Holiday Homework

Task 1: Stick each answer from the Short Answer section separately in your
book. Annotate each, identifying:
 Answer to question
 Techniques
 Quotes
 Effects
 Relevance to question
Task 2: Annotate the discursive sample answer by identifying the following:
1. Personal anecdote
2. Catalyst for writing the piece
3. Humour
4. Varied perspectives
5. First person narration (3)
6. Textual evidence (as many as you can)
7. Precise verbs (5)
8. Colloquial language (as many as you can)
9. Cyclical storyline
10.Truncated sentences
11.Rhetorical questions
12.Alliteration
13.Tricolon
14.Repetition
15.Final recommendation

Task 3: Write your own discursive piece about Reality TV (600-700 words).
You may not like it, you may enjoy it, you may not get it, you may be intrigued by its
following, dislike the formats, thrilled by the contents, like some shows and not others,
disagree with the air times or the ways the producers manipulate the contestants. Whatever
your view, ensure you have a clear point and DISCUSS IT!

You will need to produce this homework to your teacher upon

entry to your class on Day 1 of Term 4. Failure to do so will
result in a Warning Letter.
 Paper 1- Section 1 Sample Answers

1) Explain how the comic depicts society’s view on disabilities (3 marks)

Often, people who are affected by disability are outcast, and treated as though they are not the same as everybody
else. This comic accurately represents this isolation and alienation which society casts upon those with a disability.
The gate in the image that keeps the people who are disabled out of the newly opened building is a symbol of the
separation that happens in society. They are locked away, and cannot possibly experience the facility in the same
way that any ‘ordinary’ person could due to the prejudiced views against them. This is further revealed through the
sign in the image that reads, “welcome to our new facility… except for persons with disabilities and seniors.” The
use of situational irony in this sign further emphasises the notion that people with disabilities are not even
considered as “all,”, rather they are treated as something different, and consequently excluded from society due to
their differences.

2) How does the text invite readers to view disabilities? (4 marks)

The text invites the reader to view disability as not a factor that should define or label a person. It reveals the fact
that everyone is born the way they are, and they have no decision or input towards it. The text uses colloquial
language when describing the “labelling crap,” and “assholes,” that a person with a disability will face. This
highlights the labels that are placed on people with a disability, and the judgement which they experience from
others. The rhetorical question, “Can you at least make it one of the better disabilities?” followed by the
contrasting exclamatory statement, “They are all different… that is not for you or anyone else to judge!”
emphasises the misconceived perception of disabilities being categorised as “better” or “worse”, and encourages
the audience to stop their judgement of those with a disability. The use of alliteration in the sentence “you are
choosing to let your disability define you,” displays the inspiring message of looking past the labels that society
categorises people in, and draws the audience’s attention to viewing disability as a factor that makes people unique
as opposed to it defining them.

3) How does the poet invite audiences to challenge existing perceptions relating to the experiences of those with
disabilities? (6 marks)

Jane Field’s poem ‘The Fishing is Free,’ invites the audience to rethink their existing perceptions of disability as a
hindrance, by challenging them to view the positives, and benefits of having a disability. She is able to do so, whilst
also highlighting the fact that these experiences may not be ‘positive,’ at all.

The text has an underlying tone of sarcasm, and this is revealed through a rhetorical question in the first stanza
when she states, “movies are half price, well isn’t that nice?” Not only does she cynically pose this question to the
audience, but Field alludes to the fact that, that’s not what disability is- it’s not the cheap tickets, or good parking
spots- it’s more than that. Her use of sarcasm here, furthers the notion of ignorance in society, and challenges
audiences to see beyond the “perks” of having a disability.

Throughout the poem Field uses repetition of the phrase, “Disabled is the better way to be,” in order to emphasise
the message that those with a disability find joy in their experiences, and see it as a positive thing rather than being
outcast. This is moreover revealed through the rhetorical question, “Well, don’t you wish that you were disabled?”
Consequently causing the audience to challenge their perception that those with a disability wish that they weren’t
identified as so. As such, the poet creates an overall humorous and sarcastic perspective to invite audiences to
rethink their negative associations with disability, and begin to focus on acknowledging the humanity behind those
with a disability.

4) Compare and contrast the ways differing perspectives on disability are revealed in Text 4 and Text 1. (7 marks)
Disability can be seen differently depending on the individual’s thoughts. In Text One- comic, having a disability is
perceived as an experience that isolates others from the rest of the world, whereas, in Text Four - Interview Tanni
Grey-Thompson explores the capabilities disabled people have, and how they should be accepted rather than
neglected.

In Text One, it’s clearly presented that the disabled individuals are not allowed in the building. This is revealed
through the use of symbolism, where a fence, both literally and figuratively separates those with a disability from
the new facilities build for those in society. It symbolises the disconnect and neglect which disabled people
experience. This is further revealed through the facial expressions of the disabled people, who are seen looking
upset and annoyed due to their lack of acceptance and inclusion in the new opening of the building.

Contrasting to this, is Text Four, where Grey-Thompson focuses on the impact of a positive support network
allowing her to succeed despite her physical disability. Her anecdotal recount of her parent’s encouragement, “I
don’t care if you are in a wheelchair, you just have to get on with it,” uses high modal words to emphasise her
parent’s encouragement at a young age. Their support illustrates the idea that those with a disability should also be
encouraged and accepted in order to develop confidence and achieve success.

Although the experiences in Text Four are mostly differing to the experiences of isolation in Text One, Tanni Grey
Thompson shares some similarities as she uses words with negative connotations when describing growing up as a
“challenge,” “Frustration,” and “despair.” As such, she emphasises the similarly negative experiences to Text One
that she encountered.
 Example Discursive
I’m always looking to make a quick buck. So when I saw a headline that read:
Rebel Wilson Awarded $4.5m in Damages Over Defamatory Magazine Articles
on Facebook the other night, I thought, “Hell, someone could tell a lie about
me if it would set me up for life.” But upon closer inspection I realised that
Rebel Wilson, a successful Australian actress, claimed the loss of jobs and
friendships as a result the magazine merely implying that she had lied about
her age.
As I continued mindlessly scrolling my newsfeed, I couldn’t help but realise
how wrong my reaction was to the article. I found myself firstly jealous at her
payout, then doubting the apparent consequences of said article that Rebel
claimed had ruined her life. So desensitised was I to the fact that a media
outlet had lied, that I never once stopped to feel for the person who now had
the world thinking SHE was the serial liar.
Media outlets lie all the time, right? But why it is…right? Right?
I mean, I am an educated, intelligent, independent woman with a critical mind,
and I am only now realising that I too have been brainwashed in to thinking it
is “okay” for the media to lie without consideration for those who fall victim.
Although, “victim” may not always be the case.
Consider Adnan Syed. In 1999, he was convicted, as an 18 year old, of
murdering his ex-girlfriend based almost solely on circumstantial evidence. In
2014, journalist Sarah Koenig received a letter from Adnan’s friend, who
begged her to look in to the case and the trial. So she created Serial, a 13 part
podcast series detailing her investigation. It claimed an objective stance and
(spoiler alert) culminated in no final comment about the guilty verdict.
Then why is it that majority of die-hard Serial fans now think Adnan is
innocent?
Or that he receives hundreds of letters each week praising his bravery and
condemning his lawyer?
Or that the cult following this series created were so strong they managed to
push for an appeal in to his case?
While she may never have officially revealed her thoughts publically, it was
obvious she too thought Adnan Syed was innocent.
How? My analytical mind picked up on her biased narration within the first two
minutes of episode one, when she continuously referred to Adnan as a “kid”.
The connotations held by such a colloquial term immediately imprinted the
idea of innocence in to the naive minds of the listeners.
Four minutes in and she was spit-firing questions to random teenagers
regarding their where-abouts 6 weeks earlier, aiming to deal them the same
treatment the police had controversially dealt Adnan.
“How'd you get to work last Wednesday, for instance? Drive? Walk? Bike? Was
it raining? Are you sure? Did you go to any stores that day? If so, what did you
buy? Who did you talk to? The entire day, name every person you talked to.
It's hard.
Now imagine you have to account for a day that happened six weeks back.”
We now immediately feel a sense of injustice dealt to the convicted felon.
Six minutes in and she compares the murder to entertainment: “And on paper,
the case was like a Shakespearean mashup- young lovers from different worlds
thwarting their families, secret assignations, jealousy, suspicion, and honor
besmirched, the villain not a Moor exactly, but a Muslim all the same, and a
final act of murderous revenge. And the main stage? A regular old high school
across the street from a 7-Eleven.”
And was Romeo innocent? You betcha. This simile reinforces Adnan’s
innocence to the already hooked audience.
I think I’ve proven my point, and that was all in the first six minutes of episode
one!
As my mindless scrolling of fake headlines comes to an end for the night (well
it is 3am), I’ve realised that almost all media outlets manipulate truths, and
they will probably continue to get away with it for years to come. Heck, even
Rebel had to pay back most of her winnings after an appeal.
But, as active absorbers of these headlines and stories, we need to be wary
and appreciate them for exactly what they are…entertainment.