English Group
Course Outlines
English Courses at St Mary's College
Scroll down for descriptions of:
- English
- English as Additional Language
- Literature
English
Course Description
In this subject, students engage in reading and viewing texts with a focus on personal connections with the story. They discuss and clarify the ideas and values presented by authors through their understanding of character, setting and plot, and through investigations of the point of view and/or the voice of the text. They develop and strengthen their reading and viewing skills, and consider the ways a text’s vocabulary, text structures and language features can create meaning on several levels and in different ways.
Course Structure
Unit 1
In this unit, students make personal connections with, and explore the vocabulary, text structures, language features and ideas in a text. They demonstrate an understanding of effective and cohesive writing through the crafting of their own texts designed for a specific context and audience to achieve a stated purpose. They describe individual decisions made about the vocabulary, text structures, language features and conversations used during writing processes.
Areas of Study
- Reading and exploring texts
- Crafting texts
Unit 2
In this unit students explore and analyse how the vocabulary, text structures, language features and ideas in a test construct meaning. They explore and analyse persuasive texts within the context of a contemporary issue, including the ways argument and language can be used to position an audience. They construct a point of view text for oral presentation.
Areas of Study
- Reading and exploring texts
- Exploring argument
Unit 3
In this unit students analyse ideas, concerns and values presented in a text, informed by vocabulary, text structures and language features and how they make meaning. They demonstrate effective writing skills by producing their own texts, designed to respond to a specific context and audience to achieve a stated purpose. They explain their decisions made through writing processes.
Areas of Study
- Reading and responding to texts
- Creating texts
Unit 4
In this unit 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.
Areas of Study
- Reading and responding to texts
- Analysing argument
Entry and Recommendations
VCE English is a compulsory subject for all students at St Marys’ College. This ensures that the requirement of the VCE certificate of at least 3 English Units is met.
Assessment
Satisfactory Completion
Demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for each unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of learning activities and tasks.
Level of Achievement
Unit 1 and 2
- Coursework – Unit 1
- Personal response to a text
- Crafting texts
- Examination
- Coursework - Unit 2
- Text response
- Analysis of argument and persuasive language response
- Point of view oral response
- Examination
Unit 3 and 4
- Unit 3 School-based Assessment (25%)
- Text analysis
- Written text in consideration of audience, purpose and content
- Commentary on writing process
- Unit 4 School-based Assessment (25%)
- Text analysis
- Analytical response to argument
- Analytical response to audiovisual material
- Point of view oral presentation
- Examination (50%)
English as an Additional Language
Course Description
In this subject, students engage in reading and viewing texts with a focus on personal connections with the story. They discuss and clarify the ideas and values presented by authors through their understanding of character, setting and plot, and through investigations of the point of view and/or the voice of the text. They develop and strengthen their reading and viewing skills, and consider the ways a text’s vocabulary, text structures and language features can create meaning on several levels and in different ways.
Course Structure
Unit 1
In this unit, students make personal connections with, and identify selected vocabulary, text structures, language features and ideas in a text. They demonstrate an understanding of effective and cohesive writing through the crafting of their own texts designed for a specific context and audience to achieve a stated purpose. They describe individual decisions made about the vocabulary, text structures, language features and conversations used during writing processes.
Areas of Study
- Reading and exploring texts
- Crafting texts
Unit 2
In this unit students identify and develop analysis of how the vocabulary, text structures, language features and ideas in a test construct meaning. They explore and develop analysis of persuasive texts within the context of a contemporary issue, including the ways argument and language can be used to position an audience. They construct a point of view text for oral presentation.
Areas of Study
- Reading and exploring texts
- Exploring argument
Unit 3
In this unit students listen to and discuss ideas, concerns and values presented in a text, informed by selected vocabulary, text structures and language features and how they make meaning. They demonstrate effective writing skills by producing their own texts, designed to respond to a specific context and audience to achieve a stated purpose. They comment on their decisions made through writing processes.
Areas of Study
- Reading and responding to texts
- Creating texts
Unit 4
In this unit students compare the presentation of ideas, issues and themes in texts. They create an oral presentation intended to position audience about an issue currently debated in the media.
Areas of Study
- Reading and responding to texts
- Analysing argument
Entry and Recommendations
VCE English is a compulsory subject for all students at St Marys’ College. This ensures that the requirement of the VCE certificate of at least 3 English Units is met.
Assessment
Satisfactory Completion
Demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for each unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of learning activities and tasks.
Unit 1
- Coursework – Unit 1
- Personal response to a text
- Crafting texts
- Examination
Unit 2
- Coursework – Unit 2
- Text Response
- Analysis of argument and persuasive language response
- Point of view oral response
- Examination
Unit 3 and 4
- Unit 3 School-based Assessment (25%)
- Text analysis
- Creative response
- Comprehension of an audio/audio visual text
- Reflection on writing process
- Unit 4 School-based Assessment (25%)
- Analytical response to text
- Analysis of argument and language response
- Point of view oral presentation
- Examination (50%)
Literature
Course Description
The study of Literature fosters enjoyment and appreciation of the artistic and aesthetic merits of stories and storytelling. It enables students to participate more fully in the cultural conversations that take place around them. By reading and exploring a diverse range of established and emerging literary works. As both readers and writers, students extend their creativity and high-order thinking to express and develop their critical and creative voice.
Course Structure
Unit 1
In this unit students respond to a range of texts through close analysis. They explore conventions common to a selected movement or genre. They engage with the ideas, concerns and representations from at least on complete text alongside multiple samples of other texts considered characteristic of the selected movement or genre.
Areas of study
- Reading practices
- Exploration of literary movement and genres
Unit 2
In this unit students explore and reflect on the voices, perspectives and knowledge in the texts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and creators. Students analyse and respond to the representation of a specific time period and /or culture explored in a text and reflect or moment on the ideas and concerns of individuals and groups in that context.
Areas of Study
- Voices of Country
- The text in its context
Unit 3
In this unit students analyse aspects of a text, drawing on close analysis of textual detail, and then discuss the extent to which meaning changes when that text is adapted to a different form. They develop interpretations of a set text informed by the ideas, views and values of the set text and a supplementary reading.
Areas of Study
- Adaptations and transformation
- Developing interpretations
Unit 4
In this unit students respond creatively to a text and comment critically on both the original text and the creative response. They analyse literary forms, features and language to present a coherent view of a whole text.
Areas of Study
- Creative responses to texts
- Close analysis of texts
Assessment
Satisfactory Completion
Demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for each unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of learning activities and tasks.
Level of Achievement
Unit 1 and 2
- Coursework – Unit 1
- Adaptation/Transformation response
- Close analysis
- Creative response
- Examination
- Coursework – Unit 2
- Interpretation of a text
- Passage analysis
- Examination
Unit 3 and 4
- Unit 3 School-based Assessment (25%)
- A written interpretation of a text, supported by critical literary readings
- An analysis of how textual form influences meaning.
- Part A: An exploration and analysis of how the meaning of a text may change when it is adapted or transformed into another form. (Example: from written text to film)
- Part B: A written response that compares/interweaves and analyses an initial interpretation with a subsequent interpretation, using a key moment from the text.
- Unit 4 School-based Assessment (25%)
- A creative response to a text. (Example: being inspired by a short story to write your own)
- A close analysis of a key passage from the original text, which includes reflections on connections between the creative response and the original text.
- A close analysis of a text, supported by an examination of textual details, based on a selection of three passages from the original text.
- Examination (50%)