[English] VCE - Area of Study 2

Thu Jun 28 11:24:37 EST 2007

Having just returned from glorious long service leave, I am playing catch up 
with the new Study Design and I am really concerned that area of study two 
is a case of the blind leading the blind.
The briefing session I attended looked at ways into the texts for area study 
two, I can do that anyway (although suggestions are always welcome) but I am 
more concerned with the other end -- the exam.
What exactly are students expected to do for Section B of the exam --Writing 
in Context?
To what degree do they need to refer to the specified text in relation to 
the prompt? The advice given at the briefing (for me) doesn't  sit 
comfortably with the instructions on the paper. The Instructions say "Your 
writing must draw DIRECTLY (my emphasis) from at least one selected text 
from the Context" but the suggestions seemed to be that they might, for 
instance, take an aspect of the writer's style and use that in a piece of 
writing (Non standard direct speech format in 'Secret River' was an example 
given.) What does "effective use of DETAIL and IDEAS (my emphasis)  drawn 
from the selected texts as appropriate to the task" in the paper's 
assessment criteria actually mean? (How many times as Assessors have we been 
refered back to the wording of the question as a basis for what we are 
marking?)

 We are told that the marking descriptors will be available before next year 
but we need them NOW so we can plan effectively, right down to the text 
selection. The architects of the paper must know what it is they expect to 
be assessed so surely descriptors would not take so long to write up that we 
have to wait months to see them.

The real question is why can't these issues be explained in clear unabiguous 
terms?

in frustration,
Gail R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Mason" <mary.mason at geelongcollege.vic.edu.au>
To: <english at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 8:05 PM
Subject: RE: [English] VCE - Area of Study 2

>I am unsure of the task but I still have a number of student examples
> from the writer's self and creative - in the style of - for \literature.
> Would this be relevant\/\mary
>
> Mary Mason
> Director of Teaching and Learning
>
> ph: (03) 52263157
> mob: 0402022012
>>>> Caruso.G at kingswoodcollege.vic.edu.au 06/26/07 11:21 AM >>>
> VATE is asking English teachers to write possible answers to the VCAA
> sample paper for Creating and Presenting section. I think this would
> form a wonderful resource. Of course, with such a task modelling could
> be very limiting, and the way such a resource would be of value would be
> if it included a vast range of genres and voices. This of course
> requires that a reasonable number of teachers respond to the challenge
> of completing the task themselves. I have submitted a couple of
> examples, and hope that other teachers do the same.
>
>
>
> Greta
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: english-bounces at edulists.com.au
> [mailto:english-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Reddy, Kamla M
> Sent: Monday, 25 June 2007 9:45 PM
> To: english at edulists.com.au
> Subject: [English] VCE - Area of Study 2
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> I am quite interested in sharing resources with VCE teachers on area of
> study 2
>
>
>
> Kamla Reddy
>
> Resource Centre Manager
>
> Pakenham Secondary College.
>
> 1020 Princes Highway.
>
> Pakenham. 3810
>
> Phone: (03) 5941-1433; ext. 25
>
> Email: reddy.kamla.m at edumail.vic.gov.au
> <mailto:reddy.kamla.m at edumail.vic.gov.au>
>
> Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If
> received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before
> opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects.
> Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the
> negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from
> the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying
> any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are
> those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the
> Department of Education.
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au <ttp://www.edulists.com.au> - FAQ, resources,
> subscribe, unsubscribe
> VCE English Teachers' Mailing List
>
> -- 
> Message protected by MailGuard: e-mail anti-virus, anti-spam and content
> filtering.
> http://www.mailguard.com.au/tt
>
> Click here to report this message as spam:
> https://login.mailguard.com.au/report/1sT2wn4V11/4lmUU9QRIxwcaEIQgtAuUP/1.002
>
>
> -- 
> ################################################################################
> This e-mail and any attached files are confidential and intended solely 
> for the person to whom it is addressed.  If you have received this e-mail 
> in error then please notify the sender immediately.  The contents 
> represent the views or opinions of the author only and are not necessarily 
> made on behalf of the School.  The recipient should check this e-mail and 
> any attachments for the presence of viruses; the School does not accept 
> liability for any damage caused by a transmitted virus.
> ################################################################################
>
> Message  protected by MailGuard: e-mail anti-virus, anti-spam and content 
> filtering.
> http://www.mailguard.com.au/tt
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> VCE English Teachers' Mailing List
> 

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education.