PATHWAYS REVISION LECTURES

1. PATHWAYS REVISION LECTURES SUNDAY 9th OCTOBER 2011 THE IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPE VCE ENGLISH UNITS 3 & 4 PRESENTER: KELLIE HEINTZ

2. THE CONTEXT In the exam – the aim is to: Develop your thinking Give more depth and meaning to your writing SO This section of the exam is all about writing NOT About knowledge of the text

3. USE OF TEXT The texts are a way in to thought You must be flexible – you need to have two texts prepared but it is better to use one in your answer There needs to be a clear relationship between the answer and the text specified as the focus text The Context Response must not be a TextResponse answer

4. USE OF TEXT It is important that you do more than just re-tell the story of the focus text The starting point must be the ideas, issues and arguments from the focus text, not the plot

5. USE OF TEXT Just moving the same story/material into another geographic place or another time is not developing the ideas You are not expected to include quotes from the focus text Supplementary material can be useful to stimulate ideas but does not need to be referred to in the response

6. USE OF TEXT You are provided with a prompt. It is not a topic as in the Text Response question The prompt is the springboard for ideas, but it cannot be ignored while you write your own self-chosen response The relationship between the focus text and the response must be clear and apparent You do not necessarily need to mention the focus text in your actual response

7. THE PROMPT ‘Events and experiences influence the way we connect to place.’ (VCAA, 2008) ‘We live in a specific time and place yet, simultaneously, we experience an internal life that is not limited in this way.’ (VCAA, 2009)

8. THE PROMPT ‘The inner landscape and its relationship to the outer world is significant in people’s lives.’ (VCAA, 2010)

9. THE IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPE The texts: TirraLirra by the River – Jessica Anderson The Poetry of Robert Frost One Night the Moon – Rachel Perkins (director) Island – Alistair MacLeod

10. THE IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPE This Context is concerned with: The physical landscape A sense of place Humans and their relationship with the natural world The features of the physical landscape - its beauty as well as its harshness Connections with the landscape

11. THE IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPE The influences of the physical landscape on: Our internal landscape Our emotional state Our imagination Our memories Our sense of self Our views of the world Our senses

12. Links to ‘The Imaginative Landscape’ TirraLirra by the River – Jessica Anderson

13. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS TirraLirra by the River explores the imaginative landscape and its influence on: • Imagination • Creativity • Memory • One’s sense of self • Perceptions of reality • Feelings and emotions

14. Anderson uses a variety of language techniques to create the internal world of her protagonist Nora. She does this by: Positioning Nora as the narrator Using recurring images such as: the Lady of Shallot, the globe & Camelot Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

15. Using the physical landscapes as prompts for memory Describing the imaginative landscape through the use of the senses: sight, smell, touch, sound & taste Having the emotional state of Nora reflected in her physical landscapes, that is, the contrasts between: Brisbane, Sydney & London Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

16. Links to ‘The Imaginative Landscape’ The Poetry of Robert Frost

17. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS The poetry written by Robert Frost explores many broad ideas such as the: Different ways that humans respond to and understand nature Ways that humans are powerless against the forces of nature The rhythms of nature and the way this has an influence on our lives

18. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS The poetry written by Robert Frost explores many broad ideas such as: Our separateness to, but connection with the landscape The way that the landscape can reflect human emotions The way that the natural landscape can trigger self-discovery

19. Frost uses a variety of language techniques to create his many landscapes. He does this through: The use of a first person narrator Placing his speakers at key moments in their lives, such as, the man at the end of his life in ‘After Apple-Picking’ Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

20. Frost uses a variety of language techniques to create his many landscapes. He does this through: Highly descriptive writing where the scenes are created with attention to detail so that they are real to the reader Use of imagery and symbols that give his poems depth and meaning Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

21. Links to the ‘Imaginative Landscape’ Island – Alistair MacLeod

22. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS The short stories in Island explore the ways that the landscape represents: Tradition A sense of place Danger Beauty Limitations Freedom

23. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS A way of life A challenge The past The future Memories

24. MacLeod uses a variety of techniques to describe life on Cape Breton Island. Some of these include: A first-person narrator who is often unnamed to represent the many people who share similar thoughts, feelings and experiences A strong use of colour to describe the physical features of the landscape Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

25. MacLeod uses a variety of techniques to describe life on Cape Breton Island. Some of these include: Images that recur through the stories, such as, fishermen, drunks or young men who feel trapped by their environment A sad tone that pervades the stories and often reflects the landscape itself Language techniques you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

26. Links to the ‘Imaginative Landscape’ One Night the Moon – Rachel Perkins (director)

27. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS The film explores the way that the landscape represents: Different things to different cultures An extension of humanity to Indigenous Australians A source of life and work, as well as a threat to white Australians

28. IDEAS, ISSUES & ARGUMENTS The film explores the way that: Indigenous Australians have an affinity with the natural landscape Indigenous Australians understand the contradictory nature of the land The white Australians do not necessarily have an intuitive of knowledge of the landscape

29. Perkins develops the following ideas in the film: The contrast between the views about the land of Jim Ryan (father) with the views of Albert, the black tracker The use of the line: ‘This land is mine’ by Jim which denotes power, ownership and control The use of the line: ‘This land is me’ by Albert which illustrates his inextricable connection with his physical surroundings Ideas you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

30. Perkins develops the following ideas in the film: The harsh, unforgiving nature of the landscape The isolation of the landscape The ever-changing forces of the weather and its effects on the landscape The need for human beings to understand the complexities of their physical surroundings The lack of control that humans have over the landscape Ideas you can use in your own writing to make your connections clear

31. SAMPLE PROMPTS ‘The place in which we live has an impact on our understanding of the world.’ ‘The physical setting of a place can often reflect the state of our emotions.’ ‘The way we relate to our physical environment can determine the kind of person we become.’

32. SAMPLE PROMPTS ‘The landscapes that we create in our minds help to keep our imaginations alive.’ ‘The natural world around us helps to shape our destiny.’ ‘The inner landscape and its relationship to the outer world is significant in people’s lives.’

33. THE EXAM Section B in the exam requires you to: Complete an extended written response in expository, imaginative or persuasive style. Your writing must draw directly from at least one selected text for this Context and explore the idea that…

34. THE EXAM You will NOT be given a specified audience, purpose or form to use in the exam. You will have to determine the most appropriate way to discuss the ideas, issues and arguments that come from your Context You do NOT have to provide a written explanation

35. THE FORMS How to write on the Context in the exam In the exam you will have the option of responding to the Context in one of the following forms: Expository Persuasive Imaginative

36. EXPOSITORY Expose or explain a detailed view of the Context A discussion of how the Context works, not only in the world of the text, but also in your world Consider different points of view on the Context

37. EXPOSITORY Possible forms include: An essay A feature article A news report An interview

38. PERSUASIVE Responds to the Context by presenting a point of view on it Argues a clear perspective for one side of the issue generated by the text/s The world outside the text informs the response

39. PERSUASIVE Possible forms include: An essay A speech An opinion piece An editorial

40. IMAGINATIVE Can step inside the text and write from the point of view of a character Can remain outside the text and use the language features, structures or conventions of the focus text to explore the Context Can use personal experience as the base from which to explore the ideas in an imaginative way

41. IMAGINATIVE Appropriate forms include: A short story A scene, interior monologue or section of script An epilogue or a prologue A reflective narrative

42. EXAM CRITERIA Prompt – handling of, the connection with, the relevance to Ideas – the quality and development of Expression – control of language, spelling, punctuation & clarity