English Foundations 2017

Sampleassessmenttask and draft annotatedstudentresponses

This sample assessment task and accompanying annotated student responses are provided to support senior secondary English teaching and learning programs. It is understood that throughout the teaching year that all elements of the criterion will be addressed in teaching and learning programs to enable summative assessment.

The cross sectoral English Standards Leadership Group has developed the following set of draft standards to Module specific criteria and elements to illustrate module specific standards. The draft annotations represent one way of approaching assessment design and response.

Response format: Analytical essay

Criterion assessed

  • Criterion 1: Describe how texts and their meaning are shaped by purpose, context, audience and language
  • Elements:1,3,4

Assessment Task

Thestudentworkpresented in thissampleisin response to an assessmenttask.

Task description:

Part A:Picture Book Review
Students were asked to write a review ofThe Little Refugeethat could appear in the school magazine. The final copy must be of publication standard and adhere to the stylistic conventions discussed in the sample reviews.

Word length:300-500 words

Conditions of task

Students completed this task as internally (class time and homework) and were given time to develop to publication standards

Assessment task-specific criteria matrix

Studentresponseshave beenmatched to task-specificcriteria and standards;those which bestdescribe the studentworkin thissample are shown below.For more information aboutthe course,criteria and standards,see relevant course information at:

Criterion 1Describe how texts and their meaning are shaped by purpose, context, audience and language

  • This criterion is both internally and externally assessed.
  • The learner reflects on sources of inspiration, evaluates own texts, and edits in response to considered feedback.

The learner:

Rating A / Rating B / Rating C
E1 explains relationships between language, purpose, context, audience and meaning / E1 describes relationships between language, purpose, context, audience and meaning / E1 identifies key relationships between language, purpose, context, audience and meaning
E3 explains how responses to texts are influenced by purpose, context and use of techniques / E3 describes the main ways responses to texts are influenced by purpose, context and use of techniques / E3 identifies the main ways responses to texts are influenced by purpose, context and use of techniques
E4 reflects on and explains the impact and uses of texts*. / E4 reflects on and describes the impact and uses of texts*. / E4 reflects on and identifies the impact and uses of texts*.

*‘specialist terms’ refers to metalanguage and terms such as those used to describe literary techniques, devices, schemes and trope.

Studentresponse– Sample 1

The annotationsshowthematch to the assessment task-specificstandards.

Comments / Sample
The[DLL1] Little Refugee written by Anh and Suzanne Do, illustrated by Bruce Whatley is a picture book aimed at a younger audience. This text is about Anh and his family’s boat journey from Vietnam to Australia. They do not travel on a fivestar, high class cruise ship that most people would be expected travel such distances nowadays. Instead, Anh and his family travel through perilous seas, battle pirates, thirst and hunger on a small fishing boat with 30 people crammed onto it. The text shows children what it is like growing up in a less privileged, lower class and in a strange country that is nothing like their home country. It also shows what it was like to grow up in a country like Australia and being different.
The illustrations in the text are a combination of some realistic and cartoon-like scenes or characters. At the beginning at the book, all the pictures were illustrated quite realistically with little to no colour as if they were more of distant memory. This shows that Anh didnot really remember these events but family has told him the story. When Anh and his family came to Australia, more colour started getting added into the illustrations, as the events that his family went through started to get better. This shows the reader that the events that are happening to Anh and his family is getting better and happier, compared to the beginning of the text. By having such a difference between the images from thebeginning of the text compared to the ones when the family arrive in Australia, makes it easier for younger viewers that things has improved from Anh and his family.
This text teaches younger children about the difficulties that some children had to go through throughout history and even these days, children are put on boats, not knowing where they are going or if they will live or not. All the funds of the picture book are all going to charity.

Studentresponse- Sample 2

The annotationsshowthematch to the assessment task-specificstandards.

Comments / Sample
The Little Refugee, published by Allen and Unwin. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley, the book by And Do and Suzanne Do has become a well famous story in 2012.Awarded an Honour Book in the 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards. It was a pathetic story in the beginning because of the war and people needed to escape, however it was a pleasant ending. This is an inspiration story told especially for children.
THE LITTLE REFUGEE: STORY
This is a story based on Anh Do’s real life. He and his family need to escape from war torn Vietnam in an overpopulated boat. It was a breathtaking journey with storm and alarming pirates. They are anxious, hunger and craving for food. There has a lot of astonish things happened. For instance, the pirate try to dangled his brother over the side of the boat. But then everyone on the boat stand up and ready to against the pirate so the pirate tossed back the child to his mother.
But it is also a warm, touching story. Anh Do and his family are poor. Even though their house is cramped but he is glad that there always has a lot of people play with him. After all of those thing happened, they arrive Australia and found a house to live. His mum tell him to always have hope that everything will be okay. Anh Do start going to school and his parents start their own sewing business. He start making friends at school, soon he become a class captain! His parents are really appreciate about that.

THE BOOK’S APPEAL

This is an appealing story because it shows the experience of refugees, how difficult for them to escape. Anh Do and his family are so lucky because they endured all the difficulties. But some of the refugees can not survive from the escape and they suffer a lots. This story is suitable for everyone because it can tells us we need to cherish everything we have and do not take it for granted. Moreover, Anh Do has a good attitude when he faced problem and his mother teach him always to have hope.

SUMMING UP THE STORY

To sum up, A Little Refugee is an incredible book. What makes it so extraordinary is because it is based on true story. There has a lot of vivid illustrations that assort to the story and it makes the reader can imagine the scene when they are watching.
When they are still on their flee, all the colors of the illustrations are dark such as black, grey and brown. It gives readers think that it’s sad and serious. But after all of this, the color become brighter. Their clothes have different colors not just brown. This contrast makes the reader can identify how’s Anh Do feels before and after he come to Australia. It is a book that everyone will enjoy hearing again and again.

Studentresponse– Sample 3

The annotationsshowthematch to the assessment task-specificstandards.

Comments / Sample
The Little Refugee, by Ahn Do and Suzanne Do and published in 2011 by Allen & Unwin,is a story about Ahn Do as a child telling the readers about living in Vietnam, what happened when he was on the refugee boat, moving into Australia and going to a new school. Ahn Do has being in TV shows and books, such as Channel Seven, 60 minutes, The Real Story, autobiography called the Happiest Refugee, Ahn Does Vietnam, Thank God You’re Here, Good News Week and Dancing with the Stars in 2007.
The Little Refugee: Story
(Relevance of book to the audience)
The Genre of this book is non-fiction.
Ahn Do is born Vietnam and he lives in a crowded house because his family is poor, but Ahn could also ways see a positive side for everything.
There is a war between Australian and America, so Ahn’s family decides to take a boat to another country. When his family go onto the boat they go through a lot of tough situations such as: a storm, losing their food, pirates taking everything they have and threatening to kill his brother. The next ship they see is a German cargo ship which helps everyone on the boat.
Ahn’s family arrive in Australia and two people give Ahn’s mother some children’s cloths, but they made a mistake with the order. Ahn’s mother does not want to offend them so she accepts the clothes.
Ahn Starts school, but he has no friends because his uniform is different compared to everyone else and he has trouble with his work, but he slow improves. Ahn meets a new kid at school that looks lonely. Ahn asks the boy to play with him and that’s how they became friends.
When Ahn’s parents make enough money, they get three sewing machines to start a family business. A thief steals the sewing machines, Ahn’s family is upset, and they stay positive.
Ahn knows that there is going to be a big assembly and he wants to win an award. Ahn asks his parents to come and see the assembly. In the Assemble Ahn waits for his name to get called out when the awards are being announced, but he does not receive one. Ahn is upset because he did not receive an award, but the teacher announces that he is a Class Captain for 5 Blue, his parents are proud of him.
The book’s appeal
The book talks about situations that he goes through that a lot of people can relate to, such as: living in a country where war is happening, being a refugee and trying to fit in at school.
Ahn Do’s style of writing also does not make the story too upsetting for his audience. Ahn also informs people about the struggles of a refugee while making the story interesting.
Summing up the story
The way Ahn Do transforms The Little Refugee into, (what would normally be an upsetting and serious subject) into an enjoyable and interesting story to read.
All of the pictures are appealing because: Ahn Do’s two different art styles throughout the story make his book more appealing for different age groups. The pictures with a lot of detail and less colour are meant to be appealing to older people. The pictures with more colour with a cartoon style are meant to be appealing to younger people.

Acknowledgments

The Department of Education Curriculum Services acknowledgesthe contribution of Michael Steedman Cross from St Michael’s Collegiate School Hobart, in the preparation of thisdocument.

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