BALLARAT HIGH SCHOOL 2013
VCE ENGLISH UNITS 3 & 4
COURSE DESCRIPTION
GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
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The satisfactory completion of Units 3 & 4 English is based on the student demonstrating the achievement of a set of
outcomes for each area of study as specified by VCAA in the English Study Design. The three areas of study are
Reading and Responding, Creating and Presenting and Using Language to Persuade.
To meet the outcomes students must satisfactorily complete a range of School Assessed Coursework (SAC) tasks.
If a student completes all SAC tasks satisfactorily they will be awarded an “S” for the unit. If a student does not
complete a SAC task satisfactorily they will be awarded an “N” for the unit.
SAC tasks must be completed in class within a limited timeframe under the conditions specified.
Students will receive an assessment grade for each SAC task. The assessment grades contribute to an overall study
score for the subject.
If a student misses a SAC task date due to an approved absence (eg. with a doctor’s certificate), the student and
teacher will then negotiate a new date as outlined in Ballarat High School’s Later Years Policy.
If a student misses a SAC task date with no approved reason the student and teacher will then negotiate a new date
as outlined in Ballarat High School’s Later Years Policy but the assessment task will be given only an S/N not a
grade.
Unit 3 English
AREA OF STUDY 2:
CREATING AND PRESENTING
AREA OF STUDY 1:
READING AND RESPONDING
Outcome 1: Analyse how a selected text constructs
meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range
of interpretations.
Students examine the structures, features and
conventions used by Louis Nowra in his play “Cosi” to
construct meaning. Students will identify, discuss and
analyse these in order to explain how meaning is
constructed through contextual elements such as
language and images. We will also examine the ways in
which the text is open to different interpretations by
different readers. Students will need to describe the way
in which social, historical and/ or cultural values are
embodied in the text and develop written responses using
appropriate language.
READING AND RESPONDING ASSESSMENT (SAC):
Text response essay
An analytical essay on “Cosi” showing how it constructs
meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range
of interpretations. This SAC will be 30% of the Unit 3
coursework mark. This SAC will be completed in a double
period under test conditions. Students may bring a
dictionary. Approximate length: 900-1200 words.
Outcome 2: Draw on ideas and/or arguments suggested
by a chosen context to create written texts for a specified
audience and purpose; and to discuss and analyse their
decisions about form, purpose, language, audience and
context.
The focus in this area is on reading, writing and their
interconnection. The context for study is “Encountering
Conflict”. Students will read in order to identify, discuss
and analyse ideas and / or arguments suggested by the
novel “The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif” written by
Najaf Mazari & Robert Hillman. Students will reflect on
the ideas, explore the relationship between purpose,
form, audience and language and examine the choices
made by the author in order to construct meaning.
CREATING AND PRESENTING ASSESSMENT (SAC):
A sustained written response
In this SAC students create a sustained piece of writing
drawing on the ideas and arguments generated by the
study of “Paradise Road” in response to a set prompt.
Students can write in an expository, persuasive or
imaginative style for a specified purpose and audience.
This SAC will be 30 % of the Unit 3 coursework mark.
Students may bring a dictionary. Approximate length:
900-1200 words.
AREA OF STUDY 3:
USING LANGUAGE TO PERSUADE
AREA OF STUDY 1:
READING AND RESPONDING
Outcome 3: Analyse the use of language in texts that
present a point of view on an issue currently debated in
the Australian media, and to construct a sustained and
reasoned point of view on the selected issue.
The focus in this area is on the analysis and comparison of
the use of language in texts that debate a topical issue that
has appeared in the Australian media since September 1 st
2012. 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, speeches and advertisements in magazines and
newspapers. They analyse and compare the ways in
which the 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.
USING LANGUAGE TO PERSUADE ASSESSMENT (SAC):
Language Analysis & Oral Presentation
1. A written analysis of the use of visual and verbal
language in three unseen persuasive texts. The written
analysis will be held under test conditions and be three
periods in duration. Students may bring a dictionary.
2. A sustained point of view in oral form. The oral
presentation must be five minutes in length for
individuals. Students may bring appropriate notes on cue
cards and visual aids to their oral presentation.
The written analysis will constitute 20% of the Unit 3
coursework mark and the oral presentation will
constitute another 20%.
Outcome 1: Develop and justify a detailed interpretation
of a selected text.
This area builds on Unit 3 Reading and Responding.
Students identify, discuss and analyse the structures,
features and conventions of “The Reluctant
Fundamentalist” to explore how these elements have
been chosen by Mohsin Hamid to construct meaning and
affect interpretation. Students develop and justify a
detailed written interpretation of the film.
ASSESSMENT (SAC): Text Response Essay
An analytical essay on how the selected text constructs
meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is open to a range
of interpretations. This SAC will constitute 50% of the
Unit 4 coursework mark. This SAC will be completed in a
double period under test conditions. Students may bring a
dictionary.
AREA OF STUDY 2:
CREATING AND PRESENTING
Unit 4 English
END OF YEAR EXAMINATION
The examination will be held on Wednesday, October 30,
2013. It will make up 50% of your total score.
The exam will be of 3 hours duration with 15 minutes
reading time. The examination will consist of three
written sections:
1. Text response - an analytical response to either Cosi
OR The Reluctant Fundamentalist
2. Writing in context- a response to a prompt on the
context “Encountering Conflict”
3. Analysis of language use- a written piece analysing
how readers, viewers or listeners are positioned.
Outcome: Draw on ideas and/or arguments suggested by
a chosen context to create written texts for a specified
audience and purpose; and to discuss and analyse their
decisions about form, purpose, language, audience and
context
Students will explore the ways in which “Encountering
Conflict” is presented the film “Paradise Road” directed
by Bruce Beresford and supplementary texts. Students
draw on this exploration to create and present their own
text for a specific audience, purpose and context.
ASSESSMENT (SAC): A sustained written response
In this SAC students create a sustained piece of writing
drawing on the ideas and arguments generated by the
study of “Paradise Road” in response to a set prompt.
Students can write in an expository, persuasive or
imaginative style for a specified purpose and audience.
This SAC will constitute 50% of the Unit 4 coursework
mark. This task will be completed in a double period
under test conditions. Students may bring a dictionary.
This sustained piece will be 900-1200 words.