Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the English (Extension 2) Major Work Revised November, 2011
- General Questions
- Print Medium Major Works
- Sound Medium Major Works
- Visual and Multimedia Major Works
General Questions
- How can the English Extension 2 teacher best advise students on whether their proposed Major Work meets syllabus requirements?
- the Viva Voce (addressing the proposal),
- the Report,
- and the Draft Major Work.
The three required assessment tasks are:
The weighting for each is detailed on page 7 of the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009). In constructing the requirements and criteria for each task, there should be a direct relationship with the course outcomes that the task is addressing. Marking guidelines, which relate to the course outcomes, should be developed for each task. The English Extension 2 Support Document and Notes from the Marking Centre are important reference documents for students and teachers. Further, the English Extension 2 Major Work may not be submitted for assessment or examination in any other HSC course.
- Do Major Works need to observe word and time limits?
The word limits and running/performance time are mandated in the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) document. Students are advised to adhere to these word limits. Major Works that fall outside these specifications may appear to lack effective control of form for purpose and audience as described in the English Extension 2 marking guidelines. Word limits do not include the bibliography, footnotes or appendices. These need to be used judiciously and not as a means of expanding the work. The use of these should be justified in the Reflection Statement.
- What do the marking guidelines mean by “originality”? How does a student demonstrate original work?
The English Stage 6 Syllabus states that the Major Work “must be conceived and executed by the student under the supervision of the English teacher” with its development “determined by negotiation between student and teacher and will be formalised in writing”. This means that the Major Work is wholly the student’s own work, requiring the student to develop the concept, undertake an appropriate independent investigation and complete the drafting of the work.
“Originality” refers to the insights and exploration of form presented in the work, for example, offering a fresh and engaging perspective on a concept or text that may have been previously explored by other composers in an appropriate medium for the intended audience and purpose. This is addressed in points one and three in the marking guidelines.
“Originality” can be demonstrated by the student’s independent investigation as evidenced in the Major Work and documented in the Reflection Statement and Major Work Journal which documents the process of composition and investigation.
Sound, visual and multimedia have particular requirements concerning the development of original material and the use of other people in their presentations. Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (pp 12–15) provides the requirements for each medium.
All appropriated or non-original material must be acknowledged. Each medium has specific requirements about the process of acknowledging non-original material and these requirements are outlined in Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (pp 12–15).
Students are reminded of the principles of All My Own Work which should guide their approach to research and the development of ideas and the citing of sources.
- How does the student demonstrate that the Major Work is an extension of study in English (Advanced) and English (Extension 1) courses?
The syllabus requires that the Major Work be an extension of the knowledge, understanding and skills of the Advanced and Extension courses and needs to be clearly identifiable as a project within the English key learning area. The Major Work may be based on the Preliminary and/or HSC patterns of study. As students undertake the HSC coursework for Advanced and Extension 1, the understanding, skills and knowledge may shape the development and direction of the major work. Students’ independent investigation, in both form and concept, should go beyond the resources and texts accessed in coursework in order to be a true extension of both courses. This investigation provides the basis for the student’s original approach to the subject matter and form of the Major Work.
- How should the bibliography and footnotes be formatted?
The syllabus does not mandate any particular system of referencing or citation for bibliographies, reference lists, footnotes or endnotes. Care should be taken to be consistent in the application of whatever style is employed. The style should be appropriate and informed by purpose, audience, medium and/or the intended point of publication. Notes from the Marking Centre – English Extension 2 (2010) advises that annotated bibliographies should be in the journal. Students are reminded that they should acknowledge any work of others, for example, the use of images from other sources in video must be acknowledged in accordance with the principles of All My Own Work. Reference could also be made in the Reflection Statement as to the intended purpose and effect of these images.
- How important is the student’s investigation into form?
The student’s investigation into form is critical to success in English Extension 2 and should be discussed explicitly in the Reflection Statement and evident within the Major Work. The English Extension 2 marking guidelines highlight the importance of this investigation in terms of achieving textual integrity and skilful communication of developed ideas. Web2.0 tools, software, programs and equipment used for editing, construction or manipulation should be discussed in the Reflection Statement. For example, voice-manipulation software that has been employed in Speeches or Radio Drama should be acknowledged and explained in the Reflection Statement in terms of the intended purpose and effect.
- Is the student required to develop a Major Work Journal? What should be included in the journal?
All English Extension 2 students are required to keep a Major Work Journal. This process journal documents the student’s “ongoing, systematic and rigorous investigation into their chosen area” (English Stage 6 Syllabus, p 92) and must contain “a written statement that clearly states the intention agreed to by the student and the teacher/school” (p 130). The journal also has a role in establishing the authenticity of the Major Work in that it includes evidence of investigation into a range of aspects of the student’s independent investigation such as: form and concept; critical, imaginative and speculative reflections; drafts and feedback on drafts; annotated bibliographies; copies of assessment tasks and preparation for these assessment tasks. The Major Work Journal must be submitted with the Major Work. Students are reminded to avoid identification of themselves, their school or teachers. Please refer to the English Extension 2 Support Document (pp 10–11) and the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009).
- Who monitors or looks at the Major Work Journal?
The supervising teacher is required to review students’ journals at least three times at key points during the course for verification purposes. It is recommended that these reviews should correspond with the three internal assessment tasks. The “journal should be accessible, relevant and accurately plot the development of ideas.” (English Extension 2 Support Document, p 11). During the marking process, access to the journal to assist with verification of the Major Work may be required. Furthermore, the Major Work Journal “will be referenced in case of appeals made to the Board of Studies.” (Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) p 8)
- Does the draft submitted for the final internal assessment task need to be the same as the completed Major Work submitted to the Board of Studies?
The English Extension 2 Support Document advises that this should be a draft that provides an opportunity for strategic feedback for the student. It is expected that the final submission of the Major Work would differ from this draft form. Furthermore, the reflection on progress to date could later be “developed and adapted” (p 7) as the basis of the final Reflection Statement.
Print Medium Major Works
- Are visual images able to be used in a Major Work?
The use of visual imagesin the Major Work should be minimal and strategic and need to contribute to the integrity and purpose of the work. However, visual imagesare not assessed on their artistic merit, as outlined in the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (p 9). Textual integrity is described in the marking guidelines.
- Are types and font sizes able to be varied?
The Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (p 10) states that the Major Work should be presented in Arial or Times New Roman size 12. Any variation of the size and/or type of font should only be used to strengthen the overall intention of the Major Work and the rationale for the variation needs to be outlined in the Reflection Statement. Such variations should be used strategically and should not be a substitute for the effective use and manipulation of language.
- Can a variety of types of texts be used in the Major Work?
This is acceptable so long as the major work complies with the parameters for the form in the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) document. The Notes from the Marking Centre highlight that, for example, short stories should substantially be a prose work. So, while graphic novels and children’s picture books are popular forms, they fall outside the parameters for the Short Story form for English Extension 2 and may be more appropriate as inclusions in multimedia or video Major Works. Any use of other forms within the Major Work, for example, sections of poetry within a short story, need to be contextually relevant and clearly justified in the Reflection Statement in terms of the intended purpose and effect on audiences.
Sound Medium Major Works
- Does the student have to be the only performer and writer in a sound medium Major Work?
The student should be the principal performer, the sole writer or the director/ producer. It is acceptable to use software to manipulate sound to create effects and other voices and should be detailed in the Reflection Statement. It is the responsibility of the student to direct or instruct all technical input. If commercial or creative commons sound bites are used, these must be acknowledged in the Reflection Statement as per the principles of All My Own Work. Students should refer to the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (pp 12–13)
- Does the student need to provide a transcript to accompany the Major Work?
Yes. This transcript should be consistent with the final edited Major Work.
- Is the student able to submit multiple speeches or pieces of performance poetry?
Yes. Any decisions regarding the structural elements of the Major Work should be based on intended purpose and audience. The textual integrity of the major work should be enhanced by these decisions. The Notes from the Marking Centre offer further comment relevant to the specific forms.
- Are there scriptwriting conventions unique to radio drama?
The Board of Studies does not stipulate a particular style or format as this may be contingent on the genre or context of the radio drama the candidate is creating. As part of their independent investigation, students will have the opportunity to research conventions and determine the most appropriate for the purposes of their Major Work.
- What is included in the running time of sound media?
Sound that is used as an interval or segue is not counted in the running time. For example, sound effects such as significant musical interludes in speeches are not included in the running time. Sound effects such as knocking or screams in a radio drama are included.
Visual and Multimedia Major Works
- What is included in the running time of video, film and multimedia?
Everything, including credits, count toward the running time of video, film and multimedia.
- What are the guidelines for submitting the Major Work?
Students must ensure that their video or multimedia work can be opened. This should be done by testing it on a number of different types of conventional playing equipment prior to submission. The Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) document details the requirements for each form.
- Can images and music from other sources be used in the Major Work?
These should be acknowledged in the Reflection Statement according to the principles of All My Own Work and should clearly contribute to the textual integrity of the Major Work. While it is acceptable to use other sources, these should be used in such a way that creates new meaning and insight.
- To what extent does the student need to be responsible for pre-production, production and post-production phases of composition?
Students should refer to the Assessment and Reporting English Extension 2 Stage 6 (2009) (pp 13-15) and to Notes from the Marking Centre.
- Does the student need to provide a script to accompany the Major Work?
Yes. The typed script should be consistent with the final edited Major Work. Other formats, such as a story board are not suitable alternatives to a typed script.