English / Year 8 / Literacy / Texts in context

Curriculum content descriptions

Analyse and explain how language has evolved over time and how technology and the media have influenced language use and forms of communication (ACELY1729)

Elaborations
  • identifying and explaining how mobile technologies are influencing language uses and structures
  • analysing the ways that identity may be created in digital contexts
  • identifying how meanings or words change or shift depending on context, for example the word ‘cool’ is used to describe temperature or to express approval when used in informal contexts
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Language conventions,  Telecommunications

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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.

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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 ...

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Cartooning Political and Social Issues

In this lesson, students will examine the role of cartoons play in presenting viewpoints about political or social issues. Students gather and organize information about a current or past issue and analyze the different sides. They plan, design, and illustrate a political cartoon that presents a position on a political ...

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Letter of Introduction

This resource for students explains how to write a letter of introduction for your English teacher

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Adventure Stories

This resource for students discusses the conventions of action and adventure stories, suggests some possible scenarios, how to plot the story and examples of descriptive writing techniques, as well as suggestions for proofreading and revising.

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Book Review

This resource provides advice to students on how to present a three-minute book review, with advice on how to write the review, and how to present it orally.

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Snapseed - Google Play app

Retouch, adjust perspective and re-edit your photos with this photoediting tool. Free when reviewed 26/5/2015

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Find your voice

Students learn about, compose and perform slam poetry.

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Marvellous mechanisms

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

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How misused modifiers can hurt your writing

A short video for secondary students which explains what modifiers are, and how it's important to clearly link them to the words they're actually referring to, in order to avoid unintentional ambiguity.

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Beach safety: video campaign

Look at the importance of water safety and skin protection at a beach. Talk with a lifeguard and beach goers about safety tips. Build a video for a public awareness campaign. Choose animated clips to illustrate responsible behaviour. Examine differences between formal and informal language. Select text for the script that ...

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Thinking about settings with Leigh Hobbs

As Leigh Hobbs says, the great thing about inventing a character is that you also have the power to choose where they live. What's your character's world like? Describe your character at home. Where do they live? And what do they do there? Now choose a completely different location and plonk your character there. Think ...

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How to be funny

What is the key to being funny? As Tim Ferguson explains, if you can laugh, you can write comedy. Has something funny happened to you lately? Or is there something in particular that you find puzzling or amusing about the world around you? Put your thoughts on paper and experiment with telling your story in different ways. ...

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Hannie Rayson on the Australian voice in theatre

How important do you think it is to hear Australian stories told on stage? Listen as Hannie Rayson explains her early beliefs about where great drama comes from. After watching this clip, try writing a dramatic scene that takes place at a family barbeque.

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Design thinking across the curriculum

This cross-curriculum resource is designed to introduce Stage 2, 3 and 4 students to the design thinking process through a series of videos and interactive activities. This resource is also downloadable as a SCORM file: the downloaded version will only work if you upload it to a webserver, such as Moodle or Canvas.

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Journal Writing

This resource provides tips for students on journal writing, including the rules and 51 suggestions for writing, covering fiction, non-fiction, story starters, instructional writing, reviews, descriptive writing, persuasive writing and personal writing.

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Wide Reading

Good advice for students encouraging them to read widely beyond the classroom, with useful links to ways to finding a good book

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When to use 'me', 'myself' and 'I'.

This short video for secondary students explains the different roles in a sentence that 'me', 'I' and 'myself' play, and where each belongs.

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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.

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Characterisation in debates

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