Australian Values In Crow Country

Crow Country
Kate Constable

Prepared for 9.2 and 9.9 English
Dr K Kimber, 2015

Australian novels reflect the best and worst of what defines us as
Australians.
ASSIGNMENT TASK: BLOG
MAIN – 400 words analysis
LINKS – 150 words reflection on your values, your experiences
1 x 50 words
1 x 100 words

Australian values
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Care and Compassion - Friendship
Understanding, Tolerance and Inclusion - Equality
Responsibility – honesty,
Respect – for people, environment
Fair go - Justice
Integrity; Honesty, Trustworthiness - Truthfulness
Doing your best – Fair Go

Australian novels reflect the best and worst of what defines us as
Australians.
What is YOUR view of
Crow Country as
• reflecting “the best and worst” of what defines us as Australians?
•
Only the best? Only the worst?
Equally?
• How effectively does Kate
Constable achieve this?

(Here you are EVALUATING)

How are Australian values represented in
Crow Country?

Introduction:
Use the acronym BRP
Background
Response
Preview

Background: Australian novels often mirror and reflect the values and attitudes of society, as in Kate Constable’s
Crow Country (2011).
... (What is the book about?
BRIEFLY give an overview – preferably in one sentence).
Response: What is your opinion? Does the novel reflect the best and worst of Australian values? Which values in particular? Through characters? Time-slips? Events? How effectively does Constable achieve this depiction? (Write one sentence that clearly shows your opinion on the task.) Preview: What events/characters/evidence will you need to support your Response?

Introduction: B+R+P
• Background to the Topic – one to two sentences
– Overview of topic /Author, title of novel (title in italics)
– Brief synopsis of the narrative

• Response to the Task: Your Central Idea – one sentence
– What have you decided to focus on (a theme and its associated values? a big value like Respect? characters and their values?
– Must include the words “reflects the best and worst of what defines us as
Australians”

• Preview: The arguments you will present to validate your R – one sentence , list-style
– Which particular values/characters/etc will you discuss? i.e. your TWO body paragraphs? Example Introduction:
B+R+P
• Background to the Topic
– Kate Constable’s novel Crow Country (2011) is about…

• Response to the Task: Your Central Idea.
– [Through the theme of … /through the main characters/… through time-slips…] Constable explores… best and worst of what defines …

• Preview: The arguments you will present to validate your R
– The best of…is reflected in…
– The worst of… is revealed through…
– (Try to write this as one sentence, list-style)

Sample Introduction
Australian literature acts like a mirror and reflects the values and attitudes of Australian society, as in Kate Constable’s
Crow Country (2011). Through time-slips and character contrasts, Sadie Hazzard discovers her family’s history and rights a dreadful wrong. Throughout this novel, Constable reflects on the best and worst of Australian values, effectively privileging respect as the key to harmonious, cross-cultural relationships. While the Mortlocks demonstrate disrespect for indigenous people across generations, young Walter consistently acts respectfully towards people and his culture, demonstrating the critical importance of respectful behaviour and interactions at all times.

Over to you
First, plan for your own Introduction.
Before you begin, think about YOUR opinion on the novel and how Australian values are represented – to help shape your R of the BRP.
• Decide on your main argument – R - your thesis.
• Decide on the two body paragraph foci and the evidence you would best include in each – then shape your P (Preview) sentence. Now, write your own Introduction.