English
Subject Guide
The English language is central to how students understand, critique and appreciate the world, and to the ways in which they participate socially, ethically and culturally in Australian society. English develops students’ abilities to communicate effectively and to read and listen with understanding. It encourages students to be enthusiastic and responsive readers, and fosters original thinking and a love of communication. Students are encouraged to understand how language works and to use it well.
English develops students’ abilities to communicate effectively in speech and in writing, and to read and listen with understanding. It also encourages students to be enthusiastic and responsive readers, and fosters original thinking and a love of communication. Students are encouraged to understand how language works and to use it well. English Enrichment is a vibrant and engaging course that is designed to prepare students for further study in both the Literature and mainstream English courses.
English Department
clare.mackie@haileybury.com.au
Unit focus areas Pre-requisites
Units 1 and 2
Reading and Exploring Texts focuses on reading and analysing literary texts, including personal responses to texts. In Crafting Texts, students apply, extend and challenge their understanding and use of imaginative, persuasive and informative texts. Analysing Argument continues to build upon students’ ability to become intelligent and critical readers of the use of rhetoric and other persuasive techniques in various media texts, as well as developing their proficiency in creating persuasive texts of their own.
Units 3 and 4
Reading and Responding to Texts further develops the key skill of sustained analytical writing. Creating Texts builds on the writing skills learned in Units 1 and 2, and students work with a range of texts to inspire their own creative processes, to generate ideas for their writing, and as models for effective writing. Analysing Argument builds further upon students’ ability to become intelligent and critical readers of the use of rhetoric and other persuasive techniques in various media texts. Presenting Argument requires students to build their understanding of both the analysis and construction of texts that attempt to influence audiences as they develop a persuasive response to an issue in the Australian media.
There is no criteria for the English pathway as this is a compulsory subject. Students will have difficulty in any Units 3 and 4 subjects without having successfully completed Units 1 and 2 in the same subject.
Assessment
For Units 1 and 2, students complete a range of outcomes and classwork throughout each semester, followed by an examination.
For Units 3 and 4, students complete SchoolAssessed Coursework (50%) subject to external moderation, and an end-of-year examination (50%).