VCE English – Units 1 & 2Kambrya College 2008

Unit 1Outcomes are set by VCAAThere are three outcomesEach outcome covers an Area of StudyAoS1 – Reading and RespondingAoS2 – Creating and PresentingAoS3-Using Language to Persuade

AOS1 – Reading and RespondingIdentify and discuss key aspects of a set text

and to construct a response in written or oral form.

You must demonstrate the following skills:Understanding of ideas, characters and themes Understanding of the ways that the author

constructs meaningThe structures features and conventions used by

authors to construct meaning in relation to the above

Cont.

Demonstrating outcome 1 cont.Strategies for preparing, constructing and

supporing a response to a text in the chosen formShow the ways that the text can be open to

different interpretationsUse of appropriate metalanguage to discuss the

structures and features of narrative textsThe conventions of small group and whole class

discussion, including ways of developing constructive interactions and building on the ideas of others

Conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of Standard Australian English

Outcome 1 at Kambrya CollegeThe text chosen to allow you to demonstrate

outcome 1 in 2008 is Garry Disher’s Australian text about World War II The Divine Wind

You will read this over the holidays and complete all holiday homework related to it

Prepare to read your text more than once and highlight key ideas, themes and character or plot events

AOS 2 – Creating and PresentingCreate and present texts taking account of

audience, purpose and contextYou will read a text or several shorter texts

which will help you to understand the Context and give you some ideas about the requirements of the task

The chosen Context at Kambrya College is ‘Exploring Technology and Communication’

Outcome 2 at Kambrya CollegeThe chosen text at Kambrya College in 2008 is

Salam Pax’s blog turned into a novel The Baghdad Blog

This novel is about the experience Salam had living in Iraq in 2002-3 while the bombs dropped on his city and explores many themes related to this experience

You are required to read this over the holiday period and complete the holiday homework related to it.

Several short texts will be added to the reading material for this Context

AOS3 – Using Language to PersuadeIdentify and discuss, either in writing and/or

orally how language can be used to persuade readers and /or viewers

The documentary text Fine Lines will be studied in this Area of Study to assist in meeting the outcome

One task in unit 3 must be assessed orallyEither outcome 1 or outcome 3 (task 2) will

be assessed orally

Meeting Outcome 3You need to demonstrate the following skills and

knowledge to meet this outcome:Understanding point of view presented in

persuasive textsHow texts work to influence readersExamples of verbal and non-verbal language used

by authors of texts to persuade readers and viewers to share the point of view/s presented

Use of appropriate metalanguage and features and conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of Standard Australian English

Unit 2There are three Areas of Study and three

outcomes in unit 2AOS 1 is a Reading and Responding outcomeAOS 2 is a Creating and Presenting outcomeAOS 3 is Using Language to Persuade

AOS 1 – Reading and RespondingDiscuss and analyse how texts convey ways

of thinking about the characters, ideas and themes, and construct a response in written or oral form

You also need to demonstrate an understanding of the structures, features and conventions used by authors to construct meaning in a range of text types and genres, including print, non-print and multimodal texts

Strategies for identifying the point of view and values of the author of a text

How to meet the outcomeUnderstanding of features of texts that affect

interpretation; for example, language, form and context

Strategies and techniques for constructing and supporting a response to a text, including knowledge of an appropriate metalanguage to discuss the structures and features of the text

The Text chosen at Kambrya College in 2008 will be Shakespeare’s Macbeth

AOS 2 – Creating and PresentingThis is the same as for unit 1You will use a short selection of electronic

and multimedia texts and will create your own electronic multimodal text using technology

AOS 3 Using Language to PersuadeYou need to be able to identify and analyse

how language is used in a persuasive text and to present a reasoned point of view in oral or written form

You will present this to your peers using a variety of modes (spoken, visual and written)

How the school can helpWe have set up a wiki for student useYou will need to apply for a password It has information about the texts, outcomes

and related workIt has a discussion forumThe url is http://

11englishkambrya.wikispaces.com/

How the school will helpSee a teacher if you need assistanceYour first stop should always be your

classroom teacherAll teachers at Kambrya work in teams and

you may seek assistance from any teacherThat teacher will then inform your classroom

teacher about any assistance they have givenSeek help as soon as possible if you are

having difficulty understanding something

Help cont.Extra classes will be offered at lunchtimes on

demand (once a week)At exam times extra assistance is offered to

students to help with revisionYou will be given a clear timeline with the

dates of class activities, SACs and examsIt is your responsibility to keep this and refer

to itIf there are changes to SAC times you will be

notified at least a week in advance

What you need to doMake sure you are thoroughly organised for

learningCreate a separate folder for all of your textsCreate folders for persuasive language and

for the ContextTake class notes in every class and for every

discussionMake sure you do all of the required class

work and homework

What you need to doMake sure you have a quite place to study at

homeREAD WIDELY – this is crucial to your

success in EnglishResearch your topics in depth – find a variety

of sourcesRecord all sources where you find and use

information – there are very strict rules about using work that is not your own - plagiarism

What else?You need to work hard to reach your goalsUse all of the resources available to youWhat else do you think you can do?