Free Eng Adv Q and A (1 Viewer)

[phaedrus900]

Below is a shout out for Eng Adv. However, if there is enough interest, I would be happy to run a similar session for Extension 2, as I know this is a confusing and difficult time where you are trying to focus your MWs.

Please PM me or like this post if you'd like a specialised Eng Ext 2 Q and A sesh


Hi all,

In the wake of so many questions and anxieties concerning HSC English forwarded to me this year, I've decided I will run (possibly in conjunction with a good friend and highly experienced English tutor) a free 1 hour interactive Q and A online. I think this might help quell some concerns, get everyone on the same page with some of the broader brushstrokes of good English strategy and generally be a good way to stay in touch with you guys!

I will shortly post more details about time and location (either BoS website, or perhaps reddit) and where you can forward any questions you'd like answered on the night. Watch this space!

Cheers,
Dave

 

[phaedrus900]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the positive feedback. I have decided to run the Q and A session, in a new thread, this Wednesday, 16 March. My first priority will be to answer questions sent to me prior to the night, so please PM if you would like to ensure your question is answered. If relevant, I may also answer good questions PM'd to me on the night, as well as some perennial questions which I get as a tutor.

I hope you find it worthwhile and helpful,
Cheers,
David

 

[phaedrus900]

PS details for the Ext 2 Q and A to follow in the next fortnight. I may change up the style, so that it is more interactive/forum based - since the questions in this subject tend to be more specific to the student's chosen medium, and also are more specific and detailed. I think this makes it more amenable to a discussion than a sermon.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[eyeseeyou]

Hey Phaedrus900/Dave

Not to be a busy bugger or anything but what qualifications do you have?

 

[phaedrus900]

no worries at all. So, as I think I might have said in my main tutoring page, my HSC results were 96 for Eng Adv, 47/50 for ext 1 (Postmodernism), 50/50 and nomination for showcase for Extension 2. I recently (2015) completed my Arts/Law Degree at Usyd - Late date underpinned by change from Economics (scholarship induced) to Arts (Philosophy/Politics - what I actually love).

Re tutoring experience I have tutored intensely on and off for the last 6 years, and all my students have received band 6/ E 4 results, which I am quite proud of.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[eyeseeyou]

no worries at all. So, as I think I might have said in my main tutoring page, my HSC results were 96 for Eng Adv, 47/50 for ext 1 (Postmodernism), 50/50 and nomination for showcase for Extension 2. I recently (2015) completed my Arts/Law Degree at Usyd - Late date underpinned by change from Economics (scholarship induced) to Arts (Philosophy/Politics - what I actually love).

Re tutoring experience I have tutored intensely on and off for the last 6 years, and all my students have received band 6/ E 4 results, which I am quite proud of.

Cheers,
Dave

And you're still tutoring when working fulltime???

 

[Orwell]

Thanks for doing this man, really want to do English Extension 2 and this should help.

 

[phaedrus900]

No worries Orwell, I like that you're up front about your UAI aim - if you are going to aim that high you have to be real about it early, because its a lot of work and juggling, and good to have a strategy.
Hope the Q and A helps, and youre welcome to PM me if you have any particular personal concerns you want addressed with English - happy to help

 

[phaedrus900]

Hi all,

I have had a number of requests to postpone my Eng Adv session due to students currently completing their mid yearlies, so I will now be holding the Q and A on Wednesday, 23 March. Please keep the questions coming; if we don't get to them on Wednesday I will post as a separate attachment and answer subsequently.

For those currently undertaking English Extension 2 or interested, I will, however, still be running the Extension 2 forum tonight.

Start time: 7:30 pm
Format: Q and A I will focus mainly on questions which I have received this week, and also those that come up perennially with my students. I will post these sequentially and numbered - if you wish to reply or further inquire about one of the questions I post, please refer to it by number at the start of your post/response.






Cheers,
Dave

 

[phaedrus900]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay in putting the Advanced session through - I had an influx of student needs, and obviously current students come first. This break did, however, give me the idea to rethink the structure a bit. I have decided to do more of a slow-release Q and A to give students more time to private message with anxieties, queries and concerns. In turn I may amend, augment my answers. So I will now answer 1 questions per day, continuing on a necessity basis.

As always if you wish to get in touch with me, either for private (individual or group) sessions, or simply to engage with the SR QandA process, you can pm me. Tutoring enquiries are better sent to dblo7401@uni.sydney.edu.au or my mob 0405836941.

Please don't feel shy! I have really enjoyed connecting with students of all levels this year. HSC is a difficult time and it helps to have people to guide you.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[phaedrus900]

Hi all

- The Advanced Q and A forum is now underway - for all those who can't find it, here's the link

http://community.boredofstudies.org...9659/english-advanced-qanda-slow-release.html

 

[alrightthen123]

"This is a bit of a dumb question, but how do you suggest practising for english? I have no idea where to start with everything."

phaedrus900
Hi,
No such thing as a dumb question. It's really hard to know where to start. It depends a lot on your personality more than anything. Personally, I find it stressful when I don't know where I'm going or why I am doing what I am doing. Therefore, for me, its very important with anything to get an overview, and an answer to some of these. So I looked through all the topic first at a general level, read the texts, read the marker's notes and so on. Then once I sort of understood how the syllabus worked and how you were meant to write etc, I started getting the details sorted, quotes etc. Its like drawing the outline of a picture first and then you fill it in.

Some people are different - they prefer to build up lots of details. Also, your capabilities are important too. If you're not a good write or you don't understand the basics of thesis, argument, essay structure etc that's something that needs immediate work. Conversely, maybe your weakness is memory and detail in which case reading your texts a few times will be more important.

As a side note, this is probably the most important part of the tutoring work I do - finding out where I can help the most and directing students. Unfortunately in a classroom environment, unless you are lucky, your teacher can spend heaps of time on things where you don't need help and fail to explain/focus on things you do.

Sorry I cant be more specific, but it is quite context. As I said above, certainly a sensible start would be reading the syllabus and marker's notes a few times, looking at past exams every few weeks and seeing if you get more of a sense of how you'd answer a question, getting model answers from students who have done your texts, working on essay structure and generally sorting out where you need to improve.

D