1. Practice SAC topics
“Assure me that I may yet change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!” (Scrooge) Scrooge’s reform is fuelled by selfish motives rather than a true desire to be a better person. Discuss
 The construction of A Christmas Carol is intended to challenge the moral views of the time.
Write down your contention and what you were going to discuss in each body paragraph for your chosen topic (dot point plan)

2. Adapting and tweaking your essay
Remember, the practice SACs will be similar to the real SAC topics, but NOT identical
Many students lost marks last year because they simply recreated their practice SAC and did not make the necessary adjustments to the new topic
Chances are your evidence will be able to be used again in the new topic, but you will need to tweak your explanation of the evidence to clearly link it to the new topic

3. “Assure me that I may yet change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!” (Scrooge) Scrooge’s reform is fuelled by selfish motives rather than a true desire to be a better person. Discuss
“You have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate” (Marley’s Ghost). In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge’s change is purely motivated by his fear of the afterlife. Discuss.
Dickens uses Scrooge’s dramatic transformation to reveal that that many influences are needed for a person to change their views and behaviours.
“His offences carry their own punishment” (Fred)  It is Scrooge’s fear of punishment in the afterlife, rather than his realisation that he can be a good man that causes his change. Do you agree?
What adjustments would you have to make to your prepared essay if these became the new topics?

4. The construction of A Christmas Carol is intended to challenge the moral views of the time.
Dickens uses a variety of structures and literary devices of A Christmas Carol to highlight the social injustices of Victorian England.
Dickens uses the setting, characters and plot of A Christmas Carol to add complexity to the characters and evoke empathy and guilt.
It is Dickens’ ability to depict the poverty stricken landscape of London that gives A Christmas Carol its moral power. Discuss.
What adjustments would you have to make to your prepared essay if these became the new topics?

5. Drafting Look back over all of your TEEL paragraphs
Read the feedback and comments closely
Identify three common areas that you need to work on – e.g. embedding quotes, clear topic sentences, linking to topic, using a variety of evidence etc.
Write these down!
Redraft one of these paragraphs OR draft one of your paragraphs for your practice SAC based on this feedback and the reflection you have done

6. Swap and assess Things to look for:
Topic sentence – does it state a specific point and relate to the topic?
Use of evidence – variety of evidence used (quotes, examples, literary/construction elements)
Evidence linked to the topic – everything included is there to reinforce the argument being made about the topic
Originality – doesn’t use just the obvious ideas/evidence, but shows an intricate knowledge of the text and a thoughtful interpretation of the topic
Quotes (fluent, embedded, short – never used at the start of a sentence)
Views and values – shows an understanding of Dickens’ message/purpose in relation to the given topic
Correct understanding of text (e.g. the right Ghost with the right Stave)
Use of key topic words throughout the paragraph – are there enough?
Clear and fluent – it flows and makes sense to you
Accurate expression (spelling, grammar, word choice etc.)
Length (around 250 words to show sufficient detail but still achievable in time)
Based on this checklist, identify 2 things that are done well, and areas for improvement

7. Preparing for the SAC
Based on your plan for your body paragraphs, dot point ALL the evidence you could use/are planning to use in the essay
Quotes
Literary devices/construction elements (imagery, antithesis, juxtaposition, genre, authorial intrusion, setting, symbolism etc.)
Examples (specific scenes/moments from the text explained in your own words)
You WILL need to memorise this stuff!!!
Think about how you could adapt this evidence to the alternative topics – how can you tweak your interpretation of the evidence to link it to the new topic? (refer back to ‘facts and interpretations’ PowerPoint if needed)
Also make sure you have read (and annotated) sample essays and assessor’s report if you haven’t done so already – look for good words to use to link back to the topic, original use of evidence etc.
You can redraft TEEL paragraphs and submit other practices this week – as long as it’s not the practice SAC (or similar) as this cut off was yesterday