1. Markers’ comments and suggestions 2017
2.1 (91098) Analyse specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s) supported by evidence
Markers’ comments and suggestions 2017

2. General Comments: What worked?
Using the keywords from the question to focus the response, especially in the topic sentences.
Referring to the author’s purpose throughout the essay, eg. “Mansfield is demonstrating how …”, “Steinbeck teaches the reader …”
Making perceptive commments throughout your essay, rather than leaving them as ‘an afterthought’ at the end of each paragraph
Providing a range of specific evidence, especially quotations, in each paragraph.
Ensuring the quotations are woven into the discussion and are the most relevant evidence for the point you are trying to make.
Responding to the question with a fresh approach or original thinking.
Referring back to the text and making links clear when making wider connections.
Clearly indicating which question you have chosen to answer!

3. General Comments: What didn’t work?
Attempting to reproduce an essay and twist the question to suit it.
Making forced or random beyond the text connections at the end of each paragraph which don’t flow from the content of the paragraph or link to the topic discussed.
Writing an essay without using the words of the question (or synonyms for these) at all or infrequently.
Topic sentences that are not clearly focussed on responding to the question. Beginning paragraphs with plot-based information.
Unplanned essays that tend to drift into plot recall.

4. Question 1: analyse how techniques were used to affect your thoughts and/or feeling about a character in the written text(s)
This question gave the opportunity to display some excellent analysis.
Techniques needed to be named specifically and supporting evidence needed to be correct examples of the technique named.
The question of how the techniques affected you as the reader needed to be addressed throughout.

5. Question 2:analyse how you were positioned as a reader to think a certain way aBout an issue OR issues by the creator of the written text(s)
This question relied heavily on author’s purpose and intentions.
The response needed to acknowledge the creator and how they shape the reader’s view.
The issue(s) discussed needed to be clearly explained as an issue. Using one word to refer to an issue is not ideal, eg. ‘war’ or ‘love’ is not an issue.

6. Question 3: analyse how the context (with regards to its social, political, historical, personal and/or cultural world) of the text(s) impacts on the character(s) of a written text(s)
The best essays tended to discuss the impact on several characters. An entire essay based on one character was difficult to maintain.
It was important to include details which helped describe the context in this response.

7. Question 4: analyse how a conflict(s) helped you indersTand a wider theme or issue in the written text(s).
The word ‘conflict’ could refer to inner conflict of a character, conflict between characters, or conflict linked to a setting.
The theme or issue referred to needed to be explained clearly. One word is often not sufficient to explain an ‘issue’ or ‘theme’.

8. Question 5: analyse how the actions of a character influenced the outcome(s) in the written text(s) you have studied
It is important that the actions of only one character are referred to.
The ‘actions’ needed to be explained clearly, and needed to refer to more than one action.
‘The outcomes’ in the question could have linked to relationships, character change or growth, and/or events. Again, more than one outcome needed to be discussed.

9. Question 6: Analyse how a writer influenced you to think about a situation or event in the written text(s)
This response needed to focus on author’s purpose.
The author needs to be referred to several times throughout the essay.
Refer to the author by their whole name, or surname, not by their first name.
One situation or event needs to discussed.

10. Question 7:analyse how symbolism was used to develop your understanding of character(s) or individual(s) in the written text(s).
Symbolism might refer to the use of symbols or symbolism in the language used.

11. Question 8:analyse how the beginning was used to establish one or more character in the written text
It is important ‘the beginning’ does not extend too far into the text. Some students who chose this question drifted into discussing aspects the spanned the entire text.
Some students chose to discuss a different character for each paragraph, while others focussed on one character throughout. Either method worked well.