written explanations
Key points:Below is a checklist of things to include in your written explanation:
Two further points to remember:
Sample written explanation:
Prompt: There is no such thing as reality.
In my piece titled "The truth about reality TV" I have written in an opinion piece for The Age newspaper. The piece is aimed at watchers and addicts of reality television and aims to convince them of the fakeness of such productions and the truly destructive force they have on society. The piece is in response to the ever-growing list of reality television shows infiltrating the family home.
- Explain how you have analysed or interpreted the prompt.
- Explain your choices - e.g. say why you have used certain words and images, why you have structured your writing or text in this way, why you have created certain characters, etc. Don't just give a summary of your response.
- Relate your choices to the topic.
- Discuss form, language, audience, purpose and context.
- Explain how your response draws on the selected text for ideas and/or arguments.
- Aim for a word length of 200-300 words.
Two further points to remember:
- Write in paragraphs and complete sentences: this should be a fluent, well-written piece, not a list of dot points.
- You can write in first person (‘I used the image of a lake to suggest …’) or in third person (‘The image of the lake is used to suggest ’). For most students the first-person voice will come more easily and naturally but both can be effective.
Sample written explanation:
Prompt: There is no such thing as reality.
In my piece titled "The truth about reality TV" I have written in an opinion piece for The Age newspaper. The piece is aimed at watchers and addicts of reality television and aims to convince them of the fakeness of such productions and the truly destructive force they have on society. The piece is in response to the ever-growing list of reality television shows infiltrating the family home.
This piece integrates views on reality TV and the way such shows warp people's perceptions of what is real. It response to the prompt by identifying an example of what is portrayed in mainstream media as reality is in fact false. It discusses the importance of knowing what is real and isn't real and disagrees with the prompt by highlighting the difference between constructed reality and actual reality.
The piece draws on Leunig's ideas of constructed realities and the role of the media in warping people's sense of reality. Just like Leunig's own essays it ironically is published in the very media it criticises.
In the piece I have used formal language to encourage the audience to legitimise my arguments. In addition I have chosen quite simple vocabulary and inclusive language to ensure that the readers of the piece both understand my thoughts and relate to my arguments.