The English units offered have been carefully planned and constructed to cover all aspects of Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. Each unit has a Literature element and because they are built around themes, issue writing and personal responses are intrinsic to them. The Literature units are built around requirements for VCE Literature and IB English A, ‘Literature’ and ‘Language and Literature’. Each unit is designed to prepare students for the next level.
ENA14: Telling Tales
“Telling Tales” is all about stories. Long before people could read and write, telling stories was a way of passing on knowledge, a form of entertainment and much more. This unit looks at a range of stories, from those that are “tall tales” to those that are personal. In this introduction to secondary school English, students will learn to interpret both written and visual texts, to write analytically on a text and to write both creatively and persuasively. Students will study short stories and poetry with a focus on story lines and how they are developed. By the conclusion of this unit students will understand that all tales are ‘telling’ in that each storyteller is trying to reveal a message of some kind.
Text: “Things a Map Won’t Show You”
Offered in Semester 1
ENA15: Fast Fiction
Fast fiction is all about reading, discussing, writing, exploring and telling stories. The short story is the central form we study which allows us to become immersed in a variety of texts in a short space of time. Short stories can be both accessible and richly complex, adding dimensions to our understanding of the world and ourselves. In this introduction to secondary school English, students will learn to interpret both written and visual texts, to write analytically on a text and to write both creatively and persuasively. By the conclusion of this unit students will understand that stories are many and varied and that there are stories for every interest and everyone.
Text: “Flying Lessons & Other Stories”
Offered in Semester 1
ENA16: Extraordinary Adventures
Our fascination with the extraordinary and our thirst for adventure shapes the text choices studied in this unit. Whether those adventures be supernatural, unexpected, due to talent or hard-won excellence, we enjoy immersing ourselves in extraordinary tales and experiences. In this unit students will continue to develop their skills in interpreting both written and visual texts, writing analytically on a text as well as writing creatively and imaginatively. Students will study a novel, becoming familiar with structure, form and language features. Oral communication is an essential part of the English curriculum and students will be engaged in formal and informal listening and speaking activities. Emphasis is placed on building confidence as a speaker and reading for enjoyment.
Text: “Nowhere Boy”
Offered in Semester 2
ENA17: Once Upon a Time
Stories are as old as human history, or is it that human history is as old as stories? We have told, and continue to tell, stories to entertain, enthral, teach, connect and understand ourselves and the world around us. In this unit students will continue to develop their skills in interpreting both written and visual texts, writing analytically on a text as well as writing creatively and imaginatively. Students will study a novel, becoming familiar with structure, form and language features. Oral communication is an essential part of the English Curriculum and students will be engaged in formal and informal listening and speaking activities. Emphasis is placed on building confidence as a speaker and reading for enjoyment.
Offered in Semester 2
ENB13: Survival
This is a unit about the human spirit. There are so many questions that can be posed. What difficulties, adversities, pitfalls, dilemmas and horrors do people survive? How do they survive? What choices and compromises need to be made? How much integrity is maintained or discarded along the way? How are morality and personal ethics accounted for? The main text for this unit is a novel, which will be used to develop understanding of structure, form and language features and how these elements shape meaning. Essential English skills including reading, writing, speaking and listening are practised with an emphasis on writing creatively and drawing on personal experience.
Text: “Peak”
Offered in Semester 2
ENB14: Sea and Sand
There is a long history of human beings having an endless fascination with the sea: its moods, its creatures, and its beauty. This unit is both an examination and celebration of humanity’s relationship with ‘the blue, the fresh, and the ever free’. In this unit students will work with the novella form to develop their analytical skills in reading, thinking and writing. Alongside fiction, students will work with non-fiction texts and have an opportunity to develop expository, instructional and technical writing. There will be opportunities to discuss and write about people’s continuing fascination with the sea, its marine life, and the excitement and dangers associated with life on and by the sea. Oral communication skills will be developed through paired and group work.
Text: “Blueback”
Offered in Semester 1
ENB16: Mysterious and Macabre
It is the excitement and intrigue of thrills and mysteries that form the focus of the texts studied in this unit. Students will study the novella form as well as hair-raising poetry to develop their analytical skills in reading, thinking and writing. Edge of the seat non-fiction texts will also be studied to enhance analytical interpretation skills and provide opportunities to develop expository, instructional and technical writing. Thrilling and mysterious tales and adventures will provide the inspiration for the various activities that will enable students to develop their speaking and listening skills.
Text: “Coraline”
Offered in Semester 1
ENB17: A Perfect World
What makes a perfect world? Is it even possible and what would it be like to live in? Is utopia what we really want? What constitutes an ideal world for one person might be a living nightmare for another. The main text for this unit is a novel, which will be used to develop understanding of structure, form and language features and how these elements shape meaning. Essential English skills including reading, writing, speaking and listening are practised with an emphasis on writing creatively and drawing on personal experience. Students may never view their own world in the same light again.
Text: “The Giver”
Offered in Semester 2
ENB70: Working with Words
This unit is only available to Year 7 students in Semester One who have the recommendation of the Department Head. This is an introductory unit for students in Year 7 who have qualified to enter the Level B English stream via the examined test conducted in the previous year. The course aims to introduce students to the analytical study of texts in different genres and to develop essay writing skills. The unit provides opportunities for students who love to read and write to hone their skills to produce effective writing for varying purposes and audiences. Speaking and listening skills will be enhanced through individual, paired and group work.
Text: “The Silver Donkey”
Offered in Semester 2
ENC16: First Voices
Stories of First Nations peoples, especially Indigenous Australians, are told in their own voices and in their own ways. These stories and experiences cover issues and ideas such as the history of conflict with Non-Indigenous people, the importance of belonging, the significance of place, as well as identity, family, love and finding one’s voice. The central text is a novel, which will give students the means to consolidate and enhance their understanding of structure and language features in this form. This will be supplemented with a variety of other texts, including film and poetry, with a particular focus on autobiographical and biographical stories. Developing critical awareness of text types as well as ideas is emphasised in this unit. Ideas and concepts arising from texts will assist students to develop their speaking and listening oral communication skills through discussion and debate.
Text: “Catching Teller Crow”
Offered in Semester 2
ENC18: Old Worlds, New Beginnings
What happens when we have experiences and events that change our lives? Is the pull of the old something we should resist? What does it take to surrender to the fear and excitement of a new beginning? This unit provides the opportunity for students to explore and discuss the ideas and questions arising from these concepts. Students will develop their analytical and reflective skills, including comparative analysis, through the study of the non-fiction short story form. Extracts from graphic novels will be studied to develop understanding of different genres, audience and purpose. Ideas and concepts arising from texts will assist students to develop their speaking and listening oral communication skills through discussion and debate.
Text: “Growing Up Asian in Australia”
Offered in Semester 1
ENC19: Far from Home
Exploring the physical, psychological and emotional experiences of those who find themselves far from home invites students to think and write about what constitutes home and what it is like to be far from home; the liberation, the adventure and the fear. This unit provides the opportunity for students to explore and discuss the ideas and questions arising from these concepts. Students will develop their analytical and reflective skills, including comparative analysis, through the study of the non-fiction short story form. Extracts from graphic novels will be studied to develop understanding of different genres, audience and purpose. Ideas and concepts arising from texts will assist students to develop their speaking and listening oral communication skills through discussion and debate.
Text: “Growing Up African in Australia”
Offered in Semester 1
ENC20: Multi-Storied
Even the most seemingly simple story can often tell more than one tale. Stories are many layered and reveal as much about the writer and the listener, or reader, as they do about the ideas they contain. The central text for this unit is a novel, which will give students the means to consolidate and enhance their understanding of structure and language features in this form. This novel will be supplemented with a variety of other texts, including film and poetry, with a particular focus on autobiographical and biographical stories. Developing critical awareness of text types as well as ideas is emphasised in this unit. Ideas and concepts arising from texts will assist students to develop their speaking and listening oral communication skills through discussion and debate.
Text: The Simple Gift”
Offered in Semester 2
END17: Breaking Away
Rules, conventions, expectations and assumptions; have you ever wanted to defy them and break them? Through the study of classic and contemporary texts students are encouraged to examine the desire and compulsion to break away as well as the consequences for those who overturn and transgress the rules. Analytical skills are developed through the study of a range of texts, including a play, short stories and poetry. At this level visual media sources are used to enhance and refine language analysis and there is a focus on learning to identify persuasive language and writing persuasively about contemporary issues. Oral communication extends to the shared reading of texts and extracts to the class and oral presentations about the texts being studied.
Text: “Romeo and Juliet”
Offered in Semester 1
END18: A Fork In the Road
‘I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference’ (Robert Frost – ‘The road not taken’) Is it possible that there could be a defining moment in life that shapes a person? Could a single decision shape a life? This unit is concerned with the idea of choices and repercussions, of life-changing moments and of the paths taken or not taken. Analytical skills are developed through the study of a range of texts, including a play, short stories and poetry. At this level visual media sources are used to enhance and refine language analysis and there is a focus on learning to identify persuasive language and writing persuasively about contemporary issues. Oral communication extends to the shared reading of texts and extracts to the class and oral presentations about the texts being studied.
Text: “Oedipus Rex”
Offered in Semester 1
END20: Border Crossings
What constitutes a border and why are they sometimes so difficult to cross? Whether it is a geo-political border, a cultural border, an ethical border or a much more personal border, they can be difficult to navigate and, almost invariably, alter those who do cross them. In this unit students consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the novel form and engage in a comparative study of texts, learning to develop a more complex, woven analysis as part of their text response work. At this level the study of media texts and the analysis of argument and persuasive language form a significant part of the English course. As well as their critical thinking, students will continue to develop the essential reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Formal and informal oral communication activities, such as discussions and debates, are used to build skills in shaping coherent, articulate and convincing speech.
Text: “Night”
Offered in Semester 2
END21: Changing Realities
Is reality a fixed concept? Whose reality are we talking about? It’s easy to think of reality as… just reality, but it quickly becomes more difficult when we start to question it. What if we want to change our reality? What are the obstacles and challenges? What are the rewards? In this unit students consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the novel form and engage in a comparative study of texts, learning to develop a more complex, woven analysis as part of their text response work. At this level the study of media texts and the analysis of argument and persuasive language form a significant part of the English course. As well as their critical thinking, students will continue to develop the essential reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Formal and informal oral communication activities, such as discussions and debates, are used to build skills in shaping coherent, articulate and convincing speech.
Text: “Animal Farm”
Offered in Semester 2
END50 LITERATURE: More Than Words
This unit is recommended for students who are interested in Literature and who are considering studying IB or VCE Literature in their senior years. The texts cover a variety of genres and students consider the effect of various narrative styles in delivering the authors’ messages. The ways in which writers use language to engage us is as important as the compelling subject matter in this unit.
Text: “When the Night Comes” and “Domestic Interiors”
Offered in Semester 2
END51 LITERATURE: Power and Corruption
This unit is for students with an interest in literature and who are considering studying IB or VCE Literature. The course covers a variety of genres with the theme of power, politics and corruption. It includes classic literature as well as some more contemporary works. Of particular interest in these texts are: the oppressed, those who manipulate and those who display courage in the face of abuses of power.
Text: “Lord of the Flies”
Offered in Semester 1
ENE11: Such Is Life!
This unit examines lives that have been beset by misfortune as well as lives lived to change the circumstances in which individuals find themselves. Students will read both classic and contemporary texts that present opportunities to reflect on the ways that writers have responded to the world and to reflect on the parallels with their own life experience. Students will be encouraged to speak and write about a range of text types, including a play and novel. There will be opportunities to respond creatively to texts as a means of understanding what literature may reveal about human nature and our place in the world. The analysis of argument and language is an essential skill that students will continue to develop in this unit.
Texts: “My Brilliant Career” & “The Crucible”
Offered in Semester 1
ENE14: Fringe Dwellers
This unit explores the experiences and the views of those who, for one reason or another, live on the edge of society. Inevitably it entails an examination of lives which are different from the ‘norm’. This unit covers a wide range of concerns such as why some people are excluded from mainstream society, why some people desire isolation and want to ‘escape from it all’ and where such people find strength and hope. All of the individuals who appear in this unit are living on some sort of ‘fringe’. Students will study two central texts, a novel and a play, enhancing and refining their knowledge and understanding of different forms. As well as writing analytically, students will respond to texts in a creative form and further develop their persuasive writing skills. Oral communication is an essential English skill and students will further refine their speaking and listening skills through a range of formal and informal activities.
Text: “I Capture the Castle” and “Of Mice and Men”
Offered in Semester 2
ENE51 LITERATURE: Master Class
This unit is recommended for those students who are considering studying VCE Literature or the IB (Standard or Higher levels). The emphasis is on the study of literature and literary techniques and the texts chosen are the works of the great masters of English literature. Significant novels, plays and poems form the basis of a close study of both themes and the writers’ techniques. Students explore the ways these works have left their mark and stood the test of time. Individual response is encouraged as students develop effective ways to express their appreciation in written and oral formats.
Text: “The Great Gatsby” and “The Importance of Being Ernest”
Offered in Semester 2
ENE52 LITERATURE: Between the Lines
This unit is recommended for those students who are considering studying VCE Literature or the IB (Standard or Higher levels). In this unit, students will be exposed to a wide variety of writing styles in both poetry and prose. Some of the works studied will be unconventional and others rich in traditional literary techniques. The capacity to create powerful impressions with written language will be the focus of this unit. Students will become familiar with discussing and analysing literature, and appreciating the effect of authors’ choices when they write.
Text: “The Book Thief”
Offered in Semester 1
ENX32: Written By …
In this unit students create their own sustained piece of writing. Some write a biography. Others choose to write a fantasy novel or a collection of short stories or an instructional manual. While doing this they explore how other writers approach their craft. They talk with professional writers and explore aspects of publishing and copyright. They read and reflect on good examples of writing in their chosen genre. They discuss their progress and share their drafts with the class group, with the teacher and with a chosen mentor. Students record details of their progress as their work evolves. At the end of the unit they present their finished work (or part of it) and reflect on their success.
Offered in Semester 1 & 2
