Scotch College

ENGLISH Year 7

Rationale

Teachers seek to encourage the development of competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking; 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

Wide Reading English lesson time will be given to this activity. Students may choose books from home or from the School library. They will be expected to read books by different authors and in different styles and to complete a range of written and oral activities relating to their reading.

Literature Study Students will read, discuss and complete written work on the core and teacher choice class texts. Additional literature study will include poetry and short stories. Other activities will incorporate written and oral responses such as dramatisation.

Reading and Students will be expected to develop their skills in reading closely different kinds of Comprehension writing and making sense of what they read.

Writing Skills Students will be expected to write in a variety of forms and styles, while developing specific writing tools such as punctuation, paragraphing, direct speech and accurate spelling.

Listening  and Students will be expected to follow and to contribute to a discussion; prepare and Speaking Skills deliver individual presentations; listen attentively and politely to other people; express their opinion while showing respect for other points of view and participate in group discussions.

The core texts English Links One and Successful English 1, the folder dictionary, the folder thesaurus and supplementary material will form the basis of vocabulary, spelling, grammar and other language skill development.

Assessment

Student class work in all areas of the course will be assessed by letter grade and written comment. Regular tests in spelling, vocabulary and grammar are given. A one hour test consisting of comprehension and short writing tasks will be undertaken at the end of Semester Two. The formal report criteria are as follows:

Semester One Semester Two

1. Language Skills 1. Test

2. Listening and Speaking 2. Listening and Speaking

3. Reading 3. Reading

4. Writing 4. Writing