Question 1:Novels and documentaries reveal particular attitudes and values of societies.In an essay,discuss this statement with reference to the themes,characters and issues in at least one of the texts and films that you have studied.
Why ‘reveal’?
Genre- Discussion
Introduction:
• Brief introduction to different types of texts and their functions: to inform, to acknowledge, to educate, to entertain…
• Express gratitude, glad/grateful—no more discrimination nowadays, due to upholding of multiculturalism policy.
• Thesis statement: some authors tend to use texts as a tool or medium to expose the readers to some particular attitudes and values of societies due to specific reasons.
1st point
• Topic sentence: authors try to use texts to reveal some issues caused by particular attitudes and values of the societies so that the awareness of the issue could be raised.
• Elaboration:
• Some of the issues had long existed, but left unacknowledged.
• Through vivid description as well as the approaches used by the authors to convey the message to the readers(e.g: tone, linguistic devices, lexis) readers would be able to share the same experience/empathize with the author, will become more concerned about the issue.
• Example from text: ‘Desert Flower’ by Waris Dirie
• Vivid description of the FGM procedure, highlighting the inhuman part of the ‘mutilaton’
• E.g: For writers of autobiographies like Dirie, although English wasn’t her mother tongue, but language did not become a barrier for her to produce a text that recount her horrible experience of living in a male dominated society where females like her are subjected to cruel practices of FGM, rape and arranged marriage, as women are objectify as merely trading commodity. Through the vivid description of her novel ‘Desert Flower’, she managed to shed light on an issue that is dear to her heart—the subjugation of women. The readers, or society in general, might not be a stranger to this issue, but the fact is that it is often overlooked due to the subtlety of its occurrence. By having brave authors like Dirie producing texts that can reach out to every level of the society, bringing the issue to the frontline, forcing the readers to face it head on and to acknowledge……
• Example from text: ‘The Forgotten Woman’
• Shows the ‘truth’ behind the ancient ritual/practice of the Indian culture—discrimination against women, particularly widows.
• Interviews in the documentary provides a clearer and more ‘real’ image of the culture.
• Example from text: ‘Bowling For Columbine’ by Michael Moore
• Bring to surface the issue of violation of firearm or gun control- it is common for US citizens to possess firearms, the normalization of weapon possession, lead to the increase in number of murder/massacre in the state.
• Instead of for self-defense, lead to offenses. Make hurting or even killing others all too easy.
2nd Point
• Topic sentence: Authors try to present some particular attitudes and values of society in another way or through another context, as these attitudes and values might be perceived differently or even as being negative due to different cultural context. As a result, the perception or attitude of the text’s consumers towards the mentioned cultures might change. / Authors try to shed different light on pre-conception or attitudes of readers towards a certain culture or community. Reveal sides that are not commonly known to general public, with the objective of….
• Elaboration:
• Different people- different context- different viewpoint on some particular attitudes which might be foreign to.
• Authors/producers of texts might try to challenge or reinforce the stereotypical images of some cultures.
• Example from text: ‘Falling Leaves’ by Adeline Yen Mah
• Shows that the supposedly oriental Chinese community does indeed absorbs and practices western culture and values—challenges the stereotype
• Globalization had formed a universal culture where all cultures are intertwined, esp to the west.
• Example from text: ‘Desert Flower’ by Waris Dirie
• The author highlighted her own culture( the practice, their living conditions, their obligation in everyday life, the values that they hold on to- these descriptions show that the author is happy and contented with her own culture- although others or outsiders might have negative perceptions of the Somali culture: poor living condition, extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, uncivilized…. But author instead turn the table and criticized the other cultures instead, while defending her own.)
Conclusion
• Texts have different functions.
• They could be powerful and effective if the authors use the right approaches to present their ideas to the readers. It may convey messages that might be lost in the rigmaroles of our daily communication.
• But as readers: should not just read the text—must try to get under the skin of authors and pay attention to the real message wished to be conveyed.
How to answer questions in Sec 2 –synthesize ideas,compare and contrast.
The question for this section provides a particular focus and direction to candidates.
Candidates are required not to simply identify the overall main ideas of the two texts but more specifically the main ideas about the focus question.It also needs personal experiences and observations.
The better responses synthesized ideas from all texts,using quotes and examples to support the main ideas.
They could compare and contrast points across the texts.
Weaker responses lack balance in their treatment of the two texts,or make only scant reference to one of the text.Some did not refer to the texts and just provided superficial responses of their own opinions and anecdotal evidence.
Question
Compare and contrast the information given in the texts by explaining the changing trends in Australian attitudes to and participation in sport.Refer to your own experience where appropriate.
Setting the background to lead reader to the thesis
When the Olympic torch was finally lit in Sydney in the year 2000,there was no doubt a great sense of pride in the souls of all Australians.What greater honour can a nation have than to be the gracious host of the first Games of the new millennium?
And if that was not enough,Australia’s magnificent display of sporting talents and athletic prowess in various sporting events just about sealed the nation’s status as a sports powerhouse.This perhaps may come as but a small surprise for many Australians,as the very essence of the “Australian identity” is closely linked to sports.
State the thesis and preview of ideas in the body
However,as with all national identities,the Australian attitude and participation in sports is evolving and new trends are emerging which may bring about a great shift in the sports landscape of the nation.
Points are arranged in ascending order of importance with transition linkers
Firstly,there is a shift in which colonial sports,like rugby and cricket are losing their fan base.Instead,the popularity of sports is increasing based upon media coverage.Before the advent of commercialized sport,the popularity of a sport was simply based on the number of people who played it.Yet,the economic theory of Say’s law,in which supply creates its own demand,seems,at present,to be the logical explanation for this growing trend.According to text 6(Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport,2005),quintessential activities to the national identity such as rugby and cricket are not even among the top 10 sporting activities in Australia.Instead wider media coverage over “foreign” sports like basketball and volleyball have provided encouragement to the public,in particular the youth,to engage in these sports.From this,we can see that the mass media acts as a catalyst in transforming national culture and moulding all identities into a single globalised stereotype.
Urbanisation also plays a part in this trend.While the process may be intrinsic,vis,a process that takes place within a country,external forces like globalization and a global supply chain have hastened the rapid development of Australia,hence,profoundly altering its cultural landscape.According to text 5 (Mugford,2001)support for sports is coming more from urban demand,and that”the role of the community and of the rural regions” is dwindling.Thus,the demand for sports which are easy,quick and individualistic,is increasing at an exponential rate.From Text 6,we can see that 4 of the top 10 sports in Australia require nothing more than a pair of decent shoes.Urbanisation has further brought greater emancipation for women,as money,not sex,is king.Female participation in sports throughout Australia is much greater than for men,as depicted in Text 7(Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport,2006)showing overall participation in sports by region and sex.In short,trends in sports participation is gender blind and is being shaped by the urbanization of the country.
By far the greatest impact the Australian sports identity has faced is money.TV rights,advertisement contracts and media moguls have led to a trend where the popularity of sports is largely determined by the amount of money it receives.According to Text 5,individualistic values have creeped into sports and atheletes are being exalted and praised as “the perfect sportsperson”;naturally after signing a contract with Addidas,Nike or any of the other multinational sports corporations.In the globalised world where”money talks” and “money matters”,small town communities with their dimunitive economies have no chance to support their clubs and their struggle to revive the golden age of Australian sports is indeed commendable,but altogether in vain.
Concluding para-summarizes the main points with prediction
“They ruined it-Abramovich,Dubai and oil”,said Arsene Wenger,manager of the world renowned English football club Arsenal.Well respected for having a keen eye for talent,the Frenchman clearly expresses his disappointment in a sporting arena that is no longer based on raw talent and skill.Instead,sports has been commercialized and made into a business,whereby all sports compete against each other for TV coverage,money and recognition,amidst a world that is becoming smaller and smaller,and the differences between genders,nations and cultures becoming increasingly blur.
If Australians do not become aware of this worrisome trend,they may one day lose their very own identity as a people,as a nation,as a sporting powerhouse even.
Why ‘reveal’?
Genre- Discussion
Introduction:
• Brief introduction to different types of texts and their functions: to inform, to acknowledge, to educate, to entertain…
• Express gratitude, glad/grateful—no more discrimination nowadays, due to upholding of multiculturalism policy.
• Thesis statement: some authors tend to use texts as a tool or medium to expose the readers to some particular attitudes and values of societies due to specific reasons.
1st point
• Topic sentence: authors try to use texts to reveal some issues caused by particular attitudes and values of the societies so that the awareness of the issue could be raised.
• Elaboration:
• Some of the issues had long existed, but left unacknowledged.
• Through vivid description as well as the approaches used by the authors to convey the message to the readers(e.g: tone, linguistic devices, lexis) readers would be able to share the same experience/empathize with the author, will become more concerned about the issue.
• Example from text: ‘Desert Flower’ by Waris Dirie
• Vivid description of the FGM procedure, highlighting the inhuman part of the ‘mutilaton’
• E.g: For writers of autobiographies like Dirie, although English wasn’t her mother tongue, but language did not become a barrier for her to produce a text that recount her horrible experience of living in a male dominated society where females like her are subjected to cruel practices of FGM, rape and arranged marriage, as women are objectify as merely trading commodity. Through the vivid description of her novel ‘Desert Flower’, she managed to shed light on an issue that is dear to her heart—the subjugation of women. The readers, or society in general, might not be a stranger to this issue, but the fact is that it is often overlooked due to the subtlety of its occurrence. By having brave authors like Dirie producing texts that can reach out to every level of the society, bringing the issue to the frontline, forcing the readers to face it head on and to acknowledge……
• Example from text: ‘The Forgotten Woman’
• Shows the ‘truth’ behind the ancient ritual/practice of the Indian culture—discrimination against women, particularly widows.
• Interviews in the documentary provides a clearer and more ‘real’ image of the culture.
• Example from text: ‘Bowling For Columbine’ by Michael Moore
• Bring to surface the issue of violation of firearm or gun control- it is common for US citizens to possess firearms, the normalization of weapon possession, lead to the increase in number of murder/massacre in the state.
• Instead of for self-defense, lead to offenses. Make hurting or even killing others all too easy.
2nd Point
• Topic sentence: Authors try to present some particular attitudes and values of society in another way or through another context, as these attitudes and values might be perceived differently or even as being negative due to different cultural context. As a result, the perception or attitude of the text’s consumers towards the mentioned cultures might change. / Authors try to shed different light on pre-conception or attitudes of readers towards a certain culture or community. Reveal sides that are not commonly known to general public, with the objective of….
• Elaboration:
• Different people- different context- different viewpoint on some particular attitudes which might be foreign to.
• Authors/producers of texts might try to challenge or reinforce the stereotypical images of some cultures.
• Example from text: ‘Falling Leaves’ by Adeline Yen Mah
• Shows that the supposedly oriental Chinese community does indeed absorbs and practices western culture and values—challenges the stereotype
• Globalization had formed a universal culture where all cultures are intertwined, esp to the west.
• Example from text: ‘Desert Flower’ by Waris Dirie
• The author highlighted her own culture( the practice, their living conditions, their obligation in everyday life, the values that they hold on to- these descriptions show that the author is happy and contented with her own culture- although others or outsiders might have negative perceptions of the Somali culture: poor living condition, extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, uncivilized…. But author instead turn the table and criticized the other cultures instead, while defending her own.)
Conclusion
• Texts have different functions.
• They could be powerful and effective if the authors use the right approaches to present their ideas to the readers. It may convey messages that might be lost in the rigmaroles of our daily communication.
• But as readers: should not just read the text—must try to get under the skin of authors and pay attention to the real message wished to be conveyed.
How to answer questions in Sec 2 –synthesize ideas,compare and contrast.
The question for this section provides a particular focus and direction to candidates.
Candidates are required not to simply identify the overall main ideas of the two texts but more specifically the main ideas about the focus question.It also needs personal experiences and observations.
The better responses synthesized ideas from all texts,using quotes and examples to support the main ideas.
They could compare and contrast points across the texts.
Weaker responses lack balance in their treatment of the two texts,or make only scant reference to one of the text.Some did not refer to the texts and just provided superficial responses of their own opinions and anecdotal evidence.
Question
Compare and contrast the information given in the texts by explaining the changing trends in Australian attitudes to and participation in sport.Refer to your own experience where appropriate.
Setting the background to lead reader to the thesis
When the Olympic torch was finally lit in Sydney in the year 2000,there was no doubt a great sense of pride in the souls of all Australians.What greater honour can a nation have than to be the gracious host of the first Games of the new millennium?
And if that was not enough,Australia’s magnificent display of sporting talents and athletic prowess in various sporting events just about sealed the nation’s status as a sports powerhouse.This perhaps may come as but a small surprise for many Australians,as the very essence of the “Australian identity” is closely linked to sports.
State the thesis and preview of ideas in the body
However,as with all national identities,the Australian attitude and participation in sports is evolving and new trends are emerging which may bring about a great shift in the sports landscape of the nation.
Points are arranged in ascending order of importance with transition linkers
Firstly,there is a shift in which colonial sports,like rugby and cricket are losing their fan base.Instead,the popularity of sports is increasing based upon media coverage.Before the advent of commercialized sport,the popularity of a sport was simply based on the number of people who played it.Yet,the economic theory of Say’s law,in which supply creates its own demand,seems,at present,to be the logical explanation for this growing trend.According to text 6(Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport,2005),quintessential activities to the national identity such as rugby and cricket are not even among the top 10 sporting activities in Australia.Instead wider media coverage over “foreign” sports like basketball and volleyball have provided encouragement to the public,in particular the youth,to engage in these sports.From this,we can see that the mass media acts as a catalyst in transforming national culture and moulding all identities into a single globalised stereotype.
Urbanisation also plays a part in this trend.While the process may be intrinsic,vis,a process that takes place within a country,external forces like globalization and a global supply chain have hastened the rapid development of Australia,hence,profoundly altering its cultural landscape.According to text 5 (Mugford,2001)support for sports is coming more from urban demand,and that”the role of the community and of the rural regions” is dwindling.Thus,the demand for sports which are easy,quick and individualistic,is increasing at an exponential rate.From Text 6,we can see that 4 of the top 10 sports in Australia require nothing more than a pair of decent shoes.Urbanisation has further brought greater emancipation for women,as money,not sex,is king.Female participation in sports throughout Australia is much greater than for men,as depicted in Text 7(Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport,2006)showing overall participation in sports by region and sex.In short,trends in sports participation is gender blind and is being shaped by the urbanization of the country.
By far the greatest impact the Australian sports identity has faced is money.TV rights,advertisement contracts and media moguls have led to a trend where the popularity of sports is largely determined by the amount of money it receives.According to Text 5,individualistic values have creeped into sports and atheletes are being exalted and praised as “the perfect sportsperson”;naturally after signing a contract with Addidas,Nike or any of the other multinational sports corporations.In the globalised world where”money talks” and “money matters”,small town communities with their dimunitive economies have no chance to support their clubs and their struggle to revive the golden age of Australian sports is indeed commendable,but altogether in vain.
Concluding para-summarizes the main points with prediction
“They ruined it-Abramovich,Dubai and oil”,said Arsene Wenger,manager of the world renowned English football club Arsenal.Well respected for having a keen eye for talent,the Frenchman clearly expresses his disappointment in a sporting arena that is no longer based on raw talent and skill.Instead,sports has been commercialized and made into a business,whereby all sports compete against each other for TV coverage,money and recognition,amidst a world that is becoming smaller and smaller,and the differences between genders,nations and cultures becoming increasingly blur.
If Australians do not become aware of this worrisome trend,they may one day lose their very own identity as a people,as a nation,as a sporting powerhouse even.
