Higher English - Page 2

Lindsay · 2nd May 2005, 05:29 PM

fair point, but i have done a million rprlike essays at uni and if i come up with something the marker hasn't noticed before, they say "good, original point".

sqa markers also discuss what they have done with other markers (or so i was told by my higher english teacher, who is a marker), so i'm sure if they have problems relating to having not read a text, they will resolve it then. however, i doubt there are many books that a higher student will write about that an experienced marker won't have read or are at least familiar with.

also, they look for the eloquence with which you write and the other points you have made. if you write confidently and make other good points, then i would assume that the marker would give you credit for points that they had not previously thought of. similarly, if your essay is a mess and you make a strange point, the marker would probably not give you credit for an outlandish remark.

behind_theory · 2nd May 2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebelius

Higher English is a joke

I spent the whole year writing essays on Death Of A Salesman, Smeddum by Grassic Gibbon and Edwin Morgan poems. Then in the last couple of weeks of term we did a poem and another short story to give us more texts incase nothing came up that we could answer.

So come the exam i end up writting about The things we did in the last 2 weeks of term: Whole Town's Sleeping by Ray Bradbury(short story) and Death of a Naturalist(poem) by Seamus Heaney. Shitty English.

Take it you had Miss Keir then Tom?
We've done exactly the same.
All year I've been writing essays on Glasgow 5 March 1971, In the snack bar and Death of a salesman. And then just last week we were given Death of a naturalist and Smeddum. Load of pish.
Apparently I can use my personal study though which would be great as its easy. Assisi ken.

e.r.n.i.e · 2nd May 2005, 05:36 PM

'Mon the Assisi...i'm doin higher english this year, we get one day off before it, which i guess is better than nothing (we're takin' it healthy in the chuffter on the art exam though, general election day, which means no preparation time and straight back the next day)

anyway, i digress... i'm doing "In the Snack Bar" and "Hotel Room, 12th Floor" for the poetry, and "All My Sons" for the drama, our class chose to jettison "Sunset Song" on the grounds that it's the literary equivalent of wading through a bog, although i had a look at past papers and i hope ill be fine

TNF · 2nd May 2005, 05:40 PM

i'll probably do some norman mccaig poems, keep clear of the crucible mind, its bloody terrible!

chrono · 2nd May 2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindsay

also, they look for the eloquence with which you write and the other points you have made. if you write confidently and make other good points, then i would assume that the marker would give you credit for points that they had not previously thought of. similarly, if your essay is a mess and you make a strange point, the marker would probably not give you credit for an outlandish remark.

This is very true. It helps, of course, if you do actually have an understanding of the text, but even if you don't fully grasp it make sure you write in a authoritive manner and don't be afraid to show off with the odd flourish here and there. The ability to bullshit in writing is a great gift!

humndislocation · 2nd May 2005, 06:22 PM

I was great at standard grade english, but not particularly good at higher english. I found the RPR particularly difficult, and just did a crap one about Bravo Two Zero to get it out of the way. By the end of the year, all I particularly cared about was getting a C.

Like a lot of people, I tend to think in terms of science, and problem solving, so I find writing essays, and dissecting peoples work to be very difficult. I've become worse and worse at it, as time has gone on. I simply can't get into the required mindset to write a good essay.

I had the same problem with standard grade art. I simply did not have an opinion on a lot of the paintings I had to critique. Also, the fact I was expected to comment on the medium used, when I had very little idea of how it contributed to the final image, didn't help.

Pinky · 2nd May 2005, 06:41 PM

I never paid any attention in English, never handed in essays and the ones we did in classes I told the teacher she must have lost them. I ended up getting a B and my teacher told me she'd expected me to get an A.

So my advice is don't bother about English, just blether pish in the exam and you should do fine.

**note** like lindsay and someone else said, try and blether with some kind of style like you know what you are talking about.

earmuffin · 3rd May 2005, 04:56 PM

I havn't done english this year, I'm just sitting the exams. I got a B in the prelims

I'm doing Romeo And Juliet and To Kill a Mockingbird... yes i realise how fucking cliche those are.
but; sUcK mY tOFfeE.

I only really need a C to get into Duncan of Jordanston art school, i think

thomasjmaccoll · 6th May 2005, 08:20 AM

aye, so it's a week today.

oh dear...

should be fine

i'm doing r+j, cone gatherers, the almond tree by jon stallworthy and prayer before birth by louis macneice.

Iomega · 6th May 2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNF

i'll probably do some norman mccaig poems, keep clear of the crucible mind, its bloody terrible!

Thats definetly true.I done it in class a think it is rubbish.

I think I am doing Act Of Union By seamus heaney and Blevod by Toni morrison

DissolveD_JameS · 6th May 2005, 10:04 AM

F****** Higher English.... I'm sooo bitter.

I loved it... absolutely loved it, I got totally into it big time. Even my teacher was cool, he watched Buffy and played in a Chili's cover-band. The Red Not Chili Peppers.

So yeah... my RPR I get an estimated 'A'. My Imaginative Essay I get an estimated 'A'. I fucking nailed the exam. (Afterwards - I went over the exam paper with a friend and we both wrote pretty much exactly the same thing - we would have been worried we'd get busted for cheating but we were at opposite sided of the exam hall)

My friend gets: 'A'
I get: 'C'

Bollocks. This was the year that hundreds of exam results got totally buggered up. To this day I'm still waiting for the grade to be changed.

alien_syndm · 6th May 2005, 05:50 PM

I'm definitely a "science" person. I much prefer scientific type thinking and problems. However, having a firm grasp of the english language is important.
Scientists still have to write reports remember.
Higher english might seem a load of rubbish at the time, I complained about it myself I must admit, but it's definitely worth doing.
Computers are so abundant these days people seem unable to spell or have correct grammar. A computer can spell check yes, but there's alot it can't do.
I would definitely say english is an essential higher, whatever field you wish to go into. Similarly, maths is also essential.
I know it's a pain and it seems pointless but alot of things which seem bollocks at the time you are glad you did in the end.

Lindsay · 6th May 2005, 05:57 PM

maths is not essential! well, not higher anyway. i have never used anything i used in higher maths. i can't even remember anything i did in higher maths except something to do with triangles and a funny formula where you had to simplfy stuff. but that's a different argument. arithimetic is essential though.

english is essential if you want to do any job where you have to communicate with people, which is almost any job. it teaches you how to present things in an articulate manner.

alien_syndm · 6th May 2005, 06:17 PM

Yeah remember how old are you lindsay ? Hopefully you still have many years left to live and there's plenty chance some maths may come along.

2nd May 2005, 06:41 PM	#22 (permalink)
Pinky Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 479	I never paid any attention in English, never handed in essays and the ones we did in classes I told the teacher she must have lost them. I ended up getting a B and my teacher told me she'd expected me to get an A. So my advice is don't bother about English, just blether pish in the exam and you should do fine. note like lindsay and someone else said, try and blether with some kind of style like you know what you are talking about. Last edited by Pinky : 2nd May 2005 at 06:43 PM.

2nd May 2005, 05:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
Lindsay eighties fan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,594	fair point, but i have done a million rprlike essays at uni and if i come up with something the marker hasn't noticed before, they say "good, original point". sqa markers also discuss what they have done with other markers (or so i was told by my higher english teacher, who is a marker), so i'm sure if they have problems relating to having not read a text, they will resolve it then. however, i doubt there are many books that a higher student will write about that an experienced marker won't have read or are at least familiar with. also, they look for the eloquence with which you write and the other points you have made. if you write confidently and make other good points, then i would assume that the marker would give you credit for points that they had not previously thought of. similarly, if your essay is a mess and you make a strange point, the marker would probably not give you credit for an outlandish remark.

2nd May 2005, 05:36 PM	#18 (permalink)
e.r.n.i.e Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 202	'Mon the Assisi...i'm doin higher english this year, we get one day off before it, which i guess is better than nothing (we're takin' it healthy in the chuffter on the art exam though, general election day, which means no preparation time and straight back the next day) anyway, i digress... i'm doing "In the Snack Bar" and "Hotel Room, 12th Floor" for the poetry, and "All My Sons" for the drama, our class chose to jettison "Sunset Song" on the grounds that it's the literary equivalent of wading through a bog, although i had a look at past papers and i hope ill be fine

2nd May 2005, 05:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
TNF Schmako as funk! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bilston Posts: 1,139 Band: High School Anal	i'll probably do some norman mccaig poems, keep clear of the crucible mind, its bloody terrible!

2nd May 2005, 06:22 PM	#21 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,838 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	I was great at standard grade english, but not particularly good at higher english. I found the RPR particularly difficult, and just did a crap one about Bravo Two Zero to get it out of the way. By the end of the year, all I particularly cared about was getting a C. Like a lot of people, I tend to think in terms of science, and problem solving, so I find writing essays, and dissecting peoples work to be very difficult. I've become worse and worse at it, as time has gone on. I simply can't get into the required mindset to write a good essay. I had the same problem with standard grade art. I simply did not have an opinion on a lot of the paintings I had to critique. Also, the fact I was expected to comment on the medium used, when I had very little idea of how it contributed to the final image, didn't help.

3rd May 2005, 04:56 PM	#23 (permalink)
earmuffin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: I'm there. Posts: 1,636	I havn't done english this year, I'm just sitting the exams. I got a B in the prelims I'm doing Romeo And Juliet and To Kill a Mockingbird... yes i realise how fucking cliche those are. but; sUcK mY tOFfeE. I only really need a C to get into Duncan of Jordanston art school, i think

6th May 2005, 08:20 AM	#24 (permalink)
thomasjmaccoll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 47 millbank, cupar, fife Posts: 1,109	aye, so it's a week today. oh dear... should be fine i'm doing r+j, cone gatherers, the almond tree by jon stallworthy and prayer before birth by louis macneice.

6th May 2005, 10:04 AM	#26 (permalink)
DissolveD_JameS Restrained Abuser Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 1,264 Band: Dissolved	F****** Higher English.... I'm sooo bitter. I loved it... absolutely loved it, I got totally into it big time. Even my teacher was cool, he watched Buffy and played in a Chili's cover-band. The Red Not Chili Peppers. So yeah... my RPR I get an estimated 'A'. My Imaginative Essay I get an estimated 'A'. I fucking nailed the exam. (Afterwards - I went over the exam paper with a friend and we both wrote pretty much exactly the same thing - we would have been worried we'd get busted for cheating but we were at opposite sided of the exam hall) My friend gets: 'A' I get: 'C' Bollocks. This was the year that hundreds of exam results got totally buggered up. To this day I'm still waiting for the grade to be changed.

6th May 2005, 05:50 PM	#27 (permalink)
alien_syndm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: dundee Posts: 1,435	I'm definitely a "science" person. I much prefer scientific type thinking and problems. However, having a firm grasp of the english language is important. Scientists still have to write reports remember. Higher english might seem a load of rubbish at the time, I complained about it myself I must admit, but it's definitely worth doing. Computers are so abundant these days people seem unable to spell or have correct grammar. A computer can spell check yes, but there's alot it can't do. I would definitely say english is an essential higher, whatever field you wish to go into. Similarly, maths is also essential. I know it's a pain and it seems pointless but alot of things which seem bollocks at the time you are glad you did in the end.

6th May 2005, 05:57 PM	#28 (permalink)
Lindsay eighties fan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,594	maths is not essential! well, not higher anyway. i have never used anything i used in higher maths. i can't even remember anything i did in higher maths except something to do with triangles and a funny formula where you had to simplfy stuff. but that's a different argument. arithimetic is essential though. english is essential if you want to do any job where you have to communicate with people, which is almost any job. it teaches you how to present things in an articulate manner.

6th May 2005, 06:17 PM	#29 (permalink)
alien_syndm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: dundee Posts: 1,435	Yeah remember how old are you lindsay ? Hopefully you still have many years left to live and there's plenty chance some maths may come along.