Year 10 English STUDENT:

WRITTEN TEXT ESSAY TEACHER:

2022 Common Assessment Task #10.1

Write an essay on the written text you studied in class.

Select ONE of the questions below.
Support your ideas with examples and quotes from your written text.

1. Describe ONE character in the text you studied.

Explain HOW this character is brought to life.

2. Describe ONE idea (theme/message) in the text you have studied that you found
interesting.
Explain what this idea taught you.

3. Describe the setting of your text.

Explain WHY the setting was important.

● Your writing must be controlled and accurate, and your ideas developed.
● The word count is 300-400 words.

Your formal writing will be assessed against this rubric.

Student name: Maddy

START YOUR ESSAY HERE:

In the novel Trash, written by Andy Mulligan, the main characters help communicate the theme of
corruption. As the boys are from poor backgrounds, Mulligan shows the way they survive and
escape. While worrying about poverty, they also have to deal with the cruel policemen and
violence due to the corrupt and targeted environment they live in.

The first scene that Mulligan created a real sense of corruption in, was the interrogation scene of
Raphael. With the quote from Raphael “They basically had to carry me.'' You know that he was so
scared for his life that he couldn’t walk by himself, and that the police are so far above the law that
they can get away with anything. When the policemen said, “This piece of shit can read?”, and
“Boy, that’s all you are, that’s what all of you are. You are a piece of garbage.” You can tell that the
police hold themselves to a very high standard, and know they are a lot better than others
(because of the corruption). This also shows the police brutality towards everyone, including
children, and innocent people.

When Gardo went to the prison to visit Gabriel Olondriz, Olivia wrote “they were the type of cages
you might put lions and tigers in.” You can clearly see how inhumane the prisoners are treated
from that statement. Compared to countries where the prisons can not get away with this, it is very
obvious how corrupt it is. Olivia told Gardo, “There were children in there.” and Gardo just
shrugged, because it is so normal for innocent kids to be locked up and killed there. When Gardo
wanted to have the bible from him and the guard offered to exchange it another time, Gabriel said,
”I think he will want a lot of money, He could betray us.” because there is no one to stop the police/
guards from doing and betraying whoever they want.

Mulligan does a great job of showing the main idea of the corruption in Behala, with the vice
president taking and using the people’s tax money for personal things and not being caught. When
Gabriel Olondriz tries to sue him, he soon realises that the lawyers got bought and he stands no
chance in succeeding, even with proof. You know from this that if you have money you can get
away with anything, and Zapanta knew that. Another example of this corruption is that the only way
anyone got away with getting the money back for the people, is by working for him for many years,
and stealing it back. Senator Zapanta was so far above the law that even the police couldn't do
anything about it. That is the main proof of corruption in this book.

This novel taught me the complications of living in countries fueled by corruption and that there is
no way to escape the endless cycle of it. I think the author did a great way of describing and
helping the reader understand by having the different characters tell parts of the stories. In
conclusion Mulligan has shown the way people survive in poverty countries well and helped
educate the reader on corruption.

Teacher’s Comments:

The good features of your work are:

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The areas for improvement are:
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OTJ, Overall Teacher Judgement (NZC Level) ……………………….