10 lessons from English Extension 1 marking

1. 10 lessons from English Extension 1 marking Michael Murray Group Leader, English/Literacy NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre Department of Education and Training

2. Lesson 1Know and understand what the module and the elective are all about • Early in the course, read and analyse the rubrics for both the module and the elective • Keep coming back to the rubrics to ensure you are on track • Notice how previous HSC questions derive from these rubrics • Write practice questions based on these rubrics

3. Lesson 2There is a lot more to this course than just the study of prescribed texts • Texts of own choosing • Literary theory, historical background and context • Imaginative writing • Synthesising • Practice in preparation for the HSC exam

4. Lesson 3Choose ‘other’ texts wisely and give them equal attention to prescribed texts • Must suit the demands of the elective, especially the historical periods in Mod B electives • Should add something new to the discussion • Aim for texts that are appropriate, sophisticated, substantial • Look for variety – different in form and medium to prescribed texts

5. Lesson 4Focus on how meaning is shaped, not just the content of texts • Sometimes problematic in Modules B and C • Consider visual, aural, literary and cinematic techniques as appropriate for the medium of the text • Evaluate and relate to the question, don’t just list examples • Textual references and quotes should be well integrated

6. Lesson 5Develop an understanding of the theory behind the elective being studied • Explore literary theory, historical background and context as appropriate • Provides a framework in which texts can be discussed • Provides the glue between the texts in students’ responses • Should not be a focus in students’ responses but can enhance a response if used appropriately • Particularly important for informing the imaginative response

7. Lesson 6Answer the question • Consider structuring the response to suit the question rather than around the texts • Discuss aspects of the texts that are most relevant to the question • Students cannot perform well if they simply use prepared responses with little regard to the question • Note the trend towards greater specificity in HSC questions • Students must be able to apply their learning in the exam situation

8. Lesson 7Give appropriate attention to imaginative writing • Critical and imaginative are equally important in the exam • Imaginative writing is a pedagogical tool to build understanding • Needs to reflect the profound knowledge and understanding of the elective • Most students write conventional stories – consider non-narrative forms or varying the conventions of narratives in imaginative ways

9. Lesson 8Be original • Plagiarism is penalised • Originality is rewarded, both in critical and imaginative responses • Students should not be afraid to use a more personal tone in critical responses if that is what the question requires – however, more often it is appropriate to adopt a formal, objective and academic tone • A sense of the student’s “ownership” of their work should always be evident

10. Lesson 9Use the resources on the BOS website • Marking guidelines can be used by teachers as models for developing their own marking guidelines • Marking guidelines can be analysed by students to better understand how their work will be assessed. • Students can use marking guidelines to assess own and peer responses • Teachers and students can benefit by reading and taking on board advice in Notes from the Marking Centre • Standards packages, while old, can still inform teachers and students of standards

11. Lesson 10Plan learning experiences to ensure students are prepared for the challenge of Extension 1 • Design a Preliminary Extension course that develops skills and conceptual understandings • Provide a focus for the Preliminary course which is different to that of the HSC course – students need to be refreshed and stimulated for their HSC year • Challenge potential Extension 1 candidates well before they reach Year 11