English
At Hurlstone, English develops the thinkers, writers, and leaders of tomorrow by connecting language with purpose and imagination.
Our English Faculty supports students to develop critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in communication through the study of language, literature, and expression.
Students engage with a wide range of texts: from classic works to contemporary voices. They explore how stories and ideas shape individuals, communities, and cultures. Practical experiences in writing, analysis, and performance allow students to express themselves with clarity and impact while building skills that extend across every subject area.
English is studied by all students from Years 7–10, with opportunities to specialise further through senior courses in the Preliminary and HSC years, including English Advanced, Extension 1, and Extension 2. These pathways combine rigorous academic study with authentic opportunities for personal and creative expression, preparing students for success at university, in professional fields, and as articulate leaders in their communities.
Teaching and Learning
Below you’ll find an overview of the English courses studied from Year 7 to Year 12, where students develop the ability to think critically, communicate with impact, and express ideas with confidence. These experiences prepare them for success in their studies, future careers, and leadership in their communities.
Year 7 English
In Year 7, students are introduced to the study of English through a diverse exploration of texts, voices, and perspectives. In Prose Perspectives, they learn how life writing represents identity and experience, before turning to Introduction to Shakespeare, where they engage with classic literature and timeless themes through the study of sonnets. Drama Detectives develops close reading and performance skills through a study of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, while Scenes of Sharing focuses on film, with students analysing Satellite Boy and producing their own short videos to demonstrate cinematic literacy. Together, these units build strong foundations in critical analysis, creative and persuasive writing, and performance, while encouraging students to see literature as a powerful way of understanding themselves and the world around them.
Prose Perspectives
In this unit, students explore how prose texts represent personal experience and identity through life writing. Using Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin as a central text, they analyse how style, structure, and language choices convey complex themes and perspectives. By examining narrative voice and point of view, students learn how meaning is shaped and interpreted by readers. Building on this understanding, they apply their literacy skills and knowledge of literary conventions to create an autobiographical piece that reflects on their own experiences, including their first year of high school. This combination of critical analysis and creative writing allows students to both appreciate the power of representation and practise expressing their own voice.
Introduction to Shakespeare
In this unit, students are introduced to William Shakespeare through the close study of selected sonnets. They explore how Shakespeare’s historical, political, social, and personal context shaped his work, while analysing how themes of love, power, and perspective continue to resonate with audiences today. Through study of codes, conventions, imagery, and symbolism, students gain insight into Shakespeare’s unique style and literary value. This unit re-engages students with classic literature, encouraging them to reflect on how timeless texts address complex human issues. Students extend their skills in informative and analytical writing, developing responses to the themes and ideas explored in Shakespeare’s works.
Drama Detectives: A Close Study of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
In this unit, students develop their skills in reading dramatic texts closely and making inferences to uncover deeper meaning. Through the study of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, they analyse how playwrights use point of view, characterisation, and structure to shape narrative and engage audiences. Building on this understanding, students create dramatic tableaus that require them to plan, revise, and reflect on their creative choices. By justifying their interpretations, they strengthen both their persuasive language skills and their ability to critically evaluate how meaning is constructed in drama.
Scenes of Sharing: A Close Study of Satellite Boy
In this unit, students build their visual literacy by studying the film Satellite Boy and examining how meaning is shaped through cinematic techniques. They explore how film represents cultural values, attitudes, and perspectives, particularly those of Aboriginal people, and analyse how symbolism conveys complex ideas. Students respond critically and imaginatively to the film by developing their own persuasive and creative writing, as well as producing short videos that showcase their understanding of film language. The unit concludes with a student film showcase, where learners reflect on and justify their creative choices, strengthening their ability to communicate ideas through both written and visual forms.
Year 8 English
In Year 8, students deepen their appreciation of literature by exploring how stories, plays, and poems shape identity, values, and cultural understanding. Across the year, they study autobiographical writing in Happiness is Hope, uncover the enduring appeal of Fairytales, examine transformation and perspective in Shakespearean Comedy, and experience the persuasive power of Protest Poetry. Through these units, students strengthen their skills in close reading, critical analysis, and creative expression, while learning how language continues to influence individuals and societies across time and place.
Happiness is Hope
In this unit, students explore the power of autobiographical writing to inspire, challenge, and shape our understanding of humanity. Through a close study of Eddie Jaku’s The Happiest Man on Earth, they consider how language features such as imagery, symbolism, and point of view convey profound themes of sacrifice, bravery, hope, and resilience. Students reflect critically and personally on the text through reading journals, class discussions, and discursive writing, developing both their analytical skills and their capacity to use language with purpose and impact. By engaging deeply with Jaku’s story, students learn how literature can foster empathy, promote intercultural understanding, and highlight the enduring relevance of storytelling in shaping a hopeful future.
Fairytales
In this unit, students investigate how codes and conventions shape the creation and interpretation of stories that endure across time and cultures. By exploring both traditional and contemporary fairy tales, they analyse the core characters, themes, and intertextual connections that allow these stories to evolve while remaining powerfully relevant. Through the study of texts such as Shrek (storybook) and Shrek 2 (film), students consider how familiar stereotypes can be challenged, subverted, and reimagined for modern audiences. This close analysis enables students to reflect on how stories adapt to address contemporary issues, deepening their appreciation for the way narrative traditions continue to inspire, entertain, and provoke critical thought.
Shakespearean Comedy
In this unit, students explore how Shakespeare’s works have endured across centuries, from stage to screen, by examining the timeless themes and evolving interpretations of Twelfth Night. Through close study of key scenes, they analyse Shakespeare’s use of language, characterisation, and dramatic conventions to understand how comedy, romance, and perspective shape meaning. Students engage in creative and analytical tasks that reimagine the play for contemporary audiences, while also developing their persuasive writing and public speaking skills. By interpreting complex scenes and crafting their own speeches, students build confidence in applying their personal voice to challenging literary texts.
Protest Poetry
In this unit, students explore the power of poetry as a vehicle for protest, persuasion, and cultural expression. Through engagement with a diverse range of poetic modes (traditional and contemporary), students analyse how connotation, imagery, and symbolism convey values, perspectives, and worldviews. Students critically interpret works from varied cultural contexts, reflecting on the ability of literature to challenge assumptions and inspire change. To consolidate their learning, students collaborate to design and present an original poetry installation, showcasing their analytical, creative, and performative skills while demonstrating how poetry can reshape understandings of society and the world.
Year 9 English
In Year 9, students expand their understanding of how literature reflects, critiques, and reimagines the human experience. Through the study of satire in Animal Farm, the speculative imagination of Dystopian Visions, the social commentary of Modern Drama, and the documentary insights of Factual Perspectives, students encounter a diverse range of texts that challenge them to think critically about truth, power, and perspective. Across the year, they refine their skills in analysis, interpretation, and composition, developing confidence in both written and spoken expression. By engaging deeply with authors, filmmakers, and playwrights who question the world around them, students learn how language, form, and storytelling can influence ideas, inspire empathy, and spark meaningful social change.
Novel Study: Animal Farm
In this unit, students explore how satire can both entertain and expose the deeper truths of human nature and society. Through a close study of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, they examine how language and allegory can be used to critique power, ideology, and corruption. Students analyse how Orwell’s purposeful manipulation of form, structure, and style reveals the author’s authority and intent, and how the text continues to resonate across generations. Through discussions, analytical writing, and creative responses, students learn to evaluate the impact of historical and political contexts on meaning, and how language can shape perception, persuasion, and control. By engaging critically with Orwell’s text, students refine their ability to interpret complex ideas, recognise bias and manipulation, and appreciate how literature can provoke reflection on the responsibilities of leadership, truth, and freedom in the modern world.
Dystopian Visions
In this unit, students explore the power of dystopian literature to question, challenge, and reimagine the world around them. Through a close study of a range of short dystopian texts and poetry, they investigate how composers use speculative settings, symbolism, and language to reflect societal fears, ethical dilemmas, and hopes for reform. Students analyse how the genre has evolved across time to mirror shifting concerns about technology, control, and human resilience, considering how these imaginative worlds act as mirrors to our own. Through reading, discussion, and creative experimentation, they refine their ability to respond critically to complex ideas and to craft their own dystopian poems and narratives that express personal and collective visions of the future. By engaging deeply with this genre, students learn how imaginative writing can expose truths, provoke empathy, and inspire reflection on the choices that shape our shared humanity.
Modern Drama – The One Day of the Year
In this unit, students explore how modern drama captures the tensions, ideals, and transformations of society through performance and dialogue. Through a close study of Alan Seymour’s The One Day of the Year, alongside other significant twentieth-century plays, they examine how playwrights use stagecraft, characterisation, and dramatic irony to reflect the values, conflicts, and aspirations of their time. Students analyse how the interplay between text and performance allows composers to challenge social conventions and provoke audience reflection on issues such as class, identity, and national pride. Engaging in reading, performance workshops, and critical discussion, they develop their ability to interpret dramatic form, appreciate the relationship between playwright, actor, and audience, and craft their own imaginative or analytical responses. By the end of the unit, students understand how drama continues to mirror the complexity of human experience and how the stage serves as a powerful space for questioning tradition, celebrating diversity, and inspiring social awareness.
Factual Perspectives
In this unit, students explore how factual storytelling can shape public understanding, inspire empathy, and challenge assumptions. Through a close study of Ian Darling’s The Final Quarter and other contemporary documentaries, they investigate how filmmakers construct meaning through choices in narration, editing, imagery, and sound to represent truth and perspective. Students analyse how documentaries use voice, evidence, and emotion to address complex social issues, particularly within the context of modern Australia. Engaging in class discussions, written analysis, and creative production, they learn to deconstruct the relationship between composer, subject, and audience while reflecting on how truth is shaped by point of view. By crafting their own short documentary or factual text, students apply these insights to express personal interpretations of contemporary issues. This unit empowers students to view storytelling as both an artistic and ethical act, deepening their awareness of how the media can inform, persuade, and drive change in a rapidly evolving world.
Year 10 English
In Year 10, students extend their appreciation of literature and film as powerful forms of artistic, cultural, and moral expression. Across the year, they explore ambition and corruption in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the sharp social critique of Satire: Look in the Mirror, the moral and emotional depth of classic and contemporary novels, and the creative vision of filmmakers in Auteur Study: Inside the Minds of Filmmakers. Through these diverse texts, students learn to analyse how composers use language, imagery, and form to shape meaning and influence audiences. They refine their ability to write with clarity and sophistication across analytical, creative, and reflective modes, while considering how stories (either on page or screen) invite empathy, challenge perspectives, and provoke change. By the end of the year, students emerge as discerning readers, writers, and thinkers, prepared to approach the complexity of senior English with insight, confidence, and a deepened understanding of the human experience.
Death and Dishonour: A Study of Macbeth
In this unit, students explore the enduring power of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to illuminate ambition, morality, and the human capacity for corruption. Through close analysis of Shakespeare’s language, structure, and dramatic techniques, they investigate how the play’s themes of guilt, honour, and fate continue to resonate in modern contexts. Students examine the fall of the tragic hero to understand how personal choices and societal pressures intertwine, revealing timeless truths about conscience and consequence. Through performance, discussion, and analytical writing, they develop the ability to interpret complex ideas and express their own considered perspectives on the play’s moral and psychological depth. By engaging critically and creatively with Macbeth, students refine their appreciation of literary craft and textual integrity, learning how great works endure not only for their artistry but for their profound insight into the darkness and potential within us all.
Satire: Look in the Mirror
In this unit, students explore how satire holds a mirror to society, exposing the contradictions, follies, and flaws that define human behaviour. They examine the codes and conventions of satire, investigating how irony, parody, and exaggeration are used to entertain, provoke, and persuade. Through the study of a range of written, visual, and digital texts, students consider how satire reflects the world around us and invites audiences to question power, hypocrisy, and social values. They evaluate how effectively satirists influence public opinion and illuminate the moral, political, and cultural issues of their time. By responding to and composing their own satirical pieces, students reflect on what audiences gain from satire, including insight, awareness, and the courage to think critically about the world they inhabit. Through this study, students develop a deeper understanding of language as a vehicle for social commentary and learn how humour can be wielded as both a creative and transformative force.
Novel Study
In this unit, students engage in the sustained study of a single novel to explore how narrative form can reveal timeless truths about humanity and society. Through close reading and analysis, they examine how context, characterisation, and language shape meaning and influence audience response. Students consider how composers craft distinctive worlds that both reflect and challenge their times, investigating how themes of morality, justice, identity, and resilience continue to resonate across generations. Whether encountering the haunting gothic landscape of Dracula, the moral courage of To Kill a Mockingbird, or the poignant humanity of The Book Thief, students learn to interpret literature as both mirror and critique of the human condition. Through analytical and creative writing, they refine their ability to construct their own imaginative worlds, developing confidence in using narrative voice, structure, and style to convey complex ideas. By the end of the unit, students recognise how the study of great novels deepens empathy, strengthens critical thinking, and inspires them to engage thoughtfully with the stories that shape our collective experience.
Auteur Study: Inside the Minds of Filmmakers
In this unit, students explore the artistry and vision of filmmakers whose distinctive styles have defined modern cinema. Through the study of renowned auteurs such as Tim Burton and Steven Spielberg, they investigate how recurring themes, visual motifs, and cinematic techniques shape meaning and reflect the director’s creative identity. Students analyse how each auteur constructs worlds that blend imagination and emotion, examining how choices in framing, sound, and narrative create lasting audience impact. Through critical and creative responses, they develop their ability to interpret film as both text and art form, recognising the complex interplay between personal vision and universal storytelling. Students also reflect on the ways in which film can influence perception, challenge cultural norms, and express uniquely human experiences through visual language. By the end of the unit, students appreciate the filmmaker as author — a visionary who uses image, sound, and story to shape meaning, evoke emotion, and redefine how we see the world.
Preliminary Advanced English
In Year 11 Advanced English, students embark on a rigorous study of language and literature that deepens their capacity to think, write, and respond with insight and precision. Across the year, they explore how texts reflect and shape human experience, beginning with Reading to Write, where they refine their craft as writers through close engagement with diverse and challenging works. In Narratives That Shape Our World, students examine the power of storytelling to connect people, challenge values, and inspire change across time and culture. Through the Critical Study of Literature, they develop a sustained appreciation of a significant text, analysing how meaning, form, and context intertwine to create works of lasting impact.
Through analytical, creative, and reflective compositions, students learn to use language with sophistication and control, articulating complex ideas with clarity and purpose. By engaging deeply with literature and their own writing practice, they cultivate intellectual curiosity, aesthetic sensitivity, and an enduring appreciation for the written word. This year serves as a bridge between exploration and mastery, preparing students for the depth, challenge, and reward of HSC English study.
Common Module: Reading to Write – Transition to Senior English
In this foundational module, students immerse themselves in the study of rich and varied texts to refine the skills essential for success in senior English. Through close reading, analysis, and reflection, they explore how composers craft meaning through structure, language, and style, and how these choices shape complex ideas about human experience. Students engage with texts that challenge them intellectually and emotionally (works that provoke interpretation, imagination, and empathy) while learning to recognise how purpose, audience, and context influence both meaning and response. As they read widely across genres, students practise writing with precision and creativity, developing confidence in expressing original insights and considered judgments. They experiment with tone, voice, and form to craft analytical, imaginative, and discursive responses that reveal an emerging personal style. Through this process, students come to see themselves not only as readers and writers, but as active participants in an ongoing conversation about ideas, values, and the craft of language. By the end of the module, students possess a stronger command of written expression and an appreciation for how the study of language can transform understanding. This unit establishes the habits of depth, reflection, and creativity that define advanced English study and prepares students to approach the HSC with insight, agility, and intellectual curiosity.
Module A: Narratives That Shape Our World
In this module, students explore the enduring power of storytelling to connect, challenge, and define humanity. Through the study of a range of narratives across time, culture, and form, they examine how composers use language, structure, and imagery to express values, beliefs, and experiences that shape both personal and collective identity. Students consider how stories can inspire transformation, question social norms, or preserve cultural memory, recognising the ways narrative reflects and reimagines the world around us. Through close analysis of print, visual, and digital texts, students investigate how context, perspective, and purpose influence meaning, and how narratives can be adapted or reinterpreted for new audiences. They reflect on how composers past and present use voice, point of view, and characterisation to explore universal themes of power, belonging, morality, and change. Students apply their understanding by crafting their own narratives that engage and move audiences, experimenting with narrative devices to convey complex ideas in creative and authentic ways. By the end of the module, they appreciate storytelling as both an art and a social force, one that enables individuals and communities to share their truths, challenge assumptions, and imagine new possibilities for the world they inhabit.
Module B: Critical Study of Literature
In this module, students engage in a sustained, critical study of a single literary text to develop deep appreciation of its artistry, integrity, and enduring significance. Through close reading and analysis, they examine how meaning is constructed through the composer’s deliberate choices in language, structure, and form. Students explore how context shapes both composition and reception, investigating how ideas within the text resonate across time and reveal universal aspects of human experience. As they engage with the perspectives of critics and scholars, students refine their own interpretations, crafting responses that are both evidence-based and personally insightful. They consider how the text’s aesthetic and imaginative qualities contribute to its power and longevity, while developing a mature understanding of its relevance to contemporary audiences. Through analytical, discursive, and creative compositions, students articulate complex ideas with precision and confidence, strengthening their control of language and argument. By the end of the module, they emerge as discerning readers and writers who are capable of appreciating literature not only for its beauty and intellect, but for its ability to challenge perception, inspire empathy, and illuminate the depth of human thought and emotion.
Preliminary English Extension 1
In Year 11 English Extension 1, students embark on an advanced study of literature that deepens their critical, creative, and philosophical engagement with language, culture, and ideas. Through the module Power and Morality: The Ambiguity of Evil, they explore how texts from different eras reveal humanity’s ongoing struggle to define good and evil, and how shifts in cultural, moral, and intellectual paradigms influence the way meaning is made. Students examine the relationship between text, context, and value, analysing how composers borrow from, adapt, and reimagine earlier works to challenge or affirm prevailing worldviews.
Through sustained engagement with complex texts (from the psychological introspection of Browning’s dramatic monologues to the moral disquiet of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness) students develop a refined awareness of how language reflects and shapes human consciousness. They are encouraged to think independently, write with sophistication, and articulate original perspectives that demonstrate deep conceptual insight.
An integral component of the Preliminary course is the Independent Research Project, which fosters autonomy, curiosity, and scholarly rigour. By investigating and presenting their own comparative studies, students cultivate the skills of interpretation, synthesis, and creative expression that define literary scholarship. This course prepares students to approach the HSC with intellectual confidence, ethical awareness, and a nuanced understanding of how texts illuminate the complexities of human thought and experience.
Power and Morality: The Ambiguity of Evil
In this module, students investigate the enduring relationship between texts, culture, and value through the lens of Power and Morality: The Ambiguity of Evil. They explore how ideas of good and evil have been constructed, challenged, and reinterpreted across time, and how paradigm shifts in history, philosophy, and art have shaped humanity’s moral imagination. Through close study of canonical works such as Robert Browning’s dramatic monologues and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, students analyse how composers use form, voice, and perspective to question the nature of morality and the human capacity for corruption. Students examine how texts both reflect and resist the cultural concerns of their time, considering the ways in which depictions of power, class, gender, and belief systems expose tensions between virtue and vice. They evaluate how later reinterpretations and appropriations of these ideas engage in dialogue with their predecessors, revealing the shifting boundaries of moral understanding. Alongside their analytical work, students undertake an Independent Research Project, exploring a self-selected text and its adaptations to develop expertise in comparative, critical, and creative modes of inquiry. By the end of the module, students understand that the representation of evil is never fixed. It evolves with context, revealing as much about human fear and fascination as it does about truth, power, and the enduring ambiguity of the human soul.
HSC Advanced English
In Year 12 Advanced English, students engage in a sophisticated study of language and literature that challenges them to think deeply, write purposefully, and interpret the world with discernment and empathy. Across the year, they examine how composers represent human experience in Texts and Human Experiences, explore the dynamic interplay of ideas in Textual Conversations, and undertake a sustained Critical Study of Literature to appreciate the craft, integrity, and impact of great writing. In The Craft of Writing, students refine their own authorial voice, developing the confidence to compose with precision, creativity, and control.
Through analytical, imaginative, and reflective tasks, students deepen their understanding of how language can shape perception, provoke emotion, and inspire change. They learn to write with sophistication, read with insight, and speak with conviction. These skills prepare students not only for the HSC but for a lifetime of critical thought and articulate expression. By the culmination of the course, students emerge as independent, thoughtful, and creative scholars who understand the enduring power of texts to challenge ideas, illuminate truth, and enrich the shared human story.
Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences
In this common module, students explore how texts illuminate the depth and diversity of human experience. Through the close study of a prescribed text and a range of complementary short works, they examine how composers represent the emotions, struggles, and triumphs that define individuals and communities. Students analyse how language, structure, and form capture the paradoxes and complexities of human behaviour, revealing how stories help us make sense of ourselves and the world around us. By responding to texts from a variety of modes and media, students develop nuanced interpretations and learn to articulate how context, purpose, and perspective shape meaning. They consider how storytelling across cultures and eras gives voice to personal and collective experience, challenging assumptions and inviting empathy. Through analysis, discussion, and creative composition, students refine their ability to express original insights, employing precise language and literary metalanguage to craft responses of sophistication and depth. By the end of the module, students understand that texts do more than mirror reality but how they shape it. Through their study of Texts and Human Experiences, they learn to recognise the enduring power of language to reveal truth, inspire reflection, and connect people across time and place.
Module A: Textual Conversations
In this module, students explore how meaning evolves when texts engage in conversation across time, culture, and form. Through the comparative study of two prescribed texts, they examine how composers reimagine ideas, values, and concerns to reflect changing contexts and audiences. Students analyse how intertextual connections, whether through mirroring, alignment, or deliberate contrast, reveal both enduring human concerns and the transformative power of reinterpretation. By investigating textual features such as motif, allusion, and narrative structure, students develop an appreciation for how texts resonate with or challenge one another, and how new meanings are shaped through dialogue between creators and eras. They consider how their own perspectives as responders are influenced by the contexts they bring to the act of reading, viewing, or listening, recognising that interpretation itself is an evolving form of authorship. Through imaginative, critical, and analytical compositions, students refine their ability to craft sophisticated responses that express considered insights and articulate the nuanced relationships between texts. By the end of the module, they understand that literature is not static but living, its meaning enriched by conversation, adaptation, and the continual reimagining of the stories that define us.
Module B: Critical Study of Literature
In this module, students engage in an in-depth critical study of a single literary text to develop a sophisticated understanding of its meaning, artistry, and enduring relevance. Through sustained analysis, they examine how the composer’s ideas are expressed through language, structure, and style, exploring the ways in which textual integrity and context contribute to a work’s lasting impact. Students investigate how their own interpretations are shaped by research, reflection, and engagement with multiple perspectives, deepening their appreciation of literature as both a creative and intellectual pursuit. As they analyse and evaluate the text’s form and features, students consider how aesthetic qualities and authorial choices influence meaning and emotional resonance. They refine their ability to express complex ideas clearly and cohesively, crafting responses that demonstrate precision, insight, and individuality. Through both critical and creative compositions, students articulate informed personal judgements about the text’s value and significance, developing a confident and authentic voice as readers and writers. By the end of the module, they emerge as discerning interpreters of literature, capable of recognising how great works continue to challenge, move, and inspire across generations.
Module C: The Craft of Writing
In this module, students refine their mastery of language as both art and craft, developing confidence as writers who can express ideas with clarity, imagination, and purpose. Through the study of quality texts from both classic and contemporary writers, they analyse how composers use language to shape meaning, evoke emotion, and convey complex ideas about humanity and the world. Students engage deeply with models of exceptional writing (discursive, imaginative, and persuasive) to explore how tone, imagery, and structure contribute to distinctive voice and style. As they compose their own texts, students experiment with language techniques such as allusion, metaphor, narrative perspective, and rhythm, learning to make deliberate choices that influence reader interpretation. They move through the recursive processes of planning, drafting, and refining, considering purpose, audience, and context to produce polished, cohesive writing. Through reflection and collaboration, students strengthen their ability to critique their own and others’ work, enhancing precision, coherence, and sophistication. By the end of the module, they understand writing as an act of discovery and transformation, one that empowers them to communicate ideas with authenticity and artistry, and to use language as a tool for both expression and influence.
HSC English Extension 1
In Year 12 English Extension 1, students engage with literature as an evolving and transformative force that both reflects and reshapes human thought. Across the year, they explore how writers construct complex worlds that challenge perceptions, provoke empathy, and illuminate the tensions between the individual and society. In the Common Module: Literary Worlds, students examine how texts from diverse contexts represent the intricacies of human experience and invite reflection on the relationship between imagination, identity, and meaning. Through the elective Worlds of Upheaval, they investigate how composers respond to moments of disruption and transformation, analysing how art and language become agents of change in turbulent times.
Throughout the course, students engage in rigorous independent and collaborative inquiry, refining their analytical precision and creative expression. They read deeply and write with sophistication, experimenting with style, voice, and form to express original ideas about literature’s capacity to reveal truth and inspire change.
By the culmination of the Extension 1 course, students have developed the habits of scholarship (including critical curiosity, independence of thought, and aesthetic appreciation) that prepare them for university study and lifelong intellectual engagement. They emerge as discerning, articulate thinkers who understand literature not only as an object of study, but as a living conversation about humanity, morality, and the ever-evolving world we inhabit.
Common Module: Literary Worlds
In this module, students journey through a range of literary worlds that reveal the depth and diversity of human experience. Through close study, they explore how texts construct imagined, private, and public realms that reflect the complexity of individual and collective lives. Students analyse how composers use language, form, and perspective to illuminate ideas about identity, morality, and meaning, and how these representations are shaped by the personal, social, historical, and cultural contexts from which they emerge. Engaging with a selection of prescribed and related texts, students examine how literature both mirrors and challenges the values of its time, offering new insights into what it means to be human. They critically evaluate how context influences interpretation and how readers bring their own assumptions and worldviews to the act of reading. Through analytical, creative, and reflective compositions, students experiment with ways of expressing complex emotions, ideas, and values, refining their ability to move fluently between critical and imaginative modes of writing. By the end of the module, students understand that literary worlds are not confined to the page; they are spaces of dialogue, transformation, and discovery. Through the study of literature, they develop the insight, empathy, and intellectual agility to navigate the shifting landscapes of meaning that define the human story.
Worlds of Upheaval
In this module, students explore how literature captures the turbulence of human experience in times of profound change. Through the elective Worlds of Upheaval, they examine how composers use language, structure, and form to portray the struggle between the individual and society, and how texts become vessels for transformation, both personal and collective. Students analyse how representation and genre are re-crafted to challenge dominant ideologies and provoke re-evaluation of moral, social, and philosophical values. Through the study of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and a range of related texts, students consider how upheaval inspires both creation and destruction (scientific, emotional, and spiritual). They investigate tensions between Enlightenment rationalism and Romantic idealism, exploring humanity’s enduring desire for understanding, connection, and redemption. Engaging with historical, cultural, and literary contexts, students evaluate how texts emerge from, and respond to, moments of conflict and change. Students express their insights through analytical, discursive, and creative compositions, developing confidence in using language to articulate nuanced interpretations of power, progress, and identity. Through independent research, Socratic discussion, and critical experimentation, they refine their ability to connect ideas across texts and contexts. By the end of the module, students appreciate literature as both reflection and catalyst, revealing how upheaval reshapes not only societies, but the very way we imagine what it means to be human.
HSC English Extension 2
In Year 12 English Extension 2, students become creators of original, substantial works that demonstrate independent thought, refined craftsmanship, and a deep engagement with the power of language. Building upon the analytical and conceptual foundations of Advanced and Extension 1 English, this course challenges students to conceive, compose, and reflect on an extended major work in a form of their choosing, including prose fiction, poetry, drama, critical essay, film, media, or digital composition.
Through rigorous research, drafting, and reflection, students develop their capacity to write with precision, imagination, and intellectual control. They explore the relationship between concept and form, experimenting with language to shape distinctive and purposeful expression. The accompanying Reflection Statement requires students to articulate their creative intentions, demonstrating how their major work responds to and extends the ideas, values, and literary traditions that have influenced their thinking.
The Extension 2 course celebrates creativity as inquiry. It is an opportunity for students to contribute an original voice to the ongoing literary conversation. By the end of the course, students emerge as confident, self-directed writers who understand that the act of composition is both an artistic and critical pursuit: one that demands courage, discipline, and a profound respect for the transformative potential of the written word.
Support for High Potential Learners
Hurlstone’s English Faculty offers enriched pathways for high potential students to deepen their skills in analysis, communication, and creative expression. Through advanced study of literature, critical writing, and opportunities to engage with competitions and extension activities, students are challenged to think critically and communicate with impact. If your child shows high potential, contact us to learn how our High potential and gifted education (HPGE) programs in English can extend and support their growth.
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