Unit 1 – English as an Additional Language

In this unit, students read and respond to texts analytically and creatively. They analyse arguments and the use of persuasive language in texts and create their own texts intended to position audiences.

Areas of Study

• Reading and creating texts: In this area of study students explore how meaning is created in a text. Students identify, discuss and analyse decisions authors have made. They explore how authors use structures, conventions and language to represent characters, settings, events, explore themes and build the world of a text for the reader. Students investigate how the meaning of a text is affected by the contexts in which is is created and read.
• Analysing and presenting argument: in this area of study, students focus on the analysis and construction of texts that attempt to influence an audience. Students read a range of texts that attempt to position audiences in a variety of ways. They explore the use of language for persuasive effect and the structure and presentation of argument. They consider different types of persuasive language, including written, spoken, and visual, and combinations of these, and how language is used to position the reader.

There are two outcomes:

• Produce analytical and creative responses to texts
• Analyse how argument and persuasive language can be used to position audiences, and create their own texts intended to position audiences.

Unit 2: English as an Additional Language

In this unit students compare the presentation of ideas, issues and themes in texts. They analyse arguments presented and the use of persuasive language in texts and create their own texts intended to position audiences.

Areas of Study

• Reading and comparing texts: In this area of study students explore how comparing texts can provide a deeper understanding of ideas, issues and themes. They investigate how the reader’s understanding of one text is broadened and deepened when considered in relation to another text. Students explore how features of texts, including structures, conventions and language convey ideas, issues and themes that reflect and explore the world and human experiences, including historical and social contexts. Students practise their listening and speaking skills through discussion, developing their ideas and thinking in relation to the texts studied.
• Analysing and presenting argument: In this area of study students build on their understanding of argument and the use of persuasive language in texts that attempt to influence an audience. Students consider a range of texts where the primary purpose is to convince an audience to share a point of view. They develop an understanding of how texts are constructed for specific persuasive effects by identifying and discussing the impact of argument and persuasive language used to influence an audience.

Outcomes

• On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and analyse how argument and persuasive language are used in text/s that attempt to influence an audience, and create a text which presents a point of view.

• On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare the presentation of ideas, issues and themes in two texts.

Unit 3: English as an Additional Language

Area of Study

• Reading and creating texts: In this area of study students identify, discuss and analyse how the features of selected texts create meaning and how they influence interpretation. In identifying and analysing explicit and implied ideas and values in texts, students examine the ways in which readers are invited to respond to texts. They develop and justify their own detailed interpretations of texts.

• Analysing argument: In this area of study students analyse and compare the use of argument and language in texts that debate a topical issue. The texts must have appeared in the media since 1 September of the previous year. Students read and view media texts in a variety of forms, including print, non-print and multimodal, and develop their understanding of the way in which language and argument complement one another in positioning the reader.
• Listening to texts: In this area of study students develop and refine their listening skills. They listen to a range of spoken texts and use active listening strategies to understand information, ideas and opinions presented in texts. Listening skills are developed in the context of Areas of Study 1 and 2 and specific speaking and listening activities. Students develop skills to understand spoken texts on a literal and inferential level, demonstrating an understanding of how spoken texts construct meaning for a variety of listeners. This understanding includes the relationship between the speaker/s and their audience, the purpose of the spoken text and the speaker’s views and attitudes and how these affect the structure and language of the spoken text.

Outcomes

• On completion of this unit the student should be able to produce an analytical interpretation of a selected text, and a creative response to a different selected text.
• On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and compare the use of argument and persuasive language in texts that present a point of view on an issue currently debated in the media.
• On completion of this unit the student should be able to comprehend a spoken text.

Unit 4: English as an Additional Language

In this unit students compare the presentation of ideas, issues and themes in texts.

Areas of Study

• Reading and comparing texts: In this area of study students explore the meaningful connections between two texts. They analyse texts, including the interplay between character and setting, voice and structure, and how ideas, issues and themes are conveyed. By comparing the texts, they gain a deeper understanding of the ideas, issues and themes that reflect the world and human experiences.

• Presenting argument: In this area of study students build their understanding of both the analysis and construction of texts that attempt to influence audiences. They use their knowledge of argument and persuasive language as a basis for the development of their own persuasive texts in relation to a topical issue that has appeared in the media since 1 September of the previous year.

Outcomes

• On completion of this unit the student should be able to produce a detailed comparison which analyses how two selected texts present ideas, issues and themes.
• On completion of this unit the student should be able to construct a sustained and reasoned point of view on an issue currently debated in the media.