VCE English Unit 1

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VCE English Unit 1

• The Context Study

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About the Context

• The Context is Area of Study 2 of the VCE
  English course.
• It is known as Creating and Presenting
• The aim of the study is to create a collection of
  5 pieces of writing.
• The 5 pieces should be directly related to the
  defining context or focus.
• In this Unit, the Context will be The Future
• The process for developing pieces of writing will
  involve working from text to our own writing.
• You will aim to develop your writing, exploring
  the future using different styles and genres
  depending on the purpose and audience.
• One of the pieces you write will be an exposition
  under time-constraints (ie an exam-style timed
  essay). One will be a response to a
  future(istic) film.
• Although we will work through a number of
  specific exercises in class, you are encouraged
  to undertake your own investigation of
  text/writing associated with this study. Explore!
  Find! Consider!
• Respond REACT!

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Writing

• You may develop creative writing in a huge
  variety of formats
• Narrative story
• Newspaper article
• Research paper
• Powerpoint presentation
• Play or speech
• Collection of short pieces
• Short story
• Web page
• Blog
• Cartoon/ Comic strip/Anime/Manga-style story or
  response

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Writing contd

• and styles
• exposition/essay
• poem/s
• script (speech or play)
• letter/s
• satire/burlesque/parody
• report
• diary (could be a blog)
• persuasive/argument
• social commentary
• c h i l d r e n s s t o r y

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Writing still contd

• for different purposes.
• to inform
• to confront, or alarm
• to explore your feelings, or hopes, or fears
• to ridicule or mock
• to predict
• to admire
• to express or provoke regret or nostalgia
• to carp or criticise

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1984

• We will begin with a study of one of the 20th
  centurys most famous novels George Orwells
  1984.

dystopia totalitarianism love social/politica
l control doublethink thought
control newspeak
? W O R D S ?
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1984 and writing

• Mood pessimistic, overbearing, tyrannical,
  split/society, sterile, controlled, bland,
  fearful
• Perspectives to explore Big Brother, the proles,
  the ultimate betrayal, The Party, Goldstein
  political heresy, unperson
• Newspeak language streamlined, simplifed
  dumbed-down EnglishLite

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1984 from character to writing

• Winston - fearful, daring, wants to believe,
  courageous
• Julia hedonistic, practical, sensual
• OBrien duplicitous, controlling, callous,
  single-minded

letters to Julia, or mother a diary newspaper
article (announcing his unpersonification and
re-emergence) someone remembering Winston
love letters (to Winston) statement of
denunciation dialogue with OBrien report on
the progress of Winstons re-education
Powerpoint presentation of social truths,
interview
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1984 - from themes to writing

• 1984 out of date? Has time passed this novel by?
  What has 1984 to say about the world in which we
  live? What techniques are used to eavesdrop on
  people now?
• 1984 2041 Orwell set his novel only 35 years
  in the future what will the world be like in 35
  years time?
• Are we moving closer to dystopia? Or utopia?
• we dont need no thought control How are
  your thoughts controlled? Through the
  telescreen? Ads? The cult of celebrity? The
  entertainment industry?

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Other texts

• Brave New World Aldous Huxley
• Life of Galileo Bertolt Brecht (the past
  informs our view of the future and present!)
• The Prince Machiavelli (the ultimate
  exploration of political and social control?)
• Gattaca
• I Robot
• Blade Runner
• AI Artificial Intelligence

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The outcome is or could be

• One timed exposition. This will be set as an
  in-class exercise. You will be expected to
  discuss a question related to 1984s vision for
  the future.
• One PowerPoint presentation, related to a film
  (or other text) that you read in relation to the
  Future. Your aim will be to connect this text to
  1984 and explore what visions it offers for the
  future.
• And three pieces that you develop, from your own
  impetus, or from exercise begun in class. Perhaps
  
• A future story modelled on Gattaca or
  Bladerunner
• Where will YOU be in 20 years? (A letter from
  the future?)
• A Powerpoint (and speech?) Big Brother is alive
  and well!
• I spy News article on the way Big Brother
  is watching us!