English / Year 9 / Literature / Examining literature

Curriculum content descriptions

Analyse text structures and language features of literary texts, and make relevant comparisons with other texts (ACELT1772)

Elaborations
  • evaluating the effect on readers of text structures and language features of a literary text and comparing these with other texts
  • by comparing texts, writing or speaking about how well the author constructed the opening and closing sections of the text and used ‘hooks’ to keep the reader/viewer/listener engaged and reading on/watching/listening to the end
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Text structure,  Imaginative texts

Video

Ways to tell stories

In this video, student writers Noa and Francis discuss the creative choices they made when writing the short stories they've recently had published. Why might structuring a story as a letter be a good way to tell a story about a personal experience? Why was it important for Francis to use a first person narrative voice ...

Video

First Tuesday Book Club: Navigating 'Cloud Atlas'

Some authors like to take readers on a journey, none more so than David Mitchell, the author of 'Cloud Atlas'. His novel is a complex tale that attempts to weave together six different narratives over a period of hundreds of years. Join in this discussion and find out if he succeeds. This clip is the second in a series of two.

Interactive

Syllabus bites: Exploring Asia-related texts

This resource has information, links and study guides on Asia-related texts to support the Australian Curriculum in English for Year 7, 8, 9, 10.

Video

First Tuesday Book Club: The story behind 'Jasper Jones'

'Jasper Jones' is a novel that recently featured on a list of '10 Aussie books to read before you die'. Does it belong on the list? Many texts make connections to other texts but is this novel too close a retelling of the classic American novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'? Explore the concept of 'intertextuality' in this clip.

Video

First Tuesday Book Club: The voice of Albert Facey

Albert Facey's 'A Fortunate Life' is one of Australia's best-loved autobiographies. Could it be Facey's 'voice' in his writing that touches the hearts of so many readers? Explore this clip to learn more about how the written word can capture the personality of a writer.

Video

First Tuesday Book Club: Savouring 'The Magic Pudding'

It's been nearly 100 years since Norman Lindsay's madcap tale of a bad-tempered pudding was published, yet it continues to remain popular with children and adults alike. Over the years it's been a puppet show, cartoon, play, film and even an opera. What are the reasons for its enduring popularity? Explore the real magic ...

Text

Perspective in war poetry

Perspective shapes what we see in the world and the way we see it. Students will read/ listen to two poems composed in different contexts and examine how the perspective of the composer is captured through their use of language, imagery, other poetic devices. They consider the fact that perspective includes the values that ...

Text

Syllabus requirements planner – Stage 5

This sample syllabus requirements planner is aligned to the New South Wales English K–10 Syllabus (NESA 2022). This planner identifies key requirements for planning and implementing the Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) English syllabus. It may be useful to teachers from other states and territories for comparative purposes in planning ...

Text

Sample scope and sequence – Year 9

This sample scope and sequence for Year 9 is aligned to the New South Wales English K–10 Syllabus (NESA 2022). It may be useful to teachers from other states and territories for comparative purposes.

Text

Poetic purpose

Through this resource, students will explore a range of texts written by Aboriginal poets. They will investigate how poets use and manipulate language, form and structure for specific purposes. Students will investigate and analyse the ways that perspective and context influence the creation and reception of texts. This ...

Text

Exploring Gothic conventions in short animated film

In this learning sequence, students will extend their knowledge and understanding of the key conventions of the Gothic genre. They will critically apply this knowledge to a short animated film and films produced by their peers. They can also compose a personal response to a film text using metalanguage connected to genre.

Text

The Poetics of Hip Hop

What is the relationship between Shakespearean sonnets and hip hop music? In this lesson, students will analyse the rhythm, form, diction, and sound of hip hop and Shakespearean sonnets. They will then compare characteristics between Shakespeare’s work and the work of hip hop artists to create an original poem or set of lyrics.

Text

The Making of Monsters

In this lesson, students will investigate monsters in film and across cultures. Students will analyse film scores and soundtracks that feature monsters. Students will create original conceptions of a monster to present in a multimedia presentation.

Text

Creating Fictional Characters

In this teaching activity, students will examine character as a significant element of fictional stories. They will learn methods of characterization, identify supporting details, and critique these methods in works of fiction.

Text

Character Building

In this teaching activity, students analyse popular characters and methods of characterization used by writers. They apply these methods to create a profile and illustration of an original character. They will then write a short script.

Text

Performing a Haiku: How can spoken word transform a poem?

In this lesson, students will reflect on small moments of peace or happiness to write an original haiku. Students will demonstrate spoken word to perform a haiku for an audience.

Text

Fox: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Fox which is a picture book that explores the themes of betrayal, friendship, jealousy, loneliness, loyalty and wilderness. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Robyn Sheahan-Bright.

Text

The Divine Wind: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support The Divine Wind novel which evokes an era of Australians caught up in the events of war and its effects. Its themes include coming of age, family, friendship, identity, love, multiculturalism, racism and war. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and ...

Text

Creation Myth Play Scripts

In this lesson, students will explore different cultures’ supernatural explanations for human existence. Templates such as a Cultural Creation Myth Comparison Organizer are provided. Students will make comparisons between creation myths then write an original creation myth play script to perform for an audience.

Text

Work Sample Year 9 English: Macbeth oral presentation

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 9 English. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation of ...