Intermediate 2
ENGLISH
2010 - 2011
Expectations
Course Content
Assessment
Intermediate 2
August 2010
Expectations
Intermediate 2 English will challenge you into developing a range of skills. Some have to do with your ability to give a coherent, considered account of your thoughts, feelings and ideas, or to communicate information in an accurate, logical and succinct manner.
Others have to do with your ability to understand and analyse what you read, watch and listen to, leading you to form judgements, develop opinions and arrive at some conclusions based upon the information you have received.
All such skills relate to your ability to recognise the structures, patterns and effects of language.
In order to be a successful Intermediate 2 English candidate, you will be required to develop good interpersonal skills, responding constructively during class discussion and group work.
You will be expected to respect the detailed timeline of class and homework set by your teacher and respond to all deadlines with punctuality.
Attendance in class is essential: the continuous assessment nature of the course means that you will be required to pass a variety of tests in each term and deadlines must be met for NABs and folio work if you wish to sit the final exam. Absence, for whatever reason, must be accounted for.
Intermediate 2
August 2010
The Intermediate 2 course is assessed through both exam and folio.
Exam – 80% of overall grade
Folio – 20% of overall grade
You must also pass two NABs to be able to sit the final exam.
Exam
There will be two papers, each worth 40% of your final grade.
1. Close Reading – 1 hour
In response to a series of questions, candidates will be required to demonstrate their ability to understand, analyse and evaluate a passage of unseen prose.
2. Critical Essay – 1 ½ hours
Selecting from a range of questions, candidates will be required to write two Critical Essays, each on a different genre, chosen from the following: drama, prose, film and TV drama, or language. In the Course of their responses, candidates will be required to demonstrate their ability to understand, analyse and evaluate previously studied texts.
Folio
The folio will be externally assessed.
Two pieces of writing must be submitted. Each must be at least 500 words.
1. A creative piece
2. A discursive piece
For both of these you must submit:
· Draft title and proposal
· Outline plan
· First draft
· Final draft
Course outcomes
The Intermediate 2 course is broken down into two units – Language Study and Literary Study.
Language Study unit outcomes
· Compose two pieces of writing in a particular genre
· Unseen Close Reading
Literary Study unit outcomes
· Unseen Textual Analysis
Intermediate 2
A rough guide to …
Course dates and deadlines 2010-2011
Term / Unit / Items to be completedAug - Oct / Language Study / Writing Piece 1, first draft
Close Reading (practice)
Literary Study / Textual Analysis (practice)
Oct – Dec / Language Study / Writing Piece 2, first draft
Close Reading (assessment)
Literary Study / Textual Analysis (assessment)
Jan – Mar / Language Study / Writing pieces, final drafts
Close Reading (reassessment)
Literary Study / Textual Analysis (reassessment)
Mar - May / EXAM REVISION!!
Intermediate 2
Language Study Unit
GUIDANCE
While all language purposes may be covered in this Unit, there will be particular focus on informing, expressing and creating.
The candidate will identify, locate, study and respond to a selection of texts such as:· reference texts, including print and electronic texts
· reports, factual articles from journalistic texts
· news articles and broadcast news items/reports
· documentary broadcasts feature articles dealing with different points of view
· persuasive texts including advertisements
· biography and autobiography
· letters and memoirs
· literary texts from different genres.
The candidate will engage in a variety of reading, writing, talking and listening activities such as:
· understanding and using different writing skills
· understanding and using different reading skills
· deploying different research techniques
· keeping records, identifying sources, creating banks of information
· evaluating sources/texts
· collating information/ideas
· identifying points of view
· understanding and using persuasive techniques
· participating in creative writing workshops
· examining model texts and structures
· understanding and using literary and linguistic devices and techniques
· constructing different forms
· examining and using different questioning techniques
· engaging in individual and collaborative talk on topics which are familiar.
Outcomes:
1. Understand, analyse and evaluate non-fiction print text which conveys complex information.
2. Compose a piece of writing in a particular genre.
The candidate will be assessed in close reading and produce a piece of writing of at least 500 words in length (poetry excepted).
Intermediate 2
Literary Study Unit
GUIDANCE
While all language purposes may be covered in this Unit, there will be particular focus on purposes related to critical appreciation and analysis of literature.
The candidate will analyse, study and respond to texts drawn from at least two of the following four genres:· prose (novel(s), short story(ies), or extended personal account(s) such as autobiography, memoirs, diary, travelogue, essays, etc)
· poetry (a selection)
· drama
· mass media.
The candidate will engage in a variety of reading, writing, talking and listening activities such as:
· class and personal study of texts
· analysing literary devices and effects
· group discussion and presentation of ideas about texts
· organising and formulating critical ideas in discussion papers and essays
· discussing different approaches to and ideas about texts with teachers/lecturers and peers
· exploring the insights and judgements of others
· acquiring critical concepts and awareness of concepts through direct teaching
· applying critical concepts through exploration of texts
· witnessing performance(s).
Outcome:
A Textual Analysis of an unseen text. The candidate will be assessed in critical reading and response through a Textual Analysis of an unseen text.