Exam Revision Page
Examination criteria
Section A – Text response (Reading and responding)
- detailed knowledge and understanding of the selected text, demonstrated appropriately in response to the topic
- development in the writing of a coherent and effective discussion in response to the task
- controlled use of expressive and effective language appropriate to the task
To get top marks you have to you:
- Demonstrate a close and perceptive reading of the text, exploring complexities of its concepts and construction.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of the topic, using an appropriate strategy for dealing with it, and exploring its complexity from the basis of the text.
- Develop a cogent, controlled and well-substantiated discussion using precise and expressive language.
Section B – Language analysis (Using language to persuade)
- understanding of the ideas and points of view presented
- analysis of ways in which language and visual features are used to present a point of view and to persuade readers
- controlled and effective use of language appropriate to the task
To get top marks you have to you:
- Shows a perceptive and sophisticated understanding of a range of ways in which the written and visual language positions readers in the context presented.
- Develops a cogent, controlled and well-substantiated analysis using precise and effective language and expression.
LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
- Persuasive techniques
- Forms of persuasive texts
- How to discuss visuals
- Structure of a language analysis essay
- Sentence starters
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You may want to order information on persuasive techniques in a table like this:
Persuasive technique
Definition
Example
Effect on reader
Background Information: Members of the ‘Bali Nine’, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were convicted in Indonesia of trafficking nearly half a kilogram of heroin in 2005. Following a lengthy appeals process, the pair were executed by firing squad in Indonesia on April 29th 2015. On the same day as the execution the opinion piece by Daniel Webb titled “Bali 9: Time to death penalty-proof our AFP” was published on the ABC news website The Drum. The cartoon by, Bill Leak who is the daily editorial cartoonist on The Australian newspaper was printed on the same day.
Bali 9: Time to death penalty-proof our AFP
OPINION By Daniel Webb, 29 Apr 2015
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were only arrested in Indonesia because the Australian Federal Police tipped off their Indonesian counterparts. The law that allowed this must be rectified, writes Daniel Webb.
Despite concerted and commendable recent efforts by our current Government, two young men - Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - have been executed in Indonesia. Australia didn't pull the trigger, but we should take a long, hard look at the extent to which our actions over recent years contributed to someone else doing so.
First, Chan and Sukumaran were only arrested in Indonesia because the Australian Federal Police tipped off their Indonesian counterparts. The AFP knew the men were planning to smuggle drugs into Australia. It could have arrested them on arrival here. It chose not to. As a direct consequence of that decision, Chan and Sukumaran were arrested, tried and convicted in a country which executed them instead of one that wouldn't.
The law which authorised the AFP to provide this information to Indonesian police - the Australian Federal Police Act - still exists. Unlike other laws regulating our cooperation with the law enforcement and criminal justice systems of foreign nations, the AFP Act does not safeguard against Australian complicity in the death penalty.
For instance, the Extradition Act contains provisions preventing the extradition of a person from Australia where the death penalty may be imposed. The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act contains similar safeguards. The Australian Federal Police Act does not.
This inconsistency has already cost two lives. It should be rectified before it costs any more. As a matter of urgency, the AFP Act should be amended to prevent, subject perhaps to some very limited exceptions in cases of imminent threats to life, the sharing of information in circumstances where the death penalty may be imposed.
Second, absolutely key to credibility is consistency. When it comes to opposition to the death penalty, Australia has been anything but consistent.
In 2003 when the Bali Bombers were sentenced to death, then Prime Minister John Howard said "if [the death penalty] is what the law of Indonesia provides, well, that is how things should proceed. There won't be any protest from Australia." Labor Leader Simon Crean agreed. In 2008 with those executions fast approaching, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the group "deserve the justice that will be delivered to them".
It was unprincipled and short-sighted from all three of them. They effectively endorsed the same barbaric practice we've more recently argued is fundamentally wrong.
Third, central to Indonesia's unwillingness to compromise on the executions of Chan and Sukumaran was its sensitivity on issues of sovereignty. That sensitivity was evident in February this year when Indonesian President Joko Widodo warned, "Do not intervene in executions. This is Indonesia's judicial and political sovereignty."
Those sensitivities have been heightened in recent times by Australia's continued interception and return of asylum seekers to Indonesia against the express wishes of the Indonesian government. When Australia breached Indonesian territorial waters six times in the space of two months last year the Indonesian government made its displeasure clear, saying in a statement that it "deplores and rejects the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that "any such violation of whatever basis constitutes a serious matter in bilateral relations of the two countries".
Myopically, unlawfully and arrogantly, Australia kept turning back boats regardless. In so doing we aggravated the very sensitivity we have more recently been trying to subdue. We also spent precious goodwill we might otherwise have been able to call on.
Fourth, and finally, Australia continues to rely on the same dangerous consequentialist logic to defend its own human rights abuses as Indonesia does to excuse its use of capital punishment.
Indonesia's use of the death penalty is undeniably cruel. It breaches international law when imposed for anything other than the most heinous of crimes. The UN has urged Indonesia to desist. Yet Indonesia continues to execute people on the misguided basis that it deters crime and that the ends justify the means.
Australia's mandatory and indefinite detention of innocent people - including children - on remote islands is also cruel. It also breaches international law. The UN has also urged Australia to stop doing it. Yet Australia continues, arguing that cruelty to survivors is the only way to stop deaths at sea - in effect, that the ends justify the means.
We inflict different rights abuses against different people for different purposes, but our logic is the same. We would have had far greater credibility to call on our neighbours to respect human rights and basic decency if we did so ourselves.
None of this is to deny that our Government tried desperately in recent times to save Chan and Sukumaran. It should be commended for doing so. It is a tragedy that those efforts failed.
Chan and Sukumaran now no longer have the chance to demonstrate that they have learned from their mistakes. We owe it to them to make sure we learn from ours. Law reform, consistent opposition to the death penalty and some honest introspection on the broader implications of our own rights abuses would be a good start.
Daniel Webb is the Director of Legal Advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre. He tweets at @DanielHRLC.
TEXT RESPONSE: GATTACA
What you SHOULD REVISE!
Text response essay structure
- Background information
- Style
- Plot and key scenes
- Sets and locations
- Characters
- Themes
- Symbols, motifs
- Key Quotes
- Film techniques
- Background information
- Genetics
www.imdb.com
DNA, eugenics, genetic engineering
- Ethical and moral questions
- What is and isn’t determined by our genes
- Style
- Sci/fi, Noir, Romance, Hero, crime, dystopian future, morality
- 1920’s/1950’s architecture/sets, costume
- Plot and key scenes
- Summary of each chapter/scene
- Timeline of key events
- Key scenes
d) Sets and locations
Describe the appearance and significance of structure, style or contents.
- Childhood home
- Gattaca complex
- Eugene’s apartment
- Beach
e) Characters
- Appearance, mannerisms, clothes, social status, home, environment
- Personality traits
- Relationship to/with other characters
- Conflict with other characters
- Motivations, attitudes, opinions
- Language-speech patterns, use of language, tone of voice
- Key quotes- what they say, what others say about them
f) Themes
Include notes on: Definition, characters associated, author’s message, key quotes/passages
- Destiny Vs. Free will
- The dangers of genetic and scientific experimentation
- Systematic discrimination
- Authoritarianism and conformity Vs. Individuality or dreams
- Coldness Vs. Passion
- Science Vs. Nature
g) Symbols, motifs
- Vincent cleaning himself
- Urine, and blood samples
- Hair, skin
- Water and swimming
- Colours-blue, red, white, grey
- Character names
h) Key Quotes (You must remember them; you won’t have a cheat sheet!)
- For each key scene- to support key events
- For each major and minor character –what they say, what others say about them
- Label each with what theme it represents (could be more than one)
VINCENT/JEROME
1) “My resume was in my cells”
a) Flashback – Vincent/Jerome attends a job interview for Gattaca, but is not considered due to his DNA profile. b) DISCRIMINATION – Vincent/Jerome is discriminated against because he is a “faith-birth” and does not have the genetic advantages of others who apply to the space program.
2) “…the impossible happened. It was the moment that made everything else possible.”
a) Flashback – This is the swimming race where Vincent/Jerome beats his genetically superior brother for the first time and is also forced to rescue him, when Anton gets into trouble.
b) Dreams – Vincent/Jerome realizes that he can overcome the deficiencies in his DNA when he beats brother, meaning that it is possible for him to achieve his dream as an astronaut.
3) “This is how I did it, Anton - I never saved anything for the swim back.”
a) Vincent/Jerome tells Anton this in their last competitive swim race, as explanation of how he has managed to become one of Gattaca’s elite.
b) Dreams – To achieve his dream, Vincent/Jerome must completely commit himself and take extraordinary risks to ensure its success. He leaves nothing in reserve in case he fails to reach his goal.
EUGENE/JEROME 4) “You still don’t understand, do you? When they look at you, they don’t see you anymore, they see me.”
a) Vincent/Jerome thinks his dream of becoming an astronaut is over, due to the murder investigation taking place at Gattaca where they are hunting his former INVALID self, but Eugene/Jerome reminds him that because of his DNA they no longer see the weak Vincent, rather they only see the strong, elite Jerome.
b) IDENTITY – Highlights the extent to which someone’s identity is determined by their DNA profile as opposed to who they really are.
5) “I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body. You lent me your dream.”
a) Eugene/Jerome tells Vincent/Jerome this on the morning of his departure for space. This highlights how close the bond is between the two of them.
b) DREAMS – Although Eugene/Jerome failed in his attempt to be a swimming champion, he finds success ultimately in helping Vincent/Jerome achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut.
IRENE 6) “If you’re going to pretend like you don’t care, don’t look up.”
a) In the first proper interaction between Vincent/Jerome and Irene, she makes the point that his feigned disdain for the space program is really just charade, as he cares enough to “look up” and watch every space launch.
b) IDENTITY – In this quotation, Irene has clearly observed that Vincent/Jerome is hiding aspects of himself from the rest of Gattaca as he pretends not to be excited about being an astronaut, but does watch every launch.
7) “You couldn’t see, could you? … You crossed anyway.”
a) Irene and Vincent/Jerome have been on a date, and he has had to dispose of his contacts due to a police ID check. She wants him to cross a busy road, but he can’t see, yet takes the risk and does it anyway.
b) DREAMS – This act of crossing the road, symbolizes Vincent/Jerome’s complete commitment to his dream of being an astronaut as he will maintain his charade as Jerome at all costs.
ANTON 8) “I bet I could be an astronaut if I wanted.”
a) Flashbacks – the child Vincent has made a scale model of the solar system, and Anton picks up his model for Pluto, an apple, and starts to eat it before stating that “I bet I could be an astronaut if I wanted.”
b) GENETIC ENGINEERING/ DISCRIMINATION/ DREAMS – Anton assumes that because he is genetically superior to his INVALID brother than he could be an astronaut. This is ironic, because later on Director Josef will tell Anton only the very best are part of the Gattaca program, and that these people are more elite than those in law enforcement.
LAMAR 9) “Unfortunately, my son’s not as good as they promised…but then, who knows what he could do.”
a) This is the final conversation between Lamar and Vincent/Jerome, where Vincent/Jerome is forced to take an unscheduled substance test that will reveal his true identity and therefore deny his dream. However, Lamar tells him again about his INVALID son, and how he has potential despite his genetic deficiencies.
b) GENETIC ENGINEERING/ DISCRIMINATION/ DREAMS – Lamar deliberately helps Vincent/Jerome evade the test that will reveal his identity, as he sees in Vincent/Jerome actions in becoming a space pilot, evidence that his own son will exceed his genetically determined potential.
10) “For future reference - right-handed men don’t hold it with their left, just one of those things.”
c) Lamar tells Vincent/Jerome that “right-handed men don’t hold it with their left” as a signal that he has known all along about Vincent/Jerome’s real identity and helped protect him
d) DREAMS – Lamar is just as committed to Vincent/Jerome’s dream as he is himself the father of an INVALID child.
DIRECTOR JOSEF 11) “Its right that someone like you is taking us to Titan.”
a) Director Josef says this to Vincent/Jerome in the opening scenes while he is working at his desk on a simulator of the space mission.
b) GENETIC ENGINEERING – Vincent/Jerome’s adopted identity as Jerome Morrow means that he is the “right” kind of person to be heading to Titan, as part of the space program, as he has all of the right genetic advantages. However, in reality, the real Vincent/Jerome has been selected for the flight based on his navigational ability and the false DNA he uses to maintain his fake identity.
12) “No-one exceeds his potential - if he did it would mean we did not accurately gauge his potential in the first place.”
a) Director Josef says this to Anton and Detective Hugo in the gym, when discussing what kind of people are selected for Gattaca.
b) GENETIC ENGINEERING/ DISCRIMINATION – Ironic as Vincent/Jerome is running in the gym at the same time, but has managed to hide his own deficient genetic make-up and be selected for the Titan mission.
ANTONIO (VINCENT/JEROME’S FATHER) 13) “The only way you’ll see the inside of a spaceship is if you were cleaning it.”
a) Antonio says this Vincent/Jerome in a flashback, as he believes his eldest son’s deficient DNA makes it impossible for him to obtain his dream of being an astronaut.
b) DISCRIMINATION – People who are of a “faith birth”, that is not genetically engineered, are discriminated against and made to work the most menial of jobs like being a janitor.
GENETICIST 14) “This child is you - simply the best of you.”
a) In Vincent/Jerome’s flashback, his parents go to a geneticist for the birth of their second child, Anton, to ensure that he has none of the same genetic deficiencies as his older brothers. The geneticist is explaining how he will extract the best parts of their DNA and remove potential problems like heart disease and substance addiction, to ensure that they have the best child possible in Anton.
b) GENETIC ENGINEERING – Draws attention to how genetic engineering is seen in the movie, as a way to eradicate a person’s genetically undesirable characteristics and give them the best chance at life.
CEASAR 15) “When you clean the glass, Vincent, don’t clean it too well - you might get ideas.”
a) Ceasar, the head janitor, says this to the young Vincent/Jerome in a flashback, to remind him of his place as INVALID in this world who will never progress beyond the status of a janitor at Gattaca.
b) DISCRIMINATION – This a further reminder of how someone’s potential in this world is determined by their DNA and status as a VALID or INVALID. It is also somewhat ironic as later, Ceasar encounters Vincent/Jerome in his disguise as Jerome Morrow, but does not recognize him due to the fake DNA Vincent/Jerome uses as part of his disguise.
i) Film techniques
- Narrative structure: Linear, flashback,
- Cinematography: distance, angle, shot, movement, point-of-view, exposure
- Misè-en-scene: setting, lighting, costumes, props, acting style, colour, spatial arrangement
- Editing: timing-cut-aways, cut-ins and Rhythm- dissolve, fade in/out, wipe
- Sound: music, objects, effects
- Diegetic: inside the story space made by visible source e.g. a character or object in the frame e.g. characters voice, sound made by objects in, music from bad or radio
- Non-diegetic: Sound coming from outside the story space e.g. soundtrack, narrator, and sound effects.
- Name the film technique and how it was used (ensure you use the correct terms)
- Explain what message or feeling is conveyed to the audience
Exam Practice Essay Questions
Jerome and Vincent develop a good working relationship in the end. How important is it for them
to have gone beyond this for Vincent to be successful?
• The murder is the trigger to the whole structure of the film. Do you agree?
• The Gattaca Corporation represents a total loss of identity for all concerned. Discuss.
• Vincent’s dream drives him to become almost as unethical as the Gattaca Corporation itself.
Discuss.
• ‘There is truly nothing unremarkable about the progress of Jerome Morrow, except that I am not
Jerome Morrow.” How does this matter of fact statement reflect the true Vincent?
• Anton is the “son my father considered worthy of his name”. How does this behaviour reflect the
values of the Gattaca Corporation?
• Vincent was referred to as being a “borrowed ladder” or a “de-gener-ate”. How much real choice
was afforded him in making the decision to overcome the odds?
• The only real relationships we see in the film are those that reflect trust. Discuss.
• Society is to blame for the overenthusiastic striving for perfection at all costs. Discuss.
• Genetic engineering, despite the best intentions, can lead to an unhealthy world. Discuss