Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
5th Year Voices and Visions: Advanced Literacy and Expression
This course develops critical literacy through the exploration of complex texts and diverse writing genres. Students refine their ability to analyze authorial intent while mastering the conventions of formal and creative English for various audiences.
The Power of Narrative and Character
Students analyze how authors build immersive worlds and complex characters through descriptive language and structural choices.
Exploring how internal desires and external conflicts drive character growth throughout a story.
Examining how sensory details and figurative language establish the mood of a narrative.
Investigating the impact of first and third-person points of view on the reader's understanding of events.
Persuasion and Public Voice
Focusing on the art of rhetoric and the structural elements of persuasive writing and speaking.
Analyzing how slogans, emotive language, and visual cues influence consumer behavior.
Developing logical sequences in writing to support a specific point of view or call to action.
Practicing oral delivery techniques to engage and move an audience.
Poetry, Rhythm, and Imagery
Exploring the economy of language and the emotional resonance of poetic forms.
Using comparative language to create vivid mental images and deeper meaning.
Investigating how alliteration, assonance, and rhythm affect the musicality of a text.
Comparing the impact of traditional rhyming schemes with the flexibility of free verse.
Informational Texts and Research
Developing skills to navigate non-fiction, extract key data, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
Utilizing glossaries, indexes, subheadings, and captions to locate information efficiently.
Learning to condense large amounts of information into concise summaries without losing core meaning.
Critically assessing the credibility and bias of various information sources.
The Mechanics of Language
Refining grammatical precision, punctuation, and sophisticated vocabulary to enhance clarity in communication.
Using relative clauses and varied conjunctions to create sophisticated and fluid writing.
Mastering the use of colons, semi-colons, and brackets to organize complex ideas.
Exploring the origins of English words to unlock the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.
Collaborative Discussion and Drama
Enhancing speaking and listening skills through structured debate, performance, and group inquiry.
Developing the ability to listen critically and build upon the ideas of others in a group setting.
Using scripts and improvisation to explore character perspectives and subtext.
Engaging in structured arguments while working toward a shared understanding or resolution.