Purpose and Objective:

The Introduction to English Language and Literature elective for Year 9/10 students is designed to provide students with an engaging and preparatory experience of the key concepts, knowledge, and skills found in the VCE English Language and Literature subjects. The primary objective of the course is to bridge the gap between mainstream, Middle Years English and the more specialised senior pathways, allowing students to make informed subject choices while developing advanced grammatical, critical and analytical abilities.

This elective introduces students to the study of English from both linguistic and literary perspectives. From the English Language strand, students explore how language functions in society, how it evolves, and how it reflects identity, power, and culture. From the Literature strand, students engage deeply with a range of texts, examining how authors craft meaning, style, and perspective through literary techniques.

By combining elements of both VCE subjects, this elective course encourages students to appreciate the richness of language and literature, fostering a deeper understanding of how language shapes thought and experience. Ultimately, this elective aims to ignite a passion for English while equipping students with the foundational tools they need to succeed in senior studies, whether they pursue English Language, Literature, or mainstream VCE English.

Key Knowledge and Course Content:

· Introductory linguistic frameworks (lexicology, semantics, discourse)

· Introduction to literary analysis (theme, structure, style, context and literary theory)

· Analytical and comparative writing skills

· Speaking and listening through discussion and presentation

Key Skills and Assessment Framework:

· Expressing knowledge through addressing short-answer questions

· Constructing language analysis through the analytical commentary format

· Writing text analysis essays that are responsive to both provocations and passages.

· Expressing knowledge from oral commentaries that are both expository and analytical

Sequence of Learning:

Term 1/3:

Weeks 1–3 – Foundations of language: metalanguage, terminology, and variation

Weeks 4–6 – Introduction to sub-systems

Weeks 7–9 – Introduction to theory: linguistic and literary.

Weeks 10– – Student choice Assessment: analytical literary response to a passage/poem or a analytical commentary on an opinion piece.

Term 2/4:

Weeks 1 -3 - Language in the Public Discourse – Formality and Informality

Weeks 4- 6 - Language, Power and Identity

Week 5- 6 - Voice and Perspective in women’s writing.

Week 7 - 9 – Linguistic and Literary Women’s Voices in Theory

Week 10 – Student Choice: Oral Presentation on either a linguistic or literary theoretical intervention made in the 20^th and/or 21st centuries