Short Answer Questions
Short answer questions are just the same as the study you have done in class, whenever you were not discussing your set text.
You can practise short answer questions any time and any place: analyse the ads on the sides of buses or at a train station; ask yourself what that magazine article told you about belonging; think about the way a video clip represents lyrics of a son; evaluate the camera angles in a commercial on TV...
Questions you could ask yourself include:
Short answers should focus on the technique which is used to convey a message about belonging. Use as many keywords about belonging as possible and construct your answers like a SEXI paragraph:
You could also try the excellent sample papers at Into English[http://intoenglish.com.au/blog/2011/11/11/belonging-reading-task-practice/] or Save My HSChttp://savemyhsc.com.au/tag/belonging-practice-questions/]
Excel at Google Books has definitions of techniques to look for and some texts you could use to answer the above questions. Save my HSC[http://savemyhsc.com.au/category/area-of-study-belonging/] has study tips for English exams and a link to an excellent list of text types and their techniques
These websites have some guided examples you could use to practise short answer questions.
You can practise short answer questions any time and any place: analyse the ads on the sides of buses or at a train station; ask yourself what that magazine article told you about belonging; think about the way a video clip represents lyrics of a son; evaluate the camera angles in a commercial on TV...
Questions you could ask yourself include:
- Describe how the text depicts the idea of belonging or not belonging?
- Explain the relationship of [character's name] with [another character's name].
- How does this text portray [friendship/romance/family ties/community groups/cultural identity/virtual reality etc.] as an alternative way of belonging
- Explore the [name of character]'s attitude to [important 'thing' from text] as a symbol of belonging.
- Compare and contrast the different perspectives of belonging conveyed in the text/s
- Explain how the composer has explored the importance of community/family/cultural identity to the sense of belonging.
- Identify two techniques and explain how they convey the importance of community/family/cultural identity to belonging.
- Analyse how the composer establishes the narrator’s place and her sense of belonging.
Short answers should focus on the technique which is used to convey a message about belonging. Use as many keywords about belonging as possible and construct your answers like a SEXI paragraph:
- What is the message about belonging?
- What technique is used to convey the message? (Name and quote/example)
- Why is this technique used? (What effect does it have on the reader?)
You could also try the excellent sample papers at Into English[http://intoenglish.com.au/blog/2011/11/11/belonging-reading-task-practice/] or Save My HSChttp://savemyhsc.com.au/tag/belonging-practice-questions/]
Excel at Google Books has definitions of techniques to look for and some texts you could use to answer the above questions. Save my HSC[http://savemyhsc.com.au/category/area-of-study-belonging/] has study tips for English exams and a link to an excellent list of text types and their techniques
These websites have some guided examples you could use to practise short answer questions.
- Visual Grammar [http://www.webquestdirect.com.au/webquest.asp?id=650&page=4923]. Also click on the next section : Visual Grammar Sampler
- OpPapers [http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Short-Answer-Questions/645566] has a couple of answers you can look at for free. Don't pay for other people's answers; they're never worth the price!
- Shelley MacNamara's Blog [http://belongingareaofstudy.blogspot.com/2008/11/unseen-texts-drifters-welcome-stranger.html] has questions and modelled answers
- Annie's English[http://anniesenglish.com/?page_id=25] has lots of quotes which you could use to practise analysing techniques.
