This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Standard English Module A: Language, Identity and Culture. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5. A sample essay for the prescribed text, Contemporary Asian Australian Poets, answers the 2019 HSC question for this text choice: Poetry relies primarily on symbolism to create cultural tension. To what extent do you agree with this statement? There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

Shakespeare’s tragedy about race and manipulation is an established favourite for senior students. Ten senior-level essay questions offer a choice of arguments about character, theme, language, and context, and a sample essay responds to the question: The existence of an Outsider is one of the most enduring narratives that shape our world. We need outsiders to help us define ourselves – and if they don’t exist, we create them.’ How is this the case for Othello?’

Wilde’s Gothic novel about vanity and perdition is an established favourite for senior students. Ten senior-level essay questions offer a choice of arguments about character, theme, language, and context, and a sample essay responds to the question: ‘It is only the sacred things that are worth touching.’ How does Wilde’s novel explore this idea?

Fitzgerald’s novel about ‘careless people’ and avarice in the modern era is an established favourite for senior students. Ten senior-level essay questions offer a choice of arguments about character, theme, language, and context, and a sample essay discusses whether we can think of the novel as a tragedy.

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This beautiful short story, ‘If Not Higher’ by Isaac Peretz is around 1200 words and has been successfully used with a Year 7/8 class (11-13 years).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This Australian dreaming story from the Birpai people of coastal NSW’ is around 1500 words and has been successfully used with a Year 7/8 class (age 11-13).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This comical short story, ‘Joy’, by Anton Chekhov, is around 700 words and has been successfully used with a Year 7/8 class (age 11-13).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This folklore-style short story, ‘Tiger, Tiger’, by Chen-Yao Wang is around 1400 words and has been successfully used with a Year 7/8 class (age 11-13).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This short philosophical story, ‘The Law of Life,’ by Jack London, is around 2800 words and has been successfully used with a Year 10 class (age 15-16).

Ray Bradbury’s seminal novel is a perennial favourite for middle schoolers. These research tasks round out students’ knowledge of some of the important symbols and references in the novel: The Atomic Bomb Memory Phoenix Railroads Rivers The tasks can be given completed during the reading, as extension work for Gifted and Talented students, or as closure to a unit of study. Each task comprises four sections, following Bloom’s taxonomy, and requires students to complete: a piece of contextual research, a close reading of a nominated passage, a free-form writing at length, and a creative piece.

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This apocalyptic short story, ‘Finis’, by Frank Pollack, is around 4000 words and has been successfully used with a Year 9/10 class ( 15-16 years).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding A close reading task assists development of textual analysis A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies. A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. This satirical short story ‘Putois’ by French writer Anatole France is around 5000 words and has been successfully used with a Year 10 class (age 14-15).

Memorized essays betray a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to commit to authentic answers. Examiners have always advised students to prepare ‘talking points’ instead - a selection of ideas that they can draw on and which convey solid analysis and interpretation of the text. These talking points can be used by teachers, to focus discussion on higher-level or less-noticed features of the text and context. They also form effective student revision materials for formal assessment. Each point is supported by a piece of evidence from the text, and there are sufficient points to generate solid responses to almost any essay question. The Talking Points also model how students can articulate more complex thoughts about the text, and adduce evidence in natural and well-integrated writing.

The What Even Is… series of worksheets explains some of the key concepts in literary analysis, with examples from familiar and popular books and films. There is a single page explanation, with appropriate images and graphics, followed by a question which exercises students’ knowledge and understanding of the concept. Short texts aimed at different abilities and levels are given for the question. This handout, explaining the discursive mode of writing, describes three different ways to identify and implement discursiveness. The activity uses very brief examples from six discursive works.

Mark Haddon’s popular novel about an unusual young man with a flair for Maths and a drive to know who killed his neighbour’s dog has been one of the most surprising crossover books of the last 30 years. This 52-page unit of work has been tested successfully with a mixed-ability class: It divides the novel into eight substantial sections for convenient planning across a term Over 100 questions offer a blend of higher-order thinking skills and personal reflective tasks provides a contextual discussion for each section, drawing out concepts and ideas such as the brain and cognition; logic and language; individuality and disability; imagination, and alternative world. Extension exercises allow stronger students to stretch their knowledge and thinking with philosophical tasks A two-question analytical assessment task asks students to consider theme and voice in a nominated chapter The unit can be printed for students who prefer hard copy, or presented digitally.

This extensive set (21 pages) of student worksheets breaks Campion’s biopic of John Keats into four sections for easy viewing in class. It contains 44 high-order thinking questions which require students to engage with the text-as-film, and to consider it as Campion’s own reading of Keats’ poetry. A final question asks them to write at length evaluating Campion’s presentation of Keats’ poetry and his relationship with Fanny Brawne.

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. [Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564488) Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies. Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. Maupassant’s psychological short story has been successfully used with a Stage 5 / Year 10 class ( 15 years).

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. [Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564488) Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies. Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. These three very short stories from classic texts have been tested with a Year 8 (age 13-14) mixed-ability group.

The poetry of W.B. Yeats is a great choice for higher interest/ability senior students. This worksheet will take 1-2 lessons to complete. It provides: a copy of the poem a comprehensive series of questions structured according to Bloom’s Taxonomy for easier differentiation a creative writing task which students can complete as homework

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. [https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12564488] Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference. Writing activities, correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. See this resource on our website, priced in Aussie dollars https://www.divingbelleducation.com/product-page/short-story-study-lawson-the-loaded-dog