Length: Full Year

Recommended background: Successful completion of Year 10 English

Content:

Stage 1 English is a course that provides options for students to prepare for Literary Studies, English or Essential English at Stage 2 level. The course requires students to engage with a range of texts for analysis and response and gives students the freedom to be creative in text production using a range of multi-modal presentation options.

The course is divided into two semesters which are individually assessed for SACE purposes and the requirement for SACE completion is for students to achieve a C grade or better in each semester. The classes will be presented with both shared and independent text options and they will complete an intertextual study as part of their course. Teachers will guide them through a range of textual experiences including prose, poetry, drama, media, film and social media offerings to provide a contemporary curriculum that will appeal to a broad range of student interests and skills.

Students will be encouraged to read widely and to experiment with stylistic writing, to expand their vocabulary and to write for a range of audiences and for various purposes. They will become more attuned sophisticated users of the English language.

There is an exam (weighted 20%) to prepare students for the critical reading exam at Year 12.

Results for this course are subject to moderation at the end of each semester, based on samples of students’ work.

Leads to: Stage 2 English, Stage 2 English Essentials and Stage 2 English Literary Studies

Assessment:

Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Performance Standards, as outlined by the SACE Board. Grades A to E will be used for reporting purposes.

• Responding to Texts (30%) – At least two texts which may be written, oral and/or multimodal (written texts maximum 800 words, orals maximum 5 minutes and multimodal texts should be of equivalent length)
• Creating Texts (40%) – At least two texts for different audiences, contexts and purposes (written texts maximum 800 words, orals maximum 5 minutes and multimodal texts should be of equivalent length), one under exam conditions
• Intertextual Study (30%) – Two studies must be undertaken; one study should be in response to texts and the other creating texts to demonstrate understanding of intertextuality; studies may be written, oral and/or multimodal (written responses or created texts should be maximum of 1000 words; an oral maximum of 6 minutes; multimodal form should be of equivalent length)