Personal Journeys
Can we tell other people's stories?
Yes
What are the four purposes you will choose from in your creative piece? eg "To...."
To reflect, to express, to explain, or to argue
Name two literary devices used in Bidngen.
Metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, vivid sensory description, subheadings in Lardil language, autobiographical voice
Adichie says: “I realized that I was not a completely new person, but that I had arrived with a set of stories I had absorbed.” How does this link to her purpose?
She has gently self-mocking, admitting that she too was guilty of the single story
What literary devices did Amy Duong use in The Red Plastic Chair?
Motif, descriptive imagery, tone/voice, vignettes (scenes), metaphor, cultural references, contrast of language (Vietnamese)
Are we encouraged to tell stories about migration?
Yes, you're encouraged to explore the expectations of change, the language of a new place and culture.
Do I need to do annotations in the exam?
No
What literary device?
'… on good days, they fish on the soft green slow-moving river, underneath the cool shade of the old gums they sit with aunties and uncles and breathe in the hot dirt smell.'
Sensory writing
Why does Adichie repeat "the danger of a single story" throughout the speech?
Reinforces her central argument and makes it memorable, almost like a refrain.
How does the motif of motif in The Red Plastic Chair contributes to the exploration of family, memory, or cultural identity?
It's not just a chair, it carries the weight of shared experiences and personal history, symbolizing the continuity of family traditions and the intimate spaces in which identity is formed.
Is the concept weighed more than the execution (the writing)?
No, the writing is more important
Do I need to state my purpose?
No. Through establishing an appropriate voice, the purpose should be clear in the writing itself.
What device?
“Her whole life has been a push and pull between her muddled memories and her reality.”
Metaphor
What do both Adichie and Noah do to soften their serious critiques?
Use humour (self-deprecating humour)
Would it be worth trying to come up with a good motif that represents my family culture and traditions before the exam?
YESSSSS!
There will be a title and a prompt, do I have to respond to both?
Yes, a good response will have the ideas in the title permeating through the piece
Should it be clear, through the writing, who the audience is?
Yes
What device?
"Her mind is like water, it sways and shifts"
Simile
Adichie's speech's purpose was to promote _______ in storytelling
Diversity
Amy Duong establishes a very authentic voice. Use two adjectives to describe it.
Reflective, nostalgic, warm, personal, intimate, contemplative, affectionate.
Am I expected to have done research?
Absolutely. You should be going in armed with a range of ideas, and a well researched vision of the ideas in 'personal journeys' that you want to explore.
What is the most important criteria it will be assessed on?
Your voice, the confidence with which you express what you have to say
What device?
'The river runs through her stories'
Symbolism. The river isn’t just a physical place; it represents the flow of family stories, connection to Country, and the way knowledge is carried across generations
If I write a speech in the exam, it would need to be clear to the examiner the techniques I have borrowed from Adichie. True or false?
True. Examples: conversational tone, humour, contrast, cultural references, anecdote, repetition.
What is the role of a metaphor- how does it work?
Gives abstract ideas tangible form, deepening the impact of the text.