VCE Units 3 & 4 - English Language
VCE Units 3 & 4 - English Language
Overview
VCE English Language explores the ways in which language is used by individuals and groups and reflects our thinking and values. Informed by the discipline of linguistics, the study examines a range of contemporary texts, examining how speakers and readers use language for a range of purposes. The study examines the role of Standard Australian English in public domains.
Unit 3: Language variation and purpose
In this unit, students analyse uses of informal and formal language for a range of purposes. They examine the role of situational and cultural contexts in influencing language choice. Furthermore, students examine how writers and speakers exploit language for a variety of social purposes.
Areas of Study
- Informality – The distinctive features of informal language in written and spoken texts, the role of Standard and non-Standard English in creating informal texts, the use of informal language for various social purposes.
- Formality– The distinctive features of formal language in written and spoken texts, the role of Standard and non-Standard English in creating formal texts in private and public domains, the use of formal language for various social purposes.
Unit 4: Language variation and identity
In this unit, students focus on the role of language in establishing and challenging different identities. Students examine the varieties of English used in contemporary Australian society. Students also evaluate a range of attitudes to different varieties of Australian English while examining the ways in which people use language to gain power and prestige.
Areas of Study
- Language variation in Australian society – Varieties of Australian English and attitudes towards them, the ways in which a variety of Australian identities are constructed and reflected in a range of texts and the linguistic features of accents.
- Individual and group identities – Language that reflects and construction of individual and group identity, power and prestige attached to varieties of English and social attitudes.
Forms of Assessment
Short Answer Questions, Analytical Commentaries, Expository Essays.
Prerequisites and Corequisites
No prerequisites to this study. It is an advantage to have completed Unit 1 and 2 English Language.