1. Reading and Studying Australian Media Texts Tasks: Analyse the use of language in texts that present a point of view on an issue currently debated in the Australian media Construct a sustained and reasoned point of view on the selected issue Study design

2. Analysis of language use Skills involved in this task are relevant to the ability to read sensitively and critically Should take into consideration: The origins of the text The audience for whom material was intended The verbal, written, non-verbal and visual techniques used to communicate with an audience Key features of the language used, for example tone, word choice, structure and sequence

3. More…. Ability to use strategies and metalanguage for identifying, analysing and comparing the use of verbal and non-verbal (including visual) language designed to position readers in particular ways Ability to use the conventions of spelling, punctuation and syntax of Standard Australian English

4. Outcome 1. A written analysis of the use of language in the presentation of an issue in three or more texts drawn from print and/or non- print Australian media sources since September 2006 A point of view on the issue. You will need to provide a bibliography for this

5. Assessment School Assessed Coursework for Unit 3 will contribute 25 per cent to the study score The analysis (20%) and point of view essay (20%) contribute 40% towards that Text Response (30%and Oral presentation (30%) make up the rest

6. And the topic is! Should Australia use recycled water for human consumption? Start collecting now any articles you see on this issue. The 3 articles for the language analysis will be selected by your English teachers but you will need background information for your point of view essay.

7. Planning Make sure you have a good understanding of your issue. This will involve background research. Read some examples of good analytical and persuasive essays. Your teacher will show you some and you can find them on the internet and the VCAA site and in study books such as A+, Excel, Checkpoints, VCE Insight guides. (Try libraries and newsagents)

8. And… Practise looking for persuasive techniques in daily newspapers. After a while certain things will become obvious. Look for tone, main contention, bias, visual impact, word choices, evidence such as statistics and experts Identify and understand the different kinds of articles in newspapers. Where are the straight news articles? The opinion pieces? Letters? Cartoons? Editorials? Who are the regular writers for The Age, The Herald-Sun, The Australian? What slant do the journalists and the newspapers have? Who are their audiences? Who are they appealing to?