Module A – Textual Conversations Guide

Resource Description

Module A – Textual Conversations Guide

Introduction to Mod A
Module A: Textual Conversations is somewhat of an evolution of the previous comparative study module. It will most likely be studied after the Common Module, and unlike the other Modules (except C with its short texts), requires you to thoroughly study two texts rather than one. However, the time allocated to this is still the same as the other modules, so that means time is a massive obstacle. The internal tasks can be creatives or hand-in essays, but will most likely be essays under examination conditions. This will be the same for Trials and the HSC exam, as Module A forms 20 marks out of 60 in Paper 2 of English Advanced. One key distinction to make: Textual Conversation Essays are NOT just Comparative Essays. Use the comparative essay structures and conventions as a foundation, but Mod A requires you to develop this further. A textual conversation doesn’t simply compare or contrast ideas and approaches between two texts (though elements of that do exist), but imagine it as the two texts conversing with each other (as the name suggests). This entails studying what the hypertext (the genesis text; the older text that is initially starting the conversation with the newer text) is offering in regards to insights, and how this is developed and responded to by the newer text. Context, Values, and the Composer are vital when initiating and continuing a textual conversation. Keep in mind that this is a one-way conversation – both texts are not responding to each other. Think of it like when you are talking to your crush and they are not interested – those DMs are not a two-way conversation, as much as you’d like to tell yourself that.

Here’s a shoddy and amateur Canva renaissance masterpiece of art:
While there are similarities and differences between the texts (and you should explore them in your essay), simply identifying them is insufficient for this module. In a textual conversation, something new is being said – as the rubric says, the conversation shapes new meaning. An easier way to approach essays for this module is to:

1. Identify what’s being said that is new.
(Ideas)
2. What is it about the conversation between both texts that results in this being said.
(Textual evidence + Context)
a. What departures/alignments exist between the texts + why was this active choice made by the composer
3. What does this ultimately say about texts

(Thesis)
a. This doesn’t have to be extremely profound or sophisticated; in fact, doing that can be counterintuitive since it corners you into only being prepared to write a specific style of essay. If the question diverges from what you want, it’s going to make everything super toug