Unit 3
english extension
UNIT:Exploration and Evaluation
UNIT OVERVIEW: This unit is the culmination of students’ learning in the course of study, bringing together their knowledge, understanding and experiences with literary texts and theoretical approaches. From their learning in Units 1 and 2, students can now challenge a variety of texts and ideas in theoretically defensible ways. For this reason, a key element of Unit 3 is increasing student independence, in the selection both of texts and of theoretical approaches.
Unit 3 builds towards students evaluating their learning throughout the course of study, offering them opportunities for in-depth exploration of texts they find particularly interesting and evaluation of how texts and theoretical approaches can work together to produce close readings. Students develop focus questions to define and scope their exploration and evaluation. Focus questions need to allow opportunities to explore the strengths and weaknesses of theoretical approaches and how they can complement one another and/or clash in producing close readings of literary texts.
Through these learning experiences, students will understand that the focus question for Assessment instrument 3 must be achievable, given time constraints and guidelines for the length of response. Developing this understanding might include analysing sample focus questions prepared by the teacher or peers to help students understand the characteristics of successful focus questions. Students must also understand that developing a focus question is an iterative process during which they revisit and refine their question.
ASSESSMENT: Students produce a theory-based extended analytical response (2500-3000wds) which evaluates the ways two selected theoretical approaches may be applied in investigating complex text/s in response to a focus question.
UNIT DETAILS:
No / Learning Goal / Success Criteria1 / New Historicism:
Explain the way in which New Historicism differs from traditional historicism.
Explain purpose of examining literary texts according to New Historicists.
Explain the way in which discourses operate within society. / Can I accurately answer questions on New Historicism and contribute actively to class discussion?
2 / Psychoanalytical criticism:
Explain tripartite model
Explain stages of psychosexual development
Explain Opeidus complex
Explain repression and defence mechanisms
Explain processes of condensation and displacement
Explain Lacan’s three stages
Compare Freudian and Lacanian approaches. / Can I accurately answer questions on Psychoanalysis and contribute actively to class discussion?
3 / Assignment preparation:
Explain the notion of close reading.
Define ‘focus question’.
Describe the process of application, exploration and evaluation.
Describe the expected structure of task response. / Can I identify structure from exemplars of task?
Can I explain what is meant by close reading and focus question?
4 / Assignment preparation:
Research possible theorists for assignment / Can I locate useful sources, record useful notes and construct possible questions for teacher?
5 / Assignment preparation:
Research possible theorists for assignment. / Can I locate useful sources, record useful notes and construct possible questions for teacher?
6 / Assignment preparation:
Construct focus question / Can I construct a teacher approved focus question?
7 / Assignment preparation:
Complete close reading of novel applying understanding of theoretical approaches to focus question / Can I complete close reading of novel applying understanding of theoretical approaches to focus question?
8 / Assignment preparation:
Complete close reading of novel applying understanding of theoretical approaches to focus question. / Can I complete close reading of novel applying understanding of theoretical approaches to focus question?
9 / Assignment preparation:
Write assignment response to close reading of text addressing focus question and applying theoretical approaches. / Can I construct an assignment response to close reading of text addressing focus question and applying theoretical approaches?
10 / Assignment preparation:
Write assignment response to close reading of text addressing focus question and applying theoretical approaches. / Can I construct an assignment response to close reading of text addressing focus question and applying theoretical approaches?