Breaking Down: Unit 3/4 Text Response

Do you feel like this guy when you read through VCAA’s Study Design?

Well… we are about to fix that.

"Astronomer by Candlelight" (1660s) – Gerrit Dou

This is the first episode of our series ‘Breaking Down’ where we go through the nitty-gritty details of VCAA’s VCE English Study Design. In this first episode, we cover ‘Reading and Responding to Texts’ also known as Text Response in Year 12.

Check out the full video below but if you want a little summary of what we cover, scroll down!

(psst, if you only want to check out a certain section just click on the sub - heading you want and it will take you straight to that part of the video)

1. What is the difference between Year 11 and Year 12?

   Year 11 includes a ‘personal’ response where your thoughts, experiences and opinions can be used as evidence. You, additionally, are ‘exploring’ the text whereas, in Year 12, the focus is narrowed. In Year 12 you are required to have a deeper understanding of the text and consider the context of the text itself in your analysis.

2. What exactly is the ‘reading and responding to texts’ task?

   In both Unit 3 and Unit 4, you must write ‘an analytical response to a text in written form’ (VCAA, 2024). This is essentially what most refer to as a ‘Text Response’ essay. They are worth 40 marks each out of their respective unit’s 100 marks. Unit 3 and Unit 4 are each worth 25% of your Study Score therefore the ‘reading and responding to texts’ SACs are each worth 10% of your study score.

   This is what VCAA describes the task to be:

   Unit 3

   “Analyse ideas, concerns and values presented in a text, informed by the vocabulary, text structures and language features and how they make meaning.”

   Unit 4

   “Analyse explicit and implicit ideas, concerns and values presented in a text, informed by vocabulary, text structures and language features and how they make meaning.”

   Note: the only difference between the descriptions of the task between Unit 3 and Unit 4 is that in Unit 4 there is the addition of ‘explicit and implicit ideas’ whereas in Unit 3 it is simply ‘ideas.’

3. Is there a difference between the TR in Unit 3 and Unit 4?

   The tasks are relatively the same. TR in Units 1 - 4 are a part of a developing progression of skills therefore Unit 4 requires slightly more mastered skills than Unit 3, it is not a huge difference, however.

   Essentially Unit 4 is asking for more nuanced and complex analysis than Unit 3.

   Unit 4 asks for the following (bolded parts are new in Unit 4):

   1. Analyse the implicit and explicit ideas

   2. How the context and values of the text contribute to meaning and shape readers’ understanding

   3. How the values of the text are conveyed.

      Essentially Unit 4 is asking for more nuanced and complex analysis than Unit 3.
      

4. What do you need to look for when you are analysing your text?

   VCAA have outlined explicitly what you are expected to ‘explore and analyse:” (Unit 4)

   • the dynamics of a text including:

     • characters’ motivations

     • the tensions in relationships

     • the function of settings

     • the complexities of plot

     • the role of point of view

   • the explicit and implicit ideas presented in a text

   • how the historical context, and the social and cultural values in a text contribute to meaning and shape readers’ understanding

   • how the values in a text are conveyed

   • the impact of the vocabulary, text structures and language features on a text

   • how these elements shape meaning

     Want to see me analyse Shrek in line with VCAA’s outline above? Go check out our video.
     

5. How are you meant to write the essay?
   

   VCAA does not outline one rigid and specific way that you have to write the essay. The ‘text response’ has been around for a while and there are lots of variations in the essays that work for different people. Here is one version of a paragraph structure that I find works well and helps you tick all the boxes:

   • Topic Sentence

     • Argumentative

     • Connected to the prompt

     • Refers to the text

   • Context statement

     • Optional transition sentence to help make the shift to evidence seamless.

   • Sub argument 1

     • Evidence

       • Text structures + quotes

     • Analysis

       • Inc. authorial/ directorial intent (views and values)

   • Sub argument 2

     • Repeat above

   • Sub argument 3

     • Repeat above

   • Linking Sentence

     • summarises your paragraph’s argument and connects back to the prompt (NOTE: not a link to the next para)

     See our video for more information on breaking down prompts and the conclusion.
     

6. What do VCAA expect from me?

   For the roughly 40,000 students sitting the VCE English exam, you will all be marked with the same rubric. For the SACs however, your school can use VCAA’s sample rubric, can make their own rubric or can adapt other rubrics to your cohort, therefore this section is specifically about the exam’s rubric NOT your SAC rubric.
   

   There are 3 areas of interest to VCAA in their rubric, your:

   • Understanding the text

     • Knowledge of the text

     • Ideas concerns and values of the text

     • Language and structure of the text
       

   • Response to the prompt

     • Your understanding of the prompt

     • Your use of the text as justification
       

   • Writing skills

     • The organisation of your piece

     • Your language + communication

Want more detail or to hear someone explain each of these components?

Check out our episode of ‘Breaking Down: Reading and Responding to Texts’ on our YouTube channel!