English

The study of English contributes to the development of literate individuals capable of critical and creative thinking, aesthetic appreciation and creativity.  This study also develops students’ ability to create and analyse texts, moving from interpretation to reflection and critical analysis. 

Through engagement with texts, including various classical texts as well as contemporary works, and using texts from Australia and other cultures, Students studying English become confident, articulate and critically aware communicators and further develop a sense of themselves, their world and their place within it.

 Unit 1

In this unit, students read and respond to texts analytically and creatively. By studying mentor texts students are able to develop their personal style of writing. Students reflect on the writing process through journaling. Students develop their skills in creating written texts.

Assessment

• Creative response to text

• Personal response to text 

Unit 2

 In this unit, students analyse the presentation of ideas and issues in texts.  They analyse arguments presented and the use of persuasive language in texts and create their own spoken text intended to position an audience. Students develop their skills in analysing written, spoken and multimodal texts.

Assessment      

• Argument and persuasive language tasks

• Oral presentation of an issue

• Analysis of a chosen text 

Unit 3

In this unit, students read and respond to texts analytically and creatively.  Texts selected for study are chosen from the Text List published annually by the VCAA. On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse ideas, concerns and values presented in a text. Students once again study mentor texts as models of effect and cohesive writing and then develop their own creative responses.  Assessment

• Creative response to text

• Analytical response to text

• A commentary on the student’s writing process 

Unit 4

In this unit, students analyse explicit and implicit ideas, concerns and values presented in a text. They create an oral presentation intended to position audiences about an issue currently debated in the media. The students analyse the use of argument and language in persuasive texts, both in print and audio visual mode.

Assessment

• Oral presentation of an issue

• Analytical response to a text

• Analytical response to argument 

Entry:  There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1 and 2. Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4. Units 1 - 4 are designed to a standard equivalent to the final 2 years of secondary education.

Satisfactory Completion - Demonstrated achievement of all outcomes specified for the unit.

Levels of Achievement

Unit 1 and 2 - A range of school based assessment tasks, including end of year exam, will be utilised to record the standard achieved by students.  

Unit 3 and 4

A combination of school-assessed coursework and end of year examinations make up the final result. 

Unit 3 school-assessed coursework: 25%

Unit 4 school-assessed coursework: 25%

End-of-year examination: 50%.

ENGLISH (EAL): 

Kyneton High School also offers English as an Additional Language Units 1-4 for students where their first language is not English or who are hearing impaired.   Students will need to meet eligibility requirements to be granted EAL status and should contact the VCE Co-ordinator for more information.