Transcript Scholarship-a 5 year process

PREPARING FOR
SCHOLARSHIP
A FIVE YEAR PROCESS by
Yvette Krohn-Isherwood
WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP?
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An exam at the end of the year that is seen
to be the highest level a secondary school
student can achieve
There are 3 grades for Scholarship: Not
Achieved (A), Scholarship (S) and
Outstanding Scholarship (O)
Only about 2-3% of all students entered for
NCEA Level 3 will achieve Scholarship;
fewer than 1% will achieve Outstanding
Scholarship
There are monetary awards for successbetween $500 and $30 000
WHAT IS IN THE ENGLISH
SCHOLARSHIP EXAM?
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SECTION A: a close analysis of two
texts, often different in genre, but
with a point of commonality
SECTION B: an in depth analysis of
one or a number of texts from one
particular genre
SECTION C: an in depth analysis of
a number of texts from a number of
genres
All three sections require essay
answers of more than 800 words
each
WHAT SKILLS SHOULD
STUDENTS HAVE?
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High level critical thinking, abstraction and
generalisation, and
Ability to integrate, synthesise and apply
knowledge, skills, understanding and ideas
to complex situations.
Comprehensive content knowledge;
Effective communication;
Original or sophisticated solutions,
performances or approaches;
Critical evaluation;
Flexible thinking in unfamiliar/unexpected
contexts.
WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS
BE ABLE TO DO?
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Write fluently: excellent vocabulary,
structure and style
Apply a knowledge of English:
grammar, literary techniques, syntax,
style, structure, effect
Cross-reference: not just to other
texts, but also to other fields of study
and to past and present societies
Apply other knowledge to texts
Be aware of author’s purpose
HOW DO WE START TO
PREPARE OUR STUDENTS?
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Preparation starts in Year 9
Teach grammar!!!!
Choose texts that relate to one another
with regard to theme
Choose texts that contain more than just
literary aspects
Make sure that students first understand all
the literary aspects
Investigate and teach alternate aspects
such as philosophical, psychological,
social, mathematical or scientific theory
AN EXAMPLE FOR YEAR 9
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Theme: Time and Time Travel
Make sure you have a range of texts that
deal with different aspects of time and time
travel
Novels: Rocco-Sherryl Jordan, Playing
Beatie Bow- Ruth Park
Films: Back to the Future, Meet the
Robinsons
Short texts: Time travel- Carole Somerville,
A Sound of Thunder- Ray Bradbury, Fern
Hill- Dylan Thomas
ASPECTS TO EXPLORE
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Scientific theories of time travel- is it
possible?
Paradoxes of time travelgrandfather, predestination,
ontological etc
Philosophical questions and theories
of time travel- what is time? Does
travel change identity?
Morality of time travel- is it right? Are
there rules?
TIME TRAVEL- Carol
Somerville
Does time have a line?
Is there a structure, a feature a time-formation
Or is it all in the mind, a human creation?
Is there a beginning, a middle, an end?
Or a forever circle like the earth's
Orbit around the sun? Time past, time to come
Is it real or just a theory, an impression, a notion?
Something we sense and feel that's so hard to define
The actual thing that is time.
If time was a line, where would it start?
Something will always have come before
An earlier date, what's more
Which direction does time travel in?
Can we go back to where time once did begin?
Time before, time after, there can never be
A start, an end to time for you see
Always previous to and subsequent to, there will be.
AN EXAMPLE FOR YEAR 10
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Theme: Identity
Make sure you have a range of texts
that deal with different aspects of
identity
Novel- The Adoration of Jenna Fox
(personal), Looking for Alibrandi
(cultural)
Film- Freaky Friday (personal), Bend
it like Beckham (cultural)
Short text- Girl (social)- Jamaica
Kincaid
ASPECTS TO EXPLORE
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Philosophical theories about identitywho am I? Am I the same person
now that I was years ago?
Social theories about identity- does
society make us who we are?
Psychological theories about
identity- makeup of identity
Communication theories about
identity- what causes conflict?
Personal, cultural, social identity
BUILDING ON PREVIOUS
KNOWLEDGE
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Design a programme that develops
and explores themes across the year
levels- an effective programme will
be vertical as well as horizontal, e.g.
Theme: Artificial Intelligence
Year 9: Wall-E
Year 10: Bicentennial Man
Year 11: A.I
Year 12: The Matrix
Year 13: Blade Runner
ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
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Theme: Morality
Year 9: The Diary of Anne Frank
Year 10: Jurassic Park
Year 11: The Importance of
Being Earnest
Year 12: Gattaca
Year 13: Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind
TEXTS ARE MULTI-THEMED
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Plan your programme carefully
Ensure texts link in a number of
ways, not just in year levels but
also across year levels
E.g. Wall-E links to other
Artificial Intelligence texts,
Morality texts, Identity texts,
Meaning of Life texts, Friendship
texts, Dystopian texts etc…
IDENTIFY STUDENTS
EARLY
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Most schools have extension classes
or GATE programmes
Ensure those students are extended
Get students involved in external
events/ competitions
Invite guest speakers
Try to keep those students together
throughout high school
Investigate topics that interest the
students
Shakespeare every year!
IN YEAR 13
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Make a dedicated time for meetings/
tutorials
Do not restrict entry
The key is discussion
Written summary notes
Link subjects
In-school resources
Contemporary newspaper columns
Practice examination
WHAT WILL YOUR
PROGRAMME LOOK LIKE?
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When? How often?
How many students?
Which teachers will be involved?
Which texts will you explore?
Which guest speakers could you
approach?
Any students with particular
strengths/ interests?
JUNIOR RESOURCES
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If you are interested in starting this process with Years 9-11, I have written
the following texts which aim to develop thinking skills by drawing on film
to motivate an exploration of philosophical ideas. They are all available
from Essential Resources and can be ordered from the website at
www.essentialresources.co.nz
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Thinking About Film Bk 1: Identity (Freaky Friday, Bend it like Beckham)
Ages: 11-15
Code: 5475
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Thinking About Film Bk 2: Morality (Jurassic Park, Big Fat Liar)
Ages: 11-15
Code: 5476
Thinking About Film Bk 3: Time (Back to the Future, Groundhog Day)
Ages: 11-15
Code: 5477
Thinking About Film Bk 4: Artificial Intelligence (Wall-E, Short Circuit)
Ages: 11-15
Code: 5478