VCE English Units 3 & 4Requirements and expectations 2012

Welcome to Year 12 EnglishTwo goals for the year:Class average study score of 30 or above

Your personal study score (aim for as high as possible. Good English students should be aiming at above 40).

Materials neededAll texts and Insight textbook Study guides (recommended)A4 ring folder with 5 dividersPlastic pockets/hole-punch for

handoutsDictionary and Thesaurus

(recommended)Black and blue pens (no pink, aqua,

purple, green, bright red, yellow, orange and no grey lead pencils for essays!)

Area of Study 1:Reading and responding

‘Twelve Angry Men’ by Reginald Rose (play)

‘Year of Wonders’ by Geraldine Brooks (novel)

Area of Study 2:Creating and PresentingContext: Exploring issues of identity

and belonging

‘Growing up Asian in Australia’ edited by Alice Pung (short stories)

‘Skin’ directed by Anthony Fabian (film)

Area of Study 3:Using Language to PersuadeA study of various current issues in

the Australian media.

Part A: Language analysisPart B: Point of view (oral

presentation)

Assessment50% of your final study score is

derived from school assessed coursework (SACs) completed throughout the year.

The other 50% of your final study score is derived from the end of year examination (duration 3 hours)

School assessed courseworkUnit 3:Language Analysis 20%Oral presentation 20%Reading &Responding ‘Twelve Angry Men’

30%Creating & Presenting ‘GUAIA’ 30%Unit 4Creating &Presenting ‘Skin’ 50%Reading & Responding ‘Year of Wonders’

50%

ExaminationOne examination in the November exam

periodThree hours in duration (plus 15 mins

reading time)Three pieces of writing required, one on each

of the three areas of studyNo prescribed word limit for writing pieces

however high achieving pieces are normally 800 words or longer

Verification testsAll Year 12 VCE subjects require verification tests

in Week 1. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that all students are keeping up with required homework. (The year goes very quickly in Year 12 and anyone who falls behind will struggle.)

For the English verification test you will need to demonstrate that you have read all texts. You will need to show a close and insightful understanding of each text. (The test is based on short comprehension responses, not analysis.)

You will be tested on all three print texts.

Growing Up Asian in Australia It is recommended that you read the whole book,

however we shall be focusing on and testing the following short stories:

- ‘The Relative Advantages of Learning My Language’- ‘Sticks and Stones and Such-like’- ‘The Water Buffalo’- ‘Exotic Rissole’- ‘Destiny’- ‘Towards Manhood’- ‘Five Ways to Disappoint Your Vietnamese Mother’- ‘Beat of a Different Drum’

What to do over summer…Read all texts in preparation for verification testsPay close attention to the media and collect

resources for issues, including newspaper articles, online references, or anything else you can find (you will need a minimum of two resources to quote in your presentation)

Pre-read sections of your Insight textbook to start the year with an advantage (We will be beginning with Area of Study 3: Using Language to Persuade)

Join our class wiki and communicate with teachers and class mates over summer. There is no need to work in isolation.