English / Year 7 / Literature / Responding to literature

Curriculum content descriptions

Compare the ways that language and images are used to create character, and to influence emotions and opinions in different types of texts (ACELT1621)

Elaborations
  • identifying stereotypes, prejudice and oversimplifications in texts
  • exploring ethical issues in literary texts drawing on a range of examples from the texts to illustrate and substantiate the views expressed
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
ScOT terms

Literary devices,  Characters (Narratives),  Settings (Narratives)

Text

Panchatantra: the lion and the rabbit

This is a folk story titled The lion and the rabbit from the Panchatantra, a book that contains a collection of South Asian folk stories dating back at least 2,000 years. The message of the story is that intelligence is power. The story is eight web pages in length and includes text, illustrations, arrows at the top of ...

Video

Sally Rippin on authors and illustrators

Watch this clip to find out about the relationship between authors and illustrators. What role does the publisher play in this relationship? What does Sally Rippin say about the role of illustrations in books for young children?

Video

Creating characters with Sally Rippin

Listen as Sally Rippin talks about how her characters come to life. What does she say about the link between the writer and the characters they create? Why does she say that imagination is like a muscle?

Interactive

Syllabus bites – responding to literature

A web page with information, teacher guides and resources on responding to texts. This resource supports the NSW English K-10 syllabus.

Interactive

Syllabus bites: Visual literacy

A resource with information, study guides and resources on visual literacy to support the English K-10 Australian Curriculum in English. It provides a series of activities, guidelines and tasks about visual texts from a variety of sources. Contains writing scaffolds, templates and proformas for responding and composing ...

Text

Dirrarn: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Dirrarn. The book follows Mia as she finds herself at boarding school and the challenges of living thousands of kilometres away from home, family, and the big sky country she loves. Find themes relating to Identity, change, coming of age, bullying, Country and finding ...

Video

How to Build Stories, Ep 4: Exploring genre and setting of your story

Every genre has different rules. But once you know them, you can choose which rules you want to break. Find out how you can mix and match genres to create unique, interesting stories!

Interactive

Characterisation in debates

Students learn how to use characterisation and descriptive language in debating.

Video

How to Build Stories, Ch 5: Using language to flavour your story

Language is like the flavour of a story. It helps relate your imagination to readers in a way they'll understand. But you have to add the right flavours; otherwise your story will be like a bad meal. Learn how to write what you want your readers to imagine and feel.

Interactive

Considering responsibility in debates

Students learn how to discuss responsibility when debating.

Interactive

Deep diving into definitions

Explore definitions in debating from the negative team's perspective.

Interactive

It all 'ads' up!

Students create and explore advertising jingles.

Interactive

Marvellous mechanisms

Students develop skills in how to use mechanisms in a debate.

Video

BTN Podclass using podcasts in school video

Have you ever used a YouTube video or podcast on the internet to learn a new skill? Perhaps to learn how to play the guitar or to do new skateboard tricks or dance moves? Find out how one school in Italy uses podcasts to jazz up its lessons.

Video

Rebecca Lim and her writing process

How long does it take to write a YA book? Rebecca Lim fills us in and explains the role reading plays in the writing of her books. Why does she say that having an editor is important? Try challenging yourself to write a story in 100 words.

Video

David Malouf on short story writing

Some writers can write a short story in one sitting, whereas for others – like David Malouf – it can sometimes take a bit longer to figure out where a story is going. Watch as David explains that although writing is about an "enthusiastic rush", it is also about patience.  Have you ever written a story that you didn't know ...

Video

Alice Pung on story settings

Watch this clip to learn how author Alice Pung thinks about settings in her writing. What does she say about they way they inform the characters she develops? Why does Alice think a high school is a good setting for a story? Write a short story that's set in a high school, paying special attention to the dramatic possibilities ...

Video

Creative thinking with Morris Gleitzman

What is the importance of creative thinking? Morris Gleitzman's characters are engaging and likeable because even when they're going through hardships, they can use their creative thinking to remain positive and optimistic. What do you think a character without this ability would be like? Can you think of any characters ...

Video

Editing with Alice Pung

In addition to being a writer, Alice Pung has experience as an editor. What was the advice her own editor gave her when she started editing other people's work? Alice believes that good editors ask writers good questions. How else can editors help writers? Next time a friend or classmate asks you to give them feedback on ...

Online

The ad campaign

This learning sequence invites students to analyse the 'Dumb Ways to Die' advertising campaign and how the key messages are communicated to the audience. Students then design a new iteration of the Dumb Ways to Die campaign, that could engage a young audience and provide messages about travel safety not covered by the original ...