A beginner’s guide to Year 11 and 12 Advanced English:

Introduction

In this beginner’s guide to Year 11 and 12 Advanced English, we will explore all the necessary steps, strategies and techniques that will help you succeed. This guide aims to provide you with a clear roadmap to navigate the intricacies of the HSC Advanced English syllabus, allowing you to excel in this subject.

We will cover the various modules that shape the HSC Advanced English course such as Texts and Human Experiences, Critical Study of Literature, Textual Conversations and Craft of Writing. Moreover in this guide, we detail how you should approach HSC Advanced English, the importance of a study schedule, knowing the structure of exams and the Advanced English syllabus. 

Whether you are a student starting year 11 or a student already in the midst of year 12, this beginner’s guide will serve as a valuable resource that deepens your understanding of the HSC Advanced English syllabus.

Reading Your Text

The first and foremost important step in achieving success in the Advanced English course is to obviously, read your text! Reading your prescribed texts serves as an important foundation for Advanced English. While going through multiple websites for analysis such as Sparknotes or Litcharts can be beneficial, the benefits experienced are only at a superficial level of understanding. Reading allows you to engage with the characters, themes, and ideas presented within the text. By allowing yourself to be immersed within the world of the text, you gain insight into the historical and social contexts surrounding the text which enables you to develop a more empathetic and informed worldview for analysis. After all, the HSC exams rely heavily on your understanding and analysis of the prescribed texts and by reading, you acquire the necessary knowledge and familiarity to excel.

Reading also exposes you to different literary styles, techniques and genres. By reading a diverse range of texts, each presents a unique opportunity for literary analysis and interpretation that offers a transferability of skills you can take on for other texts as well. Overall, reading allows you to enrich your ability to dissect and critically engage with the text. 

Don’t Memorise

Memorising responses might seem like the way to approach Advanced English. After all, you will have to spend more time planning your responses and coming up with one on the spot than if you had memorised a response. However, while as tempting as this may sound, often an adverse effect is found. 

You forget parts of the memorised response which completely stresses you out, or the question is different to what you had prepared for which again, completely stresses you out. So often memorising a response restricts your ability to adapt to different response prompts and questions which require nuanced responses. Rigidly sticking to a pre-written response will hinder specificity to the question, resulting in a not as effective response.

Instead, try response plans with quote analysis and techniques. This allows you to have a structured order and flow of ideas that does not compromise on the depth required to do well in responses.   Furthermore, planning potential thesis or topic sentences that are easily adaptable to any question will offer greater flexibility in your approach to any Advanced English Exam.

At YK Education, we preach the quote, technique and analysis table which offers students clarity as to what, how and when a particular quote will be used. 

With every text, we allow students to become accustomed to writing topic sentences for a wide arrange of sample questions

Study Schedule

A study schedule helps keep you accountable for your goals and outlines a specific method to deal with preparing, planning, and practicing for any upcoming Advanced English exam or test. Typically, a study schedule involves setting clear and realistic goals that are in consideration of current time commitments. In doing so, by breaking down your learning objectives into smaller milestones, you can track your progress and stay motivated. For example, this might involve collecting quotes and identifying techniques in one week, while analysing the quotes in detail the next week. 

The HSC Advanced English course covers a wide range of topics, texts, and modules. A study schedule enables you to plan and allocate sufficient time for each aspect of the syllabus. By breaking down the content into manageable chunks and spreading it over a period of time, you ensure that you cover all the necessary material and avoid a last minute rush.

Practice

Practice writing out essays or creative writing responses so you get comfortable writing structured coherent arguments using the appropriate language and tone with the appropriate analysis. By consistently engaging in essay writing, you develop proficiency and confidence in articulating your ideas effectively. 

As HSC Advanced English exams have time constraints, it is also important to do these practices under timed conditions. In doing so, it allows you to organise your thoughts efficiently and complete essays within the allocated time frame. It further ensures you are better prepared for the exam conditions and can produce high-quality responses under pressure.

Syllabus

Common Module – Texts and Human Experiences

Texts and Human Experiences is within the Common module of English, with all students in year 12 studying the Common module at the same time.

Find the rubric for the Common Module below, with key words and phrases highlighted! Take these into account next time you write your essay response.

Find some practice questions for the Common Module below!

1. How do the prescribed texts explore the theme of identity and belonging? Discuss with reference to at least two texts. 
2. Analyse the ways in which the prescribed texts challenge societal norms and expectations. Discuss the impact of these challenges on individuals and communities. 
3. Explore the representation of power and authority in the prescribed texts. How do the texts convey the complexities and consequences of power dynamics? 
4. Discuss the role of memory and its impact on characters’ experiences in the prescribed texts. How does memory shape their identities and understanding of the world around them? 

Module A – Textual Conversations

Module A is designed to develop students’ understanding of how different texts, in terms of genre, form, and context, can be compared and contrasted to deepen their insights and appreciation of the texts. It encourages students to critically examine the ideas, themes, literary techniques, and perspectives presented in the texts and consider their social, historical, and cultural contexts. 

Find the rubric for Module A below, with key words and phrases highlighted! Take these into account next time you write your essay response.

Find some practice questions for Module A below!

1. Compare and contrast the ways in which two prescribed texts explore the theme of power and its impact on individuals and societies. 
2. Discuss how the prescribed texts engage with the concept of identity and belonging. Analyse the similarities and differences in their portrayal of these themes. 
3. Explore the representation of gender roles and relationships in the prescribed texts. How do the texts challenge or reinforce traditional notions of gender? 
4. Analyse how the prescribed texts explore the theme of love and its complexities. Consider the different perspectives and approaches presented in the texts. 

Module B – Critical Study of Literature

Module B is designed to develop students’ critical and analytical skills by encouraging them to closely examine the prescribed text from various angles. The module aims to enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of the text’s complexities, literary techniques, and the author’s intended meaning.

Find the rubric for Module B below, with key words and phrases highlighted! Take these into account next time you write your essay response.

Find some practice questions for Module B below!

1. Explore the ways in which the prescribed text challenges traditional notions of heroism and the concept of a tragic hero. Analyse the representation of power and its corrupting influence in the prescribed text. 
2. How does power shape the characters’ actions and relationships? 
3. Discuss the role of setting in the prescribed text and its impact on the overall mood, themes, and character development. 
4. Examine the use of symbolism and imagery in the prescribed text. How do these literary devices enhance the reader’s understanding of the text’s themes and ideas? 

Module C – Craft of Writing

Module C focuses on developing students’ skills in crafting and composing their own written texts. It emphasises the importance of effective writing techniques, style, and voice. The module encourages students to explore different forms, genres, and modes of writing, such as persuasive, imaginative, discursive, and analytical writing.

Find the rubric for Module C below, with key words and phrases highlighted! Take these into account next time you write your creative writing response.

1. Create an original piece of persuasive writing that argues for or against a controversial social or political issue. Discuss the writing techniques you employed to effectively convey your argument. 
2. Craft a short story that explores the theme of personal transformation. Analyse the narrative techniques you used to develop characters and convey the transformative journey. 
3. Write a reflective essay that explores your experiences with a particular form of media (e.g., film, literature, music) and its impact on your worldview. Discuss the writing techniques you used to express your reflections. 
4. Compose a series of poems that explore a specific emotion or theme. Analyse the poetic devices and techniques you employed to evoke a particular mood or convey meaning. 

Conclusion

In this guide, we have emphasised the importance of reading and analysing prescribed texts, the significance of essay writing and the value of seeking feedback, the need to create a study schedule and the different modules of Advanced English.

Ultimately, the HSC Advanced English course can be a challenging journey for many. However, by understanding the syllabus, engaging with prescribed texts, and honing analytical skills, students can excel.