The Unit 6 Plan

[Steve Shann]

Read this Unit Plan (pages 1-6) and, in the Ning forum called ‘The Unit 6 Plan’, answer these questions:
What have you noticed?
What have you wondered?
What motivates you?
What concerns you?

[Chan C]

I have noticed that the unit plan does not mention about
the exam anywhere, and that is exactly what I wonder too,
why it isn't in there?
What motivates me in this unit is that we will continue on comparing
difference in film and a book, that was interesting last term.
My biggest concern is the CAT. as it asks us to remake the
of mice and men in Australian context, it is harder for me as I don't
really know what is the 'Australian context'

[Steve Shann]

An understandable concern Chan.
What might you do about this? Let me know your thoughts.

[ScottyMurn]

Having read the first 6 pages of the unit plan, it was very apparent that the theme of "page to screen" will be evaily continued with this new book. However, I also noticed that the context and audience is much more a focus, and is a highly relevant aspect of the upcoming CAT. I also noticed the corolation between all work pieces, and as such I was able to recognise the speed of understanding necessary for this unit. I noticed the concept of different film mediums is present, and can be easily noticed as the way in which a text is successful or not.

Having seen only the booklet from a distance, I wondered why it was yellow (no doubt continuing the colourful theme). I also noticed the tasks requiring us to choose a third text, and am sure this choice will very heavily affect our learning and understanding of the patterns and links between "page to screen" texts. I also wondered why such a heavy emphasis is placed on the study of a third text (many options are provided), but am certain that in some way connections and as such enhanced learning will be able to occur.

Motivation is perhaps not the best word, but what my goals and motivation combined makes me strive to achieve. Of course, my primary aim of this unit is to enhance my learning about the book, subject and literature as much as I can, and hope that my marks reflect the work I put in. I am encouraged by the exam prospect to learn as much as I can, and I hope that my knowledge will also be able to translate into teaching and assistance for others when we do group work.

What concerns me most is the workload. I have no doubt if I manage my time well this will not be a problem, but an intense workload approaches as we near exam time. Because of this, I am concerned for my learning and appreciation of the famous text, and thus what I can demonstrate I have learned from the teaching.

[Adrian]

1. I noticed that once again the bludgeoning approach has been adopted for the whole assessment task and exam business. I know it's last term of the year and all, but is both a CAT and an exam really necessary? why not just one or the other, there is, after all, last terms assessment to fall back on.

2. While this is not connected to the unit plan and may sound a bit repetitive, Why does the English department keep on choosing sad and depressing books to study? (Animal Farm, 1984, Romeo and Juliet (Yes, I know the argument, but R+J is a tragedy, not a comedy) and finally Of Mice and Men). I only ask because I still haven't received an answer to that question. (When I asked last I was merely drawn into an argument over whether Romeo and Juliet is in fact sad)

3. One of the things that motivates me would have to be choosing a third text on the 'American Dream'. Just the huge variety on the texts proffered by the unit plan is in itself kind of, dare I say it, exciting. Plus, the option of choosing novels, poems, movies or songs gives any student a huge variety of texts, so they can either choose something that really interests them or something that they are not at all familiar with. However,

4. Perhaps the student does not have enough choice, or the choices are in themselves limited. I am thinking of negative aspects of the American Dream. Only one of the texts (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), Scarface, reflects poorly on the American Dream. With that limited viewpoint of the American Dream, I'm concerned that we will be only allowed to choose one of the texts that the English Department has given us and not one of our own choice.

[Steve Shann]

Your first comment - about the 'bludgeoning approach' - made me smile ('this sounds so like Adrian!), but also made me wonder about our collective thinking about assessment. IT IS SUCH A SHAME (and it's certainly not your fault) that at school we tend to think of assessment as some kind of weapon to hit students over the head with. Unfortunately, some of the language that we use about assessment (have a look at the notices up on the classroom walls) reinforces this view. But that's not what assessment should be about. It's an opportunity for you to show what you have learned. And those of us who have had a hand in designing these assessments on Page to Screen have gone to some trouble to try to make them interesting activities that give you that opportunity.

About sad texts. You don't like the way I make the argument into whether or not these texts really are sad. Fair enough. I wouldn't argue that M&M isn't sad ... but I would argue strongly that it's not JUST sad. There is a lot in it that is also about the human spirit, about loyalty and about friendship and love.

There are more than one text there which reflects poorly on the American Dream, esp (but not only) in the poetry section. Explore it a bit more and see what you can find.

I do appreciate these healthy and substantial challenges.

[DanB]

I have noticed that there is no information about the exam in the unit plan, or the CAT. I have also noticed that most of the unit is about the comparison of books to films. I wondered why this is. I also wondered why no information about the CAT or Exam are in the plan. What motivates me most about this unit is the comparative component. Seeing the differences that directors have to make to the story-line is an intriguing an interesting process which I love to study. What concerns me is amount of work that seems to be given in the plan. With both the CAT and Exam, this could be a tough term.

[Steve Shann]

The CAT is described there Dan. Both are outlined in the documents on the front page of this Ning. Let me know if you'd like me to show you exactly where.

[CamBZ]

1. Naturally as this is the fourth term, it will require more work. The new unit plan clearly demonstrates this, in that there is a lot of 'stuff' that needs to be done this term. I noticed that this term also has an emphasis on group work and a lot of less class presentation, which has had a larger focus in previous terms.

2. I've been wondering how we'll be able to cope with the amount of work that has bee set for the end of this year, particularly with English because there is so much of it to get through. I'm also a bit confused as to how "Of Mice & Men" is a relevant text to use for this terms work.

3.Motivation, The book is somewhat appealing and other than that I just want to get everything over and done with, regardless of what it is...

4.the workload seems a bit big... Also the assessment task where we have to write a 'convincing' letter to a production studio for a film?

[Max]

1. i noticed the high work load, and also that our English studies are getting harder as me move towards the year 11 studies

2.i have wondered how some of the third texts are related to this course of study thew majority are in the book and film version that I'm unsure about are they related to Steinbeck or the American dream?

3.i'm motivated by the group work and all the possibilities for the third texts.

4.what concerns me is that the unit is very compact and i will miss key points of info and other points whilst juggling other commitments.

[Swampster]

1. A lot of it is focussed on the film, rather than the book. I also noticed that it is a lot of work in a very short time.
2. I wondered why there is so much work being done in around 6-7 weeks when some of this could have been given to us last term.
3. My desire to learn is my chief motivation.
4. I am concerned by the amount of work that I will need to do, especially as I have a lot of other things, chiefly The Truth, to do as well.

[Alex]

1. i have noticed that this unit plan is quite a thicker booklet than the last, and it has alot of work for us to do in just 8 weeks

2. i was wondering how the CAT and the exams are going to work this term and what will be involved in them

3. im looking forward to watching and studying older films because im intersted to see the techniques used and how they have evolved over the years

4. im concerned that we have to much work to do in such a small space of time, and we also have to learn about famous speeches and poems aswell.

[Eliot]

1) I have noticed that for pages 5 and 6 all the questions follow on from the past question on each page, and are quiet open to the responce, ie its up to you.

2) I have wondered what these tasks have to do with our end of semester tests and exams. How much of the exam will be on 'Of Mice And Men'.

3) I am motivated mostly by this book, because personally i find it quite interesting and capturing. I think that this will be good to study.

4) My concerns lie mostly with time vs amount of work to be done, however i have read what Dr Shann said and this does make it less of a concern.