2020 Good Answers ATAR English
Themes, issues, ideas and concepts
Although similar, the terms ´themes',
other, Let's start by revising the 'issues', 'ideas' and
syllabus glossary definitions'concepts' differ slightly from each
(italicised) below:
Themes: An idea, concern or argument in a text, a
afo text may be love and its recurring
theme could be how love involveselement (forAexample, the subject
*han one theme. Themes can sacrifice). text may have more
sometimes be simplistically expressed
noun. such as 'grief, loss' or power' and so on, but further elaborationusing a single abstract
the theme adequately. is needed to identify
Icsues: Motters of personal or public concern that are
in dispute; things which directly or
indirectly affect a person or members of a society and are
example, an issue explored within a text may be the considered to be problems. For
exploitation of animals.
Ideas: In thiscourse the Word has an open meaning and can be
thouohts, notions, opinions, views or beliefs. If you can identifyinterpreted
what
as understandings,
being made in atext then you may be on the right track to specific comments are
are the most specific unit of meaning.
articulating its various ideas. Ideas
Concepts: An abstract idea. Allof the syllabus concepts listed in this section as headings are
abstract in nature because they have no physical referent and they need to be visualised.
Let's consider some commonly studied texts to highlight the differences between the
terms:
Text Titie Themes Issues Ideas
The social effects of
lwioth Solítude versuS placing value on Human conectíon and
Wila ivtinmacy: reckless risk materialistic possessions adegree of conformity
eoture taking versus stabilíty and financial wealth; are necessary tor human
film) and conformity; social the struggle for Suvival; the natural
expectations at odds with acceptance and personal world is more powertul
personal aspírations; enlightewment within than the human species;
materialism versus an unforgiving and risk-taking at the
spirituality; man versus unfair world; respect for expense of stability is
nature the power of nature and Lgnorant and naive
human cOnnectíon
lnereasing dependenee
'NDSedive Self-identity versus on socal media and Some humans pLace too
(episode much value on their
puolic persona; the technology: the
from shaping of reputation; reliability of social social media profile:
reputatLons can be built
Black Socialexpectations and media representations,
particularly in lignt of or destroyed on the back
Mirror peer presSure; the values
the emergence of "click of social media
television of individuality and
farms" to artificially representations; Over
Series) acceptance; the power of
generate likes', reliance on social media
Social media in
manipulating sense of followers', starratings and technology is
ete.;threats toprivacy distorting expectatíons
self
and truth
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