Past HSC and Practise Questions for Area of Study: Belonging

Here is a loooong list of questions for the Area of Study: Belonging (Paper 1, Section 3).

I’ve grouped them according to the “type” of question they are. If you are able to confidently answer each “type” of question – you should be fine.

It’s important to be aware of the variety of questions that may be chosen for your HSC! The question may be very different to the ones given to you by your school for assessments or practice.

I will add more as I find them – otherwise, feel free to contribute, by commenting below.

Past HSC

2011:

Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to places.

In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing.

2010:

‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging‘

Discuss this view with details reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.

2009:

‘Understanding nourishes belonging. A lack of understanding prevents it.’

Demonstrate how your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing represent this interpretation of belonging.

General

1. You have been invited to speak at the book launch of a new collection of texts entitled Belonging in Our Society. In your speech, explain and assess the ways in which belonging is represented in the texts in the collection
2. You have been invited to write an article for a teenage magazine called Youth and Belonging. In your article, analyse the ways in which belonging is represented in the texts you have studied.
3. What do you think are the most powerful influences that impact on an individual’s sense of belonging? (Independent 2009 Trial)

How belonging creates a sense of identity

1. To what extent do different groups to which we belong define who we are you’re your answer refer to your prescribed text and two texts of your own choosing.
2. Claude Levi Strauss once said ‘being human signifies, for each one of us, belonging to a class, society, a country and a civilization’ explain this statement with close reference to your prescribed text and a variety of supplementary texts of your own choosing in 1000-1500 word essay
3. Belonging to a community of group has a significant impact on an individual’s sense of self. ’ Discuss this statement, focusing on how the composers of the texts you have studies represent belonging
4. Belonging to a certain entity is the result of a particular identity. Discuss.
5. ‘Belonging is the cornerstone to finding identity in an individual’. To what extent is this true of your texts?
6. Belonging has been said to shape our identity. How does our sense of belonging shape who we are as individuals? (Total Education 2009 Trial)
7. “Individuals have to first construct themselves, independently, before they can be a part of other things.” Is this your understanding of belonging?.

Belonging and Conformity

1. Membership of any group requires obedience. Rules and conventions are the cornerstone of acceptance.
   What is the relationship between belonging and rules? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and two texts of your own choosing.
2. Belonging is not always a good thing. What disadvantages are there for individuals and society in belonging? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and two texts of your own choosing.
3. Belonging relies on both conformity and individuality.
4. The larger the crowd, the less the individuality. Draw upon your study of Belonging to examine this assertion. (ETA 2009 Trial)

Personal Response

1. To what degree has studying the concept of ‘belonging’ augmented your understanding of yourself, of others, and of the world?
   In your answer, refer to your own prescribed text and at least three other related texts of your own choosing.
2. To what extent have your perceptions of belonging been influenced by the texts you’ve studied? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and two other texts of your choosing.
   1. NOTE: this was the question provided in the BOS sample HSC paper
3. How has your study of belonging changed you?

Difficulty/duality of belonging/not belonging

1. The challenge to belong may be resisted or embraced. How is this explored in your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing? (CSSA 2011 Trial)
2. “Despite an individual’s desire to belong to a group or community, this not always possible.” How do the texts you have studies represent the processes and results of belonging and/or not belonging?
3. Belonging to a group or community can provide opportunities and disappointments. To what extent do the texts you have studies support this idea?
4. Belonging is a struggle.
5. Belonging can be self-fulfilling and self-destructive. Explain the relevance of this statement with close reference to the texts you have studied.
6. In our quest to belong we will experience both opportunities and disappointments.
7. ‘Belonging creates dilemmas”. Discuss this statement in relation to your study.
8. “Not belonging is a far more difficult road to travel than that of belonging”. How does your prescribed texts and TWO other texts of your own choosing explore ideas of belonging and not belonging?
9. People experience a sense of belonging in varied and complex ways. How is this explored in the texts you have studied? (CSSA 2009 Trial)
10. Belonging and not belonging is determine by the relationships a character has with others and the world. (Hills Grammar 2010 assessment).
11. Belonging always comes at a price. Does your study of Belonging support this idea? (ETA 2009 Trial)
12. How do composers show us of the value of belonging, or indeed not belonging, in a variety of situations?
13. Is a sense of belonging or not belonging more powerful in the texts you have studied?

Need to Belong

1. Belonging is a fundamental part of society. Discuss this idea with reference to the core text and with at least two of your related texts
2. Belonging is an instinctive human need in all of us.
3. The need to belong marks us as human and it is such connections that lead to fulfilment.
   After studying belonging, to what extent do you agree with this statement? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and two text of your own choosing.
4. The need to belong marks us a human and it is such connection that lead to fulfilment.
5. Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways.
6. “The human spirit craves a sense of belonging”. To what extent do the texts you have studied support this idea?
7. “Our lives are shaped by our sense of belonging”. Discuss the extent to which belonging shapes our lives.
8. ‘Connecting with others is the cornerstone of personal contentment.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?
9. The basic human need to belong directs our thoughts and actions. How do your prescribed text and two texts of your own choosing explore ideas of belonging and not belonging.

Belonging and Relationships:

1. “Relationships are important in finding a sense of belonging”. Discuss in relation to your study of belonging.
2. An individual’s sense of belonging emerges from the connections made with people, place and community.
3. By building connections, we create a source of stability and belonging. (CTHS 2009 Half Yearly)

Belonging and Perspectives:

1. How are perceptions of belonging shaped by personal, cultural, historical and social contexts?
2. We search for a place to belong, not realising that it’s our perceptions and attitudes and not the place that allow us to belong.
3. “Belonging is dependant on the perspective of the individual”. Discuss this statement with particular focus on how the composers of texts represent perceptions of belonging.
4. Attitudes towards belonging change over time. How have the texts you have studied explored shifting attitudes towards belonging? (ETA 2009 Trial)

Other

1. More than anything else, belonging is about finding a sense of place in the world’ Do you agree? Argue your point of view, referring to the texts you have studied
2. Belonging is dynamic, process driven and complex. Using the concepts of journeys and change, create an argument which synthesises the three concepts mentioned above.
3. Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.
4. An individual’s sense of belong is determined by external forces. To what extent do you agree with the statement? (CTHS 2010 Trial)
5. ‘A sense of belonging requires an understanding of one’s past.’ To what extend is this notion of belonging explored in your prescribed text and two related texts? (BGHS 2010 Trial)
6. “Acceptance is the start of belonging.” Evaluate this statement in relation to the representation of belonging in the texts you have studied. (2009 Cheltenham Girls HS Trial)
7. ‘When we understand what belonging means, we gain personal insight and empathy for others.’ To what extent both texts you have studied support this idea?

Tags: Belonging, english