English

This year, a new curriculum was introduced for Years 7 to 11 at Arndell. This curriculum was designed to meet the needs of students on the basis of academic rigour, gender and appreciation of Australian and world literature. All year levels are introduced to study in the fields of poetry, film, drama script, novel and media.

Courses of study for 2009-2010 (major textual study)

Year 7 Theme – Historical Perspectives Novel:

Pankration by Dyan Blacklock (includes a look at Greek myths and legends)

Poetry:

Introduction to poetry styles

Australian City vs Country Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson and works by Aboriginal authors

Drama:

Oliver Twist – an adaptation by Nigel Bryant

Media:

Printed media – focus on newspapers

(combines with the drama study – students will produce a newspaper front page from their reading of Oliver Twist)

Workplace and Everyday Texts

Language of the everyday – Advertising

Novel/Non-fiction:

The Crusades/Islam - Historical readings preparing students for 2nd novel.

Pagan’s Crusade by Catherine Jinks

Film:

The Princess Bride and Picture Books (link picture books on changing stereotypes with ideas from the film)

Year 8 Theme – Exploring the imagination

Novel:

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

This novel is excellent preparation for Shakespeare.

Drama:

Flowers for algernon by Daniel Keyes

Poetry

The poetry of Nature

Film/Cultural Study

Anime – the Japanese animated film

Novel:

Godhanger by Dick King-Smith

Non-Fiction/Media/Everyday texts:

Exploration - Students to research a voyage of discovery (links to study of The Dish)

Film: The Dish

Media: Television

Year 9 Theme – Relationships

Novel (and Picture Books):

Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck

Film:

Rain Man

Drama:

Romeo and Juliet

Media:

Radio

Link to Romeo and Juliet and create a radio play of a soap based on a scene from R&J

Poetry/Cultural Study:

Indigenous and Immigrants

Novel:

The Gathering by Isobelle Carmody

Multi-media/Non-fiction:

The Electronic Media Includes looking at websites and analyzing their components

Year 10 Theme – Social issues

Novel/Cultural study:

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Drama:

Henry V by Shakespeare

Film:

The Truman Show

Non-fiction:

The speeches of John F. Kennedy/Martin Luther King

Includes listening to speeches

Poetry:

The poetry of protest

Includes Aboriginal poetry

Novel:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Media:

The power of the documentary

Year 11 Texts

Area of Study incorporating Drama and related texts:

Othello

Novel :

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Film/Nonfiction:

Schindler’s List/The Holocaust

Poetry:

Poetry of Marvell, Hopkins, Dickinson et. al

Language/Media (Australian short stories):

Creative Writing

At Arndell, all students in year 11 will complete the Advanced English course and will be offered the choice of studying Standard or Advanced English in Year 12 based on an informed decision after they have examined their results.

The H.S.C. course of study for Year 12 is in the process of being updated, as new texts have been introduced by the Board of Studies for 2009. When the selection of texts has been decided upon, the list will be posted on this website.

Excursions

Where possible, the English department will conduct worthwhile excursions to enhance study in the classroom. However, these excursions are usually in addition to the general school fees. In 2009, year 11 students will visit the Sydney Jewish Museum and year 12 will attend a performance of The Crucible, as well as attending HSC seminars. This year, students in Year 10 will be attending a performance of Wicked. Year 7 has an ancient Greece cultural day to tie in with the novel Pankration.

Photocopying

A fee of $15 per student per year will be charged to cover the large amount of photocopying required by the department. Students are no longer required to purchase language books and thus each family is actually saving money.

Who are the teachers?

Currently, the English department consists of the following teachers:

Miss Jacqueline Doman – Head of Department

Mrs. Sandra Daly

Mrs. Sarah Robinson

Mrs. Pip Hurd

Mr. Frank O’Brien

Mrs. Donna Allen

Assistance with learning support is given through Mrs. Allen and Ms. Maddison .

Last Update: 19/08/2009 2:14:49 PM by Jacqueline Doman | Page Responsibility: Jacqueline Doman
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