What English Course Should I Choose?

The Courses – 2 Units

The following three courses fulfill your HSC English requirements:

• Advanced English • Standard English • English Studies (Non Atar)

Things you need to know...

English is compulsory for the HSC Advanced, Standard and Extension English involve completing external HSC exams at the end of the course If you elect to receive an ATAR to get into university, in addition to your HSC, then your English result will automatically be counted, regardless of your mark If you do NOT wish to receive an ATAR, because you do not want to go to university when you finish year 12, you have the option of completing English Studies, which does NOT include an external exam There is no easy option in English All courses require regular homework and independent research All courses require the assessment of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and representing

English Advanced

• This course is for “students to become critical and sophisticated users of English in order to enhance their personal, social and vocational lives. These courses provide students who have a particular interest and ability in the subject with challenging learning experiences and opportunities to enjoy the breadth and variety of English texts…”

What does it involve? • You do the Area of Study, which is the same exam for

Standard English. Then you do another exam focusing on THREE Modules (A, B and C) which are specific to the Advanced English syllabus.

• Mod A: you compare 2 texts • Mod B: you study 1 text in detail and critically, focusing

on your own interpretation • Mod C: you study how representation affects meaning • In total, you study 5 prescribed texts including ( 1 for

AOS, 2 for Mod A, 1 for Mod B, 1 for Mod C). You need related texts for AOS and Mod C.

• You must study a Shakespeare text in both Yr 11 & 12.

Why do it?

• You enjoy English – reading, writing, interpreting texts

• You achieved mainly As and Bs in your assessments in Yr 9 and 10.

• You enjoy being challenged and are self motivated

• You want to do Extension 1 • You want to focus on English related degrees at

university

English Standard

• This course is for “students to become proficient in English to enhance their personal, social and vocational lives. These courses provide students with the opportunity to become confident and effective communicators and to enjoy the breadth and variety of English texts.”

What does it involve? • You do the Area of Study, which is the same exam for

Advanced English. Then you do another exam focusing on THREE Modules (A, B and C) which are specific to the Standard English syllabus.

• Mod A: you study how composers create unique voices or visions in their texts

• Mod B: you study 1 text in detail, focusing on its unique features

• Mod C: you study texts in relation to a particular topic (similar to the AOS)

• In total, you study 4 prescribed texts ( 1 for AOS, 1 for Mod A, 1 for Mod B, 1 for Mod C). You need related texts for AOS, Mod A and Mod C.

Why do it?

• You are okay at English but don’t necessarily enjoy the subject

• You mainly got results in the C range in 7 - 10 • You have some trouble with essays, spelling

and sentence construction • You are planning to go to university after

school but are not going to apply for English based degrees

English Studies

• English Studies is designed to support students in developing proficiency in English to enhance their personal, social and vocational lives. It offers a comprehensive language experience that is reflected in the modes of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and representing.

• It is a Non-Atar course suitable for students who wish to move into TAFE and the workforce rather than head off to university immediately after school.

What does it involve?

• One compulsory module in both Yr 11 and 12 • In Yr 11 the compulsory module is Achieving

through English – English and the worlds of education, careers and community. The focus is on developing English skills for the workforce.

• 2- 4 Elective Modules per year. These involve a range of different topics including: The Media, Film, The Web, Travel, Drama and Sport.

Why do it?

• You struggled with English in Yrs 7 – 10 • Your results were mainly in the D range or lower • You want to head to TAFE and work after school • You do not want to go straight to university after

Yr 12 • You are keen to improve your basic English skills • You are not interested in close analysis of texts

and being tested through writing essays.

Should I do English Studies? I am very good at other subjects, but I would not put English in

my top 3 subjects in year 10. I understand that students who complete English Studies DO

NOT obtain an ATAR and I am not considering the possibility of going to university.

I understand that English Studies is NOT an easy course, or a class for low ability students.

I have vocational aspirations – I know what I want to do when I leave school and it does not involve going to university.

I understand that English Studies results are calculated on my assessment marks throughout the course, not on an external exam.

Should I do Standard English? I have performed satisfactorily in Year 10 English I am not that keen on Shakespeare, I prefer more

modern texts I need assistance in developing my extended writing I need 2 units of English for university study I know that speaking tasks are compulsory in senior

English I am prepared for homework and independent study

Should I do Advanced English? I love English My Year 10 English teacher believes that I can cope with the demands of

this course Shakespeare is compulsory! Yippee! I am a skilled writer who is willing to devote time to develop this skill

further I am a confident speaker who enjoys the challenges of public speaking I like to think critically and express my individual ideas I am a keen reader, read widely across genres and enjoy the classics I am motivated and organised and understand I am going to have to

complete homework and independent research I am considering studying English type subjects at university I would like to do Extension 1 and/or Extension 2

What does the data tell us? In some schools there is considered to be a lot of prestige in choosing

Advanced English. People will tell you that Advanced is where the ‘good’ students go. They will tell you that Advanced will get you a better ATAR. They will tell you that the UAC guide includes pre-requisites so you have to do

Advanced if the guide tells you to. This isn’t true. Universities don’t know what you studied – they only know your ATAR – you

get the best ATAR by being the best in your course, no matter what course it is. The moral of this story is… choose the English course that sounds right for you based on the questions on the sheet you are given by us, the English teachers, who are the experts on this. If you get confused by what other people tell you, ask an English teacher.

Any Questions?

• Talk to your English Teacher • Talk to Mrs. Clarke • Check with Mr Blakemore on what level of

English you will need for your degree, TAFE course etc

• Talk to students who are currently studying the various English courses in Yr 11 and 12