Level 3 English
13ENG Course DescriptionTeacher in Charge: Ms B. Murphy.
Recommended Prior LearningStudents must have University Entrance literacy requirements to do this course.
This course is a full NCEA examination course. There are four internal achievement standards covering writing, research, a comparison of films by the same director and a seminar presentation. Of the examination standards, two are text-based and one is close reading.
This course is largely literature-based but will focus strongly on skills needed for tertiary education. These include formatting of academic essays, and how to use secondary sources. One of the internal achievement standards prepares students for an important skill for tertiary education and careers: how to present a dynamic seminar. Students will also learn about some of the great thinkers and the philosophies they have developed. This will lead to a critical lens research essay in which students will apply such theories to texts of their choice.
Course Overview
Term 1
The first part of the term will involve the introduction of several texts. These texts will serve two purposes. First, they will provide some of the texts for a significant connects achievement standard (Achievement Standard 91478). In addition, they will provide texts onto which students can apply literary theories in Term Two.
The second half of the term will introduce an extended text. This will be the text used in the external examination when responding to written text (Achievement Standard 91472). It is likely to be `One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' one of the great novels of the twentieth century.
Term 2
This term will be largely devoted to studying film. There will be two versions of `Macbeth.' The first, directed by Roman Polanski, is fascinating because the director's life was deeply traumatic and this affected the way he adapted Shakespeare's play. In addition, we will also examine Polanski's own flawed character and debate the impact of this on the value of his films. The Justin Kurzel version takes a very different approach to `Macbeth' and we will be comparing their visions of human nature. These films will be the basis for your response to visual text (Achievement Standard 91473)
Term 3
The first part of the term will involve an achievement standard which looks at different critical theories. Here, you will learn about Marxist theory, psychoanalytic theory and feminism. Once we have established this understanding, you will choose one of these theories to apply to a text of your choice (Achievement Standard 91479).
The latter part of the term introduces the seminar task. You will deliver a short seminar in which you teach the class about a topic of interest to you. This usually does not involve a text studied in this course. The seminar differs from a speech because, in the seminar, you will use a range of teaching strategies and involve the audience.
Term 4
We will complete the seminar presentations and then spend the rest of the term revising for the external examination.
Assessment Policy & Procedures Career Pathways
Barrister, Legal Executive, Solicitor, Early Childhood Teacher, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Primary School Teacher, Tertiary Lecturer, Secondary School Teacher, Teacher Aide, Advertising Specialist, Sales and Marketing Manager, Marketing Specialist, Copywriter, Author, Journalist, Communications Professional, Technical Writer, Editor
Equipment/Stationery2B8 or refill
Access to your own laptop will be useful.