English

English in the High School builds students’ skills in effective communication, analytical thinking and in engaging imaginatively with ideas about texts, language, human experiences and the world around them.

The High School English syllabuses reflect the Australian Curriculum framework, which is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. Together, these strands focus on developing students’ skills in reading, viewing, listening, writing, speaking and creating texts.

Literature remains the English teacher’s primary resource material and students examine novels, poetry, drama, film and non-fiction texts. Students examine the language features and content of visual texts, journalism, advertising, multimodal, oral and online texts. Some of these texts will be Australian literature, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, and some will be texts from and about Asia.

Students are encouraged to read widely, to develop an appreciation of literature, to enter imaginatively into fictional worlds and the points of view of others and to develop skills to analyse texts and language critically.

English Years 9 & 10

Year 9 and Year 10 English is a two-year, four-semester course that aims to prepare students for success in the pre-tertiary study of English within the International Baccalaureate or the Tasmanian Certificate of Education in Years 11 and 12. Emphasis is placed on the skills of: developing arguments in essay form; the analysis of the stylistic features of texts; understanding the context of texts and the interplay between purpose and audience; and research techniques that serve to enhance students’ own critical responses.  Students will also have the opportunity to create imaginative texts, in a variety of forms, that engage with the ideas they encounter. The course requires proficiency in all areas of language use. Students are expected to exercise initiative, independence and to take responsibility for their own learning.

In Year 9 students will have the opportunity to: 

• Examine an idea or issue as represented in a range of substantial and short texts
• Craft and perform spoken word poetry
• Undertake a single novel study
• Compare texts with a focus on Asian perspectives
• Complete an independent study of a text, based on a negotiated inquiry question
• Read, analyse and respond creatively to a contemporary Australian drama
• Undertake skill-building activities to extend their language competencies.

In Year 10 students will have the opportunity to:

• Compare two substantial texts, including a novel, focussing on thematic links
• Identify and read a range of satirical texts and then complete an independent study of their choice of satirical text, based upon an inquiry question 
• Study and analyse poetry (the work of one poet or poetry based upon a theme/genre/era/region) and write their own poem
• Read and interpret a Shakespearean play
• Complete a study in text adaption
• Practise exam skills and sit a two hour examination
• Undertake skill-building activities to extend their language competencies.

Students in Years 9 and 10 will purchase a novel, which will be assigned and charged to their accounts in Term 1. Students in Year 10 will also purchase a play by Shakespeare, charged to their accounts in Term 3.

Punctuation, grammar, sentence construction and paragraphing continue to be taught with a view to developing more sophisticated written expression.

Cover images:

https://wonderthebook.com/books/wonder

https://www.behance.net/gallery/16221983/The-Fault-in-Our-Stars

https://www.suelawson.com.au/project/freedom-ride

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon-9781782953463

Elective English Subjects

The elective units (on the following pages) give enthusiastic students extra time for the study of particular areas of interest in a more flexible way. The emphasis in all the elective units is on interest, enjoyment and the building of specialised skills and knowledge that will further assist students in their pre-tertiary studies. 

The elective units are assessed in a similar manner to the compulsory core units of English, but the assessment is not necessarily comparable as expectations and levels of difficulty vary. 

Electives run for one semester, but can be taken in either Year 9 or Year 10. English Extended is available in Year 10 only.

Up to 2 units of English electives may be studied across Years 9 and 10, not including EAL/D.

Please see the descriptions of these subjects on the following pages: