ELA 30-1 Part A Diploma Prep: What Top Students Do
Updated: Jul 23
If you are an Alberta student who is currently taking English 30-1, or you are preparing for taking that course in the semester to come, this is for you! In this post, I will outline some tips for doing well on the Part A ELA 30-1 diploma.
Know What Topics You're Up Against
This might sound a little unrealistic because, technically, you can’t predict the exact topic you’ll get on the diploma. However, looking at past prompts can give you a huge advantage, as prompts typically explore similar ideas from year to year. Here are the main categories diploma prompts typically fall under:
An individual's response to adversity or their circumstances
How an individual maintains their values or beliefs
How an individual perceives themselves versus how they're perceived by others
How an individual maintains their beliefs or ideals
How an individuals perception can be changed by the passage of time or their circumstances
Reviewing past prompts and planning practice essays around these broader ideas is one of the most effective ways to prepare.
Choose ELA 30-1 Texts that Are Versatile
Not all texts are built the same! Some of them are much more versatile than others.
Some texts are more difficult to adapt to a wide range of prompts. For example, Othello can be challenging to apply broadly. On the other hand, “On the Rainy River” by Tim O’Brien is incredibly versatile. It connects to themes like adversity, identity, belief, perception, and circumstance, so it works great for many different prompts.
When preparing, prioritize texts that work with the majority of released diploma prompts. This gives you more confidence and flexibility on exam day.
Have More Than One Text Ready for the ELA 30-1 Diploma
As mentioned above, sometimes a prompt just won't work well with one of the texts you were hoping to write on. This is why you need to make sure you have more than one text that you're prepared to write on.
Make sure you know at least two texts really well to ensure that you can handle whatever prompt you get!
Reflect on Your Life Experience
This may sound a bit philosophical, but it's important!
Why? In most cases, writing a Personal Response to Text requires reflection on how a topic/source relates to your lived experience.
Strong writing often includes a meaningful personal connection. Take some time to reflect on your own experiences and how they connect to common diploma themes like adversity, identity, or change.
Ask yourself:
When have I faced an obstacle that changed or challenged me?
Have my beliefs ever been tested?
Have I ever been misunderstood, or misunderstood someone else?
Having these ideas ready will make your writing more authentic, insightful, and easier to develop under pressure.
Know How to Plan
Planning may feel like it slows you down but it really doesn't! In fact, it saves time and improves your writing; it offers you the direction you need to ensure you do not fall off topic (and then have to edit/change a large portion of your work).
Before you begin writing, aim to have:
A main idea for each body paragraph
A strong plan keeps your writing focused and prevents you from getting stuck halfway through your essay.
Get the Help You Need for Your ELA 30-1 Part A Diploma
If planning feels overwhelming (or if essays have been a challenge in the past) you don’t have to figure it out alone.
My Essay Planning Handbook walks you through the entire process, step by step—from brainstorming ideas to organizing and formatting your final essay.
Use the code TAKE25 to get twenty-five percent off any handbook purchase!
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