Medea by Euripides

I’ll start you off with some model (top grade!) Medea essays first from Bored of Studies.

Great examples to look at or show to your students (I did warn my student that she should not copy this essay in any way).

Model Medea Essays – links

• Medea challenges attitudes concerning justice and the role of women – by Rayan Dabliz

The strongest thing about this essay is that it clearly answers the essay question, relating the essay to the question throughout. Other key point is that it shows a strong integration of quotes, the use of sophisticated language and how to relate text and context.

You should note that this essay could have done with more discussion of techniques.

• Medea: The clash between society’s values and the individual’s need for psychological integrity – by Phoebe L

Phoebe L’s essay stands out because of its strong integration and explanation of quotes and techniques. The use of sophisticated language is also really impressive (compare this with your own writing – and you will see the difference).

Unfortunately, this example doesn’t come with a essay question, so you can’t see whether she answered the question well or not.

Seachange: Playing With Fire

I didn’t particularly like this episode – the metaphors and innuendos were far too obvious and too many. There are some funny moments (Angus’ fantasies) and significant moments (Max/Laura’s dinner) though.

However, I have to admit – discussing this episode with my ESL student was rather awkward. Trying to explain sexual metaphors and relationships….?

• You can read the episode summary on the official ABC website: Playing With Fire

Here’s my own outlined analysis (for students and tutors), but I won’t give too much away. Watch the episode, note their techniques and, most importantly, explain their effect/purpose!

Seachange: Not Such Great Expectations

Watched Not Such Great Expectations today and its a pretty great episode -  better than Playing With Fire I’d say.

• You can read the episode summary on the official ABC website: Not Such Great Expectations

Here’s my own outlined analysis (for students and tutors), but I won’t give too much away. Watch the episode, note their techniques and, most importantly, explain their effect/purpose!

ESL Module A: Elective 2: Australian Visions – Seachange

Seachange Series 2: Episodes 7-13

Seachange! What is Seachange?

I happen to be tutoring this ABC Series this year for HSC ESL English. It comes under Module A: Experience Language – Elective 2: Australian Visions. I’ve never tutored this Module or this text before so this should be interesting.

The episodes we study in the 2009 syllabus are:

• Playing With Fire
• Not Such Great Expectations
• Manna From Heaven
• Law and Order

For both students/tutors who are doing this text, let me firstly note that…..there is near to nothing to help you with this text on the internet. Although Seachange used to be studied under the Standard English syllabus, they were different episodes than the ones now studied in the 2009 syllabus. Oh no!

The second problem is that, well, there is quite nothing about this Seachange (generally) on the internet. Not even on YouTube!

Hence, the most useful and only website I found was:

Seachange Internet Resources Links:

• Koala’s Seachange Website: summaries and reviews of each episode, and an explanation of all literary allusions made in the series (wow!).

I will continue to add more links as I find them (if I find any at all!).

Where to find Peter Skrzynecki’s poems?

Well, I can’t be the only tutor who struggled to find Peter Skrzynecki’s poems (for Area of Study: Belonging) online right?

Most students get the set of poems from their teachers, but for tutors (and students who lose their copy), here are some quick links to where you can the poems online. Otherwise, just leave me a comment with your email address and I’ll email you my scanned copies of them.

Links to the poems:

• Immigrants at Central Station, 1951
• Feliks Skrzynecki
• St Patrick’s College
• Ancestors
• 10 Mary Street
• Postcard
• In the Folk Museum

The reason why it’s so hard to find Skrzynecki’s poems online is because of some Australian copyright issue, I believe. It ’s a lot easier to Immigrants at Central Station, 1951, Feliks Skrzynecki and Postcard (and notes about them) online – those were used in the pre-2009’s Area of Study: Journeys.