Prompt Response

The Secret River SAC Feedback

2011-08-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Include features of your chosen form of writing in your piece
Use words from the prompt, and synonyms of those words in your piece
Ensure links/connections to the set text are obvious, a reader looking for them should be able to notice them easily
Show depth of knowledge in your writing/discussion, be detailed and use quotes in essays
For this AOS make sure you do not write a text response or retell the story
Make sure you develop whole, complete pieces of writing. You must have a beginning, middle and end or introduction, body and conclusion
Use paragraphs, they are an important structural element of writing. Do not leave line gaps within paragraphs - they are a block of writing.
Structure dialogue in a story carefully. look at examples and use them as a model.

2011 STARTS HERE!

2010-12-16T01:59:00.001-08:00

CONFLICT IS FUTILE

2010-09-16T19:33:00.001-07:00

CONFLICT IS FUTILE

2010-09-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Conflict is futile:

The population went from 1.34 million to 700,000 throughout a eight year period. What’s the point of all the deaths?

In the book, there was a mortar raid on the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. It caused a lot of deaths and the sights that Najaf and the rest of the Afghan public saw and had felt was futile, it was unnecessary.

The revenge firing that the Americans took out on Afghanistan after 911, it did not benefit them in anyway, and it killed a lot of innocent people.

By Brandon and James

PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE CONFLICT

2010-09-15T21:19:00.001-07:00

1. Two guards unlock the gate, then motioned me through. After 10 steps, after 100, I did not look around still expecting to be shot. Page 202, Najaf escapes the Taliban
2. “Why have I had this good fortune? Why?” page 252, Najaf wonders why he was lucky enough to survive the conflicts in his life
3. “Your mother has survived a terrible wound, but she too will survive, thank god.” Page 16

By Steph and Brad

SECRET RIVER - STUDENT RESPONSE

2010-09-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Statement of Explanation:

I have decided to write about the prompt ‘all conflicts have lasting effects on those involved’. From studying the text ‘The Secret River’ I can see that this prompt leads itself to a piece of writing about the similar experiences of my ancestors, to those of William Thornhill and his family. For William, the conflicts he encountered throughout his life had a lasting effect on him as a person, his family, and the people around him.
I am going to write an imaginary piece, as a diary entry, based on the point of view of Paul B_ _ _ _ _, whose experiences through life are very similar to William’s from the text. From researching back into my family’s history, I have a good picture of what Paul was like, and the conflicts he faced throughout his life. He too migrated to Australia, after growing up in extreme poverty, leaving behind his loved ones, to arrive in an unfamiliar country. Both he and Will had dreams; to create the best possible lives for themselves and their families. They both encounter similar conflicts along the way; for example, whether to move, and buy their dream piece of land. Will and Paul are very hardened men, because of what has occurred over the course of their lives.
The conflicts the men face are very similar to the conflicts faced today in society. Everyday we are receiving foreign people, desperate for a home in Australia to improve their lives. All these people face the same personal, interpersonal, and cultural conflicts faced by the characters in ‘The Secret River’, and my diary entries.
I want to present this piece as an internal monologue, of Paul reflecting over his life, as he faces big conflicts.
I will be writing my piece for the other VCE students, who have also studied ‘encountering conflict’.
My aim is to show, through Paul’s thoughts, what may have happened, how his life may have changed, if he hadn’t encountered these conflicts.
I will be writing in the first person, to try and capture my audience through personal feelings. I feel that this type of writing is very similar to the style of writing throughout the book ‘The Secret River’. Kate Grenville, the author of the text, has based her book on her ancestors, just as I have done. Grenville’s characters encounter many different forms of conflicts; personal, interpersonal and cultural, which are very similar to the conflicts faced throughout my character’s lives.

Written Piece:
Oct 8, 1883
Well, here I am. Today is my last day ever in Germany. Tomorrow, myself and my friend Charles will board the boat to a new country, all by ourselves. As much as I am scared of what is going to be like, I know it has to be better than what my fate would have been if I had been made to fight in the war.

If I hadn’t been killed, I would have no future here in the village of Rotenberg. Getting up at 4.30, so I can help my father before I go to school, once I arrive home there’s no time for play, I must go back and help him some more.
My family is so poor; they can barely afford to clothe us boys. My parents, although they try to remain optimistic, are worried about us. The meals are getting smaller and smaller, and I know, it won’t be too long until things get much worse. The vine growing business isn’t booming, and between the four of us sons, me being the youngest, there wouldn’t have been much of a share left of the family land for me anyway.

About this strange new land I am headed to tomorrow, I try to remain optimistic, but deep down I am scared. I am scared that they won’t want me, they will send me back here and I shall be forced to enter the war. Pretty much as good as dead, so my father says. Scared, that nothing here will be similar to home. I know it will be different, but even a hint of something recognisable shall be a comfort.
I am scared that the people there won’t be as nice as they are in Germany. What if I can’t find work? Will I be forced to steal to stay alive, or starve to death?

As a 16 year old, with these thoughts rolling around in my head, I wonder if I will ever see the day of myself getting married. Owning my own home, with my own vines, my children and wife in the house.
All I have to say is, thank heavens for Charles. It would have made me feel so much more worse knowing that I was going to have to go through all of this on my own. At least I can trust that he will always be near me when I need him: a true friend.

Jan 4, 1884
Melbourne. Such a strange word. The way they pronounce it is completely different to what I would have thought.
After 4 months at sea, I am glad to finally be on solid ground again. Our ship, the Procida, is quite new, but it has a terrible smell about it. Australia looks nothing like what I thought it would. The landscape is similar to Germany, but the weather is so hot! I find the heat unbearable, but I hopefully shall get used to it after awhile, since I am to be here for the rest of my life. The people here are different; they wear different clothes, and when they talk to me, I can’t understand what they’re saying, which frustrates them. There are two sorts of people here; the whites, who live in houses and work on farms, and the blacks, who live in the trees and eat off the land. This new land I am in makes me homesick for my Mum, Dad, and brothers. I want to be at home with them, but I can’t. This is my new life now, in Australia.

15th December, 1893
I have now been an Australian citizen for three days, and I feel so proud. My wife Wilhelmine came to watch the ceremony with me, even in her heavily pregnant state. She is now an Australian citizen as well. Wilhelmine wishes to go back to Germany, when we gather enough money, so she was confused when I told her I wished to buy a piece of land in Kanyapella. But, she believes in my good judgement, so we have moved to our new home; a slab house built by me on our land. There is a great feeling of pride between us now that we have our own home.
Last week, when I gave Wilhelmine my few extra coins from my weekly pay, which she saves every week, Wilhelmine gave me the whole tin of our savings back to me, telling me if we are planning on staying here, we must have some vines of our own. I bough one olive tree and some vines. I planted the olive tree at the front door of our house, because of this, we now call our land the ‘Olive Vineyard’. We plan to sell our products at the markets, for extra money.

23rd March, 1907
Our sixth child was born yesterday. We named her Alice. We now have Albert, Henry, Olive, Sylvia, Freda, and Alice. Secretly, I’m glad it’s another girl. The boys are constantly complaining that I work them too hard, and they are always talking back to me.
I am trying to teach them to be tough, not to complain, and do what I ask of them. This will make them worthwhile men, men who work efficiently.
Wihelmine tells me that I’m being too harsh, that I should be letting them enjoy their childhood, but that’s not the way I have been bought up. My father bought me up to be the man I am, and I wish to do the same for my sons.
We are starting to have a lot of money saved, and we are thinking of building a new house, to accommodate our growing family.

As much as my life has improved, I still think of myself as the poor German boy, one who came here with nothing. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of my family in Germany, who I have not seen in over 20 years. I wonder if they are better off now, or if they are still as poor as what they were when I left?
I wonder why was I the lucky one, when so my other boys my age were killed in the war? Why was I given the chance to escape death, to be able to live comfortably in my older age?

I love my family, and everything I have been through has made me the person that I am today, but I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if I hadn’t had such a rough upbringing.
Would my sons have had more respect for me, instead of talking back to me? Would I have been able to talk to my wife about how I am feeling, instead of keeping it inside me for all these years? I know that on the outside, people see me as a miserable, angry man, but I can’t help it. The conflicts that I have faced throughout my life have made me who I am. And although I am still struggling to speak English, I feel as though I belong here. I am proud of my family, and the life I have worked so hard to give them.

Conflict has far reaching consequences

2010-09-15T21:12:00.001-07:00

Conflict has far reaching consequences (psychological, fear, powerlessness, behavioural changes, economic, social etc)

- Socially – In Afghanistan, as a result of conflict, working hard was a way of life for Najaf, even in childhood. Yet when in Australia, when taking a break he is accused of being lazy, consequently does he take this as an insult to his manhood and attempts to leave his workplace. The consequence of the war has forced Najaf to work hard, even when in a place of freedom.

- Fear – “I wondered what my fate was to be in the land of Afghanistan, where war succeeded war” pg 17. Out fear for his life does Najaf travel to Australia, as a result of the war forever raging in his country home of Afghanistan. To come to Australia was to attempt a new life and somewhat ‘save himself’.

- Behavioural changes – After escaping Afghanistan is Najaf detained in Woomera detention centre. Najaf’s only escape is through obtaining a VISA once being falsely told he has had got a VISA by the authorities, his behaviour changes. He loses majority of the hope he had in his new country, hope of being free from the war and conflict the ravaged his family and homeland. Yet as a consequence does he still work as hard as he did in childhood.

By Nick, Erin and Brogen

Ideas and Themes in The Rugmaker

2010-08-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of themes and ideas that arise in The Rugmaker:

Conflict has far reaching consequences (psychological, fear, powerlessness, behavioural changes, economic, social, etc)
Conflict is futile
Conflict opposes humanity
Conflict is unfair
People can survive conflict
Individual experiences of conflict are not unique

TASK 1: In pairs, find three examples of your assigned theme/idea being represented in the text. Quote the example, record the page it appears on and explain the connection you see it has to the theme/idea. TYPE AND PIGEONHOLE THIS ACTIVITY.

TASK 2: Respond to your assigned theme/idea as a prompt. Perform a 'sound off' in response to theme/idea that you have. Think of as many discussion points as you can that the prompt might lead you to. Draw from the set text but also aim to go beyond the set text. Ideas from beyond the set text work to present a broad perspective of thinking on the topic, something examiners like to see (especially in essays written for this Area of Study), though there needs to be an obvious connection in theme/idea to the set text. Present your sound off in tagxedo form.

In a word document type your theme/idea as a prompt heading (save)
Type up your sound off responses in a list (save as you go)
Copy your sound off responses
Link/go to the tagxedo website
Click into the create section
Click load and enter text, hit submit
Play with settinggs till you like what you see
Save your tagxedo
Put your tagxedo image, html code and web address into your original word document
Pigeonhole your word document to me

All the world's a stage

2010-08-24T01:27:00.000-07:00

This tagxedo has been given the title 'All the world's a stage' and, as you know, when it comes to being inspired by your Context for the Creating and Presenting Outcome, you should be considering the world at large for inspiration.

Practise gathering your thoughts and responding to a prompt quickly by completing 'sound offs' to prompts and recording all your ideas in tagxedo form.

Some prompts to use:

One conflict always contains the seeds of another
Heroes often emerge from conflict
Conflict can bring out either courage or cowardice in an individual
Conflict can be a catalyst for change
The search for truth and justice is vital in resolving conflicts

Find more prompts here...

When you complete a tagxedo remember to collect the embed code and paste it as a post to our blog. This way we can help each other expand our knowledge and understanding of the Context.

Some initial ideas for writing in response to The Rugmaker

2010-08-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

You could write:

an opinion piece that is persuasive - further informing Australian readers of the constant turmoil Afghanistan people experience in terms of everyday life, the corrupt political system they live under, giving an opinion on their voting system in comparison to Australia's.
an imaginative poem - it could describe the harsh conditions of the society in Afghanistan, as well as being burdened with the fear of explosions, murder, attack at any time.
a persuasive speech about how the taxpayer's money is going towards what seems to be a never ending cause in terms of Australian military.
diary entries from an Australian soldier based in a camp in Afghanistan - discussing the conditions, experiences, feelings.
an opinion piece on the conditions for Australian soldiers based in Afghanistan and how suitable they are or aren't.
a personal letter from a soldier written to a loved one back home describing the conditions Afghanistan.
a research piece on suicide bombers. What leads them to become suicide bombers and the affects it has on people.
An opinion piece sharing a person's thoughts on suicide bombers and the Taliban.
a persuasive piece about ways to control people smugglers - measures that could be put in place.
an imaginative piece that tells the story of a refugee family coming to Australia.
a diary entry of an Australian border security guard who patrols the coast of Australia.
an opinion piece about whether people believe NATO air strikes should take place in Afghanistan.
a persuasive piece about why NATO should stop air strikes on Afghanistan - because it impacts on civilians - is this as bad as the Taliban?
A diary piece of an Afghan civilian who has experienced an air strike where they live - they have survived - they detail their feelings, physical suffering they encounter, etc.
an expository essay about the how the richer refugees are able to leave their country while the poorer ones are left behind.
a persuasive essay on whether governments are doing enough to discourage people smugglers.
an imaginative piece - a short story about two Afghans who are trying to get to Australia - only one of them gets a visa, the other is knocked back - show how their lives differ after they have been through the visa process.

Diigo Instructions: (Version 1)

2010-05-11T05:08:00.001-07:00

Diigo Instructions 2

GET WRITING

2010-04-23T03:21:00.000-07:00

Two prompts that you can write to:

http://englishbook.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/encountering-conflict-practice-prompts/

2009-12-07T19:18:00.001-08:00

PROMPT RESPONSE
CLASS OF 2010
LET'S BEGIN

One conflict always contains the seeds of another

2009-10-20T18:45:00.003-07:00

General Opinions/Ideas

- One conflict can contain other types of conflict within it.

-A conflict may contain one seed of other conflict but others may contain many of them.

For the prompt

- A war is a massive conflict in itself, however inside the war is the conflict of the different ranks and the individual men and woman in the war. A war may have started due to two world leaders fighting amongst themselves. This fight may have then escalated to a major war between the countries.

Against the Prompt

- Not all conflicts contain the seeds of another. Some conflicts may occur spontaneously due to an event that happened at that moment in time. For example, two best friends may have a fight due to something stupid one of them said to the other.

Three possible writing responses to the prompt

-A news article on the conflict about using nuclear power. This topic is a major issue in today's society. This conflict contains many seeds of other conflicts, such as the conflict that surrounds the accidents that happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Another seed of conflict that is within this issue is the cost and time that is needed to build a successful nuclear power plant. The target audience for this piece is young adults, adults and elderly people within society.

-An imaginative story that features conflicts that surround war and the effects it has on the individuals involved. The story could be a diary entry from a soldier in the war. By speaking through the voice of a war beaten soldier, the audience will be able understand and get that point that is trying to be conveyed. The target audience for this writing piece could be anyone from a Year 10 range to elderly.

-An expository piece on how conflict is a major part of everyday life and how many conflicts throughout our lives stem from previous conflicts in our lifetime. The target audience for this piece could be teenages through to elderly cizitens.

By Amanda Johnson and Sarah Cox =)

One conflict always contains the seeds of another

2009-10-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

conflict can reveal unexpected qualities in an individual

2009-10-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

*Thornhill, unexpectedly became a different man because he understood the aboriginals better

*disagree with this, thornhill wasn’t very accepting of the aboriginals, and was too caught up in his own self worth to even let his son make friends with the aboriginals. I don’t think it brought out any hidden qualities in thornhill at all. On the other hand, unexpected qualities were brought out in Blackwood because he stuck up for the aboriginal people through thick and thin, and took a lot of criticism and conflict in order to stick up for them.

*In ‘The Line” Weary Dunlop showed bravery against the Japanese people. Weary Dunlop was beaten for over eight hours, and made to kneel on hard rocks. Despite this he still did his best to help people and cure the sick men everyday, and saved the lives of so many people with very limited recourses.

For our writing ideas that would work for this prompt are:

this could make a good part of an explositary essay for this piece:

*In the bushfires that happened at the start of this year in Marysville. Many qualities were brought out of so many people, from helping fighting fires, to donating money and donating clothes and goods etc. One story that I heard recently that happened around the time of the bushfires was probably one of the most amazing things I have heard come from any person. My sisters friend, a volunteer firefighter, Luke, met another fireman in his travels with the bushfires. On there way to fighting a fire they found someones house burning up into flames. They found that there were people inside the house and together they saved the whole family from dying in the fire. When they got back from fighting the fires, the fire fighters realised that his house was burnt down, and his whole family was inside that house. He thought to himself that if he knew he could have tried to save his own family. Luke, my sisters friend, also a photographer took pictures of the fires and the guy that lost his family, and wrote a short story about him, and entered it in a competition. He won a $1200 holiday, and gave it to the man that lost his family. That man then went to Germany to see other family members. I think that was a beautiful thing to do, and clearly brings out qualities in human beings.

*With the tsunami in Samoa, many people donated lots of money and time to help get the country up and running again.

*World vision and other non-government organisations provide lots of help to third world countries to try and improve the health status of the popultion. they are doing there best to provide them with sanitation, food and immunisations, they are also trying to build schools and things to improve illiteracy in many countries. although this is not the result of a conflict, it could help prevent internal conflict and lots of pain and suffering due to bad ill health and disability adjusted life years. This may also prevent conflict within the family.

Some conflicts have a history that makes them impossible to resolve.

2009-10-20T18:19:00.001-07:00

Some conflicts have a history that makes them impossible to resolve.

Against.

“All conflicts have some way in which they can be resolved. It just involves forgiveness and a willingness to understand different opinions.”

For.

“Conflict like with Jews. Aboriginals ect, seem impossible to resolve as so many people are involved and its continued over life times.”

“Conflicts can become a habit.”

“ The ‘he hates him, so I’ll hate him too’ idea seems to make conflict impossible to resolve as even if the reason for the conflict passes, people still hold grudges.”

General.

“Everything can be resolved.”

“History had nothing to do with it.”

“Religion wont be solved because believers are ignorant & brain washed.”

Three writing ideas that would work for this prompt are:

imaginative piece - a war story, which would be drawing from the secret river linking the conflict between the aboriginals and the white people. The masacar sceen would be like the setting. The feelings between everyone involved would be so hurt that they might find them impossible to resolve.

newspaper article - opinion piece, using the apology speech givin to the aboriginal people by Kevin Rudd could be used. by the speech being said it could possibly help people to get over it and move on.

expository essay- you could easily write your own essay on it you point of view reguarding the prompt and put your own ideas in it and experiences.

by caitlyn

Sometimes we meed to close our eyes and minds to reality if we want to avoid conflict.

2009-10-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Positive:
:in generals die in bed, the solders have to close their eyes and minds to reality to avoid conflict that can occur within the ranks. to avoid fighting amongst themselves, the men tell stories of their home life to remind them of where they are from and to step away from the reality or war.

Negative:
:closing our eyes and minds to reality doesn't always avoid conflict an example of this is, in look both was Meryl uses her imagination (cartoons) to escape reality to film a a world where she know a the out comes which is always is death, but this also causes her internal conflict between herself and death.

2009-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Conflict can create a legacy of tragedy

Conflict transfers between generations

Conflict started the war

Conflict started fights between the white people and black people, which led to a legacy that continues today

Like the conflict between black people and white people, white having black's as slave still effects currect black people today

War can create tension in relationships we see this in 'The Line' where Martin and Arch can't communicate effectively, and there are boundaries in their communication because of Arch's experiences of war

conflict is often the result of miscommunication

2009-10-20T18:14:00.002-07:00

CONFLICT IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF MISCOMMUNICATION

General

Racial tention, blacks/whites has no common language (no way of communicating).

Positive

Not always the result of miscommunication, can be deliberate actions.
Miscommunication leadas to differing views of stuff
In world war 1, the Germans and the English speaking people could not communicate, resulting in fighting and death.
Alex is not able to communicate his ideas with me, and it is causing me to get frustrated. He cannot respond to basic topics which is annoying and causing us to argue because we cant communicate properly.

Negative

Asians/Triads
They took our jobs (no communication)
Look ugly/same (need to communicate what they are wearing etc to avoid conflict)

conflict can create a legacy of tragedy

2009-10-20T18:14:00.001-07:00

positve:
in "look both ways"then train driver's internal conflict brings out unexpected qualities in his son. his son goes from withdran to becoming more caring and there for his father.

lbw illustrates how internal conflict can create unexpected qualities, as nick's internal struggle eventually leads to him overcoming it and becoming a stronger person.

negative:
in general dies in bed the narrator was initially a very compassionate person, however the conflict of war changed his views and priorities and he left one of his mates fry to die so that he couold save himself. he wouldn't have done that originally.

in general dies in bed, brown develops a quality that enables him to overlook the natural compassion that many human beings have. due to the war, brown tends to only think for himsela and only care for his wellbeing. an example of this is when brown takes the boots of the dead soldier. he doesnt care that it is wrong to steal from the fallen but he needs them boots to better himself. the war and it's condition him like this

will thornhill changed from nice guy to mean one after conflict with blacks

One conflict always contains the seeds of another

2009-10-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

SPEED DEBATES

2009-10-20T17:07:00.001-07:00

During class you will have been presented with a variety of prompts and asked to debate them with your classmates. You will have considered the prompts from a positive and negative stance. Your job is to now:

1) type up and post the viewpoints and ideas generated from the debates
2) brainstorm three writing ideas for the prompt you ended up with. Explain the form, influence/s of the nominated set text and the ideas that inform your piece which are arising from the prompt and Context
3) read through the arguments and ideas for writing your classmates have posted and comment back with any further thoughts you have

Don’t be afraid of the Context section of the exam, use it as a chance to be inspired in your thinking; to explore, appreciate and challenge ways of looking at the world in regards to ‘encountering conflict’. Use expository, persuasive and/or imaginative writing forms as vehicles to convey your understanding of the implications of the prompt you are set. Within your piece employ ideas, themes and/or literary devices from your nominated text in some way, aim for these connections to be discernible. A key to doing the best that you can in the Context section is to write from points of interest; enjoy putting forward your point of view the way you do when chatting, having a friendly argument or making up a story to fool, scare, teach or humour someone.

Good Luck!!!

2009-09-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

I thought having the speakers was a very good experience. Rob, Pam and Tony all gave us their own encounters and stories on war, suffering and death.

I quite enjoyed when Tony told us that when he was in Vietnam on R&R, people would assume he had been through hell and had the toughest times in his life, but Tony knew it was nothing compared to what other people went through. He told us that whilst serving in Vietnam if a guy gets wounded a chopper can come get you in 20 minutes and take you straight to a hospital, while soldiers serving in WW1 would spend hours, possibly days lying wounded and dieing in No Man’s Land.

It is knowledge that gives us the power to change the world for a better place. Not just knowledge, but wisdom, how we use that knowledge for a greater good. The speakers told us their experience and one day we could use that knowledge and experiences to benefit someone or something else.

2009-09-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

It is vitally important for all of us to be aware of our history and to document it as frequently as possible as knowing about the highs and lows of the past help us determine what we should endeavour towards and what to avoid in our futures. Gaining knowledge about the horror and atrocities that occurred during past wars positions us to avoid war at all costs and to have a strongly negative predisposed view of future wars. Through the transfer of knowledge from our war veterans to our younger generations we grow to realise that the magical myth of war is really not that at all and the effects of war are everlasting on the one’s who fought it as well as the friends, families and communities that in someway or another experienced the pain and loss of war.

2009-09-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Lest We Forget

2009-08-31T18:56:00.000-07:00

We missed the war talk, given by Pam Rob and Tony, but from our own knowledge we have learnt that war can change people and the way they think, and perceive the world. My Granny’s uncle, (My Great, Great Uncle) was a prisoner on the line. My Granny told me about some of his experiences he had to go through, and how many people died from starvation and disease. They died of horrific, slow, painful deaths. It is important for the world to know about war history so that the soldiers didn’t die for nothing, and people will be able to learn from there experiences, so that the horrific events do not reoccur.

"winessing conflict through the eyes of others is important"

2009-08-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

"winessing conflict through the eyes of others is important"

it is important to that we know about and document this history so that it's not forgotten and to prevent it from happening again i the future.
hearing the stories told by pam, rob and toni put the gravity of war into perspective. their stories allow us to see war through a different light other than the myths portrayed by government at the time.

Personal response to war stories

2009-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have three generous people share with us their personal experiences of war. Tony, Pam and Rob provided us with an insight to history that will enhance any reading of a book or viewing of a documentary/film on the topic. It is now your turn to carry on the legacy that has been bestowed upon you to make sure you remember and share this history with others. Write a personal response documenting what you learnt from Tony, Pam and Rob that considers the prompt, ‘Witnessing conflict through the eyes of others is important’. Why do you think it is so important that that we know about and document this history? Keep in mind the statement by Martin Flanagan that, ‘With each day, these stories move further from the popular comprehension, so they become - it's not only that they're difficult to tell, it means that people find them difficult to listen to’.

Writing Samples for The Secret River

2009-08-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

Take some time to type up and post some of your writing for The Secret River. Include the prompt you responded to for pieces you upload. You can use these pieces for exam prep later in the semester. Having your work typed up will allow you to tackle some exam prep tasks more easily.

Examples of statements of explanation and writing pieces

2009-06-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

Click the link, other's work, to find examples of writing for the Creating and Presenting Area of Study.

2009-05-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Now that you have a solid background to inform your thinking about The Secret River and the Context you are going to write a general response to Prompt 1 for this blog. You can refer to the text, or not, as you like. However, you must address two themes from The Secret River in your discussion. Complete this as a 10 minutes silent sustained write.

PROMPT 1

2009-05-04T03:28:00.001-07:00

Conflict is inevitable.