© Jonathan Scobie 2009 The Year Twelve English Communications Course We’re on a road to somewhere…

Understanding Communication Understanding Communication AUDIENCE AUDIENCE Making language choices to suit a particular audience Making language choices to suit a particular audience CONTEXT CONTEXT Shaping conventions of language, style and format to suit a context Shaping conventions of language, style and format to suit a context PURPOSE PURPOSE Crafting language to achieve a particular purpose Crafting language to achieve a particular purpose

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

Text Study  To achieve the learning outcomes for this study, students must demonstrate understanding of the structure and language of particular textual forms and identify the values, attitudes, and beliefs conveyed by these forms. The capacity and willingness of students to read critically and purposefully are highly valued.  The texts are to be chosen from three of the following four text types: An extended prose, verse, or electronic text (e.g. a novel; a graphic novel; a collection of short stories; a biography or other non-fiction prose text).An extended prose, verse, or electronic text (e.g. a novel; a graphic novel; a collection of short stories; a biography or other non-fiction prose text). A selection of poems (e.g. poet study, anthology, theme study, song lyrics).A selection of poems (e.g. poet study, anthology, theme 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.Film-making 2.Interacting 3.Investigating 4.Language 5.Multimedia web authoring 6.Oral language 7.Workplace writing 8.Writing for publication