VCE English Study 2016

Units One & Two

English is IMPORTANT for your ATAR

• Your English study score must count in the ATAR top four subjects.

• School expects that you will select English. You may take another English subject in addition.

• If you wish to select Literature as your only English study, you must write an application.

• If you wish to select English Language as your only English study, you must fill out an application form.

• You will be restricted from changing from English into Literature or Language during Year 11. If you want to change from Literature or Language into English during the year, that would possible since you have already developed some of the required skills in English.

VCE English Unit One/Two

Unit Skills Texts

1 • Students read and respond to texts analytically and creatively.

• They analyse arguments and the use of persuasive language and create their own texts intended to position audiences.

• They develop their skills in creating written, spoken and multimodal texts.

School choice of texts- likely to include Malouf’s novel ‘Ransom’ for outcome 1

2 • Students compare the presentation of ideas, themes and issues in texts.

• They analyse arguments presented and the use of persuasive language in texts and create their own texts intended to position audiences.

• They develop their skills in creating written, spoken and multimodal texts.

School choice of texts- Likely to include GeorgeOrwell’s ‘1984’ paired with another text (to be decided) for outcome 1

Unit 1 and 2 texts

VCE English Unit Three/Four

Unit Skills Texts

3 Students read and respond to texts analytically and creatively. They analyse arguments and the use of persuasive language in texts.

To be confirmed - must be chosen from VCAA’s Text List

4 Students compare the presentation of ideas, issues and themes in texts. They create an oral presentation intended to position audiences about an issue currently debated in the media.

To be confirmed - must be taken from VCAA’s Text List

Note: EAL is an option in Units 3-4 for students who meet VCAA’s criteria – see the VCE Handbook for further details.

VCE Literature Units One & Two

Unit 1: Approaches to Literature

Students respond critically, creatively and reflectively to the ideas and concerns of texts and gain insights into how texts function as representations of human experience.

They develop familiarity with key terms, concepts and practices that equip them for further studies in literature.

They develop an awareness of how the views and values that readers hold may influence the reading of a text.

In this unit students focus on the ways in which the interaction between text and reader creates meaning.

Students’ analyses of the features and conventions of texts helps them develop increasingly discriminating responses to a range of literary forms and styles.

Unit 1 Area of Study 2: Context and Connections

Students analyse the similarities and differences across texts and establish connections between them.

They engage in close reading of texts and create analytical responses that are evidence-based.

By experimenting with textual structures and language features, students understand how imaginative texts are informed by close analysis.

In this unit students explore the ways literary texts connect with each other and with the world.

They deepen their examination of the ways their own culture and the cultures represented in texts can influence their interpretations and shape different meanings.

Drawing on a range of literary texts, students consider the relationships between authors, audiences and contexts.

Ideas, language and structures of different texts from past and present eras and/or cultures are compared and contrasted.

Unit 3: Form and Transformation

Students draw on their study of adaptations and transformations to develop creative responses to texts.

Students develop their skills in communicating ideas in both written and oral forms.

In this unit students consider how the form of a text affects meaning, and how writers construct their texts.

They investigate ways writers adapt and transform texts and how meaning is affected as texts are adapted and transformed.

They consider how the perspectives of those adapting texts may inform or influence the adaptations.

Unit 4: Interpreting Texts

Students draw on their study of adaptations and transformations to develop creative responses to texts.

Students develop their skills in communicating ideas in both written and oral forms.

In this unit students consider how the form of a text affects meaning, and how writers construct their texts.

They investigate ways writers adapt and transform texts and how meaning is affected as texts are adapted and transformed.

They consider how the perspectives of those adapting texts may inform or influence the adaptations.

English Language

English language is based on the study of linguistics.

You will learn about the structures of language (such as sounds, words and their meanings, or grammar)

You will study a number of topics that focus on the English language as it is spoken in Australia and worldwide

You will analyse a range of texts including formal written texts in various forms, and transcripts of spoken language

Units 1

Unit 1 Outcome What you will study

Language and

communication

The nature and

functions of language

Different types of communicating in

speech and writing

How English is structured (an introduction

to the subsystems (tools for analysis)

The way language reflects thought and

culture

Language acquisition The way children acquire language skills

Theories that explain language acquisition

Theories about learning a second or

additional language

Use of the International Phonetic

Alphabet to identify how children acquire

different sounds

Unit 2

Unit 2 Outcome What you will study

Language

change

Language change How language changes

Attitudes to change in language

History of how English has developed as a

language

The development of Standard English and

Standard Australian English

Englishes in

contact

English as a world language

How Standard English changes when English

is spoken worldwide. Includes looking at

pidgin and creole languages based on

English

Language and culture

The effects of the spread of English on other

languages

Multilingual speakers

Units 3 and 4

Unit 3 Language variation and social purpose

Unit 4 Languagevariation and identity

Outcome 1

Informal language

• How different situations, contexts and purposes affect the way we use language

• How conversation works• Informal language in

online communication

Outcome 1

Language

variation in

Australian society

• Features of Australian English

• Attitudes to Australian English

• Regional variation in Australia

• National identity

Outcome 2

Formal language

• Features of formal language in writing and speech.

• Why formal language is important for certain situations

• Taboo language, euphemism and political correctness.

• Features of formal style, for example in literary language or rehearsed speech

Outcome 2

Individual and

group identities

• Social identity, group identity and how that affects the language we use

• Socio-economic status, education, class and other factors that affect the language we use.

• Jargon, slang and politeness

English Language would suit you if…

• you are interested in the technicality and structure of English

• you are open to a new challenge. The topics and skills we cover in English Language are different from what you have learnt during year 9 and 10 English classes

NB. English Language is NOT the easy option of the three English courses. You are still required to read texts and to write essays as part of this subject. During the course you need to keep up-to-date with language issues in the news, as well as reading up on some linguistic theory.

English Language assessment

Unit 1 and 2 SACs will include a range of tasks, including:

• Short answer questions and tests on some of the subsystems(eg grammar and syntax or phonetics) • Analysis of texts• Creating a scrapbook of language resources for annotation and analysis• Essays and research reports

For units 3 and 4, SACs will include the following:

• Short answer questions based on formal and informal texts (egconversations, emails, adverts, political speeches)

• Analysis of formal and informal texts• Essays on a topic, showing knowledge of linguistic theories

English Language

The final exam in Year 12 includes

• Short answer questions which require you to analyse texts and their contexts

• A longer analysis of a single text, which could be formal or informal

• An essay discussing a topic

Course comparison

English reading widely – novels, plays and media texts

responding creatively to texts

studying films

analysing and comparing the way texts are written and structured

exploring ideas and issues

writing in different forms

3hr exam: one extended analytical essay; one comparative essay; one language analysis

Literature reading plays, drama and poetry from different periods

analysing how writers use language to create effects on their readers

exploring different ways that texts can be interpreted

creative writing

2hr exam: 2 extended essays (close passage analysis)

English Language

learning about topics such as the ways that children acquire language, or the way that

English has developed as a language

understanding the grammatical structures of English

analysing texts using tools such as semantics (how words create meaning) and phonology

(the sounds of the language)

studying all sorts of texts (from the most informal online chats to formal legal

documents), including transcripts of speech

2hr: short answer questions based on a text; extended analysis of another text; one

essay