Term 1: Reading, Connection, and Big Ideas
What this term is about
Term 1 focuses on reading, thinking, and making connections across texts that grapple with big human questions. We will explore how writers and filmmakers respond to ideas such as identity, power, belonging, truth, responsibility, and the pressures of the modern world.
This term is deliberately reading-rich and discussion-focused. You will be encouraged to read widely, think independently, and develop your own responses rather than search for “right answers”.
How learning works
Learning this term is centred on:
- sustained reading (both shared and independent)
- discussion and dialogue
- close reading and analysis
- making connections across texts, ideas, and contexts
You will engage with a small number of shared texts as reference points, while also beginning an independent reading programme that allows for genuine personal choice.
You are encouraged to bring your own interests, questions, and perspectives into the course. There is space for students who enjoy discussion, critical thinking, quiet reading, or reflective writing.
Anchor texts
(These may be adjusted in response to the class.)
- Gattaca (dir. Andrew Niccol) — identity, control, and human potential
- Selected short texts (fiction and non-fiction) exploring agency, conformity, and resistance
- Independent reading texts chosen by students, with guidance and check-ins
Some texts act as shared reference points rather than fixed content to be “covered”.
Independent reading
All students begin an independent reading programme in Term 1. You will choose texts that interest you and that can sustain deeper thinking over time. This reading continues across the year and is formally assessed later.
Independent reading is supported through:
- reading check-ins
- discussion
- short written responses
- conferencing with the learning advisor
Assessment (offered in Term 1)
Level 2
- 91104 — Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence
(4 credits, Internal, UE Reading) - 91106 — Form developed personal responses to independently read texts
(4 credits, Internal — begins this term, assessed later)
Level 3
- 91478 — Respond critically to significant connections across texts, supported by evidence
(4 credits, Internal)
Students will be supported to choose assessment pathways that align with their level, goals, and readiness. Not all students will complete all assessments offered.
How this term supports the year
Term 1 lays the foundation for the entire course. The reading, thinking, and ideas developed here will be drawn on later for visual text analysis, research, and writing portfolio work. Students who engage thoughtfully in Term 1 often find later assessments more manageable and meaningful.