Belonging and related material

Q: My prescribed text for Belonging is A simple gift by Stephen Henrick, and for related material i am thinking of doing the film Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont, and the song ‘i was only nineteen’. We need two atleast, but i am also concerned because i did Shawshank Redemption and i was only nineteen for my preliminary course yearly exam essay for individual and experience, and i got 20/20. So that’s why i am very confident with it, and i can relate it to belonging.

Also the novel Raw by Scott Monk was our prescribed text, and i also want to do this for belonging.

Can you please comment on my choices. Also, the HSC for this year asked for only ONE related text instead of two as it always does, so my teacher says that we have to get a related material and deconstruct it in depth.

Would picture books or posters be a good choice? i think it might not stand out as much to the examiner..???

I have gone through the list of the related material on the website, but i just want to have your opinion on my chosen texts, so i can take my mind off them and choose another one. Thank you so much for your help.

A: “Raw” would be a better choice than ‘Shawshank Redemption’. If you want a film, try ‘December Boys’ or ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. That way you are looking at younger people finding themselves: identity and self esteem.
If I were your teacher, I’d be a bit concerned about the double dipping: repeating Year 11 texts in Year 12, however your year 11 Area of Study seems to have in some way replicated ‘belonging’ so maybe your teacher will be OK with it. Ask. There are marks in choosing a different kind of text, more mature and, in terms of techniques, more complex. Monk’s book is young adolescent and song lyrics are usually more straigtforward that poetry for example.
Whatever you choose, you need to be able to make connections with the prescribed text. If they asked for one related piece of material this year, remember it is the first time they have done that. Your teacher wants you to be prepared hence at least two pieces. Also there can be a question that your favoured piece of related material doesn’t work well for and so you choose from one of the others you have prepared.
It’s about covering all the bases.

Q: 

Firstly thank you so much for replying so quick.

“There are marks in choosing a different kind of text, more mature and, in terms of techniques, more complex.” This is what i am after too, so that i have alot to talk about, including the techniques used to portray belonging. Raw is one of my favorite novels but do you think it’s a better choice? or should i do a picture book by Shaun Tan, The Arrival, maybe, which one is more complex and mature?

The reason why chose Shaw Shank Redemption was because of the quotes, and how prisoners are forced to belong to an institution; and the affect of that on particular individuals like Brooks. Along with good quotes there are alot of film techniques, so i have alot to talk about. I just want texts which i will be able to relate and write about alot.

I havent watched December Boys, but i will. I also like Little Miss Sunshine, and i will mostly go with this one if not ShawShank.

My friend thinks i should do Platoon, as it alot of social issues, and the main character is trying to belong in the team during the Vietnam War.

Will it be ok if i do texts of the ESL english class? I am doing Standard. Their prescribed text is Robbit Proof Fence, it’s a film on aboriginal children being forced to assimilate and as a result they escape. I think this will be a strong text, as it involves aboriginals, therefore it involves australia, so i will have alot to talk about.

Or should i do a visual text?

Sorry for writing so much, and thank you so much for your help.

A: ‘Shawshank’ and ‘Raw’ go back to a module called ‘The Individual and Society’. You will sound like your are answering those kinds of issues. I’d start fresh. You’ll get really sick of those books by the end of next year. A lot of studetns do ‘The Arrival’ and much as I love it, I’d go for something else. If you can find a copy of Stephen King’s Different Seasons, it has a short story, The Body, which became Stand by Me. (The book also contains the story that became Shawshank.) Stand By Me would be a better choice; the short story even better because less people will be likely to do it. Films can be good but they can also be the easy way out: 2 hours rather than several days to read a book.
Choose your texts so that they link in some way to the prescribed text, A Simple Gift. I’d be surprised if Platoon does it much. Once you can link you are moving into another dimension of answer – and marks.
Little Miss sunshine: dysfunctional family members all find something. It’s good; it’s different, and it’s easy to watch. December Boys is Australian but it has the Harry Potter actor if that appeals.