5 min guide to Module A: Advanced English

In the English Advanced course, we will be exploring 4 different modules and this blog post will help you blitz Module A: Textual Conversations. 

First and foremost, before diving into the core texts you are studying you must understand the end goal of this module and what you should achieve and understand by the end of it. 

Module A is a comparative module, hence all schools will be looking at two texts that complement each other by extending the meanings and reading of the first text or giving an opposing perspective that is more relevant to contemporary audiences. 

For example, King Richard III by William Shakespeare is the core text that is explored and is accompanied by a reimagination- Looking for Richard, a contemporary film directed by Al Pacino. The two texts are similar in the perspective that they both involve historical characters yet Pacino’s hybrid text subverts original meanings to appeal to a more postmodern audience. 

Now let’s take a look at some keywords from the rubric:

The comparative study of texts can reveal resonances and dissonances between and within texts

• Resonances are elements of the following text that align with the original text’s values and meanings whereas dissonances reveal different perspective

A reimagining or reframing of an aspect of a text might mirror, align or collide with the details of another text

• Reimagining and reframing are adjectives for the second text that was inspired by the original text (e.g. Looking for Richard is a reframing of King Richard III)
• A mirror is when an aspect of the reimagination is exactly the same from the source text nowhere as align means there are similarities but also made unique by the forthcoming’s personal artistic decisions. Collide is when the reframed text shows a completely opposite or differing perspective from the original text. 

Disparate issues, values, assumptions or perspectives and how these are depicted

• Elements where we can identify mirrors, alignments, or collisions
• Values from the different contexts, the evolution of culture, and the form of the texts- are they both novels, or has the reimagination become a movie, play, or poem? Are the main characters still the same or are we exploring the text through another lens?

Textual features, conventions, contexts, values and purpose

• What is the genre and form of the text
  • Is it a play, novel or film? Can you describe it further (e.g. Looking for Richard by Al Pacino is a hybrid text- whereby it is a contemporary film  that combines traditional film techniques yet is reimagined through postmodern techniques of narration.

Personal, social, cultural and historical contextual knowledge 

• How do we view the text? Would we be interested in the same aspects as the intended audience of the original text?

That’s it for a brief introduction of the rubric. Now let’s look at different ways you can structure your essay.

Structure 1)

Introduction 

Body paragraph 1

• Argument 1

• Text 1

Body paragraph 2

• Argument 1

• Text 2

Body paragraph 3

• Argument 2

• Text 1

Body paragraph 4

• Argument 2

• Text 2

Conclusion 

Structure 2)

Introduction 

Body paragraph 1

• Argument 1

• Text 1

• Text 2

Body paragraph 2

• Argument 2

• Text 1

• Text 2

Body paragraph 3

• Argument 3

• Text 1

• Text 2

Conclusion 

Structure 3)

Introduction 

Body paragraph 1

• Argument 1

• Text 1

Body paragraph 2

• Argument 1

• Text 2

Body paragraph 3

• Argument 2

• Text 1

Body paragraph 4

• Argument 2

• Text 2

Body paragraph 5

• Argument 3

• Text 1

Body paragraph 6

• Argument 3

• Text 2

Conclusion

That’s it for today’s post and I hope you found it useful!

All the best for your studies 🙂