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

English Studies 11–12 provides students the opportunity to explore the ideas, values, language forms, features and structures of texts from a range of contexts. Through responding to and composing texts, students strengthen their ability to access and comprehend information, assess its reliability and synthesise the knowledge gained from a range of sources for a variety of purposes.

Through the study of English Studies 11–12, students:

• develop and use communication skills for a range of purposes and audiences
• find information and perspectives that will inform their understanding of ideas
• make inferences about the meaning of language based on context
• express personal experiences and opinions and develop skills as independent learners.

Year 11 course structure and requirements

For the English Studies Year 11 course, students are required to:

• complete 120 indicative hours
• complete Reading to write: Transition to English Studies as the first unit of work
• complete an additional 2–3 elective focus areas.

Text requirements

There are no prescribed texts for Year 11.

Students are required to study ONE substantial multimodal text, which could be film or media.

Students are required to study ONE substantial print text, which could be prose fiction, nonfiction, poetry or drama.

Across Stage 6, the selection of texts must give students experience of:

• texts that are widely regarded as quality literature
• a range of Australian texts
• a range of texts authored by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• a range of types of texts, which could include prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media and digital texts
• texts with a wide range of cultural, social and gender perspectives, and popular and youth cultures
• integrated modes of reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing, where appropriate.

Year 12 course structure and requirements

For the English Studies Year 12 course, students are required to:

• complete the Year 11 course as a prerequisite
• complete 120 indicative hours
• complete Narrative and human experiences, Writing for purpose and an additional 2 elective focus areas

Text requirements

Students are required to study a wide range of texts, with ONE substantial text drawn from each of the following categories:

• print text, which could be prose fiction, nonfiction, poetry or drama
• multimodal text, which could be film or media.

For Narrative and human experiences, students are required to study:

• ONE text from the prescribed text list.

For Writing for purpose, students are required to study:

• At least FOUR short texts from the prescribed text list

Across Stage 6, the selection of texts must give students experience of:

• texts that are widely regarded as quality literature
• a range of Australian texts
• a range of texts authored by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• a range of types of texts, which could include prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media and digital texts
• texts with a wide range of cultural, social and gender perspectives, and popular and youth cultures
• integrated modes of reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing, where appropriate.

The Loading  provides essential information for HSC study for all English 11–12 courses.

Safety and risk management

Schools are required to ensure they follow Loading  in delivering the English Studies 11–12 Syllabus.

Across Stage 6, the study of a range of texts authored by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples should consider:

• the artistic and Cultural value of these texts, including ideas, arguments and representations of identity, histories and Cultures
• how Country/Place, Community and lived experiences shape the perspectives of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Storytellers and audiences
• ethical responsibilities surrounding Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) in the production of texts
• how Storytelling, Aboriginal Languages and Aboriginal English are expressions of Culture, identity and Customary practices
• how the modes of these texts may recognise and contribute to Cultural conventions or practices of oral Storytelling
• how Cultural symbolism, imagery, allusion and irony are used to shape meaning
• how personal values and perspectives are broadened and reconsidered through engagement with these texts
• texts that originate from a range of diverse Communities.