It is time to practice and improve your essay skills by having a go at this list of essay questions compiled by Save My HSC especially for you. All of these questions reflect the sort of questions you will have to answer in section three of Paper One. It is highly unlikely they will ask you to write an interview trasncript or a feature article, but these text types are assessable so have a look at the practice questions and get familiar with the conventions of each of these text types. If you are having trouble, feel free to comment this post and Save My HSC will try our best to point you in the right direction!

• To what degree has studying the concept of belonging augmented your understanding of yourself, of others, and of the world? In your answer, refer to your prescribed text and ONE text of your choosing
• In order to belong, we must know who we are and where we come from.  Discuss with reference to your prescribed text and TWO related texts
• Despite an individuals desire to belong to a group or community, this is not always possible. How do the texts you have studied represent the processes and results of belonging and/or not belonging.
• You have been invited to speak at the book launch of a new collection of texts entitled “Belonging in our Society” In your speech, explain and assess the ways in which belonging is represented in the texts in the collection
• Belonging to a community or group has a significant impact on an individual’s sense of self. Discuss this statement, focusing on how the composers of the texts you have studied represent the concept of belonging
• Belonging to a group or community can provide opportunities and disappointments To what extent do the texts you have studied support this idea?
• More than anything else, belonging is about finding a sense of place in the world. Discuss with reference to your prescribed text and TWO related texts
• You have been invited to write an article for a teenage magazine called Youth and Belonging. In your article, analyse the ways in which belonging is represented in your prescribed text and ONE other text.
• To belong is as much about being a part of something, as it is about being excluded.” To what extent do you agree? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choosing
• “Belonging is about the desire of acceptance that may or may not bring personal satisfaction.” How does your study of the Prescribed text and 2 varied texts of your own choosing support or reject this idea? 
• “Acceptance can lead to a sense of fulfilment but at a cost.” Do you agree?  In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your own choosing
• “To belong is innate and fundamentally human.”  What challenges or barriers complicate this? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your own choosing

 

• “Experiencing exclusion helps individuals come to a greater sense of acceptance of others.” What assumptions underpin the Area of Study and can they be validated? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your own choosing

 

• “Acceptance leads to contentment and self-realisation” Is this an accurate account of your Area of Study? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

 

• “Perceptions and ideas about belonging vary.”Is this your opinion? How is this reflected in your study of your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choice?

 

• You have been asked to present a persuasive argument on the issue of Belonging at a community meeting. What ideas do you present and you are they addressed in your study. You must also refer to 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

 

• A radio programme is presenting a debate on issues and assumptions associated with belonging. Present two sides of the debate with reference to your prescribed study and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

• You have been asked to write a feature article for a ‘School Special’ section for Sydney Morning Herald. The article must reflect complications of belonging and how this is reflected in a range of texts including your prescribed text. 

 

• Imagine you have been asked to give a speech on the topic of belonging to a local high school. In your speech you are to reflect on the nature of belonging and not belonging and give your opinion. Refer closely to the prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

• You are being interviewed on how your perception of belonging has influenced your understanding of the world around you. Write the transcript of this interview. In your answer refer to your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

• You have been invited to chair a panel of experts who specialise in the areas of personal, cultural, historical and the social contexts of belonging. You are permitted to ask a range of questions to any members of the panel in order to present a range of attitudes on belonging. Refer to your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

 

• “Belonging can challenge a community or group.” Use the quotation as one line in your speech to students. In your speech reflect on how exploring this issue can broaden and deepen their understanding of themselves.  Refer closely to the prescribed text and 2 related texts of their own choosing.

 

• Write a speech about the most important things students should know about belonging for a year 12 study retreat which is to be held before the trial exams. In your speech refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your own choosing.

 

•  It’s the night before the half-yearly examination and your friend has called you to talk about paper one. Write the transcript of your conversation, in which you both share your ideas about belonging.

 

 

• ‘Relationships are important in finding a sense of belonging’. Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text and TWO other texts you have encountered in your study of belonging.

 

• ‘Belonging creates dilemmas’ Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text and TWO other texts you have encountered in your study of belonging.

 

• ‘The human spirit craves a sense of belonging’. To what extend do your prescribed text and ONE other text you have studied support this idea?

 

• ‘Belonging is dependent on the perspective of the individual’. Discuss this statement with particular focus on how the composers of your prescribed text and TWO other texts represent perceptions of belonging.

 

• Our lives are shaped by our sense of belonging’Discuss the extent to which belonging shapes our lives with reference to your prescribed text and ONE other text of your choosing.

 

• ‘Not belonging is a far more difficult road to travel than that of belonging’.How does your prescribed texts and TWO other texts of your own choosing explore ideas of belonging and not belonging?