VCE Classes Sunday Program

Task 1: The English Works Techniques Program (Yellow workbook)

Tasks 1 to 14: work through the exercises and practice writing sentences following the models. Learn and revise the terminology so that it becomes a normal part of your writing style.
These model sentences will help you pinpoint, as accurately as possible, the author’s key ideas and techniques; for example working with comparisons helps you accentuate these ideas.

2. Analytical sentences and depth of analysis

Please go over pp 33-34; 42; 46 and 47 ; following these model sentences, please write a couple of sentence.
Please download the attached PDF page which also outlines these sentence models.
Please also see page 9 in the Grammar Check booklet.
Write 10 sentences and send them to me via email.

3. Practice writing analytical sentences: practice embedding metalanguage.

Depth of meaning and specific analytical terms: references to tone and style and use of metalanguage are important for anything we do in English.
Good expression: It is important to learn good quoting techniques as this adds polish to your discussion. You should always contextualise the quote: see p. 47

4. VCE exam practice

Section 4: Please read pp 72-73; (2020 Exam); pp 76 – 77 (2019 Exam) and pp 81 -82 (2016 Exam)

Along the way, we will apply the learning from the Yellow Techniques Book to 3 editorials

Editorials/Opinion pieces; features of formal writing; nice polished turn of phrase; nominals; clarity; main points; structure

Text 1: “We must ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten” (This is a nice piece, because the Editor is also dealing with the positioning strategies of speakers of Hate Speech; we can borrow some of these expressions.) (Writing paragraphs; please see page 44 (Yellow Workbook)
Text 2: “Most vaccine mandates should be lifted now” April 21, 2022 (The Editor)
Texts 3: “Playing, fun, competing” by Judy Nichol and “The sports lesson our kids aren’t getting: you don’t have to play to win” by Penny Flanagan. Writing our comparison. (Practice compare and contrast sentences: See page 59 in the Yellow Workbook.)
Plus Letters to the Editor (good formal writing and expression; key ideas and views and values/techniques)

Task 1: Please read the “Editorial The Sunday Age, We must ensure the Holocaust is not forgotten”

What is the editor’s view about the rise of racism?
What is the point to the historical background? How does it foreshadow the editor’s views?
What is the point of the survey/research?
Explore the similarities and comparisons within the editorial. How do these reinforce the main points.
(This is a great piece for English Mainstream /Key Ideas and English Language.)

Please keep sending me your sentences. We’ll analyse your expression – strengths and weaknesses – and check your expression against the “Rules” in the Grammar Check booklet
Please go over the exercises on nominals, p. 34 , active/passive (32-33); and subject/predicate; pp. 5-11.
Apply the metalanguage to poems/texts etc in the Green Anthology