VCE English – Units 1 & 2

VCE English – Units 1 & 2 Kambrya College 2013/2014

Welcome to VCE Year 11 English • Assessment tasks, SACs, Exams • Expectations of each student this year • Course outline and required texts

Missing SACs • SAC dates are set in advance and you will be told of them well before. Mark them in your planner. • If you are absent on a SAC day, you must provide a medical certificate and complete the SAC at the next available opportunity to get a mark. • No certificate = only a mark of S or N for that outcome, once you have completed the SAC.

How to pass a unit • To successfully pass a unit (semester) you must successfully demonstrate all outcomes. • Failure of any outcome will result in failure of that unit • Studies at a VCE level require a 80% attendance rate.

Unit 1 Course Content • Outcomes are set by VCAA and are set out in the VCE English Study Design • There are three outcomes • Each outcome covers an Area of Study • AoS1 – Reading and Responding • AoS2 – Creating and Presenting • AoS3-Using Language to Persuade

AOS1 – Reading and Responding • Identify and discuss key aspects of a set text and to construct a response in written form. • You must demonstrate the following skills: • Understanding of ideas, characters and themes • Understanding of the ways that the author constructs meaning • The structures features and conventions used by authors to construct meaning in relation to the above • Cont.

Demonstrating outcome 1 cont. • Strategies for preparing, constructing and supporting a response to a text in the chosen form • Show the ways that the text can be open to different interpretations • Use of appropriate metalanguage to discuss the structures and features of narrative texts • The conventions of small group and whole class discussion, including ways of developing constructive interactions and building on the ideas of others • Conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of Standard Australian English

Outcome 1 at Kambrya College • The text chosen to allow you to demonstrate outcome 1 in 2014 is Markus Zusak’sThe Book Thief. • This novel explores the experiences of a young girl living in Nazi Germany during WWII. • You are required to read this book over the holidays and complete the related holiday homework. • Prepare to read your text more than once and highlight key ideas, themes and character or plot events

Book Thief • Interview with Markus Zusak • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7B8ioiZz7M

AOS 2 – Creating and Presenting • Create and present texts taking account of audience, purpose and context • The chosen Context at Kambrya College is ‘Identity and Belonging’ in Semester 1 and ‘Encountering Conflict’ in Semester 2. • For this outcome, you will read a text which will help you to understand ideas of the context, and will be a basis for your own response. • You are required to write a detailed plan and a practice piece in response.

Outcome 2 at Kambrya College • The chosen text at Kambrya College for Semester 2 in 2012 is a collection of stories titled ‘Growing up Asian in Australia’ and the context is ‘Identity and Belonging’ this Semester. • Again, you will be responding to the text and using it as a basis for your own writing on the context.

AOS3 – Using Language to Persuade • Identify and discuss, either in writing and/or orally how language can be used to persuade readers and /or viewers. • To meet this outcome, you will complete an analysis of persuasive texts. This will be undertaken under exam conditions. • The issue for Unit 1 will be chosen by your teachers.

Meeting Outcome 3 You need to demonstrate the following skills and knowledge to meet this outcome: • Understanding point of view presented in persuasive texts • How texts work to influence readers • Examples of verbal and non-verbal language used by authors of texts to persuade readers and viewers to share the point of view/s presented • Use of appropriate metalanguage and features and conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of Standard Australian English

Unit 2 • There are three Areas of Study and three outcomes in unit 2 • AOS 1 is a Reading and Responding outcome • AOS 2 is a Creating and Presenting outcome • AOS 3 is Using Language to Persuade

AOS 1 – Reading and Responding • Discuss and analyse how texts convey ways of thinking about the characters, ideas and themes, and construct a response in written or oral form • You also need to demonstrate an understanding of the structures, features and conventions used by authors to construct meaning in a range of text types and genres, including print, non-print and multimodal texts • Strategies for identifying the point of view and values of the author of a text

AOS 2 – Creating and Presenting • You will be responding to the film text ‘Freedom Writers’, using this as a basis for your own writing on the context of ‘Encountering Conflict’.

How to meet the outcome • Understanding of features of texts that affect interpretation; for example, language, form and context • Strategies and techniques for constructing and supporting a response to a text, including knowledge of an appropriate metalanguage to discuss the structures and features of the text • The Text chosen at Kambrya College in 2014 will be Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’

AOS 3 Using Language to Persuade • You need to be able to identify and analyse how language is used in a persuasive text and to present a reasoned point of view in oral or written form • You will present this to your peers using a variety of modes (spoken, visual and written)

Skills and Knowledge- Unit 1 and 2 • An ability to explore texts in depth • An ability to comment on the ways that texts have been constructed • An understanding of the ways that texts present their main ideas and concerns to the reader • An ability to write about the texts in detail through well ordered and clear essays • An ability to work independently and to undertake independent reading and research • An ability to participate in class discussions • Good note taking skills • Good oral presentation skills • Maintaining a well organised workbook • Adherence to deadlines • Good organisational skills • An ability to understand implicit and explicit values in texts • An understanding of theme, character, plot and setting in narrative • A good understanding of persuasive techniques and their influence on an audience

Holiday Homework – Year 11 • TASK ONE: READ the Novel for Unit 1: • The Book Thiefby Markus Zusak • TASK TWO: Book Thief tasks • Character summary • Short answer questions

How the school will help • See a teacher if you need assistance • Your first stop should always be your classroom teacher • All teachers at Kambrya work in teams and you may seek assistance from any teacher • That teacher will then inform your classroom teacher about any assistance they have given • Seek help as soon as possible if you are having difficulty understanding something

What you need to do • Make sure you are thoroughly organised for learning • Bring all necessary equipment: folder, book/paper, dictionary, textbook and text, resource book • Diary/calendar for due dates • Create folders for each area of Study • Take class notes in every class and for every discussion • Make sure you do all of the required class work, weekly homework and holiday homework. • Annotate your texts and highlight key quotes and passages • READ YOUR TEXTS OVER THE HOLIDAYS!!

What you need to do • Make sure you have a quiet place to study at home • READ WIDELY – this is crucial to your success in English • Record all sources where you find and use information – there are very strict rules about using work that is not your own - plagiarism

What we expect from you • Maximum commitment to your studies • Organisation • Exemplary behaviour in class • Attendance • Contributions to discussions • Proactive communication

Help from the school • Extra classes will be offered at lunchtimes on demand (once a week) • At exam times extra assistance is offered to students to help with revision • You will be given a clear timeline with the dates of class activities, SACs and exams • It is your responsibility to keep this and refer to it • If there are changes to SAC times you will be notified at least a week in advance

What else? • You need to work hard to reach your goals • Use all of the resources available to you • What else do you think you can do?

VCE English – Units 1 & 2