memorising (1 Viewer)

[synthesisFR]

im kinda torn between whether to memorise essays or not
i already have like 2 essays prepared but not for mod A yet

For trials i did decently well actually (except mod C) and i didn't memorise a single essay (totally not because i ran of out time) and i still managed to do well. Idk if i should memorise then, esp since i have a couple prepared.
Possibly a mix?
for Mod a im preparing one more set of paragraphs so i think ill convert it all to dotpoint and memorise the 3 sets of para and pick the two best fitting ones.
common mod and mod b i might just memorise. for the 2 poems not in my essay for mod b ill do doitpoints and memorise main bits.
im not sure tho

 

[SadCeliac]

Do what feels most natural for you

 

[synthesisFR]

@MJRey iirc u had some opinions on this

 

[MJRey]

Yes, I do have some opinions on this subject, and I'm hoping not to be gunned down for them like I was last time because everyone is entitled to their opinions. Do not memorise essays for the HSC. You said yourself that you did really well without memorising your essays, and it's most likely due to the fact that you are focusing on answering the question in an original way rather than using a rote learnt response that may not match the question. It's about going in with an open mind and being prepared for anything they can give you, which is harder to do when you put your heart and soul into regurgitating a pre prepared essay.

 

[SadCeliac]

Yes, I do have some opinions on this subject, and I'm hoping not to be gunned down for them like I was last time because everyone is entitled to their opinions. Do not memorise essays for the HSC. You said yourself that you did really well without memorising your essays, and it's most likely due to the fact that you are focusing on answering the question in an original way rather than using a rote learnt response that may not match the question. It's about going in with an open mind and being prepared for anything they can give you, which is harder to do when you put your heart and soul into regurgitating a pre prepared essay.

I think a way to mesh both techniques together is to leave gaps within pre-memorised essays where you specifically answer the question. For example, what I'm doing is memorising lots of my main analysis, but leaving gaps at the start and end of paragraphs to write authentic thesis and concluding statements to directly tie the paragraph to the question and almost 'cheat' the question into my memorised essay - that way when a marker reads my response it looks like I've integrated the question into majority of the essay, because they see that direct link at the start/end of paragraphs... I think this also works with things like Mod C where you memorise a generic structure of a story but leave a big section in the middle to directly write to the stimulus, and write your good and well-polished, well-written memo around the authentic stimulus part of your story...?

Thoughts??

 

[SASH_06_X]

I think a way to mesh both techniques together is to leave gaps within pre-memorised essays where you specifically answer the question. For example, what I'm doing is memorising lots of my main analysis, but leaving gaps at the start and end of paragraphs to write authentic thesis and concluding statements to directly tie the paragraph to the question and almost 'cheat' the question into my memorised essay - that way when a marker reads my response it looks like I've integrated the question into majority of the essay, because they see that direct link at the start/end of paragraphs... I think this also works with things like Mod C where you memorise a generic structure of a story but leave a big section in the middle to directly write to the stimulus, and write your good and well-polished, well-written memo around the authentic stimulus part of your story...?

Thoughts??

I agree with you, I'm also using the same techniques - it's too much to memorise a whole essay/plus markers can easily tell if ur essay is pre-made, so I memorize the key concepts/themes/quotes with analysis but leave the rest to write in the exam according to my thesis.

Mod C idrk cuz as it is my usually my strongest suit in English, I just have some story ideas + quotes/techniques and stuff from prescribed texts memorised - the rest I just flesh out in the exam acc to the stimulus

 

[SASH_06_X]

honestly, it depends what your aiming for. memorising can really only get you a 17-18, because you really need to integrate the question/stimulus to get in the 19-20 range.
i didn't memorise for trials, ended up with a 95% for paper 1 and 97% for paper 2. its better to know the texts really well.
on the other hand, if you really dont want to actually learn the texts, memorising is an easy way to get a safe low A

does memorising always get u a guaranteed A? I thought otherwise

 

[carrotsss]

does memorising always get u a guaranteed A? I thought otherwise

if your essay is that good and you know how to adapt to the question then it will

obv memorisation is only as good as the essay ur memorising, like if you just memorise a first draft that’s pointless but if it’s a super refined 20/20 essay then it’s much better

 

[synthesisFR]

if your essay is that good and you know how to adapt to the question then it will

obv memorisation is only as good as the essay ur memorising, like if you just memorise a first draft that’s pointless but if it’s a super refined 20/20 essay then it’s much better

i agree but like even a first draft would be better to adapt than writing on the spot as you have some sort of structure to follow and improve along
obv as long as the draft has everything it needs then its fine and answering the question is where most of the marks come from

Even if u dont memorise an essay its quite easy to get that third doitpoint from the marking criteria which judges the structure and cohesion of your response- they don't expect anything crazy because it is assume you are mainly going to be answering the question on the spot. So the standards aren't relatively high there, but ofc it depends if u want like a 20/20 then it matters @MJRey would u agree with this?

 

[MJRey]

Yes, it does matter if you want those high marks.

 

[synthesisFR]

Yes, it does matter if you want those high marks.

so them im struggling to see how not memorising an essay and writing it down would have better vocab and cohesion compared to memorising one?

 

[MJRey]

Well that's a matter of developing your vocabulary from a young age so that it's easier to naturally incorporate it in your essays. It's obviously too late for that now, but just use sophisticated buzz words for whatever your texts are. And what I meant was that you get the high marks from following the marker's assumption: that you're writing an original essay on the spot.

 

[SadCeliac]

Well that's a matter of developing your vocabulary from a young age so that it's easier to naturally incorporate it in your essays. It's obviously too late for that now, but just use sophisticated buzz words for whatever your texts are. And what I meant was that you get the high marks from following the marker's assumption: that you're writing an original essay on the spot.

ngl ive been memorising my mod a essay tonight and id like to say i comfortably know all my analysis purely from doing the same essay across the year..... why would I not use that @MJRey????

 

[carrotsss]

ngl ive been memorising my mod a essay tonight and id like to say i comfortably know all my analysis purely from doing the same essay across the year..... why would I not use that @MJRey????

It’s a personal choice, MJRey does have a point in that if you really want to succeed and you enjoy english, then learning to write effective English essays on the spot consistently can be a big advantage when set curveball questions and it’s also just a good life skill. Obviously not everyone cares that much about English (I don’t, I couldn’t stand the effort that it’d take to get that good at essays on the spot) and for those people memorisation is a fine alternative if you know how to adapt your essays to the question adequately

 

[SadCeliac]

It’s a personal choice, MJRey does have a point in that if you really want to succeed and you enjoy english, then learning to write effective English essays on the spot consistently can be a big advantage when set curveball questions and it’s also just a good life skill. Obviously not everyone cares that much about English (I don’t, I couldn’t stand the effort that it’d take to get that good at essays on the spot) and for those people memorisation is a fine alternative if you know how to adapt your essays to the question adequately

tbh im just doing it because its easier and less stressful than writing on the spot
you cant guarantee good essays if you write on the spot imo

 

[carrotsss]

tbh im just doing it because its easier and less stressful than writing on the spot
you cant guarantee good essays if you write on the spot imo

yeah same

some people like MJRey can but I feel like my brain just isn’t wired that way

 

[synthesisFR]

yes but i prepared my essays so i may as well memorise them
but then i dont have practice like adapting a memorised essay bc ive been writing on the spot mostly the whole year- and some criticism was that i tend to overinflate or write less succinctly which reduces cohesion, but still can answer the question. Which is why idk if i should. Possibly just memorise the analysis sentences but then atp thats most of the essay so may as well memorise and have extra quotes and if it doesn't work out to fit the question at all (even tho they r general) i can just break it down and reorder and stuff since i have practice writing free range.

 

[howcanibesmarter]

lmao im memorising my common, mod a,b essays word for word, but will adapt to question ofc. For mod c im memorising a discursive on writing, a creative on nature, another creative on memories and relationships, and a reflection for the creative (which can also be changed to a scaffold for discursive if they prescribe)