English / Year 9 / Literacy / Interpreting, analysing, evaluating

Curriculum content descriptions

Interpret, analyse and evaluate how different perspectives of issue, event, situation, individuals or groups are constructed to serve specific purposes in texts (ACELY1742)

Elaborations
  • debating the reliability of the coverage in a range of news media of a contentious issue such as commercial logging of old growth forests
  • evaluating techniques used to construct plot and create emotional responses such as comparison, contrast, exaggeration, juxtaposition, the changing of chronological order, or the expansion and compression of time
  • constructing questions to frame an analysis of differing representations on moral issues in texts, and including a critical analysis of a personal view in the overall analysis of the issue
  • identifying whether two texts may share a common purpose or audience, for example a feature article on a particular website or in a particular newspaper
  • analysing how issues are debated and reported in the media in different countries, and the possible reasons for this, for example ‘whaling’ in Japan and Australia
  • analysing and interpreting assumptions about groups that have shaped or influenced representations of people, places, events and things; identifying how listeners, viewers and readers are positioned by these representations, and supporting identified points with examples
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
ScOT terms

Attitudes,  Reviewing (Texts)

Video

Powerful words: Gough Whitlam's dismissal

Gough Whitlam is the only Australian prime minister to have been sacked from office - along with his entire government. After learning of his dismissal, Mr Whitlam addressed the Australian public and uttered a line that has resonated throughout Australian politics since 1975. Words can be immensely powerful and, as you ...

Video

Heywire: Running towards mental health

Would you accept someone's argument if you didn't think the person presenting it was credible? Explore Nakita Sobczyk's Heywire audio story and reflect on what makes her an ideal person to educate others about mental illness. As you do, consider the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle's discussion of how 'ethos' can be ...

Video

Formal vs Informal Writing: What's the Difference and When to Use Them

Before you start writing any article, one of the first things you need to ask yourself is "Who's my audience?" Answering this question will help you decide if you should use a formal or an informal writing style. This resource explores this and other questions to be answered before writing, such as 'What's the best way ...

Text

Analysing Persuasive Language

This resource for students is a comprehensive explanation of how to analyse a persuasive article, from how to identify the contention and tone, to how persuasive techniques are used to position the reader. Techniques discussed, with examples, include the use of adjectives, adverbs, alliteration, appeals, anecdotes, everyday ...

Video

This Day Tonight: Debating Vietnam: using counter-arguments, 1967

Imagine agreeing with your opponent in a debate. How could that possibly help your argument? Many successful speakers, however, realise that concession is an important persuasive technique. In this clip, explore how two speakers discussing the effectiveness of Vietnam War protest marches both use concession to improve their ...

Video

Representing Sydney's suburbs, 1965

In this clip from the mid-60s, explore how words and images can be combined to encourage particular interpretations and influence audience response. Explore how some of the inner suburbs of Sydney have been represented in history.

Video

Heywire: This isn't English, it's Australian English!

Mara Zeissig had a hard time understanding what was going on when she first went to school in Australia after moving from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In her Heywire audio story, explore the importance of language in our social interactions.<br /><br />Could you write or record a story about yourself and/or your community? ...

Audio

Heywire: Spanning the generations in an unlikely friendship

Do you think strangers with 60 years of age between them can become friends? When eighteen, George Baker found out that they can when he befriended Geoff, a man in his eighties. Could you write or record a story about yourself and/or your community? The ABC's Heywire competition calls for stories from 16-22-year-olds in ...

Text

They're Pests but Cruelty is Inexcusable

This is an example for students of an analytical essay on the persuasive techniques used in a feature article

Text

The Conversation - Aesthetics and beauty

A series of articles that examine historic and modern constructs of beauty. Articles include historic understanding of Greek beauty; if there is an “ideal body shape” for women; questions of beauty and blackness; body image; and the beauty of scientific theories such as general relativity. Articles are authored by recognised ...

Interactive

Different views

This resource will encourage students to develop their understanding of the first contact of the Aboriginal people of Kamay Botany Bay and the men aboard the HMB Endeavour in 1770. This resource is one part of the 'Endeavour – eight days in Kamay' resource.

Interactive

Find your voice

Students learn about, compose and perform slam poetry.

Text

The Conversation: class in Australia collection

This collection of short articles critically examine the topic of class in Australia, asking whether it exists and examining relationship between class and aspects such as health, where you live, gender, income inequality and others. The articles support student investigations and in-depth studies of issues relevant for ...

Interactive

Writing a multimedia review

The resource contains information, activities and tasks on how to write a review of a multimodal text, a website and a computer game. It includes writing and presenting templates for students for a variety of purposes and contexts. This resource supports the Australian Curriculum in English K–10.

Text

Animal Farm

This web page provides chapter by chapter synopses, commentary and short answer questions to support a study of George Orwell's novel Animal Farm.

Interactive

Truth be told

This resource embeds the use of online collaboration tools and 21st century learning skills in a Stage 5 English project. Students explore the English textual concepts as they collaborate to research and create a personal story. Tasks include analysing a variety of personal stories told in different media and exploring ...

Interactive

Worlds apart

Worlds apart is part of the unit Worlds, and is also an independent resource that can be used as an ideal introduction to the area of study for students in years 10. Worlds apart explores the ways in which individuals and communities, through their different values and attitudes, react to change. It has activities and tasks ...

Interactive

Syllabus bites: types of sentences

A web page resource with information, teacher guides and activities on types of sentences to support the Australian Curriculum in English K–10. It has detailed activities, links to resources and quizzes.

Interactive

Cartoons

This resource is for Stage 3, Stage 4 and Stage 5 and introduces the purpose and features of cartoons. It includes information slides showing examples of different types of cartoons and interactive questions to test students' understanding of the content covered.

Interactive

Exploring short stories - The Necklace

This short story resource features a short story by Guy de Maupassant. Students look at the structure and narrative features as they listen to the story. Language focus includes direct and indirect speech and character development through dialogue. Students compose alternative endings and write a script using the free software, ...