English Common Module Notes

COMMON MODULE: TEXTS AND HUMAN EXPERIENCES

THE SYLLABUS RUBRIC

In this common module students deepen their understanding of how texts represent individual
and collective human experiences. They examine how texts represent human qualities and
emotions associated with, or arising from, these experiences. Students appreciate, explore,
interpret, analyse and evaluate the ways language is used to shape these representations in a
range of texts in a variety of forms, modes and media.
Students explore how texts may give insight into the anomalies, paradoxes and
inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations, inviting the responder to see the world
differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally. They may also
consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and
cultures. By responding to a range of texts they further develop skills and confidence using
various literary devices, language concepts, modes and media to formulate a considered
response to texts.
Students study one prescribed text and a range of short texts that provide rich opportunities to
further explore representations of human experiences illuminated in texts. They make
increasingly informed judgements about how aspects of these texts, for example context,
purpose, structure, stylistic and grammatical features, and form shape meaning. In addition,
students select one related text and draw from personal experience to make connections
between themselves, the world of the text and their wider world.
By responding and composing throughout the module students further develop a repertoire of
skills in comprehending, interpreting and analysing complex texts. They examine how
different modes and media use visual, verbal and/or digital language elements. They
communicate ideas using figurative language to express universal themes and evaluative
language to make informed judgements about texts. Students further develop skills in using
metalanguage, correct grammar and syntax to analyse language and express a personal
perspective about a text.
UNPACKING THE COMMON MODULE RUBRIC
It is important to unpack the rubric for the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences
as it will provide you with an understanding of what is expected of you in this module. Your
teacher will guide you through the rubric. As you read it, underline important words and
sentences. You should also identify any phrases or ideas that are unclear and discuss them in
order to clarify what they mean.
Essentially, in the Common Module, you will focus on the concept of REPRESENTATION
by closely looking at how texts represent INDIVIDUAL and COLLECTIVE HUMAN
EXPERIENCES. As you do this you will consider:

 What aspects of human experiences are represented in texts?

 How do texts represent these aspects of human experiences?
 How well do texts represent aspects of human experience?

The rubric indicates that in looking at representations of individual and collective human
experiences, you will consider human qualities and emotions, human behaviour and
motivations and the anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies that may exist in relation to
human behaviour and motivations. The rubric implies that human experiences are complex.
When exploring how human experiences are represented in texts, you need to consider what
composers are doing to make meaning. This means analysing:

 Language
 Forms, modes and media
 Structure, stylistic and grammatical features
 Visual, verbal and/or digital language elements of different modes and media

The rubric also indicates that you will be composing texts in response to the texts you study
as part of this module, as well as composing your own imaginative texts that represent
aspects of human experience.
Small summary ->
Representation

Context

Purpose

Audience

Form

Language

Common mod – study notes:

 - Question to think about: WHAT HAS ARTHUR MILLER DONE?

Representation: The way ideas are portrayed and represented in texts, using language
devices, forms, features, and structures of texts to create specific views about characters,
events and ideas. Representation applies to all language modes: spoken, written, visual and
multimodal.

Representing: The language mode that involves composing images in visual or multimodal
texts. These images and their meaning are composed using codes and conventions. The term
can include such activities as graphically presenting the structure of a novel, making a film,
composing a web page or enacting a dramatic text.

- How human experiences have been represented -> e.g. Miller crafts representation of
human experiences (characters are tools and reveals things + are tools that the author
uses) --> What he has done that is really integral to the comm module
 A study in representation – HAVE to be talking about representation
(Representations of human experience)

Every essay -->

- Always talking about representation
- Thinking about language (e.g. NOT ‘John Proctor reveals...’ but ‘Miller reveals
THROUGH John Proctor...) Step outside the snowglobe/book
- Essay ABOUT human experience --> crucible is a tool in which you make connections
about human experience.

Note:
- Lead point: Thesis statements that say something about human experience (NOT a
comment about john proctor or religion) – lead with human experience.
- Broad statements about human experience
- Through which characters do you see (...) to support your thesis.
- Representation of human experience --> work way through text --> quotes

Definitions –

Human:

Human nature: Characteristics, features, behaviours (more individual)

Human experience:

Humanity: Collective (less individual)

Humane: Having compassion

Quotes for human experience --> brainy quote

- Look for quotes for human experience (things that provoke thought – relation to the
crucible)
- Should define human experience in the introduction of an essay --> could start with a
pure definition or a quote.