11–12English Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2024)

The six forms for the Major work are set out below, categorised into either Print medium or Sound medium.

A student’s Major work can draw on features of multiple forms, provided the final submission complies with the requirements outlined below. Any use of other forms within the Major work – for example, sections of poetry within a short story – should be contextually relevant.

Short fiction

Students complete short fiction that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3500 words.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form, style or language (including hybridity).

Creative nonfiction

Students develop short creative nonfiction that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3500 words.

Students may consider:

• life writing
• investigative journalism
• an historical recreation or representation.

Poetry

Students write a suite of poems, a collection of poems or an extended poem that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 1500 words.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form, style or language.

Critical response

Students develop a critical response based on their independent research into an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3000 words.

Students may consider:

• a critique of an author’s work/particular text or texts
• an independent investigation into an aspect of language or writing
• an independent investigation into the works of a particular historical period
• an independent investigation into the works of a particular paradigm related to the study of English.

Film, television or stage script

Students develop a script of a complete work for the medium of film, television or stage based on their independent research into an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses. The intended playing time for the script must be no more than 15 minutes.

No particular style or format for scriptwriting conventions is required, as this may be contingent on the genre or context of the drama the student is creating.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

Podcasts: drama, storytelling, speeches or performance poetry

Students present a podcast that responds to an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, with a playing time of no more than 10 minutes. All content, including music and sound effects, counts towards the playing time of podcast submissions.

This podcast may be a single piece or it may be a collection of smaller pieces.

Students must submit an audio recording of the podcast and a print copy of the script, storyboard or flow chart consistent with the final edited podcast submission. There is no required style or format for this print copy.

The student presenting the Major work must be the principal performer (minor voices should be used judiciously), sole writer and sole director/producer. For drama, the student must be the sole director/producer.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

Multimedia

Students develop a multimedia submission that responds to an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, with a playing time of no more than 5 minutes. All content, including credits, counts towards the running time of multimedia submissions.

This multimedia must integrate two or more expressive modes.

Students must submit a digital file and a print copy of script, storyboard or flow chart consistent with the final edited multimedia submission. There is no required style or format for this print copy.

The student presenting the Major work must be the sole writer, director/producer and editor.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective of a concept
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

NESA must be notified of each student’s Major work form via Schools Online by the date published in the Timetable of Actions. Students may change their Major work form after this time via written request signed by the student, supervising teacher and principal. Email the request to:

English Coordinator
Marking and Quality NESA
Email: hscpracticals@nesa.nsw.edu.au

Students must not submit or resubmit a Major work, either in part or in full, that has been previously submitted in a previous year or in another Preliminary and/or HSC course. See ACE 2.5 HSC practical exams.

Marking guidelines for the Major work are available under Loading .

English Extension 2 students must complete and sign a Student Declaration Form for the Major work. The Student Declaration Form can be downloaded from Schools Online and states that the planning, development, content and presentation of the Major work is the student’s own work. Supervising teachers must certify the student’s Major work and sign each student’s Student Declaration Form.

The Major work must be conceived and executed by the student under the supervision of the supervising teacher from the commencement of the Major work. It is essential that aspects of the process of development of the Major work take place in school time. While it is expected that students will also work on their Major work away from school, this must be monitored and documented by the supervising teacher. If a student uses a mentor in the development of the Major work, the mentor must be aware that their role is limited to offering critical advice, posing open-ended questions and supporting the exploration of ideas.

For the purpose of certification, supervising teachers must keep documented evidence to validate the authenticity and integrity of a student’s work. Supervising teachers may draw on the student’s Major work journal, as well as observations and discussions, to maintain the documented evidence of the student’s work throughout the HSC year. Documented evidence is not submitted to NESA, however it must be retained by the school, as it may be requested in exceptional circumstances.

Judgements about students’ ownership of work should not be impacted by the provision of adjustments for students with disability during the development of the Major work.

For further information about certification and practical examination rules, see:

• ACE 2.5.2 Certifying and submitting HSC projects, submitted works and performances
• Certifying HSC practical components
• Practical exam rules.

NESA publishes the completion and hand-in date and the submission date on the NESA website.

Teachers supervising the English Extension 2 course should have a Schools Online profile with appropriate access. They are also required to supply their email address to receive communications directly from NESA. Teachers should see their principal to ensure they have been provided with the appropriate access to their school’s Schools Online account.

Students are advised to ensure they retain a copy of their Major work after submission.

Students should use Arial or Times New Roman in font size 12 for the Major work. Any variation in the size and/or type of font should only be used to strengthen the overall intention of the Major work. Such variations should be used strategically and should not be a substitute for the effective use and control of language.

The use of visual images in print forms of the Major work should be minimal and strategic and needs to contribute to the integrity and purpose of the work. Visual images (original or non-original) in the Major work that do not adhere to the specifications of the chosen medium will not be assessed as part of the work.

Students are required to adhere to word or time limits for their form and should make decisions judiciously to ensure that the Major work falls within these limits. Major works that exceed word and time limits will be in breach of examination rules.

There is no requirement to include a bibliography, footnotes or appendices in the Major work. If these are used, they are not included in the word limit and there is no requirement to use any particular system of referencing for bibliographies and footnotes. If students choose to include a bibliography, footnotes or appendices in their Major work, these need to be used judiciously and not as a means of expanding the exploration of the concept central to the work.

Schools should refer to ACE 2.5.1 Developing HSC practical exams (Health and safety requirements) to ensure students’ Major works comply with these requirements.

Students are advised to avoid identifying themselves (except by student number and centre number), their school, other students and teachers in their Major work.

All written aspects of the Major work submission must:

• be submitted on A4 pages using 1.5 spacing
• use Arial or Times New Roman in font size 12
• have each page numbered.

Submitting the Major work – Print medium

All Major works in the Print medium must be submitted as a PDF and submitted via Schools Online. Each Major work must:

• conform to presentation requirements, as outlined above
• be submitted as a PDF file(s)
• have a completed Coversheet.

The NESA Coversheet and further information about project uploads, including upload instructions and a checklist for teachers, can be found via Schools Online > Downloads > Memos and Documents > HSC Project Uploads.

Submitting the Major work – Sound medium

All Major works in the Sound medium must be submitted as a PDF and a digital file. Each Major work must:

• conform to presentation requirements, as outlined above
• be submitted as a digital file as well as a PDF file(s)
• have a completed Coversheet.

The NESA Coversheet and further information about project uploads, including upload instructions and a checklist for teachers, can be found via Schools Online > Downloads > Memos and Documents > HSC Project Uploads.

The student and the supervising teacher ensure that any portable storage devices used to submit multimedia Major works are operable and conform to the specifications for the category.

For more information about practical HSC examinations see Understanding HSC practical exams.