My fist exam was an English Paper One, which I feel went well. I didn't focus on the right things in Section One, but I felt my response in Section Two was well constructed, effective imagery, good construction etc., I'm just not sure I actually demonstrated the concept (though I did integrate the question better than I have in the past). Finally, in Section Three, I feel I did O.K.. I said everything I wanted to say, remembered all my quotes, and got it all down in the allowed time; but I did mix Stephano and Trinculo: I knew I was as I wrote, but I decided I'd go back later and fix it up, then forgot to. Hopefully the marker fails to notice that rather glaring error. Each section is supposed to use one writing booklet (8 or 10 pages), and I filled six, so I don't think length is too much of a problem.
On Wednesday, I had the Engineering Studies exam. It didn't occur to me how unprepared I was until the Tuesday afternoon, so I did it with minimal study. It is quite a hefty exam, weighing in at three hours. The multiple choice is supposed to take twenty minutes, I finished it in five: never a good sign. One of the questions required a great deal of calculation, and I had forgotten the required equation for calculating the second moment of inertia (Ixx). The question, after listing all the figures and details said "..would this truss be of appropriate strength in this situation if a Factor of Safety of 2 is required?", to which I responded "S'fine". We'll see how that one goes. There was also a question on mechatronics, my response to this relatively short answer question was about a page and a half (small writing) story about robots who live in the drains. They are mechanical (robots) intelligently programmed (think for themselves) electrical devices; I think they epitomise mechatronics, but we'll see what the marker says.
Today, the infamous Modules exam: English Paper Two. With wayyy not enough study, and a can of V, a kit-kat, a mars bar, a litre of water, half a dozen pens and some tissues, I gave it 'a burl'. I wrote a book full about how Working Dog Productions (Frontline) use the same techniques as Mark Ecko, and how Rob Sitch is concerned about the same things as Jack Johnson. Then I wrote about how Aldous Huxley crafted paradoxes to debase humanity, and how Ridley Scott created whole new juxtaposition between humanity and humans creations, filling a book and a half. With twenty minutes or so to go, and very little knowledge of the core texts, I wrote about how Gwen Harwood sustained meaning in her poetry, and how that makes it great. Well, writing in my biggest, curlies chicken scratch, I still only manages to fill six pages. I spoke about how
"...dropped
and dribbled..."
shows imagery, alliteration, onomotopaiea and enjambment (I get my money's worth out of quotes - one of the quotes I used from the Tempest: "...celestial liquor...". I write about it for pages, and don't mention the word celestial.) I did a similar thing for the other poem. I then filled the rest of the booklet talking about feminism and Marxism, and how interpretations from these perspectives add meaning, which, in a roundabout sort of way, allows the poem to enjoy sustained reality.
So, with those three out of the way, I only have Physics, Maths, Software Development and Design and Entertainment (although I don't think I'll bother with the trial for this, it has a 0 weighting, and I have an exam the next day) to go.
Then, it's off to Sydney to catch up with the fam'. Then again to race the solar boat (we won the international championships last year*). Then again to see Bill Bailey.
-Mick
*Since we are from a public school, our international championship win was played down by the organisation. As a result, our official team photo doesn't appear on their photo gallery, but there is a shot of us here (Ben (the wranger), some kid, me, Shane (yawning), Sam's arse (standing), Sam (with sunnys) and Angela. Also, our boat in in the background of this photo. Strangely the several thousand dollar prize collection was distributed amongst the runners up and divisional winners (Daaang. Was sime nice music gear donated by Roland).
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