VCE English … Outcome 1.
Reading and Responding
Montana 1948
Choose one question to complete an essay of about 600-800 words. You will have
two classes in which to complete the outcome. You may bring in your text. You may
bring in a dictionary. We suggest that you spend some time during the first lesson
putting together a detailed plan.

Montana 1948 suggests that our status in society dictates how the law will
treat us. Do you agree?

Wes’ problem was that he tried to be loyal to both family and justice. To what
extent do you agree?

Is the possibility of exposing the truth and doing the right thing shown to be
impossible, or even undesirable, in Bentrock in 1948?
VCE English
Reading & Responding
On completion of this area of study the student should be able to analyse, either orally
or in writing, how a selected text constructs meaning, conveys ideas and values, and is
open to a range of interpretations.
Performance Descriptors
V/H
5
High
4
Med
3
Low
2
V/L
1
N/S
0
Understanding of key ideas,
characters and themes
Analysis of structures, features
and conventions used to construct
meaning using appropriate
vocabulary and metalanguage
Analysis of ways in which social,
historical, cultural or other values
are embodied in the text
Understanding of ways in which
the text is open to different
interpretations
Use of appropriate textual
evidence and relevant
metalanguage
Expressive, fluent and coherent
writing using the conventions of
spelling, punctuation and syntax
Mark:
/30 Comments:
Please note that this numerical mark is subject to VCAA Statistical Moderation
A+
30-26
A
25-23
B+
22-21
B
20-19
C+
18-17
C
16-14
D+
13-12
D
11-10
E+
9-8
E
7-5
UG
4-0
Key knowledge and skills
 An understanding of ideas, characters, and themes in the selected text
 An understanding of structures, features and conventions used by authors to construct
meaning in texts, and be able to critically analyse these

To understand how the same text can be open to different interpretations by different readers,
and be able to discuss and compare differing interpretations using textual evidence
 To understand methods of analysing the social, historical and cultural values embodied in the
text and being able to analyse these
 To understand strategies and techniques for constructing a supported analysis of the text and
to be able to construct a supported analysis using appropriate metalanguage
To be able to understand and use the conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of standard
English