English
“The study of English is central to the learning and development of all young Australians. It helps create confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens. It is through the study of English that individuals learn to analyse, understand, communicate with and build relationships with others and with the world around them. The study of English helps young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. It helps them become ethical, thoughtful, informed and active members of society. In this light it is clear that the Australian Curriculum: English plays an important part in developing the understanding, attitudes and capabilities of those who will take responsibility for Australia’s future.” (School Curriculum and Standards Authority, 2014)
With the Australian Curriculum rationale as its guiding structure, the Year 9 English programme at Scotch College Senior School embraces the three main strands of study through engagement with Language, Literature and Literacy. During three terms, students will study a unit devoted to the verbal and visual language of persuasion, a unit on Shakespeare, and a unit of analysis and creative responses to poetry and short stories from a range of international and Australian writers, past and present. Written and oral assessments are conducted twice termly with Summer Term focused on preparation for the NAPLAN testing in May. This external testing requires written narrative or persuasive responses to prompts in addition to the range of Reading and Language Conventions papers.
At the core of all study units and related assessments are the Approaches to Learning, which nurture the key trans-disciplinary skills required for intellectual growth. The Year 9 English course explicitly teaches, assesses and reports on student acquisition of Thinking, Research and Communication.