Writing Task

How do Henry Lawson express ideas about life in Australia bush in the novel "Drover's Wife"?

Your friend who lives in Melbourne is about to start reading "Drover's Wife" for the English unit. She has asked you the question set out above.

Write a letter explaining ONE aspect of Australia bush explored in the novel.

Dear Amy                                                                                                     19-9-2011

It's nice to know that you're studying Henry Lawson's novel. I've just finished studying the novel, "Drover's Wife. I love the novel, it vividly describes the bush life in Australia.
 
First of all, Henry used many negative adjectives,  like "rotten", "ragged", "waterless creek"...etc.  These adjectives help the readers see that the life in Australia bush is tough and hard to survive.

Also he used some informal language to express how the ordinary life of Australian family is like, for example the children in the novel used colloquial and even foul language. It helps  readers aware of the fact that the characters living in the bush in the novel didn't take any formal education and it perfectly shows how tough the life of Australia bush is.

The house that at the start of the novel also shows how the life is like in Australia bush.  Henry describes it with some bad things like "floored with split slabs", "rough slab floor " to give readers a message about the harsh life in bush.

At last, Henry points out many hardship of living in bush. Like the people in bush need to face many problems such as flood, sun dower and natural disasters to show it's not easy to live in bush.
 
Hope I can answer your question.


Yours
                                                                                                                             
Jimmy

Points to remember

How to demonstrate understanding of the ways language shapes and expresses perception.

Question 1(a)  (i) : What is one idea about team work communicated in the photograph? (Write words of the same meaning)
The united group of people can make dream come true.

(ii)  : How is the idea communicated? (describe what you see)
The idea is communicated by the same colour of the clothes people are wearing and the same kite playing acts seen in the photograph.

(b)  Give TWO reasons why the person telling the story dreams of living in  somebody else’s house? The hero was not happy with his sister and mother. He was embarrassed by his sister in front of their  friends. His mother didn't take care of his feeling and laughed at him when he was embarrassed.
 He doesn't like his own house which is a dirty and untidy home.

(c)  Explain TWO ways the author conveys a sense of ‘not belonging’ in the extract
The girl really wanted to stay in the house as a member of the family. However, the reaction of  the family was bad. The father turned off the TV, and the mother spoke in a hard voice.   Also, the heroine had thought of getting adopted since she was 7 years old. It shows that the girl didn't like her family at all, so there was no sense of belonging conveyed in the story.

(d) Why did VicHealth develop the Together We Do Better campaign? Give TWO
reasons.
 VicHealth develop the Together We Do Better campaign because they want to get people thinking and talking with friends, workmates and family about the personal and social benefits of belonging to a community, and of being accepted, respected and included. Also they want to let people feeling supported by social groups as well.

(e)  Why does Dr Rob Moodie say “And it’s about starting small”? 
       Dr Moodie thinks it is .... 

       Starting small means it is easier and more simple to start from the small area of life, such as making daily conversation with parents, talking with neighbours, friends.


(f)  Identify TWO persuasive techniques used in this press release. Explain the  
effect of these techniques.  
the writer uses results of research and statistics to persuade the readers to buy the ideas.
He also uses persuasive words,such as "social benefits", "better" and "we". Those words will make readers believe what the writer said is true.



Words I need to know
composer conveys
writer expresses
author communicates















http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/hsc2009exams/pdf_doc/english-esl-sample-answers-09.pdf

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/hsc2009exams/pdf_doc/2009-hsc-exam-english-esl-p1.pdf

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/hsc2009exams/notes/english.html#adv-paper-2-sec-i

HSC Elective 1: Living and Working in the Community

In this elective students explore the kinds of texts that are widely used in the workplace and the community. They respond to and compose texts appropriate to specific situations designed to meet students’ needs and interests. They consider what these texts imply about the nature of the workplace or the community in which they are used.

Students are required to read and respond to a range of types of texts, including: job advertisements; applications and other forms; information brochures and technical manuals; news reports and editorials; feature articles; advertisements; web pages; speeches and interviews; and other relevant texts. They are required to compose a range of types of texts, including: job application letters and personal résumés; work and accident reports; letters to the editor; letters of complaint, appreciation and request; advertisements and information brochures; feature articles; web pages; speeches and interviews; and other relevant texts. Students are also required to identify and explain the purposes and language techniques used in these types of texts.

Students are to supplement this study with texts of their own choosing related to the elective. The support document, Workplace and Community Texts (see www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au ), provides examples of types of texts and may further supplement students’ study of this elective.

Two Writing Tasks

Living and Working in the Community (20 marks)
Task One
A newspaper has published an article which argues that the content of HSC courses is not relevant for students.
Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter, express your opinion on the usefulness of the Living and Working in the Community elective for students.

Dear Editor

I refer to the article that states/claims the irrelevance of the content of the HSC subjects. I think the writer may not really understand the HSC course syllabus. It is not fair to say that the course is not relevant for students. As a HSC student, I am fully aware of the fact that the HSC course can help students to either enter universtiy or workplace. I would like to take the example of the elective course, "Working in the Community" to express my opinions.

Firstly, the course is an elective one. In other words, it is designed for students who wish to enter the job market after the HSC exams. If students decide to enter university, they wouldn't need to choose the course because it is not relevant for the near future.

Secondly, the syllabus of the course is designed in such a way that students can use the information and they learn in the course, For example, students would learn to write job application letter and reseme. This is a very useful documents for job searching. Without them, it is very difficult to get a good job.

Thirdly, the course helps students to focus on their future goals. There are a number of different courses that they need to select before they take the exams.

To conclude, l would argue that the syllabus of the HSC course is well covered for both academic and workplace purposes. It is students' responsibilty to study and select the right subjects to meet their future needs.







Task 2 : Academic English (20 marks)
The Board of Studies has decided to review the content of HSC courses.
Write a brief report for the Board of Studies. In your report, comment on the usefulness of the
Academic English elective for students.

My Hobbies

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog.  Actually this's my first time to write a paragraph in the blog in English!  Er......let me talk about my hobby.  I've many hobbies like: reading, photography, badminton, playing  piano. Well, I don't think drawing manga is my hobby but I like drawing different characters in the manga. =)   Some people don't like reading books but they like watching movies.

I think reading can enhance and improve our imagination. We must use our imagination whenever we read. But we don't really use our imagination when we watch movies because there are pictures. I think reading books is more fun than watching movies.

           (This's the manga character that I've drew.  He's came form Fairy tail^^)

Welcome to My Blog

Hi, I'm Jimmy.  I'm now in Sydney studying yr.11 in a high school. It's quite a big public school which has more than 5000 students. I felt lost when I first joined the school in January this year. But now I feel much more comfortable and relaxed having more friends and getting used to the school life.

I'm now living temporarily at my mom's friend's house. The house is quite huge compared with the flat I lived in Hong Kong. But I don't think I would like to live there permanently. I miss my family very much expecially when it is weekend or holiday.