Analysing the text: author's purpose, essay design & a video on thesis statements vs topic statements

Our focus this week is reviewing our derived grade exam essays and rewriting them to be more effective at analysing aspects of the text convincingly and perceptively.

Step 1: write your question out (on paper is good - use every tool to embed the precise wording deep into your brain). e.g. "Analyse how a character's experience reflects a truth of society."

Step 2: Define the terms.  This is easy for some questions, and harder for others.  You want to define the terms simply. e.g. A truth of society is that in small white Australasian towns, most people are ignorant of white privilege.

Step 3: Develop your approach.  This is how you will answer the question, and turns into your thesis statement.  e.g.  Charlie Bucktin's experience of being jolted out of his naivety and ignorance reflects a truth of society regarding how little we consider the experiences of our marginalised peers.  Craig Silvey uses Charlie's journey to take us all on a journey of exposing white privilege in both Corrigan, and potentiall in our own lives.

Step 4: As you plan and write your main body paragraphs, consciously use analysis-related terminology.  This can include language techniques (e.g. imagery, hyperbole, parallel construction), elements of the novel (e.g. ideas, characterisation, themes, symbolism, structure) and vocabulary/phrases for precise analysis (e.g. Silvey uses symbolism to highlight..., dialogue is used to expose the level of Charlie's naivety, an example of the author positioning us to empathise with Jasper is when he arrives back at Charlie's window, battered and bruised from an enforced few days in the police cells.)