The Final Sunset

“The Final Sunset” The bifocal lens put into sharpness a spiraling object that illuminated the horizon, propelled by a litter of fuse and powder. Overhead, the wheezing of shrieking shells continued unabated. He forced himself to concentrate despite the aroma of mud and cold blood that hovered over the Turkish air, mingling with the fresh, …

AOS Band 6 Nasht + Kite Runner

           The process of discovery enlightens and educates individuals with fresh, meaningful ideals about the physical and spiritual world, whilst also reshaping an individual’s perspectives of the world, themselves and others. Two texts which explore this dynamic of discovery is Simon Nasht’s documentary Frank Hurley: The Man Who Made History (2004) …

Band 6 Creative – Time Frame

Timeframe   Void of all worries, a young girl skipped down the long hallway of a gallery, constantly attracting disapproving stares from other visitors. A man’s clear eyes gazed warmly at her as his sturdy arms lifted her up. He chuckled, “Alyssa, this is a solemn place, a holy place. You must behave.” As a …

State Rank 1 Essay AOS :: Go Back

I would like remind all my students that you cannot prepare an A range essay, you can only answer one on the day of the test. Let this be a guide, and be flexible when you get your questions!  ~ David  The most significant aspect of any discovery experience, is its ability to transform the …

Band 6 Go Back to Where you Came From + My Place

          Due to the innate nature of discovery, it becomes an intrinsic urge for man to explore and to be enlightened by an intense journey that can shift or challenge perspectives on the individual and their society. Discovery as a transformative process has the ability to influence an individual’s perception of …

Band 6 AOS Creative – Hospice Narrative

The hospice - home had something about it that set it apart from the rest. It was a home filled with a number of instrument: a wayward saxophone, a distended trombone, trumpets, bassoons and dusty guitars that the master had practiced and performed in his youth. Antique wooden photo frames covered with dust rests atop …

Band 5/6 Discovery :: Away + Into the Wild

“How do composers show us different perspectives of discovery through their texts?” The texts of “Away" by Michael Gow and "Into the Wild” (2007) by Sean Penn explore the universal idea of discovery through the concept of retrospect and its link with time whereby our greatest discoveries are often too late.  However time is not …

Band 6 Perfect Creative :: The Book of Love

"Your mother may not recognise you." The nurse's words pierce through my heart. We stand outside the door, her hand clasping the door handle. "This is an effect of Alzheimer's," she says carefully. "And she may perhaps act quite differently from how she used to." I nod numbly. She opens the door, and I walk …

Band 6 Tempest + Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

       In William Shakespeare's play The Tempest (1611), it is through unexpected and planned discoveries that individuals are forced to reassess their perception of themselves and others. This is also reflected in Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Jekyll and Hyde) (1886), and in both texts, …

Band 6 Robert Frost + David Sadaris

                It is often assumed that the act of discovery is inherently a planned experience of learning. However, [the most significant] discoveries can be unplanned and unexpected, teaching vital lessons in life through epiphanies and encounters. The poem Mending Wall by Robert Frost assumes the nature of a …

Band 6 Creative – The Kite of Dreams

September 4, 1997- Festival of the Winds, Sydney The remarkable sight of a blue whale sailed through the salty air. Streams of vibrant, vivid kites of all shapes and sizes adored the ultramarine sky, casting a rainbow hue over the golden sand from the beach below. In his hands, he held a kite. An old …

Band 6 Discovery Tempest + Gran Turino + Feature Article

                Discoveries, driven by wonder or necessity, can be challenging and confronting, compelling people to leave their comfort zones. Consequently, they prepare to sacrifice the old to embrace the new, transforming and gaining new insights on themselves and the world around them. “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare (1611) …

Band 6 AOS Creative – Stranger in Singapore

                            It was pure serendipity that I had a layover in Singapore. My connecting flight was cancelled, and I was free to wonder the city for a day. I called cousin Yi Zhu, and she replied with a gleeful “I’ll pick you …

Band 6 Peter Skzynecki – Perfect Chinese Children

“An individual’s connection with a community can deepen or restrict their sense of belonging” Discuss this view with reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing Belonging initially appears to be a simplistic allegiance to social, cultural, personal and historical ties. However, a closer analysis of texts reveal how …

Band 5/6 Creative – A Visit to the Past (Cricket) Narrative

Looking outside his sumptuous and palatial vehicle a smattering of pink, brown hands splattered across the window panes of his Jaguar. Zahir experienced simultaneously, the conflicting emotions of contentment and anxiety. Rain and darkness spread through the throng surrounding him, the streaks smeared by the excitement of hands and wide, grinning faces. He exits, and …