4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

A 4 Step Guide to HSC Discovery (Essay)

For"the"new"cohort,"the"Discovery"essay"is"one"of"the"first"HSC"English"exams"
you"will"undertake"and"this"can"even"overwhelm"the"brightest"of"students"that"
lack"a"sense"of"direction.""

Having"finished"the"HSC"examinations,"I"can"tell"you"from"experience"that"
English"is"a"challenging"subject"which"will"certainly"cause"you"lots"of"stress."This"
is"why"I"have"created"a"guide"which"outlines"a"simple,"step"by"step"process"to"
help"you"tackle"a"crucial"component"of"the"course."""

Personally,"I"was"tested"twice"on"the"Discovery"essay"in"my"internal"
examinations."By"applying"these"steps,"I"attained"15/15$both$times,"helping"me"
get"a"final"HSC"mark"of"96$in"English"Advanced."

Do"keep"in"mind"that"this"guide"is"not"a"magic"formula"to"success."You"are"
more"than"welcome"to"disagree"with"anything"I"have"written"as"there"are"many"
valid"approaches"to"attain"high"marks.""

However,"the"advice"I"am"providing"has"been"passed"on"to"me"by"state"ranking"
students"so"in"my"opinion,"these"tips"form"the"basis"of"virtually"all"top"scoring"
essays.""

I"always"found"it"difficult"to"tackle"this"component"of"the"course"and"it"was"
amazing"just"how"much"simpler"everything"became"once"I"was"given"these"tips."
Now,"Im"going"to"share"these"methodologies"with"you"so"I"hope"it"adds"value"
and"makes"life"easier":)""

So"as"promised,"here"are"the"4"steps.""
"
$
$
" Have$question$about$the$guide$or$need$more$tips$for$
English?$Join$the$HSC$Q&A$Group$on$Facebook$for$more$
FREE$advice!$
https://www.facebook.com/groups/197747283891027/$
"

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

STEP 1: START WITH THE END IN MIND

To"succeed"in"any"subject,"you"must"have"a"clear"idea"of"what"the"end"result"
needs"to"be."This"seems"remarkably"obvious"but"many"students"will"ignore"this"
simple"advice"and"wonder"where"it"all"went"wrong.""

Let"me"tell"you"how"to"avoid"this"mistake.""

For"all"subjects,"there"are"a"set"of"outcomes"which"you"have"to"meet"in"order"
to"attain"high"marks."Every"one"of"you"should"be"familiar"with"what"I"am"talking"
about"because"youve"been"exposed"to"this"since"Year"7.""

It$is$the$syllabus.$

A"syllabus"lets"you"start"with"the"end"in"mind"because"it"tells"you"exactly"WHAT"
you"need"to"prepare."If"you"know"WHAT"you"need"to"prepare,"this"makes"your"
life"much"easier"because"it"gives"you"clarity"as"to"HOW"you"should"prepare.""

For"the"Discovery"essay,"a"surprisingly"large"number"of"people"dont"realise"
that"a"syllabus"actually"exists"or"they"do"not"use"it"sufficiently."You"can"have"a"
look"at"the"syllabus"document"for"Discovery"below.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

So$How$Exactly$Do$You$Use$The$Syllabus?"

Your"question"for"the"Discovery"essay"will"come"from"this"syllabus."It"wont"a"
word"for"word"copy"from"the"text"in"the"syllabus,"but"it"will"be"closely"related"
to"a"concept"found"in"here."""

For"example,"the"2015"HSC"question"for"the"discovery"essay"was:""

The%process%of%discovery%involves%uncovering%what%is%hidden%and%reconsidering%
what%is%known.""

On"the"first"reading"of"the"question,"the"connection"to"the"syllabus"wont"be"
clear."However"on"closer"inspection,"this"particular"question"directly"links"to"a"
range"of"statements"in"the"syllabus,"including:""

! ...discovering"can"offer"new"understandings"and"renewed"perceptions"
of"ourselves"and"others.""
! They"can"lead"us"to"new"worlds"and"values,"stimulate"new"ideas,"and"
enable"us"to"speculate"about"future"possibilities.""
! ...the"potential"to"affirm"or"challenge"individuals"or"more"widelyZheld"
assumptions"and"beliefs"about"aspects"of"human"experience"and"the"
world.""

Knowing"this"information,"you"are"starting"with"the"end"in"mind"as"you"know"
you"will"need"to"write"an"essay"which"addresses"one"or"more"concepts"in"the"
syllabus.""

In"other"words,"you"know"WHAT$to"prepare"by"developing"an"extensive"
understanding"of"the"syllabus."""

Let"me"also"give"you"my"strategy"on"HOW"to"prepare"for"this.""

Take"a"step"back"and"look"at"the"syllabus"from"a"holistic"point"of"view."What"
you"will"realise"is"that"almost"every"statement"in"the"syllabus"falls"into"one"of"
two"broad"categories:""

1)$Influences$of$Discovery"

2)$Effects$of$Discovery$
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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

If"you"dont"believe"me"read"the"syllabus"and"you"will"find"that"this"is"true"for"
almost"every"single"sentence.""

"
For"example:""
"
...discovering%can%vary%according%to%personal,%cultural,%historical%and%
" social%contexts%and%values"shows"an"influence$of"discovery.""

" "Discoveries%can%be%fresh%and%intensely%meaningful"shows"an"effect"of"
discovery.""
"
"
"

This"is"pivotal"because"it"gives"you"insight"into"what"types"of"exam"questions"
will"be"asked.""

With$this$knowledge,$you$can$now$write$an$adaptable$generic$essay.$$

If"you"know"that"these"two"types"of"questions"can"be"asked,"your"prepared"
essay"should"directly"address"one"or"both"of"these"categories"(from"my"
experience,"the"effect"of"Discovery""section"is"much"more"likely"to"be"tested).""

Personally,"I"talked"about"both"influences"and"effects"in"my"prepared"essay"
(more"on"how"to"prepare"essays"later)."Indeed,"my"subsequent"exam"questions"
were"derived"from"these"categories"and"this"made"it"much"easier"for"me"to"
answer"the"question"on"the"day.""

Your"concern"may"be"that"separating"the"syllabus"into"influences"and"effects"
seems"like"a"broad"generalisation"where"multiple"questions"can"be"asked"
within"a"category.""

Lets"address"this"concern"in"greater"detail."For"the"purpose"of"this"example,"Ill"
focus"on"the"effects"category.""

In"the"syllabus,"there"are"various"effects"of"Discovery"such"as:""

! Discoveries"can"be"fresh"and"intensely"meaningful"in"ways"that"may"be"
emotional,"creative,"intellectual,"physical"and"spiritual""
! ...discovering"can"offer"new"understandings"and"renewed"perceptions"
of"ourselves"and"others."

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

! "The"ramifications"of"particular"discoveries"may"differ"for"individuals"
and"their"worlds.""

This"shows"us"that"a"range"of"questions"can"be"asked"in"just"the"effects"
category.""

However,"as"you"enhance"your"understanding"of"the"syllabus,"what"youll"find"
is"that"all"of"the"effects"are"closely"related"to"each"other."As"long"as"your"
prepared"essay"focuses"on"some"type"of"effect,"this"makes"it"much"more"
adaptable"and"puts"you"in"a"strong"position"to"respond"to"an"effects"exam"
question."I"will"go"into"more"detail"about"how"to"practice"adaption"in"step"4.""

But$a$word$of$warning!$

If"you"get"a"question"which"comes"from"the"effects"section,"you"absolutely"
have"to"extensively"address"that"particular"effect."Do"not"misinterpret"what"I"
am"saying"and"assume"that"you"are"answering"the"question"by"just"writing"
about"any"effect"that"is"not"specified"in"the"question.""

Furthermore,"I"cannot"guarantee"that"your"Discovery"essay"question"will"be"
derived"from"these"two"categories."Having"looked"at"a"range"of"questions,"Ive"
seen"ones"that"strayed"away"from"influences"or"effects,"although$this$has$
been$very$rare.$$

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

STEP 2: FIND A RELATED TEXT

This"is"a"straightforward,"but"nonetheless"important"step"to"get"right.""

You"must"choose"your"related"text"wisely"as"a"poor"selection"will"severely"
undermine"the"quality"of"your"essay.""

Here"are"a"set"of"criteria"to"help"you"find"an"appropriate"related"text:""

! Choose"something"that"is"in"a"different"textual"form"to"your"prescribed"
text""
! Do"not"choose"something"which"is"currently"a"prescribed"text"in"other"
modules"
! Choose"a"text"which"provides"similar$or$different"notions$of$discovery"to$
your$prescribed$text."You"have"to"be"able"to"find"points"of"comparison"
between"your"related"and"prescribed"text"
! Choose"a"text"that"has"high$quality$analysis$available."Sites"like"
SparkNotes"mostly"contain"mediocre"analysis"and"should"only"be"used"to"
help"you"understand"your"text."Instead,"try"to"look"for"university$
analysis$or$research$papers$which"expose"you"to"nuanced,"sophisticated"
ideas$
! Choose"something"that"you"find"interesting."You"should"be"engaged"with"
your"related"text"so"that"are"you"motivated"to"study"it$

Consider"some"of"the"following"options:"

! Black%Swan,"Darren"Aronofsky"(film)""
! Requiem%for%a%Dream,%Darren"Aronofsky"(film)""
! The%Old%Man%and%the%Sea,%Ernest"Hemingway"(short"story)""
! Flowers%for%Algernon,%Daniel"Keyes"(short"story)""
! Five%Bells,%Gail"Jones"(novel)""
! Anna%Karenina,%Leo"Tolstoy"(novel)""
! Prufrock,%T.S."Elliot"(poetry)""
! The%River%Merchants%Wife,%Ezra"Pound"(poetry)""
! Guernica,%Picasso"(painting)""

Also"keep"in"mind"that"questions"can"ask"you"to"include"two"related"texts."This"
is"unlikely"but"nonetheless,"I"suggest"you"prepare"a"backup"related"text"just"in"
case"this"curveball"is"thrown"at"you.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

STEP 3: WRITE YOUR ESSAY"

Now"that"you"have"a"related"text"and"understand"the"types"of"questions"that"
can"be"asked,"its"time"for"you"to"start"writing"your"essay.""

I"strongly$recommend"that"you"prepare"a"generic"essay"before"the"exam"
where"having"this"will"enable"you"to"write"a"response"that"is"succinct,"
coherent,"sophisticated"and"wellZwritten.""

Only"a"small"percentage"of"the"state"can"produce"AZRange"responses"without"
extensive"preparation.""

This"step"will"help"you"to"structure"your"essay"and"meet"the"key"demands"of"
markers.""

So$How$Should$I$Structure$And$Write$My$Essays?$"

1.$Introduction"

! Thesis"statement:"This"is"the"central$argument$of$your$essay$and$it$
MUST$answer$the$question.$"
! Introduce"your"prescribed"and"related"texts"(including"authors"and"
dates)."It"is"crucial"to"also"establish"the"notions"of"Discovery"that"you"will"
be"analysing""
! Have"a"concluding"sentence"which"links"back"to"your"thesis"(do"not"just"
regurgitate"your"thesis)""

Many"students"fail"to"realise"the"importance"of"the"introduction."They"will"
generally"rush"through"this"to"save"a"few"precious"minutes"and"end"up"
performing"below"their"expectations.""

First$impressions$matter.$$

I"have"been"told"many"times"that"markers"can"gauge"whether"your"response"is"
in"the"A,"B"or"CZRange"by"just"the"quality"of"the"introduction.""

If"you"include"a"thesis"that"engages"with"the"question"whilst"introducing"how"
you"are"going"to"support"this"thesis"in"a"succinct"manner,"you"will"be"well"on"
your"way"to"an"AZRange"response"by"allowing"the"marker"to"follow"and"
understand"your"arguments.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

Consider"the"exemplar"introduction"for"the"following"question:""

A%sense%of%curiosity%or%interest%in%the%world%can%lead%to%unexpected%discoveries%
about%the%self%and%others.%
Assess%the%ways%this%view%of%Discovery%is%represented%in%your%prescribed%text%
and%at%least%ONE%other%related%text%of%your%own%choosing.%

$Depending"on"the"nature"of"ones"curiosity,"this"culminates"to"unexpected"
discoveries"that"can"either"enrich"or"hinder"ones"perception"of"self"and"others."
$(This$thesis$skilfully$answers$the$question$directly$and$uses$wording$from$the$
question).$Such"is"delineated"in"Robert"Grays"free"verse"poems"Journey"the"North"
$
Coast"(1974)"and"Meatworks"(1998),"revealing"discoveries"of"nature"which"is"
$driven"by"curiosity"to"reshape"ones"identity"and"augment"human"agency"to"
challenge"societal"constructs."(Introduces$the$prescribed$texts$in$an$effective$
$manner$by$identifying$the$main$idea$and$linking$it$to$the$notion$of$Discovery)$By"
contrast,"Darren"Aronofskys"film"Black"Swan"(2010)"captures"the"obsessive"
$
curiosity"for"selfZactualisation"to"catalyse"unexpected"discoveries"that"inhibit"
$individual"growth."(Compares$related$to$prescribed$text$by$showing$how$related$
text$presents$a$contrasting$notion$of$discovery)"As"such,"these"texts"assert"that"
$unexpected"discoveries"are"inextricably"linked"to"curiosity,"leading"to"distinct"

$implications"upon"the"perception"of"self"and"others."(A$succinct$concluding$
sentence$which$relates$back$to$the$thesis$and$answers$the$question).$"
$

$
2.$Body$Paragraphs$

The"general"consensus"is"that"it"is"ideal"to"have"four$body$paragraphs."With"
this"method,"you"would"structure"your"paragraphs"in"the"following"manner:"

" 1)"Prescribed"text" "

" 2)"Related"text""
" 3)"Prescribed"text""
" 4)"Related"text""

However,"I"personally"did"not"use"the"above"structure.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

Instead"of"having"four"body"paragraphs,"I"opted"to"only"include"three."The"
reason"for"this"was"because"I"had"terrible"handwriting"and"it"was"necessary"for"
me"to"cut"down"on"content"so"I"could"slow"down"and"write"legibly.""

This"just"goes"to"show"you"that"there"isnt"a"perfect"way"to"structure"your"
essays"and"at"the"end"of"the"day,"whatever"method"you"choose"wont"affect"
your"marks"as"long"as"it"is"logical"and"coherent.""

However,"what"will"certainly"affect"your"marks"is"the"quality"of"your"content$
and"how"you"structure"this"content."As"a"general"guide,"I"used"the"structure"
below:"

! Topic"sentence"which"reinforces"your"thesis"and"introduces"the"idea"of"
Discovery"that"you"will"discuss""
! In"one$line,"briefly"explain"how"the"concept"of"Discovery"is"present"in"
your"text"(it"is"appropriate"to"talk"your"texts"plot"here)""
! Include"3Z4"pieces"of"evidence"(evidence$consists$of$a$quote,$technique,$
an$explanation$on$how$it$is$relevant$to$Discovery)$$
! Concluding"sentence"which"links"back"to"your"topic"sentence"and"
answers"the"question""

Here"are"tips"you"must"apply"if"you"want"to"be"in"the"AZRange:""

! Do$not$focus$your$body$paragraphs$on$themes$or$characters:$The"
question"on"Discovery"will"be"broad"and"never"specific"to"a"text."Instead,"
your"body"paragraphs"have"to"argue$about$a$certain$idea$of$Discovery."
This"might"be"how"Discovery"can"lead"one"to"challenge"the"perception"of"
the"world"or"how"it"can"return"man"to"a"more"cathartic"state"of"being.""
! Select$your$evidence$carefully:$
o! If"your"evidence"does"not"support"or"develop"your"topic"sentence,"
please"do"not"use"that"piece"of"textual"evidence""
o! Choose"evidence"that"allows"you"to"precisely"pinpoint"your"
argument."Many"students"lose"marks"because"they"are"lazy"and"
pick"evidence"that"only"conveys"a"shallow"and"often"irrelevant"
point""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

! Always$explain$the$effect$of$your$techniques:"For"example,"do"not"just"
say"the"author"uses"alliteration"without"telling"the"marker"how"this"
technique"provides"an"insight"into"Discovery"
! Synthesise$your$discussion$of$texts:$In"the"paragraphs"of"your"related"
text,"it"is"important"to"compare"the"ideas"of"Discovery"with"your"
prescribed"text."I"would"do"this"twice"when"analysing"my"related"text""
! Develop$your$argument$throughout$your$body$paragraph:$This"means"
that"each"piece"of"evidence"should"provide"a"new,"distinct"point"on""
Discover""as"opposed"to"merely"repeating"the"same"idea"
"

3.$Conclusion$$

The"conclusion"should"be"very"straightforward."However,"do"be"mindful"that"if"
you"have"a"horrendous"conclusion,"you"will"lose"marks"even"if"your"
introduction"and"body"paragraphs"are"of"a"very"high"quality.""

Just"be"sure"to"do"the"following"things"and"you"will"be"fine:""

! Reiterate"the"arguments"about"Discovery"that"you"made"in"your"essay."
You"can"just"reword"what"you"wrote"in"the"introduction""
! Be"sure"to"answer"the"question"again"in"your"last"sentence""

"

How$Do$I$Write$An$Essay$That$Markers$Will$Love?"

Having"a"coherent"structure"and"high"quality"content"definitely"puts"you"well"
on"your"way"to"an"AZRange"mark."However,"here"are"a"few"broader"tips"which"
form"the"foundations"of"a"top"scoring"Discovery"essay.""

1)$Have$a$Sustained,$Consistent$Argument:$This"means"that"everything"in"your"
introduction,"body"paragraphs"and"conclusion"should"be"focused"on"proving"
your"argument"to"the"question."The"key"to"attaining"top"marks"in"the"Discovery"
essay"is"by"answering"the"question."As"such,"it"is"not"enough"to"only"answer"the"
question"in"your"introduction"and"then"talk"about"irrelevant"information"that"
you"have"memorised"in"your"body"paragraphs.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

2)$Sophisticated$Expression:$Writing"with"sophisticated"expression"doesnt"
mean"going"on"Thesaurus.com"and"finding"obscure"vocabulary"to"put"in"your"
essay."Many"people"do"this"to"try"and"make"their"essay"seem"more"complex"
when"in"truth,"it"just"makes"it"hard"for"the"markers"to"understand"your"
argument"and"shows"them"that"you"only"have"a"basic"control"of"language."
Sophisticated"expression"is"concise$and$succinct,"where"it"allows"you"precisely$
pinpoint$your$arguments"without"waffling"on"for"sentences.""

3.$Quality$vs$Quantity:$We"all"know"the"ageZold"idea"that"quality"is"more"
important"than"quantity."However,"this"notion"doesnt"necessarily"hold"true"for"
essay"writing."If"you"can"write"1100"words"as"opposed"to"900"words"whilst"still"
maintaining"a"sophisticated"expression,"sustaining"your"arguments"and"
incorporating"insightful"analysis,"your"essay"will"be"looked"upon"more"
favourably."However"if"youre"a"slow"writer"like"me,"it"is"much"better"to"
prepare"less"content"to"make"sure"you"dont"run"out"of"time."My"Discovery"
essays"were"generally"around"900Z1000"words"and"I"could"still"attain"full"marks.""

4.$Edit$Ruthlessly:$You"are"positioning"yourself"to"achieve"a"poor"mark"if"you"
do"not"edit"and"revise"your"prepared"essays."From"firsthand"experience,"I"know"
how"soulZcrushing"it"feels"to"spend"weeks"perfecting"an"essay,"only"to"then"
have"someone"rip"it"apart."Personally,"I"had"over"ten$drafts"for"my"Discovery"
essay"where"I"would"seek"out"feedback"from"my"teachers"or"other"state"
rankers"and"consistently"improve"my"writing."Unless"you"have"a"real"knack"for"
English,"your"first"few"drafts"will"not"be"15/15"material.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

STEP 4: PREPARING FOR THE EXAM

If"youre"following"this"guide"stepZbyZstep,"youve"probably"spent"the"last"few"
weeks"understanding"the"syllabus,"picking"a"related"text"and"perfecting"your"
generic"essay.""

Surely"youll"now"ace"the"exam"because"you"have"a"great"prepared"essay"right?""

Id"hate"to"crush"your"dreams"but"unfortunately,"the"truth"is"that"youre"only"
halfway$there.""

If"I"had"to"pick"a"step"which"most"students"neglect,"Id"be"willing"to"bet"that"it"is"
this"step."To"be"blunt,"your"preparation"will"not"matter"if"you"do"not"do"what"
Im"about"to"tell"you.""

The"previous"steps"are"designed"to"help"you"write"a"top"scoring"generic"essay."
However,"even"the"best"generic"essays"will"become"a"CZRange"essay"if"you"do"
not"answer$the$question.""

As"such,"you"will"need"to"learn"how"to"adapt"your"generic"Discovery"essay.""

"

How$Do$I$Adapt$My$Way$To$Success?"

First"of"all,"I"need"to"make"it"clear"that"memorising"a"generic"essay"is"a"proven"
and"powerful"strategy"to"help"you"attain"top"marks.""

Its"also"a"proven"strategy"to"help"you"throw"your"marks"away"if"all"you"do"in"
the"exam"is"blindly"regurgitate"your"memorised"essay.""

Here"is"a"simple,"but"highly"effective"way"to"practice"your"skills"in"adaption.""

1.! Memorise$your$essay:$In"order"to"adapt,"you"first"need"to"know"your"
generic"essay"inside"out."If"you"are"having"problems"with"memorising"it,"I"
suggest"you"handwrite"your"essay"a"few"times"which"helped"me"
consolidate"it"into"my"memory"$
2.! Compile$a$list$of$ten$Discovery$essay$questions:$A"bit"of"research"on"the"
internet"should"allow"you"to"easily"get"a"hold"of"ten"Discovery"essay"
questions"(I"have"provided"a"few"exemplar"questions"in"the"last"page)""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

3.! Write$an$introduction$to$each$Discovery$question:$From"my"experience,"
this"is"the"best"way"to"effectively"adapt"to"lots"of"different"questions"in"
the"least"amount"of"time."You"should"give"yourself"one$minute$to$plan$
your$response$and"then"write$your$introduction$in$five$minutes.$Let"me"
tell"you"why"writing"introductions"are"so"beneficial:"
a.! One"introduction"should"only"take"about"6"minutes"to"write"(less"if"
you"decide"to"type"it"out"on"a"word"doc)""
b.! When"you"write"an"introduction,"you"are"forced"to"think"about"
how"you"would"adapt"your"body"paragraphs"because"you"have"to"
outline"all"your"arguments."This"means"that"you"are"training"
yourself"to"adapt"your"arguments"without"having"to"write"out"your"
body"paragraphs"in"full"
c.! If"you"go"back"to"step"3,"I"told"you"that"the"introduction"is"pivotal"
as"markers"can"gauge"your"mark"range"by"just"reading"this."If"you"
practice"writing"this"many"times,"you"will"develop"the"skill"of"being"
able"to"write"a"sophisticated"and"adapted"introduction"in"a"short"
period"of"time""
4.! Practice$writing$a$full$essay$in$40$minutes:$Even"though"writing"
introductions"are"effective,"you"should"still"write"out"a"full"essay"in"40"
minutes"to"mimic"exam"conditions."By"doing"this,"you"can"make"sure"that"
you"are"able"to"finish"your"essay"in"the"given"time."If"you"find"that"you"
are"struggling"with"time,"I"strongly"suggest"you"cut"out"content"as"
opposed"to"trying"to"increase"your"writing"speed.""

When"you"first"start"practicing"this"step,"you"will"probably"be"horrible"at"it.""

I"promise"that"as"you"practice"and"practice,"this"will"gradually"become"easier"
over"time."If"you"stay"disciplined"and"do"this"consistently,"you"will"be"surprised"
at"how"well"you"can"adapt"to"the"exam"question"on"the"day.""

"

What$Should$I$do$If$I$Am$Running$Out$Of$Time$In$The$Exam?$

In"this"situation,"it"is"vital"that"you"always$write$a$conclusion."Markers"will"
instantly"know"that"you"havent"finished"an"essay"if"youre"missing"the"
conclusion"and"this"will"cost"you"marks.""

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 4 STEP GUIDE TO HSC DISCOVERY (ESSAY) I ALEX LUO

Instead,"cut"down"the"content"in"your"body"paragraphs."You"can"do"this"by"
scrapping$a$piece$of$evidence$from$each$of$your$body$paragraphs."Although"
this"is"obviously"not"ideal,"its"much"better"to"have"shorter"paragraphs"as"
opposed"to"not"having"a"conclusion.""

Also"just"to"reiterate,"do"not"rush"your"introductions"in"an"effort"to"save"time."
A"poor"introduction"will"instantly"generate"a"bad"impression"to"the"marker"and"
this"will"translate"to"lower"marks.""

List$of$Discovery$Questions$

%% 1)%Discovery%goes%beyond%finding%something%new;%it%is%our%reaction%to%what%we%
find%that%matters."
Assess"the"ways"this"view"of"Discovery"is"represented"in"your"prescribed"text"and"
at"least"ONE"other"related"text"of"your"own"choosing"

2)$Discovery%is%the%process%of%finding%ourselves,%of%reaching%our%full%potential.%
To"what"extent"is"this"point"of"view"represented"in"the"text"you"have"studied"and"
at"least"ONE"text"of"your"own"choosing?%%

3)$A%sense%of%curiosity%and%interest%in%the%world%can%lead%to%unexpected%
discoveries%about%the%self%and%others.%
Assess"the"ways"this"view"of"discovery"is"represented"in"your"prescribed"text"and"
at"least"ONE"other"related"text"of"your"own"choosing."

4)$Curiosity%and%speculation%are%behind%the%most%significant%discoveries%that%have%
affected%humankind.%%How"have"the"discoveries"in"your"texts"affected"you?%%

5)$Significant%and%transformative%discoveries%are%made%when%we%face%and%deal%
with%confronting%and%provocative%challenges%
Discuss"how"this"is"evident"in"your"prescribed"text"and"at"least"ONE"related"text"of"
your"own"choosing.%%

%Have$question$about$the$guide$or$need$more$tips$for$
English?$Join$the$HSC$Q&A$Group$on$Facebook$for$more$
"

FREE$advice!$
https://www.facebook.com/groups/197747283891027/$
"

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