11ENG Unfamiliar Texts Workbook

Unfamiliar texts workbook

1.

a. I inherited my mother's laptop.
b. I got expelled from my school
c. My mother persuaded me to take a break.
d. I had been transferred to another school.
e. The atmosphere around me was horrific.
f. We had been given a large shipment of armament.
g. The lady was pouting her lips because she wanted to look attractive to the group of boys.
h. Ray was the apprentice of the new teacher.
i. The Cavalier was very arrogant.
j. Cameron has been given holy orders to sacrifice a goat.

2.

a. The definition of friendly is kind and pleasant, and a connotation of friendly is hospitable.
b. The definition of persuasion is the act of encouraging or convincing and a connotation of persuasion could be convincing.


Reading the Text

1. Read the story

2. My first impression of this extract is that it is a little off from what I thought it would be about when I read the title because it was mainly about persuading a student's parents when I thought it was about a student persuading another student to do something.

3. I was correct when I predicted that it was about persuasion.
But I was incorrect when I predicted that it would be about students persuading each other.
I think this is because I see a lot of persuasion around our schools such as peer pressure which could influence my thoughts and predictions. One thing that surprised me about the story was

Using the level 3 reading guide

2. Letter d

This is true because his parents were easily persuaded into most things as it was less troubling than having to make their own decisions. For example, Alan easily persuaded his parents that he was repentant enough for a night out when he was grounded at home. This shows that Alan's parents are easily persuaded.

Identifying the point of change

1. The paragraph that we see a point in change is paragraph 5.

2. The change starts as Alan's mini is shown to be the main point suddenly but at this time he had already got a bunch of 'Romeos' which show that he had changed to make the story worse than it already was.

3. The point of change helps us understand the author's purpose. In this case, the point in change helps us know that the author's purpose was to show that as soon as Alan figures out that his parents, principle and school know about his mini, he had taken advantage of that moment to do whatever he wanted. He then attempts at manipulating the principle by giving a friendly smile.

Using the title to help you understand the author's purpose

1. The title is appropriate because it shows how a student gets away with most of his actions.

2. This related to the author's attitude towards the characters in his story because it shows what Alan had been doing in the story. He had been persuading his parents in a kind and convincing way.

3. A different title for the story could be 'Manipulative Convincer' because it shows what Alan had been doing in the story. He had manipulated his parents as to think that he was innocent and also convinced his parents that he could have a night out when he was still grounded.

4. The point in change and title work together to help get the author's purpose by slightly hinting out the author's purpose.

Identifying how the text is communicated

1.

11Eng - 1.3 Exam (Unfamiliar Texts)

For English today, we have been given a task to give 3 pieces of advice I could give to someone aiming for high excellence in the unfamiliar text exam.

• If you see a language feature used, instead of just pointing it out, also add how it made us feel. Use personal voice which is saying what you feel about the text or how it changes your perception of life or even how it connects to something you have experienced.
• You have to go into detail about the emotional effect the text had.
• Maybe add what the author has incorporated into the text from some experience he had in his life.
• Appreciation for the text. Don't make it bland and say "it was okay" but actually go in depth about it.
• Talk in depth about the effect of language features.
• Author's purpose of language features.
• Evaluate or give reasons explaining how well language features work within the text
• Have detailed answers to show a full and deep understanding.
• Explain detailed connections between language features
• Explain and build previous statements and avoid repetition.
• Make mature observations about the text and respond to how you personally feel.

Another task we have been given is summarising the difference between Achieved, Merit and Excellence.

In order to get excellence in the unfamiliar texts exam, you would need to build on previous statements and avoid repetition. Making mature observations about the text and responding personally to the text is something that is not required for merit. You would also need to have detailed answers to show a full and deep understanding of the text.

In order to get merit, you would need