Technique 1
Stanley angrily dug his shovel into the dirt… But mostly he was angry at Zigzag.”
What technique is used?
A) Imagery
B) Emotive language
C) Hyperbole
D) Foreshadowing
B) Emotive language
“Stanley angrily dug his shovel… angry at Zigzag.”
What is the effect?
A) Shows he needs a break
B) Reveals Stanley’s emotions and internal conflict
C) Shows Zigzag is strong
D) Suggests the hole is dangerous
B) Reveals Stanley’s emotions and internal conflict
Quote: “Mr. Pendanski looked at Zigzag. ‘What happened?’ Zigzag didn’t answer.”
What technique drives the meaning?
A) Rhyme
B) Repetition / silence as resistance
C) Personification
D) Simile
Effect??
\B)Repetition
Effect (bonus): Emphasises fear and enforced conformity.
Which part of an essay structure would you find this sentence?
Louis Sachar’s “Holes” (1998) is a novel that focuses on real-world struggles in institutional settings which encourage conformity.
Introduction
$100
In Holes, individuality often emerges when characters…
A) follow the rules perfectly
B) resist injustice and assert personal choice
C) stop digging
D) copy others
B) resist injustice and assert personal choice
Quote: “Stanley got up and punched Zigzag in the face.”
What technique is used?
A) Symbolism
B) Dialogue
C) Characterisation
D) Irony
C) Characterisation
Quote: “Stanley got up and punched Zigzag…”
Effect?
A) Shows he wants to make friends
B) Shows Stanley rejecting passivity and asserting himself
C) Shows he enjoys violence
D) Shows Zigzag winning
B) Shows Stanley rejecting passivity and asserting himself
“Stanley picked up Zigzag’s shovel. It felt heavy in his hands.”
Technique?
A) Imagery / symbolism
B) Alliteration
C) Hyperbole
D) Rhetorical question
Effect??
A) Imagery / symbolism
Effect (bonus): Shows burden and role reversal.
What is a thesis and what does it answer in an essay??
thesis is what your argument is in relation to the question.
the answer to the essay question
Conformity at Camp Green Lake is mainly enforced through…
A) friendships
B) food rewards
C) fear, authority, and peer pressure
D) free time activities
C) fear, authority, and peer pressure
“He was part of the team. He was a member of the family. He was Caveman.”
What technique is used?
A) Repetition
B) Simile
C) Juxtaposition
D) Onomatopoeia
A) Repetition
Quote: “He was part of the team. He was a member of the family…”
Effect?
A) Shows he loves digging
B) Highlights his individuality
C) Shows growing conformity and acceptance of camp identity
D) Shows fear of Warden
C) Shows growing conformity and acceptance of camp identity
“He felt proud of himself… He was making a contribution.”
Technique?
A) Tone shift + characterisation
B) Personification
C) Allegory
D) Satire
Effect??
A) Tone shift + characterisation
Effect (bonus): Shows Stanley conforming to belong.
True or False?
In a conclusion, you must:
1. reword your thesis
2. remind the marker of your statements from your body paragraph
3. Write a general statement that ends the essay
true
Zero’s efficiency and silence show that individuality can be expressed through…
A) rebellion only
B) loud arguments
C) quiet personal choice
D) digging slower
C) quiet personal choice
“His name was Brian, but X-Ray called him Twitch…”
What technique is used?
A) Alliteration
B) Naming / Symbolism
C) Flashback
D) Irony
B) Naming / Symbolism
“His name was Brian, but X-Ray called him Twitch…”
Effect?
A) Shows camp is friendly
B) Shows unfairness of digging
C) Shows loss of personal identity due to enforced conformity
D) Suggests he likes the nickname
C) Shows loss of personal identity due to enforced conformity
Quote: “You're not looking for anything. You're digging to build character.”
Technique?
A) Metaphor
B) Irony + dialogue
C) Onomatopoeia
D) Pun
Effect??
B) Irony + dialogue
Effect (bonus): Highlights absurdity of camp rules + forced conformity.
As a class, we came up with this when writing STAR body paragraphs:
-Nickname
-Gives treasure to X Ray
Hides to write a letter to his mum
Where does this belong in the STAR structure?
Analysis
Nicknames like “Caveman” demonstrate…
A) increased freedom
B) enforced group identity and loss of individuality
C) praise
D) humour
B) enforced group identity and loss of individuality
“It was your idea,” said the Warden. “And that’s why it’s your shovel.”
What technique is used?
A) Metaphor
B) Irony
C) Imagery
D) Personification
B) irony
Quote: “Let me see your hands,” said the Warden.
Effect?
A) Shows she likes shaking hands
B) Reinforces her control and expectation of labour-based conformity
C) Shows she is helpful
D) Warns them of rain coming
B) Reinforces her control and expectation of labour-based conformity
Quote: “Stanley glanced helplessly at his shovel. He was defective.”
Technique?
A) Foreshadowing
B) Internal monologue + metaphor
C) Simile
D) Pun
B) Internal monologue + metaphor
Effect (bonus): Reveals self-doubt and pressure to conform.
What are two ways you can show the marker that you have answered the essay question? Provide examples in relation to Holes,
Use 2024's question to guide your answer:
An important idea running through literature is the conflict between individuality and conformity. How is this represented in your class text?
Use synonyms of the key words
Ensure that your ideas make links to individuality AND conformity
Individuality: personal choice, moral courage
Conformity: fear, authority, peer pressure, social hierarchies, institutional pressure, forced conformity
Which quote best shows a shift from conformity to individuality?
A) “Let me see your hands.”
B) “He didn’t care what X-Ray thought. He’d lost all respect for him.”
C) “He was part of the team.”
D) “You’re digging to build character.”
B) “He didn’t care what X-Ray thought. He’d lost all respect for him.”