GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • The satisfactory completion of Units 3 & 4 English is based on the student demonstrating the achievement of a set of outcomes for each area of study as specified by VCAA in the English Study Design. The three areas of study are Reading and Responding, Creating and Presenting and Using Language to Persuade.
  • To meet the outcomes students must satisfactorily complete a range of School Assessed Coursework (SAC) tasks. If a student completes all SAC tasks satisfactorily they will be awarded an “S” for the unit. If a student does not complete a SAC task satisfactorily they will be awarded an “N” for the unit.
  • SAC tasks must be completed in class within a limited timeframe under the conditions specified.
  • Students will receive an assessment grade for each SAC task. The assessment grades contribute to an overall study score for the subject.
  • If a student misses a SAC task date due to an approved absence (eg. with a doctor’s certificate), the student and teacher will then negotiate a new date as outlined in Ballarat High School’s Later Years Policy.
  • If a student misses a SAC task date with no approved reason the student and teacher will then negotiate a new date as outlined in Ballarat High School’s Later Years Policy but the assessment task will be given only an S/N not a grade.

Unit 3 English

AREA OF STUDY 1:

READING AND RESPONDING

Outcome 1: Analyse how a selected text constructs meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range of interpretations.

Students examine the structures, features and conventions used by Louis Nowra in his play “Cosi” to construct meaning. Students will identify, discuss and analyse these in order to explain how meaning is constructed through contextual elements such as language and images. We will also examine the ways in which the text is open to different interpretations by different readers. Students will need to describe the way in which social, historical and/ or cultural values are embodied in the text and develop written responses using appropriate language.

READING AND RESPONDING ASSESSMENT (SAC):

Text response essay

An analytical essay on “Cosi” showing how it constructs meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range of interpretations. This SAC will be 30% of the Unit 3 coursework mark. This SAC will be completed in adouble period under test conditions. Students may bring a dictionary. Approximate length: 900-1200 words.

AREA OF STUDY 2:

CREATING AND PRESENTING

Outcome 2: Draw on ideas and/or arguments suggested by a chosen context to create written texts for a specified audience and purpose; and to discuss and analyse their decisions about form, purpose, language, audience and context.

The focus in this area is on reading, writing and their interconnection. The context for study is “Encountering Conflict”. Students will read in order to identify, discuss and analyse ideas and / or arguments suggested by the novel “The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif” written by Najaf Mazari & Robert Hillman. Students will reflect on the ideas, explore the relationship between purpose, form, audience and language and examine the choices made by the author in order to construct meaning.

CREATING AND PRESENTING ASSESSMENT (SAC):

A sustained written response

In this SAC students create a sustained piece of writing drawing on the ideas and arguments generated by the study of “Paradise Road” in response to a set prompt. Students can write in an expository, persuasive or imaginative style for a specified purpose and audience. This SAC will be 30 % of the Unit 3 coursework mark. Students may bring a dictionary. Approximate length: 900-1200 words.

AREA OF STUDY 3:

USING LANGUAGE TO PERSUADE

Outcome 3: Analyse the use of language in texts that present a point of view on an issue currently debated in the Australian media, and to construct a sustained and reasoned point of view on the selected issue.

The focus in this area is on the analysis and comparison of the use of language in texts that debate a topical issue that has appeared in the Australian media since September 1st 2012. Students read, view and listen to texts such as feature articles and opinion columns, cartoons, editorials, letters to the editor, interviews on current affairs programs, speeches and advertisements in magazines and newspapers. They analyse and compare the ways in which the verbal and non-verbal (including visual) language of these texts is used to persuade readers and viewers to share the point/s of view being presented.

USING LANGUAGE TO PERSUADE ASSESSMENT (SAC): Language Analysis & Oral Presentation

1. A written analysis of the use of visual and verbal language in three unseen persuasive texts. The written analysis will be held under test conditions and be three periods in duration. Students may bring a dictionary.

2. A sustained point of view in oral form. The oral presentation must be five minutes in length for individuals. Students may bring appropriate notes on cue cards and visual aids to their oral presentation.

The written analysis will constitute 20% of the Unit 3 coursework mark and the oral presentation will constitute another 20%.

Unit 4 English

END OF YEAR EXAMINATION

The examination will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2013. It will make up 50% of your total score.

The exam will be of 3 hours duration with 15 minutes reading time. The examination will consist of three written sections:

1. Text response - an analytical response to either Cosi OR The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2. Writing in context- a response to a prompt on the context “Encountering Conflict”

3. Analysis of language use- a written piece analysing how readers, viewers or listeners are positioned.

AREA OF STUDY 1:

READING AND RESPONDING

Outcome 1: Develop and justify a detailed interpretation of a selected text.

This area builds on Unit 3 Reading and Responding. Students identify, discuss and analyse the structures, features and conventions of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” to explore how these elements have been chosen by MohsinHamid to construct meaning and affect interpretation. Students develop and justify a detailed written interpretation of the film.

ASSESSMENT (SAC): Text Response Essay

An analytical essay on how the selected text constructs meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range of interpretations. This SAC will constitute 50% of the Unit 4 coursework mark. This SAC will be completed in a double period under test conditions. Students may bring a dictionary.

AREA OF STUDY 2:

CREATING AND PRESENTING

Outcome: Draw on ideas and/or arguments suggested by a chosen context to create written texts for a specified audience and purpose; and to discuss and analyse their decisions about form, purpose, language, audience and context

Students will explore the ways in which “Encountering Conflict” is presented the film “Paradise Road” directed by Bruce Beresford and supplementary texts. Students draw on this exploration to create and present their own text for a specific audience, purpose and context.

ASSESSMENT (SAC): A sustained written response

In this SAC students create a sustained piece of writing drawing on the ideas and arguments generated by the study of “Paradise Road” in response to a set prompt. Students can write in an expository, persuasive or imaginative style for a specified purpose and audience. This SAC will constitute 50% of the Unit 4 coursework mark. This task will be completed in a double period under test conditions. Students may bring a dictionary. This sustained piece will be 900-1200 words.