Welcome back to Term 4!

Term 4 is notorious for flying by.  For this reason, it is important that students apply themselves consistently across the term, particularly for our year 10 and 11 students who will finish the term earlier.

In the final lessons of term 3, Ms Champs' Year 9 students began 'Dissecting Disney'.  Students were given a Disney film and were required to do some research about the text before putting the films in publishing order on a Disney Timeline. This timeline will support the class next term when they start to consider the ideologies presented in the films and how these may have changed over time.

During Term 4 our cohorts will be studying the following units:

Year 7 – From the Director’s Chair

In this unit, students will create an analytical text that describes and explains directorial choices that position audiences to respond in particular ways. 

Year 7 IGNITE - Picture This

In this unit, student will learn about how picture books convey meaning and examine visual literacy elements including field, tenor, and mode techniques. Students will analyse how these elements have been used to construct representations of contemporary social issues in picture books, and how they position audiences to respond in particular ways. 

Year 8 – To Infinity and Beyond

In this unit, students will explore speculative fiction and one of the sub-genres it encompasses. Students will engage with a range of texts including short stories, novel extracts, film and television extracts. They will develop their understanding of how texts are influenced by context, purpose and audience. Students will consider the value of the speculative fiction genre within the real-world context by using informative texts, technical and content information from various sources about specialised topics. Students will create a persuasive video blog that persuades readers to share their perspective on the relevance of speculative fiction to contemporary audiences.

Year 9 – Dissecting Disney

In this unit, students listen to, read and interpret a variety of Disney/Disney Pixar and historical texts including those that put forward different perspectives of social issues. They analyse the text structures and language devices used in each text to create particular effects and meaning, developing their understanding of how texts, are influenced by context, purpose and audience. Students will create a blog that evaluates Disney’s representation of gender (or other social issue) and persuade the reader to take up their position. To do this, students consider contemporary values, attitudes, and beliefs and how these align with key themes and messages in the film.  

Year 10 Foundation English – Representations of Issues

In this unit student will explore a range of written and visual texts on a particular issue/concept. They will identify and explain how the texts use language features and text structures to create representations. Students will evaluate other interpretations of texts, analysing the evidence used to support them. They will listen for ways features within texts can be manipulated to achieve particular effects. Students will explore the cultural assumptions/ values/ attitudes/ beliefs presented in the texts. They will complete a short response exam where they will respond to one seen written text and one unseen visual text.

Year 10 General English – Good Reads

In this unit, students will complete an in-depth study of a play, short story or novel. Students will read and analyse the text, examining how the characters are developed and shaped by the attitudes, values and beliefs of the culture or society in which they live. They will consider the text structures and language features as tools for making meaning. Students will respond to a seen question/statement in an analytical essay, under exam conditions.

Year 10 Extension English – Ideas Worth Spreading

In this unit, students will explore and understand the purpose of a TED Talk as a contemporary contributor to the development of culture and social values. They will view and deconstruct a variety of TED Talks that range in content, purpose and delivery. Students will consider how TED Talks are constructed to impact on their audience, and their ability to inform, persuade and entertain. They will explore and develop presentation skills that will enhance the delivery of their own TED Talk. Students will nominate and then investigate topics that are suitable for the ‘Youth Speak – TEDx event'. They will plan, write, rehearse and present their TED Talk either live or digitally. 

Year 11 English and Essential English

Our year 11 students will finalise their studies of Unit 2 and will look to begin Unit 3 content before the holidays. 

We look forward to a productive and successful end to the year. 

Thank you to Ms Champs for her contribution to this edition of the English faculty newsletter.