Let's look at a VCE English and EAL essay prompt for the novel, We Have Always Lived In The Castle! Castle is one of the most popular VCE texts for Year 12s across Victoria, so much so it feels like every second student is tackling this novel by Shirley Jackson! So let's look at an essay prompt and unpack how students can tackle the question, and highlight some common traps that students might fall into.
Category: VCE EAL
Looking at a Sunset Boulevard essay prompt
Let's look at a VCE English and EAL essay prompt for the film, Sunset Boulevard! Sunset Boulevard is one of the most popular VCE texts for Year 12s across Victoria, so much so it feels like every second student is tackling this classic film directed by Billy Wilder! So let's look at an essay prompt and unpack how students can tackle the question, and highlight some common traps that students might fall into.
Looking at an Oedipus The King essay prompt
Let's look at a VCE English and EAL essay prompt for Oedipus The King! Oedipus The King is one of the most popular VCE texts for Year 12s across Victoria, so much so it feels like every second student is tackling this Greek tragedy by Sophocles! So let's look at an essay prompt and unpack how students can tackle the question, and highlight some common traps that students might fall into.
How to tackle quote-based essay questions
How should you respond to a quote-based essay prompt? This is one of the 3 most common essay questions VCE English/EAL students get in Year 11 and Year 12, but it is also the most confusing type of essay question! Many students don't know what to do with the quote provided because the quote is rarely a question, and the directive that sometimes follows seems unrelated...
How to tackle ‘Discuss’ essay questions
How should you respond to a 'Discuss' essay prompt? This is one of the most common essay questions VCE English/EAL students get in Year 11 and Year 12 because it's quite confusing - discuss what?!?! Many students assume the question is asking them...
How to tackle ‘Do You Agree’ essay questions
How should you respond to a 'Do you Agree' essay prompt? This is one of the most common essay questions VCE English/EAL students get in Year 11 and Year 12 because it's deceptively simple. Many students assume they need to agree with the statement sentence that is provided, or they feel they have no choice...
We Have Always Lived In The Castle – Chapter 1 quotes
Here are 7 quotes from Chapter 1 that you could use to talk about the themes of unreliable narration, isolation and feminine power in Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle in your VCE English and EAL Text Response essay.
The 3 kinds of essay prompts in VCE English/EAL
In VCE English and EAL, there are 3 kinds of essay prompts for text response that examiners use to assess students. Students will need to know what is expected in each of these prompts in order to do well in their Year 11 and Year 12 SACs and exams. The first thing to remember is that these are...
2025 VCE English/EAL Persuasive oral topics
Persuasive oral season for VCE Year 11s and 12s is coming up! If you are studying VCE English/EAL, the persuasive speech is something you HAVE to do in both Year 11 and Year 12. Remember you have to choose a topic that has been in the media since September 2024. Here are some ideas and links to get you started:
Albanese’s victory speech as a crafting texts piece
Mentor texts are helpful in teaching students how themes (or 'Frameworks') can be explored through various genres of writing, but looking sample pieces are also really helpful too! I heard snippets of Anthony Albanese's victory speech after the election and I thought it ticked so many boxes as a crafting/creating texts piece - it's very clear in its purpose, it audience, and it's crafted to deliver a message in a very specific voice. So here I am, reacting to his speech as though Anthony Albanese's speech is a crafting/creating texts piece!
