Practice+Australian+Essay+2008

Past HSC Question 2008__**
 * __Contemprary Australian Theatre Essay

How are audiences made to engage with and understand Australia’s cultural issues and the personal concerns of the characters on the stage?

In your answer, refer to your study and experience of TWO texts set for the topic. Matt Cameron, //Ruby Moon// Jane Harrison, //Stolen//

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The question required candidates to give particular reference to actor–audience relationships that were created either implicitly, in classroom workshop contexts or in more comprehensively mounted productions of the set play texts. Candidates should engage directly with the specific terms and requirements of the question.
 * Notes from the Board of Studies Marking Centre from 2008**
 * General comments**
 * Stronger responses:**
 * demonstrated a comprehensive, insightful and sophisticated engagement with the question
 * addressed the key terms of the question and applied them effectively in the construction of balanced and analytical responses
 * demonstrated a sophisticated understanding and appreciation of the dramatic forms and theatrical styles particular to each play
 * identified and analysed the impact of theatrical and dramatic elements of the plays upon audiences in specific performance contexts
 * presented their discussion in a structured and coherent manner
 * employed appropriate theatrical terminology in their analysis.
 * Weaker responses:**
 * did not specifically address the key terms of the question such as ‘audiences made to engage’, ‘cultural issues’ and ‘personal concerns’ in their approach to the question
 * described workshop or performance experiences simplistically and displayed a superficial understanding of dramatic forms and theatrical styles
 * demonstrated superficial and/or inaccurate knowledge of the dramatic action of plays
 * relied on formulaic or prepared responses that often employed key terms of previous HSC questions as the basis for the response
 * presented a literary response with few or no references to the plays in performance.