SAC+and+Essay+Info

Notes from Karen. Briefly: The main things you can do to ensure you write well for your SAC/exams include: PREPARATION, PRACTICE, and PLANNING!

Reading widely, writing often, and researching interesting things related to your text and the themes within, all offer you rich resources.

I can't stress enough the importance of the 3 Ps. Practicing different writing styles is just as vital as reading the book and having some good ideas. Or even bad ones!

Planning is absolutely VITAL. My process is this: 1) Comprehend the question. Figure out if you agree or not. Figure out what your reaction is to the prompt. 2) BRAINSTORM!! Write down anything and everything that comes to mind. 3) Divide a planning page into 4 boxes (a simple + style will do it)... Here is where you sort all your Brainstorm ideas into LIKE groups - eg, put all the red M&Ms in one pile, the green ones all together, and so on. You will have 4 solid groups of ideas that you can see are easily linked. This avoids your ideas turning into a messy pile of SCHWAT?! :) 4) Figure out what your central point is - the idea/contention that runs through all 4 boxes and ties your piece together. 5) Write. 6) Read & Edit. Be on the lookout for clichés and change them. Does it FLOW ok? 7) I'm a bit mean, and I actually want you to read and edit it again. Check your grammar and spelling. Does it SOUND ok in your head? 8) Yep. Third time is a charm - READ for a final time, to ensure that all your changes have been made correctly, that it sounds great, that you have no errors, and finally, that you are happy with it.

Below are a couple of PDFs you might find useful in the coming assessments. Read them and use whatever you find to be helpful. Use the www.vcaa.vic.edu.au website and read past exams, comments and other student essays, so that you can see how you can improve and strengthen your skills.

There's also a reading list I give to my private tuition students. You will find many of the texts cross over the various themes and contexts of the VCE curriculum. Some of them are just great reads. Some you may have already read. Use it or not, up to you. It's there for you to consider.

Most of all - good luck to you all, and thank you for having me at your school. x