Essay Questions

These essay questions are from past HSC papers or assessment tasks at other schools . You could also make up your own questions by finding an interesting quote about belonging and adding the words "Discuss" or "Do you agree". Annie's English has quotes which could easily be turned into essays questions.
Once you feel confident writing, start testing yourself under exam conditions (40 mins).Don't forget to plan your essay before you start writing!
1. Past HSC Questions
2011: Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to places. In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing.
2010: ‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging‘. Discuss this view with details reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.
2009: Relationships and experiences shape an individual’s sense of belonging. To what extent do the texts that you have studied support this idea?
2008: Through belonging people develop new understandings of themselves and the world around them. How effectively are these new understandings conveyed in the texts you have studied?
2007: Explain how representations of people’s experiences in the texts you have studied have given you insight into the concept of belonging.
2006: Explain how the texts you have studied communicate the idea that belonging is challenging.
2005: Belonging is a popular theme in texts.Explain why this theme is so popular and how belonging has been presented in the texts you have studied.
2003: You have been asked to speak on a community radio program called ‘Youth in Focus’. The purpose of your talk is to reflect on your HSC English Area of Study.In your talk, explain how the texts you have studied this year have influenced your own perspectives.Write the transcript of your talk. You should refer to:
2. Questions from other schools
1. How do composers show that belonging can emerge from connections with people, places and communities? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
2. ‘Hypocrisy is the essence of snobbery, but all snobbery is about the problem of belonging.’ Alexander Theroux
Write the script of a radio programme which explains how this perspective of belonging is present in your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
3. Write a blog for an HSC tutoring website which answers the question: How do composers construct perspectives of belonging in texts? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
4. Discuss what voices are present and absent in the texts and how this influenced your engagement with the text. In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
5. Write a feature article exploring the potential of an individual to enrich or challenge a group or community. In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
6. How does the text represent barriers which prevent belonging or choices not to belong? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
7. Our sense of identity is stronger when we feel that we belong. Write a sppech to be presented to a Year 10 PDHPE class. To what extent is this true of the texts you have studied? (CTHS 2009 Trial)
8. “Belonging is a natural human need. It is also something we can strive for or feel crippled by.” How do composers show this through their characters, the way they structure texts and the language features they use? (CGHS 2009 ESL Trial).
9. "Belonging relies on both conformity and individuality" Write an interview with the composers of your texts which addressed this concept. to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
10. "Strong human spirits are essential for belonging" Write a persuasive response with reference to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
11. "Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways." Evaluate this statement with reference to your core text and two related texts
12. Belonging is a struggle. Write a feature article for a teenage magazine which refers to the prescribed text and at least 2 texts of your choosing.
13. The need to belong marks us a human and it is such connections that lead to fullfillment. To what extent do you agree with this statement after having studied the concept of Belonging? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO texts of your own choosing.
14. Belonging is imposed from without rather than within. Discuss.
15. Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways. Write a letter to the Board of Studies which supports the inclusion of your core text and TWO prescribed texts in a new anthology on this topic.
Other sites with practise questions are:
Once you feel confident writing, start testing yourself under exam conditions (40 mins).Don't forget to plan your essay before you start writing!
1. Past HSC Questions
2011: Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to places. In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing.
2010: ‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging‘. Discuss this view with details reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.
2009: Relationships and experiences shape an individual’s sense of belonging. To what extent do the texts that you have studied support this idea?
2008: Through belonging people develop new understandings of themselves and the world around them. How effectively are these new understandings conveyed in the texts you have studied?
2007: Explain how representations of people’s experiences in the texts you have studied have given you insight into the concept of belonging.
2006: Explain how the texts you have studied communicate the idea that belonging is challenging.
2005: Belonging is a popular theme in texts.Explain why this theme is so popular and how belonging has been presented in the texts you have studied.
2003: You have been asked to speak on a community radio program called ‘Youth in Focus’. The purpose of your talk is to reflect on your HSC English Area of Study.In your talk, explain how the texts you have studied this year have influenced your own perspectives.Write the transcript of your talk. You should refer to:
- perspectives in the texts you have studied
- how these perspectives are communicated
- your perspectives as a responder.
2. Questions from other schools
1. How do composers show that belonging can emerge from connections with people, places and communities? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
2. ‘Hypocrisy is the essence of snobbery, but all snobbery is about the problem of belonging.’ Alexander Theroux
Write the script of a radio programme which explains how this perspective of belonging is present in your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
3. Write a blog for an HSC tutoring website which answers the question: How do composers construct perspectives of belonging in texts? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
4. Discuss what voices are present and absent in the texts and how this influenced your engagement with the text. In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
5. Write a feature article exploring the potential of an individual to enrich or challenge a group or community. In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
6. How does the text represent barriers which prevent belonging or choices not to belong? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
7. Our sense of identity is stronger when we feel that we belong. Write a sppech to be presented to a Year 10 PDHPE class. To what extent is this true of the texts you have studied? (CTHS 2009 Trial)
8. “Belonging is a natural human need. It is also something we can strive for or feel crippled by.” How do composers show this through their characters, the way they structure texts and the language features they use? (CGHS 2009 ESL Trial).
9. "Belonging relies on both conformity and individuality" Write an interview with the composers of your texts which addressed this concept. to your prescribed text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing.
10. "Strong human spirits are essential for belonging" Write a persuasive response with reference to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.
11. "Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways." Evaluate this statement with reference to your core text and two related texts
12. Belonging is a struggle. Write a feature article for a teenage magazine which refers to the prescribed text and at least 2 texts of your choosing.
13. The need to belong marks us a human and it is such connections that lead to fullfillment. To what extent do you agree with this statement after having studied the concept of Belonging? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO texts of your own choosing.
14. Belonging is imposed from without rather than within. Discuss.
15. Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways. Write a letter to the Board of Studies which supports the inclusion of your core text and TWO prescribed texts in a new anthology on this topic.
Other sites with practise questions are:
- Tutor Tales [http://tutortales.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/practice-questions-for-area-of-study-belonging/]
- HSC Online [http://hsc.csu.edu.au/english/area_of_study/belonging/3634/aos.htm]