Requirements and expectations 2014
Welcome to Year 12 English
Your personal goal for the year should be
to achieve the highest possible study
score (out of 50):
- Good English students should be
aiming above 40
- The minimum requirement for most
university courses is 25
Materials needed
 All texts and Insight textbook
 Study guides (recommended)
 A4 ring folder with 5 dividers
 Plastic pockets/hole-punch for handouts
 Dictionary and Thesaurus (recommended)
 Black and blue pens (no pink, aqua, purple,
green, bright red, yellow, orange and no grey
lead pencils for essays!)
Area of Study 1:
Reading and responding
Students examine the structures, features and conventions used
by authors of a range of selected texts to construct meaning.
They identify, discuss and analyse these in order to explain how
meaning is constructed through textual elements such as
language and images.
They also examine the ways in which the same text is open to
different interpretations by different readers; for example, the
ways in which a text can be read differently in a different time,
place or culture.
They describe and analyse the way in which social, historical
and/or cultural values are embodied in texts, and develop oral
and written responses to a selected text, using appropriate
metalanguage.
Area of Study 1:
Reading and responding
 ‘In the Country of Men’ by Hisham Matar
(novel)
 ‘Twelve Angry Men’ by Reginald Rose (play)
Area of Study 2:
Creating and Presenting
Students will read or view selected texts in order to identify,
discuss and analyse ideas and/or arguments associated with
the chosen Context.
They will reflect on the ideas and/or arguments suggested by
these texts, explore the relationship between purpose, form,
audience and language, and examine the choices made by
authors in order to construct meaning.
Students will then draw on the ideas and/or arguments they
have gained from the texts studied to construct their own
texts. They write for a specified audience and purpose and
draw on their experience of exploring texts to explain their
own decisions about form, purpose, language, audience and
context.
Area of Study 2:
Creating and Presenting
Context: Exploring issues of identity and
belonging
 ‘Skin’ directed by Anthony Fabian (film)
 ‘The Mind of a Thief’ by Patti Miller (novel)
Area of Study 3:
Using Language to Persuade
The focus of this area of study is on the analysis and comparison of the
use of language in texts that debate a topical issue which has appeared
in the Australian media since 1 September of the previous year.
Students read, view and listen to texts such as feature articles and
opinion columns, cartoons, editorials, letters to the editor, interviews
on current affairs programs, websites and CD-ROMs, speeches,
excerpts from online focus and discussion groups, and advertisements
in magazines and newspapers, and on websites and television. They
analyse and compare the ways in which verbal and non-verbal
(including visual) language of these texts is used to persuade readers
and viewers to share the point/s of view being presented.
Drawing on their study of the use of language to persuade, students
construct a piece of sustained and reasoned writing in which they put
forward their own point of view on the selected issue in written or oral
form.
Area of Study 3:
Using Language to Persuade
A study of various current issues in the
Australian media.
 Part A: Language analysis (written essay)
 Part B: Point of view (oral presentation)
Assessment
 50% of your final study score is derived from
school assessed coursework (SACs)
completed throughout the year.
 The other 50% of your final study score is
derived from the end of year examination
(duration 3 hours)
School assessed coursework
Unit 3:
 Language Analysis 20%
 Oral presentation 20%
 Reading &Responding ‘In the Country of Men’ 30%
 Creating & Presenting ‘Skin’ 30%
Unit 4
 Creating &Presenting ‘The Mind of a Thief’ 50%
 Reading & Responding ‘Twelve Angry Men’ 50%
Examination
 One examination in the November exam period
 Three hours in duration (plus 15 mins reading time)
 Three pieces of writing required, one on each of the
three areas of study
 No prescribed word limit for writing pieces however
high achieving pieces are normally 800 words or
longer
Verification tests
 All Year 12 VCE subjects require verification tests in
Week 1. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that all
students are keeping up with required homework. (The
year goes very quickly in Year 12 and anyone who falls
behind will struggle.)
 For the English verification test you will need to
demonstrate that you have read ‘In the Country of Men’.
You will need to show a close understanding of the novel
(you can’t just Google it!)
 If you do not pass the verification test your enrolment in
VCE will be reviewed. You may be asked to attend a
meeting between coordinators and your parents or
guardians.
What to do over summer…
 Complete research task for ‘In the Country of Men’ as set




during orientation period (best to complete this before
reading the novel)
Read novel in preparation for verification test
Creating & Presenting homework as set during orientation
period, this will involve collecting resources regarding
issues of identity & belonging
Pay close attention to the news and follow issues that are
prominent in the media, including local and global affairs
If possible, join your class wiki and communicate with
teachers and classmates over summer. There is no need to
work in isolation.
Online resources
 www.vcaa.vic.edu.au (use this to access the English
study design, past exams and assessment reports)
 There are also a number of books and commercial
resources available online targeting VCE students
(which you would be required to pay for). Some of
these may be good, however others may not be able to
offer much more than is already available. Best to
check with your teacher first if you are wondering
about any of these.
Good luck!