English

Many English assessment tasks have recently been returned to students. Consequently, students’ focus should be on applying feedback from their tasks and developing skills for the future:

• Year 8  students have completed a listening task and are now composing and compiling a poetry anthology on a theme of their choice.                                                                                                                     
• Year 9 students have received their essays on Romeo and Juliet and are now undertaking a study of Across the Barricades to determine the impact of context on storytelling.
• Year 10 students completed an essay on Macbeth and a related text of their own choosing. Their results and feedback may help in determining which course they study in Stage 6.
• Year 11 students have recently completed exams and are re-writing creative pieces to improve their ability to demonstrate Belonging through narrative.
• Year 12 students continue to apply themselves diligently to their assessment tasks and preparation for the Trial HSC.

Beyond the classroom, there have been a number of opportunities for students to engage with performers, poets and experts.

In Week 4, Year 12 Advanced students travelled to Sydney for a performance and symposium on their prescribed text for the Area of Study, The Tempest. Students found both parts of the day enlightening, especially the adaption of scenes for a modern audience and the postcolonial foregrounding of Caliban’s plight.

In Week 7, the team from Poetry in Action performed poetry for Years 8,10 and 12. Year 8 students said they were surprised by the links between Australian colonial poetry and English and American literature. Year 12 students reported that the performance brought Wilfred Owen’s war poetry to life and illuminated new aspects of the poetry.

This Wednesday, Extension 2 students will be reading excerpts from their major works at the ETA Open Mike Night. They will receive feedback about their work from teachers and other Extension 2 students from around the region.

On Friday, Year 12 Standard and Advanced students will attend the ETA Study Day at Charles Sturt University. Speakers from the university as well as experts from around the region will present to students on their prescribed texts. Approximately one thousand students from the Riverina will attend the day, with the lectures making up an important part of students’ HSC preparation.

Mr Shaun Ellis

English KLA Leader