Sunset Boulevard
What is the film’s narrative perspective, and how does it affect audience sympathy for Joe Gillis?
The story is narrated in first person by Joe Gillis, who speaks posthumously. This self-aware narration creates irony and moral distance, inviting sympathy yet forcing the audience to judge his choices.
Identify one of the Mentor Texts and explain how it connects to protest writing.
Mardi Gras Essay
Pankhurst Speech
Harrison Bergeron
Meyne Wyatt Monologue
Define “contention” and “tone” and explain how they interact to position an audience.
Contention: The main point of view.
Tone: The author’s attitude or emotion.
Tone strengthens contention by influencing how the audience feels (e.g., a hopeful tone invites unity; a scathing tone incites anger)
What event caused the townspeople to ostracise the Blackwood family?
The poisoning of the family dinner — six deaths by arsenic in the sugar bowl — for which Constance was acquitted but remains socially condemned.
How many sections are in the VCE English Exam, and what percentage of the study score does it contribute?
3 sections: (A) Text Response, (B) Framework of Ideas, (C) Argument Analysis. The exam contributes 50% of the study score
Name two film noir conventions used by Billy Wilder and explain their thematic purpose.
1) Voice-over narration – reveals cynicism and fatalism.
2) Low-key lighting – symbolises moral ambiguity and corruption in Hollywood. Both reinforce themes of decay and illusion.
What is the key difference between writing about protest and writing to protest?
Writing about protest analyses and reflects on acts of protest; writing to protest directly argues for change and aims to persuade or inspire action.
Identify one visual element commonly used to reinforce argument and explain its persuasive effect.
Imagery (e.g., a suffering animal in an animal-rights article) provokes empathy and strengthens emotional appeal by humanising an issue.
Describe how Merricat uses superstition to control her world and protect her sister.
Merricat buries objects, chants rituals, and marks boundaries as magical protection, symbolising her desire to control change and maintain isolation.
What is the difference between a contention and a topic sentence?
Contention: central argument in the introduction. Topic sentence: the controlling idea of a paragraph that develops one aspect of the contention.
How does the setting of Norma Desmond’s mansion symbolise both Hollywood’s decay and Norma’s delusion?
The crumbling mansion, filled with relics and dead silence, mirrors the lost grandeur of silent cinema and Norma’s inability to move beyond her fame. It’s a decaying shrine to illusion.
Using a mentor text (e.g., Pankhurst, King, or Thunberg), explain how purpose and audience shape persuasive language.
Judges discretion
Explain the difference between argument and persuasive technique using an example.
Argument: logical point (e.g., “Climate change threatens our children’s future”).
Technique: method (e.g., emotive language like “stealing our children’s tomorrow”).
How does Jackson use setting to reflect psychological isolation and societal fear?
The decaying Blackwood home and its separation from the village mirror the sisters’ psychological withdrawal and the community’s paranoia and prejudice.
Outline the TEEL structure and explain how it helps sustain cohesive analytical writing.
T: Topic sentence
E: Evidence
E: Explanation/analysis
L: Link to contention. TEEL ensures logical flow and focused argumentation.
“There’s nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you’re trying to be twenty-five.” – Discuss how this line captures Wilder’s critique of fame and ageism.
Max’s line exposes Hollywood’s obsession with youth and the disposability of women. Norma’s tragedy stems from a culture that discards ageing stars, revealing systemic cruelty beneath glamour.
What are the different purposes in this area of study?
To Explain
To Argue
To Express
To Reflect
A media article and a political speech both address climate change. Compare how context and author identity might alter their persuasive strategies.
The journalist might use logical appeals and statistics for objectivity; a politician may use emotional and nationalistic appeals to inspire trust or action. Context (media vs. rally) shapes tone and evidence.
Discuss the role of gender and power in the relationship between Charles, Constance, and Merricat.
Charles represents patriarchal intrusion; Constance’s submissiveness reflects social expectation, while Merricat resists male authority through rebellion and destruction.
What are three strategies for effective time management in the 3-hour exam?
1) Spend 50 hr per section.
2) Plan 5–10 mins before writing.
3) Write first on Section C First.
4)Write on your strongest area second
5) Leave 5 mins for proofreading.
Explain how Wilder uses lighting and camera framing to position the audience during Joe’s death scene.
The high-angle shot of Joe’s floating body and his detached narration symbolise his moral downfall. The lighting contrasts the pool’s bright surface with surrounding darkness, reflecting corruption and disillusionment.
Develop a short contention for a protest-style essay and identify how purpose, context, and audience shape it.
Contention: “Real protest begins in empathy, not anger.”
Purpose: Inspire reflection on compassion in activism.
Audience: General readership.
Context: Modern social divisions.
Style: Reflective, emotive, inclusive tone.
What should be included in an introduction?
Issue
Author
Text Type
Contention
Audience
“We Have Always Lived in the Castle is less about madness than about control.” Defend or refute.
Defend: Merricat’s actions stem from the need to control her environment, not insanity. Her rituals, manipulation, and isolation maintain power over her world and sister.
How long is Reading Time?
15 Minutes