Level 2 Overview

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Welcome to Level 2!

The most important thing to understand at Level 2 is how to ANALYSE. To analyse means to correctly describe HOW language has been used and then to explain WHY it has been used that way. If your analysis is convincing, it will achieve with merit. If it is perceptive, it will achieve with excellence.

“To ANALYSE means to describe HOW impact was created and to explain WHY. It is about showing that you understand the message of a text, how it was communicated and for what purpose.” Mrs Mitchell

One of the important goals at Level 2 is University Entrance Literacy. This requires you to gain 5 Reading and 5 Writing literacy credits. Not all the achievement standards at Level 2 will offer literacy credits. In fact, there are currently only three Level 2 internal achievement standards that offer writing literacy credits. These are:

  • English 2.4 (Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing – 6 credits),
  • Media Studies 2.8 (Write a developed media text for a specific target audience – 3 credits),
  • Drama Studies 2.8 (Script a scene suitable for drama performance – 4 credits).
  • Several subjects have literacy credits available in the external exams.

So as you can see – passing the 2.4 English Writing standard is very valuable.

 

Below is an overview of the achievement standards offered at Level 2 in English. The first 3 are EXTERNAL exams. The rest are graded internally. Literacy credits are highlighted below, along with the regular credits that may be earned.

Level 2 Achievement Standard Skills required for the standard Selection of tasks required for achieving the standard Credits/ Literacy credits
EXTERNAL 2.1Analyse specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s), supported by evidence
  • Read text(s).
  • Gain an in depth understanding of the context, features and purposes of the text(s).
  • Describe HOW and explain WHY the text has been crafted to meet certain purposes and audiences.
  • Use evidence from the text(s) to prove your analysis.
  • Work in class.
  • Practice essay.
  • Pass external.
 (2.1) 4 Reading or 4 Writing
2.2Analyse specified aspect(s) of studied visual or oral text(s), supported by evidence
  • View text(s).
  • Gain an in depth understanding of the context, features and purposes of the text(s).
  • Describe HOW and explain WHY the text has been crafted to meet certain purposes and audiences. 
  • Use evidence from the text(s) to prove your analysis.
  • Work in class.
  • Practice essay.
  • Pass external.
 (2.2) 4 Writing
2.3Analyse significant aspects of unfamiliar written text(s) through close reading, supported by evidence
  • Learn language features so that you can detect meaning in a new text.
  • Describe HOW and explain WHY the text has been crafted to meet certain purposes and audiences. 
  • Use evidence from the text(s) to prove your analysis.
  • Work in class.
  • Practice test.
  • Pass external.
 (2.3) 4 Reading or 4 Writing
INTERNAL 2.4Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing
  • Learn how to use language features and the crafting process to produce writing that develops and sustains  ideas.
  • Use features to craft a style, structure, tone, pace and impact suitable to fulfill purpose and connect with the desired audience.
  • Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
  • Draft #1Draft #2.
  • Polished final #1.
  • Polished final #2.
  • Optional extra drafts.
 (2.4) 6 Writing
2.5Construct and deliver a crafted and controlled oral text
  • Learn how to use oral language features to produce a crafted and controlled oral text that develops ideas.
  • Use features to craft a style, structure, tone, pace and impact suitable to fulfill purpose and connect with the desired audience.
  • Transcript.
  • Deliver speech.
 (2.5) 3
2.6Create a crafted and controlled visual and verbal text
  • Learn how to use visual and verbal language features to create a visual essay that develops and sustains ideas.
  • Use features to craft a structured and impactful text that fulfills its purpose and connects with the desired audience.
  • Planning.
  • Carefully select visual and verbal features that fulfill your purpose.
  • Create a series of connected images that successfully develop ideas.
 (2.6) 3
2.7Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence
  • Learn how to identify and discuss significant connections between texts.
  • Choose 1 connection (a theme, or director, or purpose, etc). Identify 3 aspects of the connection.
  • Write an essay with 3 body paragraphs. In each paragraph, analyse one aspect of the connection in relation to the 4 texts. 
  • Use evidence from the text(s) to prove your analysis.
  • Read 4 texts.
  • Choose a connection and 3 aspects of that connection.
  • Write an essay describing HOW and WHY those aspects are active in the texts chosen and HOW and WHY they demonstrate a connection.
  • Go beyond the text to apply these connecting ideas to yourself and the wider world.
 (2.7) 4
2.8Use information literacy skills to form developed conclusion(s)
  • Learn how to process information.
  • Determine what info you want by forming a valid hypothesis and supporting its inquiry with 3 relevant key questions.
  • Find info.
  • Process info.
  • Evaluate info.
  • Using the info, answer the questions.
  • Using these answers, form developed conclusions about the questions and the hypothesis.
  • Form hypothesis and 3 key questions.
  • Find and process info.
  • Evaluate info.
  • Complete research booklet.
  • Reference sources.
  • Final report that includes developed conclusions
 (2.8) 4 Reading
2.9Form developed personal responses to independently read texts, supported by evidence
  • Express how you have personally responded to particular ideas found in a text you have read.
  • Use evidence from the text to support your response. 
  • Describe HOW and explain WHY you responded to the idea that way, using specific examples from your life or society. 
  • Critically analyse the text by evaluating  its effectiveness, its strengths, weaknesses or assumptions.
  • Read 2 novels and 4 other texts.
  • Respond to each.
  • Pass all 6 responses.
 (2.9) 4 Reading
2.10Analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close reading
  • Learn how to read the language features used in film so that you can describe HOW and WHY they are used to reach an audience for a purpose.
  • ‘Close reading’ means to look and listen carefully to the deliberately crafted details of a scene and to notice how techniques are used together to build meaning.
  • Use evidence from the scene to prove your analysis.
  • Understand that the way we, the audience, interpret meaning is linked to the experiences we have already had in society or in our own lives. Neither we, nor the director, writer, etc, live(d) in a vacuum. Therefore, all the meaning in the film can be traced back to influences from the wider world. Identify those links for excellence.
  • Choose and close read one film scene.
  • Choose 4 aspects of film that featured strongly in that scene.
  • Describe in detail the way that aspect was used in the scene, focussing on at least 2 specific examples (techniques) per aspect.
  • Describe HOW each of the details in your examples created meaning and thereby an effect for the audience.
  • Explain WHY they were used to fulfil that purpose by the director. ‘Purpose’ will link to the main themes of the film.
  • Link your interpretations of meaning to the influences that have informed them from the wider world.
  • Write a report.
 (2.10) 3

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