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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12English Studies 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 11

Elective focus areas

The following elective focus areas can be selected for Year 11 or Year 12.

Elective J: Representing the past

Through the study of texts in this focus area, students develop an understanding of the ways in which texts can represent significant events, people and achievements of the past at local and global levels. They develop knowledge, understanding and skills in comprehending and using terminology, styles and language forms necessary for analysing, discussing, responding to and evaluating general issues and topics relating to an exploration of the past. Students consider how individual and collective histories are represented and understood in a variety of contexts. They extend their knowledge and understanding of history by exploring notions of the past in acts of storytelling and historical texts.

Students engage with a range of literary and other texts that offer representations of people and events from the past. They have the opportunity to experience, engage with, critique and create literary and other texts in print, spoken, visual and electronic forms. Texts may depict events, individuals and communities in factual or imaginative ways, and may include extended texts such as novels, biographies, autobiographies, films and plays, as well as a variety of shorter texts.

Understanding
  • The ways language forms and features are used to communicate ideas and shape meaning

  • Explicit and implicit meaning in texts

  • The ways mode and medium can influence language and structure

  • The ways that audience, purpose and context shape meaning in a variety of social, community and workplace texts

Responding
  • Compose a variety of texts that use language forms and features to present particular attitudes, values and perspectives

  • Compose critical texts that use appropriate evidence to support a clear point of view

  • Use complex sentences to communicate the relationship between ideas in a range of texts

  • Use appropriate textual forms and structures to communicate information and ideas

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