YEAR 10 ELECTIVE DESCRIPTIONS

English

Literature (1 unit)

‘A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.’

- Nelson Mandela

Central to the study of all literature is an understanding of language, ideas and experiences. Literature focuses on the experience of being human. It offers students a lens through which to explore the world and it fosters a communication of their own thoughts, beliefs, emotions and ideals.

By exploring written and film texts, past and present, of different personal, cultural, social and aesthetic value, students will develop their ability to read and view critically, and they will understand that multiple meanings and interpretations can be found within texts. They will also become more empathetic as they develop their appreciation of the universal challenges that shape and define individuals and societies.

Literature students develop the following skills:

- Critical thinking

- Expert command of language

- Independent reading

- Creative and imaginative expression

Literature is an academically challenging elective that can be taken either as a pre-cursor to VCE study of Literature or it can be studied by those keen to develop diverse, transferrable skills that give them a competitive edge in senior and tertiary studies and in the employment market