Marking the ESL HSC Area of Study - Paper 1 Section 2

Report and Strategies

The syllabus - Area of study ‘Belonging’

The Area of Study requires students to explore the ways in which the concept of belonging is considered and expressed in and through texts. Through close language study, and by experimenting with different language choices, students will examine how perceptions of belonging, or not belonging, vary.

Key concepts include (but are not limited to…)

How perceptions of belonging are shaped within different contexts

How a sense of belonging can emerge from connections made with people, places, groups, communities

How experiences and notions of identity, relationships, acceptance and understanding affect belonging

How choices not to belong, or barriers prevent belonging

The choices for Prescribed texts:

Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

The China Coin by Allan Baillie

Unpolished Gem by Alice Pung

Swallow the Air by Tara Winch

Billy Elliot by Stephen Daldry

Rabbit Proof Fence by Phillip Noyce

Immigrant Chronicle by Peter Skrzynecki

Poems by Emily Dickinson

And drama …

Rainbows End by Jane HarrisonEducating Rita by Willy Russell

General Comments

Black pen is easier to read when scanned

Numbered pages helps to easily establish sequence of the response

Many students only used one book (3 pages) however better responses were at least 2 books long – students need to be told to ask for more paper!

The marking guidelines

In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:

Demonstrate understanding of the ways language shapes and expresses perceptions

Organize, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose and context.

The questionYou have been asked to give a speech to

your class on the following topic:‘Acceptance and understanding are

necessary for a sense of belonging.’Write the script of your speech.In your speech, refer to your TWO

prescribed texts and ONE text of your own choosing.

The marking The marking criteriacriteria

The marking criteria

1. Highly effective response fully addresses question and demonstrates insightful understanding of belonging

2. Comprehensive knowledge of texts and highly developed skills in interpretation

3. Incisive understanding of the ways in which ideas are communicated

4. Skilful use of language forms and features and highly effective synthesis of ideas and information

5. Skilful and efficient use of language with sustained control of expression

Criterion 1 - ‘an Effective response’

Strong emphasis on answering the question as a key criterion

‘Speech’ text type NOT vital‘insightful ideas’ required student to have a

sophisticated thesis about belonging that connects texts PLUS detailed analysis of other ideas about belonging

‘effective’ means consistently addressing question and writing about ideas of belonging

Criterion 2 - knowledge /interpretation of texts

Students need to show detailed knowledge of [ideas of belonging in] ALL 3 texts

For poetry, 2 poems necessaryDetailed descriptions of events / situations in

texts with explanation of how they demonstrate ideas about understanding being necessary for belonging

At least 3 quotes from each text

Criterion 3 - ‘the ways’Analysis of language forms and features is

mandatory - even if the question doesn’t appear to ask for it

Analysis of techniques must be directed to how they convey ideas about acceptance and understanding

Poetry analysis seems to invite greater analysis of techniques than analysis of prose fiction texts

and…

For prose fiction characterisation, setting, narrative structure and symbolism are ‘ways’

For plays, students must analyse stage directions as well as dialogue etc

There is a hierarchy of language forms - figurative devices, metonymy, pathetic fallacy will promote more incisive ideas about belonging

Criteria 4 – skilful use of language forms

There are 2 main ways students use to structure their responses…

Easy..

IntroductionPrescribed Text 1Prescribed Text 2Related TextConclusion

and harder - the ‘thematic’ way…IntroductionTheme 1 – Acceptance is necessary for the

development of belonging Prescribed Text 1 and / or Prescribed Text 2 and /or Related TextTheme 2 – Understanding is necessary for the

development of belonging Prescribed Text 1 and / or Prescribed Text 2 and /or Related TextConclusion

Criterion 4 (cont.)

The more sophisticated responses used the second, thematic way of structuring – it promoted greater opportunities for synthesis

Speech form not essential this time‘A’ range texts characterised by sustained

integration of ideas that did not need linking words like ‘similarly’ or ‘on the other hand’

‘B’ range ‘effective synthesis’ could be achieved by connectives at beginning of body paragraphs linking discussion of texts

Criteria 5 – use of language

‘Efficient’ means no waffling. ‘Concision’ is valued! ‘A’ range scripts use highly sophisticated formal

language, complex sentence structure and read like they were written by a native speaker. They also use idioms in a ‘literary’ way.

‘B’ range scripts use sustained sophisticated formal language with a few ‘ESL’ type mistakes

‘C’ range scripts have quite a few grammatical and other errors, but these do not interfere with meaning, register may vary.

‘D’ range – as for ‘C’ but meaning is sometimes compromised

Any Questions?Any Questions?