BlogLearnThe Guide to Year 11 Module A: Contemporary Possibilities

The Guide to Year 11 Module A: Contemporary Possibilities

HSC Standard English Module A: Contemporary Possibilities

Just started Year 11 English Standard Module A: Contemporary Possibilities but have no idea what it’s about?

You’re in the right place!

Let us walk you through what this module is all about PLUS give you some tips and tricks to getting a Band 6!

So, let’s jump in and get into all the details of it!

What is Contemporary Possibilities all about?
What You Need to Be Able to do

What is Year 11 Module A: Contemporary Possibilities all about?

‘Contemporary’ means the time we’re living in right now and ‘possibilities’ refers to the new options for creators generated by new technologies, such as the Internet.

‘Contemporary Possibilities’ also works both ways, meaning that not only will the module look at how these new technologies allow new ways of creating texts, but also new ways to respond to them, too.

Let’s take a look at what the syllabus says:

Year 11 Standard English Module A

Rather than looking at the ways that experiences are represented through distinctive voices or the distinctively visual, the new Module A focuses particularly on the process of engaging with meaning. 

You can find the rest of the English syllabus!

There’s a lot of information in that Year 11 Module A description, so let’s break down what you need to be able to do.

What You Need to Be Able to do in Contemporary Possibilities

#1: Respond to Multimedia, Multimodal and Nonlinear Texts

students extend knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the ways that different communication technologies shape the ways that we read, navigate, understand and respond to multimedia, multimodal and nonlinear texts

This is a long-winded way of saying you’ll be exploring a diverse array of texts to examine how they convey meaning and impact readers.

What exactly is a diverse array of texts?

Good question! In this module, ‘texts’ means a lot more than books and films. This could include websites, apps, poems, or videos. The ‘contemporary possibilities’ are endless (haha).

For example, ‘nonlinear’ texts means texts that aren’t straightforward. This could mean a text that allows you to engage with its parts in any order you want. ‘Multimodal’ refers to any text that engages with an audience in more than one ways.

For instance, film is an example of a multimodal textual medium, because it conveys information not only through the visual, but through sound.

Another example would be a phone application, which uses visual communication, audio communication, and linguistic communication, this is also an example of a nonlinear text.

In this new module, there is also a focus on how new technologies allow for the texts to convey meaning in other mediums than their original medium. Meaning that new text forms and technologies allow for a text to be communicated in more than one medium.

For example, a composer of a film not only uses the film to convey meaning, but can use the medium of social media such as Facebook and Youtube to make accounts from the characters’ perspectives.

This is how a composer might use more than one medium to convey the meaning of a text. Using more than one medium will also change the response of an audience to a text.

Action Point:

Step 1: Ask your teachers what texts you’ll be looking at and find them!

Ideally you will have read, watched or at least looked at your texts before you start Module A. If not, make sure you take a look as soon as possible! You should be at least familiar with the basics of your texts before you visit them in class.

It would be a good idea to start looking at different examples of multimodal texts, and familiarise yourself with how their form determines their meaning.

Step 2: Get searching for related texts and familiarise yourself with the relevant technologies.

Firstly, read our amazing article on finding the perfect related text. Then… read your related text/s!

If you’re unsure or need help, you can ask your teacher for advice on which texts would work well. In particular, look for texts which use features that would not be possible without modern technologies.

A good example of this is SBS’s ‘The Boat’ online adaptation.

In addition, it would be good to find out what technologies your assessment will require early, to ensure you can get access it, and know how to use it.

#2: Conduct a Close Study of Selected Texts

students develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the power of communication technologies to reach a broad audience for a range of purposes and the significance of this mode of communication in a global world

Through this module you’ll be exploring how a composer controls and shapes the way the audience responds to a text.

How does a composer control and shape the way an audience responds to a text?

Composers do this by using aural, language and visual devices to communicate their meaning to the responder.

However, context will play a large part in doing well in this module. The context of both the composer and the responder changes the way meaning of a text is interpreted.

Context is also important because changes in context involve changes in technology. If there is a change in technology, there are new opportunities for composers to produce and convey meaning and therefore different ways of creating texts and to examine such texts.

Action Point:

Step 1: Get acquainted with literary, aural and visual techniques

To conduct a close study of a text and to understand how and why a composer composes in a certain way, you need to understand your devices and techniques!

If you’re a little rusty on your techniques and devices, we’ve got you covered with articles on Literary Techniques you need to know and a Visual Techniques Cheatsheet!

Step 2: Get started on your TEE Tables

Once you’ve brushed up on your techniques, it’s time to apply that knowledge to your texts!

Creating a TEE Table is the best way to develop a ‘bank’ of examples of ways composers create meaning in their texts. This will serve as part of your study notes for English AND make it easier for you to find examples in your texts to back up your arguments in essays and analysis.

If you need some help getting started on your TEE Table for Module A, we’ve got an awesome article to help you out!

#3: Compose your own Multimodal and Digital Texts

through their responding and composing students gain increasing confidence in experimenting with a range of language and visual forms and features to individually or collaboratively design and create their own multimodal or digital texts

Using the knowledge you’ve gained from closely studying texts, the next step is to compose your own texts! In this module however, composing your own texts might mean more than simply writing a short creative story.

Because the focus of the module is on a diverse range of text types, you can theoretically be asked to compose any text type as an assessment.

Action Point:

Step 1: Practice, practice, practice!

The key to good writing in Year 11 Module A: Contemporary Possibilities is practice. But not only practicing your creative writing and short stories, but writing in a variety of nonlinear, multimodal text types.

If you need some help getting started, check out our ultimate guide to Band 6 Creative Writing! Now, this series was focused on writing for the HSC Area of Study ‘Discovery’, but the nuts and bolts of creative writing is all there!

In Summary

The new Year 11 Module A ‘Contemporary Possibilities’ module replaces the ‘Experiences Through Language’ module.

Rather than purely literary texts, the Year 11 Module A extends the study of texts to multimodal texts that engage in a number of ways.

Assessment will concentrate on student’s skills to both interpret how new options are available to creators due to new technologies, as well as how new ways of responding are possible in our current era.

Are you looking for a tutor to help you ace Year 11 Module A: Contemporary Possibilities?

We pride ourselves on our inspirational HSC English coaches and mentors!

We offer tutoring and mentoring for Years K-12 in a large variety of subjects, with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at our state of the art campus in Hornsby or the Hills!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational tutor and mentor get in touch today! 

Give us a ring on 1300 267 888, email us at [email protected] or check us out on Tiktok!

Cameron Croese is a qualified English teacher, who has a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) / Bachelor of Arts (English) from Macquarie University and is currently undertaking a Masters of Education in Melbourne. A long-time Art of Smart coach, Cameron has supported over 60 students from Years 7 to 12! When not studying, Cameron is an avid writer, having won several awards for short stories, including the Alan Marshall Short Story Award.

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