The NEAP Reading & Comparing Guide VCE English - Pair 2: The Queen and Ransom

The Neap Smartstudy English Reading and Comparing guide to The Queen by Stephen Frears and Ransom by David Malouf features:

• general advice on how to approach the comparative section of the VCE English course
• an easy-to-follow layout
• background information on the authors of the two texts, such as personal history, writing careers and other published works
• the historical and cultural contexts in which the two texts were written
• key quotes in addition to detailed chapter summaries
• in-depth main character summaries and secondary character summaries coupled with key words selected to describe each character
• the central comparative concepts of The Queen and Ransom
• explanation of important textual features, such as setting, narration, and language use
• images to help with learning, such as a diagram showing the differences between the themes of the two texts
• essay writing tips that break down the planning process and help with comparative essay writing
• two sample essays; one with essay structure explained and one complete essay
• focus questions as well as exam-style questions to prepare for the VCE English Units 3&4 exam
• marginal notes throughout, including explanations of key ideas and terms, and tricky language
• additional references and resources
• the expertise of practising VCE English teachers