»

[Sam L4]

Anyone else doing this subject? Trying to write my dissertation (2 S's or 1 - you see the problems i have) and completely stuck for what to write. Read 'The Outsider' and 'Young Adam' for it. The Outsider was absolutely awesome i thought, Young Adam was good but not as good as The Outsider.

Anyone got any tips for writing these as i dont have a clue?

[RF Scott]

Originally Posted by Sam L4

Anyone else doing this subject? Trying to write my dissertation (2 S's or 1 - you see the problems i have) and completely stuck for what to write. Read 'The Outsider' and 'Young Adam' for it. The Outsider was absolutely awesome i thought, Young Adam was good but not as good as The Outsider.

Anyone got any tips for writing these as i dont have a clue?

Do you not have to read three texts? I did anyway.

[feeble!]

I'm doing two texts, also don't have a clue as to what to write though.

[Tubthumper]

I did Adv. English last year. The dissertation was the worst part of it, but we each got assigned tutors, ie. one of the English teachers. They helped alot, but maybe one reason we got them was because there was only 3 people in the class.

Firstly, you should look at the sort of things the books have in common, write them down.
If you can, try and find study books to accompany the books you read. If you can't find any, it doesn't really matter. I hardly used mine at all.

When you've found the sort of themes to compare in the books, try and think of a topic which you could waffle on about for 5000 words. It takes a bit of thought, but will help you in the long run.

I read, "Snow Falling on Cedars" and "East of the Mountains" by David Guterson. Really good books actually.

But it can be done with 2 books. Maybe you should ask your teacher for some sorta assistance. Up to you.

[Knight of Swords]

I would say general tips for a comparitive essay would be to mix up the two books in your essay, don't write about one then the other then compare them afterwards. Pick something you can compare the two books on, and write about both books in the same paragraph. Then on the next paragraph, pick another way you can compare them and do the same. I think when you do it this way, it improves the flow of the essay.

And regardless of what you think of the two books, try to keep your essay objective and do your conclusion based on what you've written as opposed to what you think. Sometimes, you might stronly believe one answer, but find it hard to express. Sometimes when you look at your essay, you'll realise it suggests something different to what you believe, so for the sake of integrity, you want to go with what you've written, or it looks like you've just rambled and haven't supported your arguments properly.

What I've written looks like rambles and I'm giving advice on essay writing. I had to do a lot of essays at uni, so I know what I'm saying works, even if it looks unlikely.

[Time Machine]

Is The Outsider by Albert Camus? If so, I had to read that in Higher French 5/6 years ago and thought it was ace! English version hidden under the desk in class!!

[Sam L4]

Originally Posted by Time Machine

Is The Outsider by Albert Camus? If so, I had to read that in Higher French 5/6 years ago and thought it was ace! English version hidden under the desk in class!!

Yeh it sure is, brilliant book. I've written a 1000 words so far, it's a working progress.

[Mouse]

I hate Adv H English, probably because I passed the critical essay part 50%, and failed the other bit by just 2 marks. I worked my ass off for the final exam which I'm positive I did better in, yet I didn't even get a D. Appeal didn't work. And my Disseratation was damn good.

I think they mark Higher and Adv H too harshly. I know a lot of people who are good at English who got low grades

[connie]

It helps if you have a teacher who teaches you according to the SQA marking guidlines. E.g., writing essays with the proper structure, and all that jazz.

I quite wanted to do AH English this year, but I couldn't fit it in. Plus, then I'd have three dissertations, and I'm struggling with just the two.

[Swingin' Ryan]

I did mine on the Beat Writers of the 1960's, I ended up typing it at the last minute with my teacher reading it as I was typing in the school library. I don't reccomend doing this, but I did pass in the end.