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 inter-related 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 further 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 7 & 8

Year 7 and 8 English are sequential, year-long courses in which students are encouraged to read widely for pleasure and for critical analysis. They learn about language and its power to shape meaning. They examine and articulate their own ideas and values and those of others. They learn to use descriptive detail and supporting evidence from texts to develop effective responses. English in Years 7 and 8 requires consolidation of grammar, vocabulary and spelling skills. Students are expected to strive for fluency and appropriateness of style.

Year 7 English

In Year 7, students will have the opportunity to:

• Analyse a range of persuasive texts, and construct their own arguments
• Research and design collaborative presentations
• Investigate how visual and language techniques create meaning in picture books
• Enjoy and respond to literature through whole class novel studies
• Craft their own creative writing 
• Analyse imagery in poetry and create their own pieces
• Explore and analyse film techniques and their impact on audiences
• Extend their knowledge of grammar and punctuation and develop their language competencies.
• Create texts for a range of audiences, with a focus on sentence and paragraph structures. 

English Support in Year 7

In Year 7, an English teacher works collaboratively with classroom teachers of English throughout the year to support the development of students’ literacy skills. 

Year 8 English

In Year 8 students will have the opportunity to:

• Learn and observe the conventions of the formal register in writing
• Examine the transition of a novel to screen
• Study a novel and relevant subsidiary texts from a chosen genre of fiction
• Examine a range of poetic language and devices
• Explore Indigenous perspectives in texts
• Examine and develop responses to ethical issues raised in texts
• Craft a persuasive cause marketing advertisement pitch for a chosen cause or issue
• Understand how the selection of persuasive language features can be used to influence audiences and develop texts that demonstrated these features
• Undertake skill-building activities to extend their knowledge of grammar and punctuation and develop their language competencies.

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

English Electives and Support

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