English

“We must contemplate the import of ignoring the printed word. If you cannot read, you can do only what you are told.” Joseph P. Bean

OVERVIEW

Living in contemporary society requires competence in communicating to others.   The acquisition of such competence is the responsibility of all Christians.  The English Course is designed to progressively develop competence in the four basic areas of language: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Within this basic framework, students are given the opportunity to:

• Gain a critical understanding of language as an instrument for clear, and effective communication
• Expand and enhance their creative and imaginative gifts
• Become proficient in the processes of drafting, editing and assessing their own writing
• Learn to read with enjoyment, perception and discrimination
• Gain competence in their ability to evaluate information, organise ideas and form a personal opinion
• Develop confidence in their ability to formulate, articulate and express (verbally or in writing) their thoughts and feelings about themselves, their world and their reading.

As stated previously, competence in language both written and oral, is of vital importance if students are to become effective communicators of the Gospel.  However, Christian students need to develop basic skills not only to communicate the truth, but also to discern truth. Students must be able to comprehend and analyse what they are reading and to be able to clearly explain and justify their responses.

Through the study of texts, the media, drama and the students’ own writing, various social values are examined from a Biblical perspective. In addition, English purposes to extend the students’ appreciation of the beauty and goodness which exists in God’s world.   Texts have an important role to play in the development of the students’ understanding of themselves and the world and is a valuable tool in discussions on the nature of man and our Christian responsibility to God and His creation.

SUBJECT LENGTH

Each Unit is 1 semester long. Units 3 & 4 must be completed together in a calendar year for a study score to be generated.

TOPICS INCLUDE

Unit 1:

• Reading and Creating Texts
• Analysing and Presenting Argument

Unit 2:

• Reading and Comparing Texts
• Analysing and Presenting Argument
• Listening to texts - EAL Students Only

Unit 3:

• Reading and Creating Texts
• Analysing Argument
• Listening to Texts – EAL students only

Unit 4:

• Reading and Comparing Texts
• Presenting Argument

PREREQUISITES

• A student needs to gain a satisfactory result in at least 3 units of an English to receive the VCE.
• Booklist Items

ASSESSMENT

Units 1&2:

• School Based assessment: Analytical and Creative responses to texts, Analysis of argument and oral presentation (60%)
• Internal Examination (40%)

Units 3&4:

• School Assessed Coursework Unit 3 (25%)
• School Assessed Coursework Unit 4 (25%)
• External Examination (3 hours) (50%)

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving them meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” Nehemiah 8:8