Stage 2 – first year English units
These sample units are designed for early concept development of Stage 2 outcomes, regardless of students’ year level. NSW students in Years 3 and 4 may work towards Stage 2 outcomes from the English K–10 (Years 3–6) Syllabus.
These units are cumulative and are designed to be taught in numerical order.
A suggested term-by-term approach, aligned with the department’s scope and sequence is outlined below, including the mentor textual concept(s) and unit description.
Syllabus
Syllabus outcomes and content descriptors from English K–10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2023.
Unit 1 – Narrative
Students will:
- explore how narratives set up expectations for the reader using predictable structure and familiar characters and situations
- analyse excerpts of the mentor text and use as the basis for their own innovation
- plan, draft and revise a narrative sequel using an orientation, complication, resolution structure.
Stage 2 – Unit 1 – Narrative (DOCX 2.9 MB)
Unit 2 – Genre
Students will:
- gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of genre, and perspective and context
- apply their understanding of genre to group texts according to their purpose, subject matter, form, structure and language choices
- experiment with genre to create a variety of texts using their understanding of structure and language choices to suit a text's purpose.
Unit 3 – Argument and authority
In this 5-week unit of learning, students will:
- gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of ‘argument and authority’ and ‘genre’
- explore how an argument may be a single perspective that is presented or defended
- explore the difference between authorship and authority and how they can enhance an argument presented
- develop texts using language choices for persuasive effect
- plan and deliver a spoken presentation.
Stage 2 First year – Unit 3 Argument and authority (DOCX 5.90 MB)
Unit 4 – Imagery, symbol and connotation
Students will:
- gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of 'imagery, symbol and connotation' and 'characterisation'
- develop their understanding of imagery, symbol and connotation and how author’s use imagery and symbols in literature
- identify how figurative language can influence meaning
- experiment using salience and figurative language to create a multimodal text
- make connections to characters in a text by composing a journal entry.
Stage 2 First Year – Unit 4 Imagery, symbol and connotation (DOCX 17.5 MB)
Unit 5 – Characterisation
Students will:
- gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of ‘characterisation’ and ‘narrative’
- explore how authors use dialogue to convey what characters say and think
- analyse excerpts of the mentor text and use these as the basis for their own innovation
- use their understanding of characterisation to compose a narrative.
Stage 2 First year – Unit 5 Characterisation (DOCX 8.4 MB)
Unit 6 – Perspective and context
Students will:
- gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of ‘perspective and context’ and ‘theme’
- identify ways in which perspective is represented in texts and how it informs the setting
- use their understanding of ‘perspective and context’ to create a factual and historical account
- describe the difference between themes and topics, and use symbols to represent themes in texts.
Stage 2 First year – Unit 6 Perspective and context (DOCX 4.1 MB)
Sample units will be released periodically throughout 2024.