The document provides guidance for students working on an essay assignment, including prompts for discussion, examples of student responses, and notes on key elements to address such as form, language, audience, purpose, and context (FLAPC). It encourages unpacking the prompt, stating intentions, and discussing choices in writing. Sample activities include completing a grouping prompt, reading example essays, and creating a statement of intention or explanation.

1. Worked in teams for 30
Last Tuesday you... minutes
Tanja/Caitlin Angus/ Maryanne
Sebastian Rachel/Leroy Louise/ Paul
Lily/Jai Sarah/ Olivia
Rojan/ Catherine
Tom Mustii Lucinda Gulcin Emily

2. Choose a type of conflict to explore from the
mind map.
You need Inspiration to access this doc.
Your choice could be based on your current
draft essay or something you have taken
notice of about William Thornhill
Read the notes, refer to the pages in
the text, discuss and take notes on
your discussion add to wiki
Report back to the group on
an aspect of your discussion
that may be useful to others

3. Listen to part 2 of the lecture on
cross cultural encounters
link this to your
mind map
discussion and then
your draft response

4. send me your draft essay
• mcmahon.catherine.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
or
• student share English unit 4 CMc

5. what do you need?
• SOI
• Passage analysis, mindmap
• read articles and add to

6. read ... a.
Who are the Main characters?
wiki - plot/ setting/ characters b. Describe main plot points
c. What are the features of authorsʼ writing,
including structure of book ,text features
(style, tone, use of figurative language etc),
motifs and symbols in the story
complete passage analysis task on week 2 page
pp 139 – 141 A clearing in the Forest from ʻ A tent was all very well ….,
…..and fell back in the dirtʼ
Questions:
•
Is there a point in this passage where the possibility of conflict emerges? What circumstances would be likely to produce such conflict?
•
What is Thornhillʼs immediate reaction to the discovery he makes?
•
What do you think Thornhill means when he says, ʼjust wild hogs or such. Moles. Something like that? What is suggested by Willieʼs remark,
Moles, you reckon Moles? Why do you think that Willie is reluctant to contradict his father at this moment?
•
What later conflict in the novel does this passage point to?
•
What is suggested in this passage about the role justice and injustice play in the story that unfolds?
Discuss the different attitudes towards the blacks that the settlers hold. At what points does conflict arise?
The Secret River is not so much about a dispute over land as about a clash of concepts regarding the relationship that people have with the
land.ʼ Discuss this topic in groups.

7. a.
Who are the Main characters; What are the characteristics of them? Characters that have archetypal names such as
Thornhill, the blacks, the old man, old greybeard. characters are given distinctive ways of speaking to differentiate them
and their culture. e.g. Aboriginal characters often have no dialogue (emphasizes Thornhillʼs inability to understand their
viewpoint and the lack of communication overall.)
b.
What are the key themes and any link to Crucible/ context;
c.
Describe main plot points;
d.
features of authorsʼ writing, including structure of book ,Text features – discuss style , tone, use of figurative language
etc); motifs and symbols in the story note down.
e.
Choose a passage to read and discuss. Make the connection between Kate Grenvilleʼs style, tone, lang
f.
choices etc. of writing and …( point of comparison?)

8. In what way are we drawn to or repelled by the character William
Thornhill?
Thornhill’s relationship with many other characters is strained.
Consider how he relates to the other principal inhabitants of the
Hawkesbery region
As Thornhill surveys his estate his achievements do not feel like a
triumph. Why?
Discuss the conflict that develops in Thornhill’s
relationship with his son Dick

9. student response 2009
The character of Thornhill from the point of view of the reader is confusing and ultimately tragic. He is
desperate underdog that we empathise strongly with as we follow him through his harsh upbringing.
When he begins to establish a new life for himself and his family off the land surrounding the
Hawkesbury river we are desperate to see him succeed and prosper, but as his relationship with Sal
beings to strain, his actions impose upon the natives, and he is cruel to Dan we begin to realise that
something is wrong.
It becomes clear to us that Thornhill is a flawed man, we find ourselves seeing Thornhill become the
same figure that oppresses him as a child and empathise instead with Dan, the natives, and the other
Thornhills.

10. same ideas different
prompts
• complete grouping prompts activity. Discuss
under which each prompt may belong

11. Use this doc to help your process for writing a response in your SAC
This doc. is on student
share
there are notes and sample essays linked into this doc

12. same prompt different
form
• read scanned essay examples on wiki/
student share

13. statement of intention
• take a prompt, unpack it and create a
statement of intention.

14. statement of
explanation
What you need to include.....

15. know your message - what you want to say
explain your choices - don’t just describe or summarise what yo
have written
Discuss form, language, audience, purpose and context -
remember FLAP + C
Write in paragraphs and complete sentences

16. Form
Used to distinguish between
written and oral forms and
Audience
also refers to kinds of writing. People you are writing for.
The way the text is set up on paper/ screen Think about who would be interested
webpage, letter, blog, personal column in reading about the subject.
Nominate a specific audience not general public
Language / Purpose
Style What is trying to be achieved in a piece
of writing? For example, to persuade or
Choice of words, imagery, tone, symbolism, entertain, inform, instruct, reflect,
formal/informal, jargon, visual writing
Includes personal, informative, imaginative, entertain, provoke a
instructional, persuasive.
.
Context
A broad subject area or the
social, historical, cultural
influence the text has.

17. form
e.g.
essay
letter to editor You need to become familiar
opinion piece with the form you choose
persuasive essay
weblog
feature article research piece
poem biography...
web page

18. Language
• effective writing is always matched to its intended audience
and purpose through appropriate language and form
e.g. an opinion piece in a daily newspaper needs to use
accessible language and can use an emotional tone. By contrast, a
similar opinion expressed in an academic journal would use
amore moderate tone and specialised language

19. Audience
who you want to say it to.
You need a clear idea because audience dictates style of writing
e.g. magazine readers
one reader well known to the writer
readers with a special interest in the topic
children, young adults, mainstream audience etc.

20. Purpose Why you want to say it
• e.g answer a question • argue a case
• develop an idea • educator
• explain • present a
viewpoint
• persuade