No clue what literary worlds are? If you don’t quite understand what you’re studying in the HSC English Extension 1 Common Module rubric, don’t fret!
In this article, we’ll break down the module to give you a nice overview of what it’s all about, tips and tricks. Let’s get into it!
What texts will I be studying?
What does the ‘Literary Worlds’ Common Module rubric mean?
How will I be assessed?
How can I prepare for Literary Worlds assessments?
What will I be studying?
The new 2019 Common Module for HSC Extension 1 English is Literary Worlds, and will likely be the first thing you study in the subject. It will take up approximately a third of your total study (15-20 out of 60 hours) in Extension 1 English.
This module requires you to study:
- A range of short texts with various forms
- One elective option (with three prescribed and two related texts)
If you’re unsure what texts or which elective you will be studying, make sure to check with your teacher! For a full list of all the prescribed texts for each elective, check out the Extension 1 English Syllabus.
What does the ‘Literary Worlds’ Common Module rubric mean?
To really dig deep into what NESA expects from this module, let’s take a close look at the rubric.
Remember that essay questions or creative stimuli for this module will in some way be drawn from the rubric, so it’s very important to familiarise yourself with it. Fortunately, we’ll be breaking it down in the next part so that you don’t have to do it by yourself!
Notice the highlighted phrases and think about what they might mean in the context of the module, Literary Worlds.
“… texts represent and illuminate the complexity of individual and collective lives in literary worlds.”
Firstly, think about the key words:
- Individual—single, separate
- Collective—relating to a group
In the context of the rubric, think of complexity as the intricacy or multifacetedness of the lives presented in the literary worlds of the text. The rubric asks you to consider how the experiences of individual or collective lives within a text may subvert or reflect the contextual conventions of their literary world.
“… critically evaluate representations of experiences of others, including notions of identity, voice and points of view; and how values are presented and reflected in texts.”
Again, take note of the key words:
- Representations—description or portrayal in a particular way
- Values—principles or standards of behaviour; one’s judgement of what is important in life
- Identity—who a person is, the way they think of themselves and how they are viewed by the world
- Voice—a particular opinion or attitude expressed
This particular statement asks you to consider the way that a composer portrays ideas and people in their text. Consider how these ideas are represented—’through experiences, notions of identity, voice and points of view’—and the way contextual values may be reflected.
The portrayal of other people’s experiences (or lack of) can indicate how values are presented in a text. For example, a lack of a woman’s voice or perspective can present patriarchal values, which may have been prevalent during the composer’s time (think context).
“… private, public and imaginary worlds… explore new horizons and offer new insights”
Consider the ideas that are constructed with the lens of these different literary ‘worlds’, and how they might differ from each other as a result.
- Private—a state which is not observed by other people; memoir, biography
- Public—of or concerning people as a whole; text that offers commentary on society
- Imaginary—existing only in the imagination; fiction
For your prescribed text, list out prominent ideas or themes and then identity what literary worlds are constructed (there may be more than one!). From there you’ll be able to start fleshing out ‘new’ insights that are offered through considering ideas or themes within the three categories.
“… how context influences [student’s] responses to diverse literary worlds.”
Consider the way that your own context and values shape your response to a text and the literary world it constructs—do you love it? Hate it?
The rubric asks you to consider how your own context influences your response to a text, and how this may be different from the responses of the audience at the time. This part of the rubric indicates a level of personal insight that is needed in responding to the module and its texts.
To develop your personal response, think about the ways that literary worlds are presented in texts to represent contextual values and how these values may have changed over time.
What is a ‘Literary World?’
Just to summarise in case it’s still unclear (because it is a difficult topic to wrap your head around!), a literary world refers to the setting, themes, characters, and other elements that make up the fictional universe created by an author within a particular literary work.
It encompasses the entire imaginative landscape constructed by the writer, which readers explore and analyse to understand deeper meanings and insights within the text. Here are two famous examples of literary worlds:
- Middle-earth in “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien: Middle-earth is a vast and intricately detailed fictional world inhabited by various races like hobbits, elves, dwarves, humans, and orcs. It includes diverse landscapes like the Shire, Rivendell, Mordor, and the Misty Mountains. The literary world of Middle-earth is rich in history, languages, cultures, and mythologies, providing a complex backdrop for the epic journey of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring.
- Gilead in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood: Gilead is a dystopian society set in a near-future America where a totalitarian regime has taken control. It is a world marked by strict social hierarchies, oppression of women, and theocratic rule. The literary world of Gilead is bleak and oppressive, serving as a reflection of contemporary societal issues such as gender inequality, political extremism, and the abuse of power. Through the lens of Gilead, Atwood explores themes of freedom, resistance, and the consequences of authoritarianism.
How will I be assessed?
The rubric fleshes out how you can be assessed in this module—and how you can prepare to maximise your marks! You will be marked on…
“… critical and creative compositions” and “… how language features and forms are crafted to express complex ideas”
Internal Assessment (In-school)
Your school can assess you through critical (i.e. essay, persuasive) and creative responses (i.e. imaginative piece; short story, poetry) to various texts or stimuli.
Depending on your teacher, it could be an imaginative response assignment (often paired with a reflection statement) or an in-class essay.
Your school will likely have two internal assessments for the Literary Worlds Common module rubric—one during the year and another during trials.
External Assessment (HSC)
The HSC Extension 1 English exam will consist of two sections; Section I: Common Module—Literary Worlds and Section II: Electives.
Section I is where this module will be assessed, and there will be one question in response to a stimulus and/or unseen text. The question can potentially be in two parts—for example an imaginative response and then a reflection—and can require a creative or critical response, or both.
Want to get a sneak peek of how your final HSC exam will look? Here’s our master list of HSC English Past Papers for you!
How can I prepare for the ‘Literary Worlds’ module?
Tip #1: Know the rubric well!
The “Literary Worlds” Common Module rubric contain everything that you need to know to do well in this module!
Read through the rubric carefully and highlight key terms and phrases that you can later practice responding to by rewriting them as critical response questions.
This module requires a lot of conceptual thinking, so it’s a good idea to practice responding to the rubric itself in preparation for your assessments.
The HSC exam involves responding to unseen material (such as text extracts)—so it is very important to have a solid understanding of the rubric to be able to compose a sophisticated Band 6 response.
Tip #2: Know your forms and features!
Familiarise yourself with literary features, especially ones that holistically convey how a composer constructs a text to communicate their ideas and values. Think big picture when it comes to literary worlds!
The HSC may involve unseen texts extracts from a speech to a poem, so be sure to know literary features for a whole range of textual forms.
Tip #3: Write heaps!
Remember that you can be assessed with a creative response, so it is equally important to exercise your creative writing muscles.
Practice writing creatively every day! The more you practice, the quicker you will be able to write and develop sophisticated ideas in relation to Literary Worlds.
Unsure of where to start? Go back to the rubric and come up with composition ideas for each phrase that you’ve highlighted. That way, you’ll be well prepared for whatever they may throw at you during an exam.
Bonus Tip: One of the best ways to practise those creative writing muscles is to keep an English Extension 1 Creative Journal throughout the year!
Tip #4: Read even more!
If you’ve taken English Extension 1 as a subject, there’s a large change that you really like to read. Whether or not that’s the case for you, be sure to expand your reading list past what you’re prescribed!
The more you read, the more literary features, plot devices and ideas that you will expose yourself to. Don’t forget to take note of them and try it out in your own writing!
Kill two birds with one stone and analyse whatever you read through the lens of the rubric. You’ll be able to improve your creative writing and practice responding to unseen texts while drawing on your knowledge of the Literary Worlds module.
And that wraps up our breakdown of the English Extension 1 Common Module rubric for Literary Worlds! Good luck!
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Millicent Tai hopes to one day become a full-time teacher and is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science at UNSW. She enjoys tutoring students at Art of Smart in English and Maths and has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. In her spare time, you can find her avidly reading Christian biographies or fishing in Animal Crossing.
