Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 9 English
This course challenges Year 9 students to explore how language shapes identity and influences social change. Students engage with diverse texts ranging from Shakespearean drama to contemporary digital media to develop sophisticated analytical and creative writing skills.
The Power of Persuasion
Students analyze rhetorical devices in speeches and advertisements to understand how authors manipulate emotion and logic to influence audiences.
An introduction to ethos, pathos, and logos within famous historical speeches.
Deconstructing visual and linguistic techniques used in modern marketing campaigns.
Students apply persuasive techniques to create and deliver their own campaign for a social cause.
Shattering the Glass Mirror
A deep dive into speculative fiction and dystopian literature to examine how writers use 'what if' scenarios to critique modern society.
Analyzing how authors use sensory imagery and setting to establish a dystopian mood.
Exploring the role of the rebel or misfit in speculative narratives.
Identifying and interpreting the deeper meanings behind recurring motifs in speculative texts.
Shakespearean Echoes
Connecting the themes of power and betrayal in Shakespeare's plays to contemporary contexts and adaptations.
Decoding iambic pentameter and the function of puns and metaphors in dramatic dialogue.
Analyzing the psychological depth of tragic heroes and villains.
Evaluating how modern film and literature adapt Shakespearean themes for new audiences.
The Digital Citizen
Developing critical literacy skills to navigate and analyze the complex landscape of digital news and online media.
Investigating how word choice and framing influence the reporting of current events.
Exploring how algorithms and social media platforms shape our understanding of the truth.
Crafting long form investigative articles that explore complex social issues.
Indigenous Voices and Perspectives
Exploring the rich storytelling traditions and contemporary literature of First Nations peoples in Australia.
Understanding the significance of oral storytelling and its connection to Country.
Analyzing how Indigenous poets use verse to express resilience and demand justice.
Examining contemporary fiction and memoir written by First Nations authors.
The Craft of the Short Story
Students master the elements of fiction to produce an original short story that experiments with voice and structure.
Studying how an author's choice of perspective can mislead or intrigue the reader.
Practicing the art of saying more with fewer words through flash fiction exercises.
Learning to edit for flow, precision, and impact through peer feedback and self reflection.