English / Length: Full Year

Course Content

English is designed to give students the opportunity to further develop and evaluate their understanding of how language and stylistic features and conventions are used to represent ideas, perspectives and aspects of culture in texts. Students analyse how perspectives in their own and others’ texts shape responses and interpretations. They use this learning to create and evaluate oral, written and multimodal texts in a range of modes and styles. Students consider the powerful role that language plays in communication among individuals, groups, organisations and societies. They learn to appreciate how clear and effective writing and speaking displays a depth of understanding, engagement and imagination for a range of purposes, contexts and audiences.

Assessment

• responding to texts (30%)

• creating texts (40%)

• comparative Analysis (30% - externally assessed).

Additional Details

• Successful completion of English or English Literary Studies at Stage 1 in 2 semesters with a minimum C grade is a prerequisite. 

• There may be a cost throughout the year for optional activities and opportunities that align with the Learning and Assessment Plan. 

• SACE credits: 20 (Stage 2).

English as an Additional Language / Length: Full Year

Course Content

English as an Additional Language is designed for students from a non-English speaking background. Students study a range of ideas, issues and opinions which are communicated via various text types. They respond to these by producing texts such as a summary and evaluation, a discussion, an academic report and a free choice creative response to a text. In each unit, the language features and structure of each text type are explicitly taught, as well as subject-specific vocabulary. There is a focus also on how the creators of texts use language features and conventions for a particular purpose and audience.

Assessment

Students are assessed on a range of spoken and written tasks, which assess their ability to effectively communicate in a range of contexts, using appropriate grammar and vocabulary to the intended audience. They must also demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ideas, opinions and issues in texts studied, and of the conventions and language features of various text types. They must analyse ideas and perspectives in texts, and the language used to communicate them, as well as produce a variety of text types for various purposes and audiences, including appropriate acknowledgement of sources where relevant. Specifically, students are assessed on:

• Academic literary study (30%):

  • report (1500 words)

  • oral Interaction (10 minutes).

• Responses to texts (40%):

  • response to 1 or more texts with a focus on an issue (750-word summary and analysis)

  • creative response to texts (750-word free choice response)

  • analysis of persuasive text (5-minute multimodal presentation on language of advertising)

  • free choice response (written/oral summary and analysis of a TED talk).

• Examination (30% - externally assessed):

  • comprehending multimodal texts

  • extended response.

Additional Details

• English as an Additional Language is for students identified as having a non-English speaking background. This means that the predominant language used at home by the student is not English. 

• SACE credits: 20 (Stage 2).

English Literary Studies / Length: Full Year

Course Content

English Literary Studies focuses on the study of literary texts and the skills and strategies of critical thinking needed to interpret texts effectively. Students respond to texts in a range of ways that extend their ability to sustain a critical argument while demonstrating the depth and clarity of their understanding. Through the shared and individual study of texts, students encounter different opinions about texts, have opportunities to exchange and develop ideas, find evidence to support a personal view, learn to construct logical and convincing arguments and consider a range of critical interpretations of texts. Students also develop strategies to enhance their own skills in creating texts and put into practice the techniques they have observed in the texts of others.

Assessment

• responding to texts (50%)

• creating texts (20%)

• comparative text study (15% - externally assessed)

• examination (15% - externally assessed).

Additional Details

• Successful completion of English Literary Studies at Stage 1 in 2 semesters with a minimum C grade is a prerequisite. 

• There may be a cost throughout the year for optional activities and opportunities that align with the Learning and Assessment Plan. 

• SACE credits: 20 (Stage 2).

Essential English / Length: Full Year

Course Content

Essential English provides students with opportunities to extend their communication skills through reading, viewing, writing, listening and speaking. Students consider and respond to information, ideas and perspectives in texts selected from social, cultural, community, workplace and imaginative contexts. They examine the effect of language choices, conventions and stylistic features in a range of texts for different audiences. Students create oral, written and multimodal texts that communicate information, ideas and perspectives for a range of purposes.

Assessment

• responding to texts (30%)

• creating texts (40%)

• language Study (30% - externally assessed).

Additional Details

• Successful completion of 2 semesters of English Literary Studies, English as an Additional Language or English at Stage 1 with a minimum C grade or better is a prerequisite. 

• There may be a cost throughout the year for optional activities and opportunities that align with the Learning and Assessment Plan. 

• SACE credits: 20 (Stage 2).