Glossary of key words’ handout, these are words that are typically used in the exam.) If you really don’t know, of course you’ll have to guess. Here’s an example from the exam: Conceptual Framework Q 1.: Evaluate the significance of readymades or found objects to the meaning of particular artworks you have studied. What words stand out for us in this question? What should we concentrate on?

‘Responding to the question’ also means actually using the words from the question, in your introduction. Sometimes the question is not even actually in the form of a question, like the example below. It may be a statement, and ask you to agree or disagree with that statement (a bit like a debate.) Remember, you won’t be writing this introduction till you’ve done the rest of the essay. e.g.: Evaluate the significance of readymades or found objects to the meaning of particular artworks you have studied. So a starting sentence in the introduction that responds to this question could go something like this: “In this essay I will argue that readymade objects have great significance in conveying meaning in artworks.” Note that I have started off my introduction by using the key terms of the question- ‘readymade objects’, ‘meaning’. Also I have made an evaluating statement – ‘have great significance’. This is responding to the question. It means I have taken notice of what they’re asking. They like that.

So where do we start? We start with topic sentences. (that is, sentences that will start each paragraph.) Let’s get them down first on some spare paper. Then we start to put whatever info we can under these sentences, to flesh out a paragraph. Topic sentence 1: Define the terms (that is, ‘readymades.’) Topic sentence 2: A sentence to say when this was happening. Topic sentence 3: Something about meaning/conceptual framework. Topic Sentence 4: Another sentence on meaning or conceptual framework if we’re feeling brilliant. If not, 3 is fine. Do what you can. Q: Evaluate the significance of readymades or found objects to the meaning of particular artworks you have studied.

Once you’ve written as much as you can think of, the last paragraph is the conclusion. This is summarising what you have said in the body of the essay. Don’t put any new info in this section. The conclusion is just saying “I’ve written this.” Based on what we’ve discussed, it could be something like: ‘In this essay, I’ve argued that readymade objects have had great significance in conveying meaning in artworks. Art using readymades began at the start of the 20 th century with such artists as Marcel Duchamp and the Surrealists, e.g Salvador Dali, Victor Brauner. The Cubists (Picasso and Braque) also used elements that were readymade in their collages, e.g newspapers and chair caning. Readymades had the effect of questioning what was art, and emphasising the importance of the idea behind the artwork. This changed the relationship between artist and artwork as it meant the artist did not need to be able to manipulate materials. It also changed the relationship between audiences and artworks as it forced us to think of art in a different light.’ Note I have used almost an identical sentence to what we will use in the introduction, which specifically responds to the question. Actually, we need to write our introduction now…. Based on what we’ve said over the past few screens, and what the conclusion says, have a go now at writing an introduction. Use the first sentence we created that responds to the question (screen 7), then go on to briefly explain what we have said in the body of the essay.

How many words? You will have 45 minutes to write the essay. You’ll be aiming for an essay of about 1000 words. Introduction: aim for approx: 150 words Conclusion: aim for approx: 150 words The Body is made up of 3-4 paragraphs. Aim for about words or so for each para. Intro: 150 Body: say words each = words Conclusion: 150 However, PLEASE do not waste your time and effort counting words. I have included this information just to give you some guidelines. Just write as much as you can think of, about the question, in the time you have. Keep an eye on the time though, so you have time to write your introduction once you’ve written as much as you can in the body then the conclusion.

If you tend to write long and rambling sentences, you are MORE likely to do this when you’re anxious. Read it again and stick some more full stops in. Having sentences too short and blunt is preferable to having a sentence go on for too long, as it is confusing. Honestly. Finally, remember that this is an ideal to work towards. It is normal for your brain to unravel during the exam. The markers understand this; they are looking for indications that you do know some stuff. Try not to ramble, but of course you will end up putting stuff in, just in case it’s relevant. This is ok. If you’ve got nothing else you can think of to say that is strictly answering the question, then say anything you do know. It’s worth a shot.

How can I improve my skills with essays? We’ll be doing some practice essays in class. As well, you can have a go at home and bring me the result, and I will mark it for you and suggest improvements. I will be suggesting some questions you can work on. This is all too hard. I reckon I’m just going to concentrate on my Body of Work, and that should get me over the line. Come to class and learn as much as you can. This will NOT be wasted time. Promise. Even if you don’t do marvellously, you will get SOME marks and this will add to your score.

A short answer question just for fun…. Q: With reference to the source material provided, examine the relationship between artist’s practice and the places they work. Plate 4: William Kentridge (b. 1955, Sth Africa) working in his studio, drawing for his Animations. (This question worth 12 marks. The paper will suggest you spend 20 minutes writing this answer.)

Plate 5: Antony Gormley (b. 1950, British.) The artist preparing Asian Field; installation of Terra cotta figurines Sydney Biennale. Extract: The newspaper photograph above shows Antony Gormley with his installation titled Asian Field. The terracotta figurines were made over 5 days in collaboration with 300 villagers in Xianxian, China. It was the biggest artwork in the 2006 Biennale and invited viewers to reflect on the world’s most pressing problems. Behind him, a dozen volunteers are painstakingly installing 180,000 figurines that filled the entire floor of the 140 metre long room at Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay.