AOS 2 – Creating & Presenting

Text BasedUnit 3 – SpiesUnit 4 – Streetcar Named Desire

Exam – can refer to one or both texts.

The prompt

The prompt is usually quite generic (broad/general) so students can explore ideas from either text.

You are required to deal with the CONCEPTS it raises.

Previous Exam Prompts2011 Exam - ‘Shared experience does not

mean that people see things the same way.’

2010 Exam - ‘Sometimes people find themselves living in a world created by other people.’

2009 Exam - ‘We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.’

2008 Exam - ‘We can evade “reality” but we cannot avoid the consequences of doing so.’

The promptYour piece should clearly address the prompt

but does not have to provide a definite ‘answer’ or stick rigidly to the prompt.

Shape your ideas around the prompt, using it as a starting point for wider discussion on the context .

DO NOT write a generic or pre-prepared piece that is unrelated to the prompt.

Assessing key ideas in promptsHighlight/underline the key wordsLook up any words in the dictionary you’re

uncertain ofRephrase the prompt Consider the context ideas that are relevant

to itHow does this link to your chosen text?What’s your opinion on it?What texts, images, songs, quotes, theories

spring to mind?

Writing RequirementsExpositoryPersuasive Creative/imaginative ‘Hybrid’ or combined form

TextsDraw upon the ideas related to “A Streetcar

Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams or “Spies” by Michael Frayne.

You can draw on both if you want!

DO NOT focus only on your selected text/s – these pieces tend to resemble text response essays and can only result in a mid-range mark of 4-7 out of a possible 10.

Written ExplanationYou will have an opportunity to write a

written explanation for your SACsThis allows you to make the link between

your piece and the prompt concreteYou can be creative whilst you have this,

experimental evenYou will NOT have an opportunity to write

one in the exam

Good writing?Dependent on the quality of your writing, the

quality of your ideas and your ability to deal with the prompt.

‘There can be no good writing without good ideas.’ Sophisticated understanding of the context; sophisticated and clear expression.

Be accurate and specific not general and vague. Assessors have found that the weakest responses are those that are too general and only ‘superficially’ explore key ideas.

Whose Reality?YoursSomeone else’sMichael FrayneStephen WheatleyKeith – mother,

fatherTennessee WilliamsBlanche, StellaStanley, Mitch

What is reality?Multiple realities?Constructed realitiesEmotional realities?Subjective reality?Objective reality?Real? Truth?Unreal? Fake?

Context ideas & statementsReality is hard to define. Reality can be harsh.There can be multiple realities/versions –

sometimes these clash.We can consciously shape our reality – writing

is reflexive and involves revising realityThere are universal truthsWe all perceive reality differently – why?Our past experiences impact on our

perceptionsSignificant people/events compel change

Context ideas & statementsWe all (consciously/subconsciously) seek to

avoid reality at times.We can only imagine what it’s like to ‘walk in

someone else’s shoes’.The past affects the present.Our ability to perceive something clearly can

be limited by our current mental state.Who’s to say what is real and what is not?There’s a fine line between illusion, madness,

conception, deception, genius, madman.

Context ideas & statementsWilliam Wordsworth – ‘The child is father to the

man.’ The experiences we have as a child shape who we are as adults.

Plato’s ‘cave allegory’ – Only those who truly question the world get to see it for what it is, not just ‘shadows on a wall’ (think ‘The Matrix’).

We construct reality by reflecting on and editing events from the past – this involves value judgments.

The brain shelters us from the harshness of reality by sustaining us with dreams and illusions – dangerous?

Sample prompts'The line between illusion and madness is a fine

one.''When we attempt to make order out of chaos

then we risk distorting reality.''Believing is seeing. The reality that we

perceive is the reality that we want to perceive.''An experience becomes real when others feel

what it felt like for you.''People's memories shape their understanding

of themselves, their world and others.'

Sample prompts cont…'We can never attain a fully objective view of

reality because we remain trapped in the prison of our subjectivity.'

'When competing realities clash the result can be only tragedy.'

'Our sanity depends on a clear understanding of what is and isn't real.'

'A person's self-image can interfere with their ability to perceive reality clearly.'

Sample prompts cont…‘There are no facts, only interpretations.’‘The truth means different things to different

people.’‘People re-create their memories to suit their

current reality.’