Please Note: You will need to be a Member to access these pages. Once you have signed up, please click on these pages and enter your login details.
“Write an analytical commentary on the language features of Text 2. In your response you should comment on the: contextual factors affecting or surrounding the text; social purpose and register of the text; stylistic and discourse features of the text.” Please see a sample commentary
Tips and practice tasks.
- A smarter way to write commentaries: see “tips” for writing the commentary.
- A simple and effective structure: writing a commentary
Based on VCAA English Language Exams
Formal texts (spoken)
- 2018: VCAA English 2018 Exam (Sir Peter Cosgrove/ Australian Citizenship ceremony/speech) (representation of Australian identity)
- 2017 VCAA Tim Minchin’s acceptance Logie speech
- 2016: VCAA : ABC Breakfast Show Interview of Ladies in Black (Emma Alberici)
- 2014: VCAA 2014: ABC Broadcast (coverage) of the Royal Navy Fleet Review (and Prince Harry)
- 2013: VCAA : The Governor General’s speech (Victoria Cross medal)
Formal texts (written)
- 2016: VCAA Exam: Larrisa Ham’s opinion-style article (“Basic Training”) on money/travel
- 2006: VCAA exam : “Stage 1 Water Restrictions”, the Water Board’s official policy document
- 2012: VCAA Exam: VTAC Course application
- 2002: VCAA Exam 2002: Wilson’s Promontory Flyer
Informal texts (spoken)
- 2011: Sports commentary: VCAA: Tennis commentary by ABC Commentators (Radio) (group identities)
- 2005: VCAA: Exam 2005: Gary and Mum (individual identities)
- 2012: VCAA Exam : Spoken Text (Margaret and Joan) (individual identities/social purpose)
Informal texts (written)
- VCAA Exam 2010 (written text): Virgin Australia Ticket
- 2013 VCAA Exam: Be Natural Advertisement
- VCAA Exam 2014 (written text): Two letters: Task 1
- VCAA Exam 2014: Two letters : Task 2
- Jan’s travel blog (written text): a simple, effective, fluent commentary
- A Sample Three Paragraph Model Response for the 2009 VCAA English Language Exam (“Got the Message”)
Tips and practice tasks.
- Sentences using metalanguage to get you started
- Practice sentences: an Age Editorial Swinburne University
- A Letter to the Editor: writing sentences
- Please See Practice Tasks for Metalanguage
- A simple and effective structure: writing a commentary