© Jonathan Scobie 2009

The Year Twelve English The Year Twelve English Communications CourseCommunications Course

We’re on a road to We’re on a road to somewhere…somewhere…

Understanding CommunicationUnderstanding Communication

AUDIENCEAUDIENCE Making language choices to suit a Making language choices to suit a

particular audienceparticular audience

CONTEXTCONTEXT Shaping conventions of language, Shaping conventions of language,

style and format to suit a contextstyle and format to suit a context

PURPOSEPURPOSE Crafting language to achieve a Crafting language to achieve a

particular purposeparticular purpose

Text Study The text study focuses on reading a range of The text study focuses on reading a range of

shared texts… that will generate a range of shared texts… that will generate a range of responses. Students will develop a personal and responses. Students will develop a personal and critical understanding of a range of texts. They critical understanding of a range of texts. They will gain understanding of the ideas, values, and will gain understanding of the ideas, values, and beliefs represented in those texts. Students will beliefs represented in those texts. Students will have the opportunity to develop and express have the opportunity to develop and express opinions and critical perspectives in appropriate opinions and critical perspectives in appropriate forms, which may be written, oral, or forms, which may be written, oral, or multimedia. Texts should be chosen on the basis multimedia. Texts should be chosen on the basis of the needs, abilities, and interests of the class of the needs, abilities, and interests of the class group, and with regard to both the selection group, and with regard to both the selection requirements outlined below and the learning requirements outlined below and the learning outcomes that direct the assessment of this outcomes that direct the assessment of this study. Texts may be treated separately, or be study. Texts may be treated separately, or be linked.linked.

Text Study To achieve the learning outcomes for this study, To achieve the learning outcomes for this study,

students must demonstrate understanding of the students must demonstrate understanding of the structure and language of particular textual structure and language of particular textual forms and identify the values, attitudes, and forms and identify the values, attitudes, and beliefs conveyed by these forms. The capacity beliefs conveyed by these forms. The capacity and willingness of students to read critically and and willingness of students to read critically and purposefully are highly valued.purposefully are highly valued.

The texts are to be chosen from three of the The texts are to be chosen from three of the following four text types:following four text types:

• An extended prose, verse, or electronic text (e.g. a An extended prose, verse, or electronic text (e.g. a novel; a graphic novel; a collection of short stories; a novel; a graphic novel; a collection of short stories; a biography or other non-fiction prose text).biography or other non-fiction prose text).

• A selection of poems (e.g. poet study, anthology, theme A selection of poems (e.g. poet study, anthology, theme study, song lyrics).study, song lyrics).

• A film or a television miniseries.A film or a television miniseries.• A drama text or a drama performance.A drama text or a drama performance.

Text Production

In the text production study students can examine a range of different text types so that they recognise the influence of authors’ use of language on the ways in which readers make meaning of texts. Students should understand that authors observe various conventions of style, content, vocabulary, register, and format, and that some authors ignore or deliberately vary those conventions. They should be conscious of the linguistic features that characterise various forms, and should demonstrate some control over them in their own composition.

Text Production

The text production study involves an intensive focus on the production of texts. One of the assessment items may be presented in the oral mode or as a multimedia text. A workshop approach, based on shared classroom activity, is used for the creation of a range of different texts. Students are likely to benefit from modelling their own texts on examples of good practice in the same form. This study will allow students to develop their control over self-editing and drafting processes, as the time allocated is sufficient to allow planning, thinking, and redrafting to occur.

Text Production

The following categories are to be the focus for the production of a range of texts:• Narrative• Recount• Exposition• Free choice (e.g. dramatic monologue; description).

Teachers will provide a range of opportunities for texts to be produced, but two must be done as supervised tasks. To allow for different aptitudes, however, all but the recount will be initially produced as supervised tasks. Then students will have the opportunity to develop their weakest text out of those three supervised tasks as a redrafted and polished piece.

Application

The applications give students the opportunity to choose one aspect of language and communication and to spend time putting into practice strategies that will allow them to demonstrate their understanding of what they have observed. They will be drawing on knowledge, skills, strategies, and understanding gained through their studies in order to demonstrate their ability to use language for particular purposes.

Each Application Study involves:• Research into a form of communication• Development & completion of a product• Reflection (written or oral) on the process

Application

Students may, in consultation with their teacher, use multimedia presentations for written and oral assessment tasks. In such cases, students must acknowledge the source of, and obtain clearance for, any material they import, to avoid infringing copyright provisions.

Application

Eight Application Study options:1.1. Film-makingFilm-making2.2. InteractingInteracting3.3. Investigating Investigating 4.4. LanguageLanguage5.5. Multimedia web authoringMultimedia web authoring6.6. Oral languageOral language7.7. Workplace writing Workplace writing 8.8. Writing for publicationWriting for publication