Expressions in English

Assignments

COURSE OUTLINE

The Year 8 English course is regularly reviewed and updated to cater for the wide range of abilities within each english class.  The current outline is available for you to view here.  It is a working document and therefore, subject to change, but the CAT’s (Common Assessment Tasks) generally remain the same.

COMMON ASSESSMENT TASKS

YEAR LONG ASSESSMENT

READING AND VIEWING JOURNAL
An ongoing assessment throughout the year, this journal is written in once a week. Students are asked to write at length about something they have read or viewed in the previous week. There are a range of focus questions, designed to guide their responses. Most of the entries will be completed as part of the students’ blogs.  The journal is assessed at the end of each semester and is used to assess the Reading, Viewing and Writing outcomes.

1. Why did you choose it?
2. What was it about?
3. What was the best bit? Why?
4. What was the worst bit? Why?
5. What is your overall opinion, recommendation and rating? 

TERM ONE

SPOTLIGHT ON ME PROJECT
Students select at least three from a variety of writing tasks.  These tasks require students to write about themselves.  The assignment is designed to aid the teacher in getting to know the students.  It is also a great starting point for their writing, as they are writing about a topic they know and understand.

ANTHOLOGY OF FIGURATIVE WRITING
Students are required to write five to ten short poems using a variety of figurative language. It must be presented in a booklet form, with a cover page, contents page and a short About the Writer section.

PAPERBAG BOOK REPORT
As part of their Library sessions each week, students have been asked to read a novel and complete a presentation to a small group of their classmates. The presentation involves decorating a paperbag with details about their chosen book. They also select four objects to be contained inside the bag that they reveal to the group and explain the significance to the story. They also read a short extract/section from the book.

TERM TWO

SHORT STORY OR PICTURE BOOK
Students learn as much as possible about short stories and picture books before embarking on this writing task.  They must spend a great deal of time planning and drafting their story or picture book before developing the final copy.  The short story must be at least 500 words in length (Approx. 2 pages) and the picture book must be at least 10 pages.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Students spend time learning about persuasive language and how to construct an argument for a particular audience and purpose.  The letter must follow a format provided in class and must be written for a chosen newspaper or magazine.  The letter should be at least 150 words in length.

TERM THREE

ESSAY:  ANALYSIS OF AN ADVERTISEMENT
Students are required to write a 300 word (1 page) essay that explores the audience, purpose and techniques used in a magazine or television advertisement.  Students are provided with a clear framework for paragraph and essay structure.  They are allowed to select their own advertisement.  They are encouraged to make notes and plan before writing their essay.

PODCASTING ASSIGNMENT: RADIO SHOW
Students use their knowledge of advertising to produce short radio advertisements in groups.  These are to be performed in front of the class and recorded in MP3 format.
As well as an advertisement, students will also record a short news item and a short creative/fun piece for our class radio show.  All of the items will count towards their Listening and Speaking outcome.