How to get a Perfect Score for your QCAA English media text?

This task is normally your first taste of senior English writing, and you are provided ample time submit the best possible assignment. Here are some tips and tricks to help you ace your first senior English task.

What is the QCAA English Media Text task?

During the term, you will be given opportunities to engage in at least one literary text (a play, a film, poetry, etc) and different forms of media texts (news, blogs, speeches, journals, feature articles, etc). The English Media Text assessment:

• Focuses on analysis, interpretation and examination of concepts in texts.
• Is open-ended; you will be required to respond to two texts connected by representations of a key concept for a public audience.
• Requires you to write a media text (article, essay, blog or column) for an online publication.

You are provided 5 weeks of preparation time, and your online article must be 1000 to 1500 words. Visuals that complement the features for the type of media text you are writing are highly recommended.

How to Plan?

Part A: Conceptual Thinking

Ask yourself different questions so you understand more about the texts you’re analysing and the task itself. Below are 4 key questions that will help you greatly with your assignment:

1. How might you focus your analysis of the representation of [insert representation from task sheet]? Select from the list your school provided and/or consult your teacher on your own.
2. Using this perspective, draft a statement that might serve as a potential thesis or contention. Be specific and concise. Consider how the representation adds to the ongoing public “conversation”.
3. What are some of the critical and/or emotional reactions that your texts prompt (answer in dot points)?
4. What do you want your readers to think about or question as they read your article? 

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Part B: Specific Planning

1. TITLE: Consider a strong title and subtitle.
2. INTRO:
   1. Reveal text/s and focus.
   2. State your thesis or contention.
   3. Hook your reader’s interest.
3. CONTEXT:
   1. Mention relevant background information about the text/s and creators.
   2. Mention relevant connections between the text/s and our world.
4. DEVELOPMENT:
   1. Develop your analysis over a series of paragraphs.
   2. Organise and sequence your subject matter coherently and cohesively.
   3. Select specific and significant evidence and examples to support your analysis.
   4. Other things you can analyse:
      1. Intertextual connections or allusions to other texts.
      2. The effect of film techniques.
      3. Purposeful grammatical structures.
      4. Appropriate complementary features.
5. CLOSING:
   1. Synthesise your analysis.
   2. Link to thesis.
   3. Link to ‘conversation’ about concepts in texts.
   4. Leave a lasting impression.

How to prepare for the QCAA English IA3 Imaginative Written Response

Need help getting a kick start on writing a kick-ass imaginative response for QCAA English? Keep reading for our systematic break down of everything you need in a top-mark IA3 imaginative written response.

KIS Academics BlogManoj Arachige

Final Tips and Tricks

1. Writing Style

Do not write as formally as you normally would for a proper English essay. Instead, adopt a more conversational tone. However, you should still be using proper grammar and sentence structure.

2. Moving between Texts

In your article, it’s important to introduce both texts, including the important individuals and key events for each of them. As you write the article, make sure it's clear which text you are referring to. Utilise unique elements to seamlessly move between texts, such as using comparisons, or similarities, or even just the director/author’s name.

3. Analysing the texts

You can pick out specific quotes from characters to uphold your “arguments”, but use them sparingly. What is important is that you analyse those quotes, and explain why how and why it proves your point!

4. Visuals

Make it look like an article ready to print. Utilise images from the movie, big fancy quotes from the book, and have a cool opening picture just below your titles. Further incorporations include a date in the top left corner, socials, word count, and time it takes to read. Look at different media articles online on similar topics that you are discussing, and reference how they are presented visually.

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Conclusion

The English media text assignment can seem daunting since it is your first writing task. However, with the right preparation and guidance, you will be able to ace it. If you still aren't confident, a private tutor from KIS Academics can guide you through your QCE English journey.

FAQs

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for QCE Physics, Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods, Ragulan Gnanavel. Additionally, he is available for English and Modern History assignment assistance. Ragulan is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Commerce at UNSW. He has outstanding credentials as a tutor, and you can view Ragulan’s profile here and request him as a tutor.

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