Scotch College

Year 8: ENGLISH — 2009

Rationale

Teachers seek to encourage the development of competence in reading, writing, speaking and listening; and to enhance the enjoyment and appreciation of literature through the study of various set texts. This subject requires practice in a range of objective skills and processes that require active participation, expression of ideas and opinions, evaluation and thinking.

Course Content

The Year 8 English course is organised in five parts.

1. Set Text Study

There are (including the teacher choice of text in second semester) four core texts set for close study.

2. Wider Reading

Special attention is paid to this part of the course with regular class time given to read a variety of authors, styles and genres. Students will also participate in the Literature Circle program.

3. Language Work

A range of work is prescribed to consolidate and build upon grammar covered at Year 7 level. Parts of speech are revised and phrasal and clausal analysis taught.

4. Creative Writing

Students are encouraged to write in a wide variety of styles and on a wide variety of subjects.

5. Listening and Speaking

Students are expected to take part in a wide variety of listening and speaking activities. Special attention is paid to teaching debating skills.

Semester One  

Class Texts: Splinters Class Texts: The Machine Gunners

English Links Two Teacher Choice of Texts

Go Grammar (1 and 2) English Links Two

Go Grammar (1 and 2)

Language work Creative Writing Folio

Poetry Comprehension and Analysis Debating

The Paragraph Language Work

Creative Writing Wider Reading

Wider Reading The Essay

Assessment

Semester One		Semester Two
1.	Common Task	1.	Examination
2.	Listening and Speaking	2.	Creative Writing
3.	Analytical Writing	3.	Analytical Writing
4.	Creative Writing	4.	Listening and Speaking