2005+Practice+Essay+-+Australian+(August)

= PRACTICE ESSAY QUESTION =

AUSTRALIAN DRAMA & THEATRE Question 1 ** ‘Australian plays explore the different ways people cope when things change or go wrong.’ Discuss this statement, with reference to the dramatic forms, styles and conventions of the plays you have studied, showing how Australian plays put changing circumstances on the stage, and how the characters respond. In your answer, refer to AT LEAST TWO texts set for the topic you have studied. The main problem in essay writing for this question can be narrowed down to two things. 1. Writing style and analysis is structured like an English Essay rather than a Drama Essay 2. Too much use of pre-prepared essays or writing from past essay questions that have been written and discussed.
 * 2005 PAST HSC PAPER
 * COMMON PROBLEMS WITH PRACTICE ESSAYS**

Here are some things that I found common in all of your essays and some tips for taking a "Drama" approach to your writing:

· Use of English subject terminology such as complication, composer, discussed, persona, chapter rather than Dramatic terminology such as 'character', 'situation', 'action', 'dialogue', 'atmosphere', 'tension', 'symbol', 'playwright', 'performed', 'scene' (you get the picture, I hope)  · Quotes of dialogue need to be kept to a minimum and only used if absolutely significant. Your evidence or examples need to be practical workshops or descriptions of action and techniques being used in performance. You need to analyse a play on stage, not a text script. This is the difference between English and Drama. To help you, think about the “Elements of Drama”, these are the things you are analysing in performance. It should also help you to inject some dramatic terminology into your essays.  · Too much emphasis on past essays which have dealt with themes of grief and loss. You need to address the question and refer back to it throughout your essay. It is really obvious when you try to wedge a pre-prepared essay into an essay question because you never really answer the question. You will lose significant marks in doing this – so just don’t!!  · What you needed to be addressing was the theme of change and how the characters respond to the changes in their situations. So the focus of **//__this__//** essay (cause all essay questions are asking you to write about different stuff! J ) was on character and situation (hmmmm 2 of the elements of drama) Not themes and issues.

Candidates should note the importance of selecting and analysing relevant workshop experiences and examples from the plays to support their discussion, instead of recounting and describing these experiences. All candidates are reminded that the written paper is seeking a clear understanding and appreciation of the texts in performance.
 * NOTES FROM THE MARKING CENTRE (which you were given)**
 * General comments **

Question 1 ** Stronger Responses:• demonstrated a sophisticated, detailed and insightful engagement with the question • discussed how dramatic elements are employed to explore the broader implications of ‘changing circumstances’ and ‘how characters respond’ • were anchored in relevant textual evidence and/or appropriate employment of workshop experiences and productions • employed appropriate theatrical terminology in analysis • integrated a discussion of historical, social and cultural influences on the plays in directly addressing the question • demonstrated an understanding and appreciation of the playwrights’ intentions and audience reception. Weaker responses: • did not directly address the specific requirements of the question and ignored key terms including ‘changing circumstances’ and ‘how characters respond\• discussed the plays as literary texts rather than as scripts for performance • used inappropriate or superficial textual evidence and/or workshopping experience • relied on formula or prepared responses to previous HSC questions • gave personal, biased opinions, retold the plot, made sweeping generalisations and/or provided inaccuracies or misinformation that were not relevant to the question• paid minimal attention to the second text. • Provides a comprehensive discussion of the dramatic forms, styles and conventions relevant to the question of the dramatisation of changing circumstances in AT LEAST TWO of the texts • Provides a comprehensive discussion in a convincing, coherent manner, which may demonstrate flair • Provides a comprehensive response with well-substantiated supporting evidence || 17–20 || • Provides a substantial discussion of the dramatic forms, styles and conventions relevant to the question of the dramatisation of changing circumstances in AT LEAST TWO of the texts • Provides a substantial discussion in a coherent manner • Provides a substantial response with appropriate supporting evidence || 13–16 || • Provides an adequate discussion of the dramatic forms, styles and conventions relevant to the question of the dramatisation of changing circumstances in AT LEAST TWO of the texts • Provides an adequate discussion of some of the issues in the question • Provides an adequate response with some supporting evidence || 9–12 || • Provides a basic discussion of the dramatic forms, styles and conventions of the texts • Provides a series of points related to some of the issues in the question • Provides a basic response with little relevant supporting evidence || 5–8 ||
 * Section I – Australian Drama and Theatre
 * MARKING GUIDELINES**
 * **Criteria** || **Marks** ||
 * • Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the ways in which characters respond to changing circumstances
 * • Demonstrates a substantial understanding and appreciation of the ways in which characters respond to changing circumstances
 * • Demonstrates an adequate understanding and appreciation of the ways in which characters respond to changing circumstances
 * • Demonstrates a basic understanding of the ways in which characters respond to changing circumstances
 * • Comments on some ideas that may relate to some aspects of the content of the question • Comments minimally on some aspects that may relate to the dramatic forms, styles and conventions of the texts • Provides unrelated personal opinions and undeveloped points which may not be related to the question • Provides a limited response with little or no relevant supporting evidence || 1–4 ||