English is the only Compulsory course in the HSC however this PowerPoint will help you make a decision on which course is best suited to you. See your English teacher for advice.

1. English Why Do I Have to Study English? English is a mandatory subject in years 11 and 12, but aside from that, there are a couple of important reasons why you should study English. It is our national language and it is increasingly becoming the language of international communication. Studying English also enables you to become a more confident and articulate communicator, an imaginative and critical thinker and a more active participant in society. You will learn how different writers, poets, filmmakers, lyricists, artists and web designers manipulate language to convey meaning. In real terms, you’ll be able to watch a film and really understand why you like it or not, you’ll be able to listen to a politician come election time and pick through their arguments or you’ll be able to listen to the news and question or accept a journalist’s bias or objectivity.

2. English Courses Preliminary (Year 11) Fundamentals of English English Studies English as a Second Language Standard English Advanced English Extension 1 HSC (Year 12) English Studies English as a Second Language Standard English Advanced English Extension 1 Extension 2

3. Which Course is Right For Me? This depends on your ability and skill in the subject. It also depends on what you want to do when you finish school. If you are unsure, for example, but know that you want to complete a course at university, Standard or Advanced English would be the course for you. If you know that you will go to TAFE and therefore do not need an ATAR, then English Studies might be more suited to your needs. Of course, if you are unsure, your English teacher is probably best placed to help you understand which course is better suited to your level of ability and needs.

4. Preliminary English Courses

5. Fundamentals of English This course is designed for students who need additional help with the Standard or ESL courses. This course is ideal for those students wanting to go on to TAFE or into immediate employment following completion of year 12. You will gain a better understanding of the forms, features, structures and functions of language through the study of: Module A: Approaches to Areas of Study in English - Change Module B: Writing for Study – forms of writing Module C: Oral Communication

6. Preliminary English Studies This course is designed for students seeking an alternative to the Standard English course. You will still be challenged to be a creative, thoughtful and effective communicator in our world. However, this course is a Board Endorsed course, meaning you will not be eligible for an ATAR when you get your HSC. Courses studied include: Achieving through English: English and the worlds of education, careers and community Digital Worlds – English for the web Discovery and Investigation – English and the sciences Part of the Family – English and family life

7. Preliminary ESL You are eligible for this course if you have been educated overseas. This course compliments the Standard and Advanced English courses. ESL is a Board Developed course and is aimed at developing students’ English language skills, knowledge and understanding, and engagement with literature. You will increase your understanding of the diversity and values of Australian and other cultures. ESL can lead to TAFE or university tertiary study. Courses studied in the preliminary year include: Area of Study: Change - novel Module A: The Language of Poetry - poetry Module B: Australian film – close study of The Black Balloon

8. Preliminary Standard English Standard English will give you the necessary skills to cope with tertiary education. You must check individual tertiary institution guides as to course requirements if you know what you would like to study when you leave school. It is a rigorous course that will challenge your conceptions of the world around you. Courses studied in the preliminary year include: Area of Study: novel + related texts Module A: Different Worlds – film + related texts Module B: Close Study of a Text - drama Module C: My World – poetry + related texts

9. Preliminary Advanced English Advanced English is a challenging course that is designed to help you become a critical and sophisticated user of English. This course is for you if you have a particular interest and ability in this subject. Courses in the preliminary year include: Area of Study: Institutions - poetry Module A: comparative study – novel and film Module B: critical study – drama (Shakespeare) Module C: representation and text - website

10. Preliminary Extension 1 Preliminary Extension 1 is a 1 unit Board Developed course. It is designed for students who would like to pursue a specialised study of English and who are imaginative, accomplished and analytical in their use of English. It is a demanding course that will challenge your ideas about language and texts. Courses in the preliminary year include: Module A: Text, culture and value – gothic literature

11. HSC English Courses

12. HSC English Studies As you progress through to your HSC year, your course work and expectations will become more challenging and build on the skills you have developed in year 11. This course requires the completion of assessment tasks to attain competency and you will not have to sit for an HSC exam. Courses studied in the HSC year include: We are Australians – English in Citizenship, community and cultural identity. Playing the game – English in sport The Big Screen – English in filmmaking On the Road – English for travel.

13. HSC ESL HSC English as a Second Language (ESL) builds upon skills learnt in the preliminary year. The course becomes more challenging as a result. The course structure is similar to that in the preliminary year. You are required to study at least THREE types of prescribed texts and related material. Courses studied in the HSC ESL course include: Area of Study: Belonging – novel + poetry + related material Module A: Australian Voices - film + related material Module B: Living and working in the community

14. HSC Standard English The HSC course will build on skills developed in the preliminary year and will be more challenging in it’s content and the demands expected of students. You will reflect on and demonstrate the effectiveness of texts for different audiences and purposes. You are required to study FOUR types of prescribed texts and related material. Courses studied in the HSC year include: Area of Study: film + related texts Module A: Distinctive Voices – novel + related texts Module B: Close Study of a Text – poetry Module C: Into the World – drama + related texts

15. HSC Advanced English The HSC Advanced English course is rigorous and demanding and builds upon skills and knowledge developed in the preliminary year. You will be assessed on your ability to analyse and evaluate texts, and the ways these texts are valued in their contexts. You are required to study FIVE types of prescribed texts and related material. Courses studied in the HSC year include: Area of Study Module A Module B Module C

16. HSC Extension 1 Extension 1 is a 1 unit course and when completing this course you will explore ideas of value and consider how cultural values and systems of valuation arise. You will complete one elective from one of the modules. This course will further challenge your ideas and skills that you will have developed from the preliminary year. The course studied in the HSC year will be: Module B: Texts and way of thinking – Elective 2 Romanticism

17. HSC Extension 2 In this course you will develop a sustained composition, and document and reflect on this process. Extension 2 requires independent study, though students do work with their teacher and mentor to develop a well crafted and polished piece of work. You will have a year to complete a major work that could be: Short story(ies): 6000 – 8000 word limit, poem(s), critical response, script – radio, film, television or drama, speech(es), radio drama, performance poetry, video/DVD, film or a mulitimedia composition. Students must also submit: A Major Work journal A Reflection statement