Questions from a newby year 10

[ZachCharge]

Hey guys,

I am a...3 and a half hour solid reader - first time poster at VCE notes. I first just want to say that these forums are the most helpful forums I have ever seen in regards to VCE schoolwork...actually this are the only forums I have seen that offer help and notes for VCE. 

Anyway, my name is Zach, I got to Gladstone Park Secondary College and I just want to say hi!

*Waves hands pathetically  :uglystupid2:

Ok maybe not. I want to ask a few questions about VCE that needs a students answer.

Firstly, what exactly is more interesting and enjoyable, English or Literature (I don't really care about scaling or difficulty). English sounds easier (and if it is the same as what it has been for the past 3 and a half years - is just class read book, a handful of questions per chapter and a research assignment every term) but...sounds a little bland.

Secondly (just to make sure I got this right), if I do unit 3 & 4 subjects in year 11, I do the SACS, exam and it can count in year 12 for my enter if its my top 6 marks...is that statement...err, correct?

Lastly, if my last statement is correct, what subjects do you guys recommend I should skip unit 1/2. Also is there any room for improvement in this plan for my classes in year 11 and 12. I have already done VET Business 1/2 (as the one VCE subject we were allowed in Year 10...that and I wanted the shiny certificate...ooo shiny).

I was also thinking instead of doing a Unit 1/2 subject in year 11 then continue in year 12, I would do an easier 3/4 subject in both year 11 and 12 (to have an extra chance of getting a good SACS, thinking maybe Business Management ,as I've already done VET Business and from what I have hear, skipping 1/2 of Business Management isn't a big deal, and maybe Accounting or History (as they are probably easiest self taught - especially history).

Year 11                       Year 12
Methods 1/2                     Methods 3/4
General (M) 1/2                 Further 3/4
Eng (or Lit) 1/2                 Eng (or Lit) 3/4
Chemistry 1/2                   Chemistry 3/4
(Something 1/2 or 3/4)      (Something 3/4)
VET Business 3/4               Free period


So in short...I am a year 10 newb/noob who wants a little advice from other students about the next two years. I havn't gotten a straight answer about my second question from school, my english teacher doesn't know much about VCE Literature and...well I doubt the career officer would recommend anyone going straight to a Unit 3/4 subject.

I am not sure what I want to be after school, but I get great grades and will keep my options open.  Anyway, if someone replies...don't think of me as a total nerd. 

[Mao]

1) English in year 12 is different to English in any other years. you will not be answering chapter questions in class (well, I can only hope), but rather, you will be developing an unique view from rigorous analysis of themes and concepts within the book. you won't be doing a simple research topic, but present a strong point of view and detailed analysis of persuasive language in well structured essays (blah blah, etc etc)
year 12, in other words, is not simple in anyone's standard, and nothing is easy if you want to do it well.

2) the top 6 unit 3/4 sequences can count towards you ENTER (or if you do an enhancement studies, top 5 or 6). so if you complete unit 3/4 sequences, they will all be considered towards the ENTER. however, if you have more than 6 sequences, only the top 6 will be counted.

3) since you are doing VET Business, I suggest Business Management (partially because of the possible overlap, but also because people describes it as EXTREMELY EASY LAWL. as for how true that statement is, i am not a person who can comment)
it appears you have already considered Bus Man, and I believe that is a viable option.

4) i like the way you have planned your subjects. given the nature of your subjects, however (heavy math/science), if you achieve well in year 11 (good score for VET and a 3/4), I think 4 subjects will do nicely in terms of low pressure and more time to understand the contents. Another thing is that "free" period does not exist in year 12. If you don't have something to do, you are either extremely lazy, badly organised or doesn't have a high aim.

lastly, there is nothing wrong being a nerd, you'll be grateful of it later.

good luck

[Eriny]

Lit is much more interesting than English if you enjoy reading. If you don't really like studying novels, etc. then do English, there's less of it.

[Rietie]

Lit is much more interesting than English if you enjoy reading. If you don't really like studying novels, etc. then do English, there's less of it.

English in year 12:
- you study books, and then look at themes and characters, etc. and then write essays - no questions in class or research projects or whatever
- you analyse articles, pictures or images and create a piece of writing where you look critically at the author's contention/POV and how they try to persuade the audience of that view, and also how effective are the techniques he/she uses
- You study novels, plays and films in relation to one area, such as Whose Reality, Conflict or Identity (I don't really know the names of them), and create a piece of writing in response to a prompt, exploring the ideas in the texts you have studied, but also outside the text

Literature:
- You only study texts, and create pieces of writing exploring three passages from the book
You also (in SACs) write a story in the style of an author, write an essay comparing a novel to a critic of a novel, and study a film, etc.

My suggestion is that if you really like English, do both English and Lit in year 11, and at the end of the year decide which one you want to continue on with. Lit would be really hard in picking up in year 12, without having done year 11 lit.

I've heard people say this many times: English is to Lit, as Further Maths/Methods is to Specialist Maths. I.e. Lit is a harder form of English.

[xox.happy1.xox]

I remember when I was in your position, not knowing whether to do Lit or English. Ultimately, I decided that I couldn't be bothered reading about one novel a week, and analysing it in detail. It just takes up too much time for me. But if you're the type who absolutely loves to study texts, then go for it, it will only help to improve your vocabulary, and overall analysis skills.

[Rietie]

You don't study a novel a week in Lit. Otherwise, I would be well and truly dead. A lot of people would be dead from dreading every week.
It depends on what school you go to and the teachers, as they decide how many books to study. In my school, we are studying 4 possible texts for the exam: Keats' poetry, Sense and Sensibility, King Lear and Bel Canto. We also had to read a section of Katherine Mansfield's Collected Stories, to base our story on her writing. We also watched the movie, Far From Heaven, to do a SAC on. But we watched and studied it in the 2 weeks of orientation in year 11, and did the SAC on it in week 2 of year 12. So it took really no time of the actual school year.
I think a lot of schools study only two texts for the exam, but that means students have no choice over what they want to do for the exam, as you have to write on two texts.

[xox.happy1.xox]

^
Sounds complicated. Maybe I should just stick to normal English for the time being. I have never been an avid fan of reading .

[mark_alec]

You don't study a novel a week in Lit. Otherwise, I would be well and truly dead. A lot of people would be dead from dreading every week.

At university you do.

That being said, something I would take into account in your decision to choose english or literature would be the quality of the teacher(s) of the subjects.

[Rietie]

You don't study a novel a week in Lit. Otherwise, I would be well and truly dead. A lot of people would be dead from dreading every week.

At university you do.

That being said, something I would take into account in your decision to choose english or literature would be the quality of the teacher(s) of the subjects.

That's why I don't want to do Literature at Uni.

[Ratzman]

For English help, call 1300655506!!!

[ZachCharge]

Ok everyone thanks for the advice.

Mao, it has never come across my mind to do 2 unit 3/4 in year 11 so I can do less and concentrate more in year 12, thanks for the idea. I will try to do either Business Management or Economics 3/4 next year (with VET Business).

With English...I am still not to sure but either sounds good at the moment. I guess I will see what my English teacher thinks I should do.

[ElephantStew]

skipping 1/2 of Business Management isn't a big deal, and maybe Accounting or History (as they are probably easiest self taught - especially history).

in my opinion as i am  currently doing history: revs and have done accounting (1/2 not 3/4) i dont think these subjects are the easiest to be self taught. legal studies is probably easiest to be self taught. however, this is not say that you cannot self teach yourself, but i think you'd find it difficult, especially history whether it be revs, ren or Australian. but that's my opinion

[hard]

legal's the shizzz

[ZachCharge]

skipping 1/2 of Business Management isn't a big deal, and maybe Accounting or History (as they are probably easiest self taught - especially history).

in my opinion as i am  currently doing history: revs and have done accounting (1/2 not 3/4) i dont think these subjects are the easiest to be self taught. legal studies is probably easiest to be self taught. however, this is not say that you cannot self teach yourself, but i think you'd find it difficult, especially history whether it be revs, ren or Australian. but that's my opinion

I was just thinking with History that...well I won't need to learn about Classical Rome+Greece to learn about The American and Russian Revolution (not that I know nothing on Greece+Rome thanks to a lot of documentaries...with re-enactments :p) That and I like history and am a fast reader...I could go over the whole book before the first lesson to get a head start if I want :p Hmm I might ask in History section if History 3/4 without 1/2 is a good idea (just thinking I might be more enthusiastic than in Business Management and it will probably be easier to get in without 1/2 as Bus Mngment gets bombarded with students wanting a easy class at my school).

[Mao]

skipping 1/2 of Business Management isn't a big deal, and maybe Accounting or History (as they are probably easiest self taught - especially history).

in my opinion as i am  currently doing history: revs and have done accounting (1/2 not 3/4) i dont think these subjects are the easiest to be self taught. legal studies is probably easiest to be self taught. however, this is not say that you cannot self teach yourself, but i think you'd find it difficult, especially history whether it be revs, ren or Australian. but that's my opinion

I was just thinking with History that...well I won't need to learn about Classical Rome+Greece to learn about The American and Russian Revolution (not that I know nothing on Greece+Rome thanks to a lot of documentaries...with re-enactments :p) That and I like history and am a fast reader...I could go over the whole book before the first lesson to get a head start if I want :p Hmm I might ask in History section if History 3/4 without 1/2 is a good idea (just thinking I might be more enthusiastic than in Business Management and it will probably be easier to get in without 1/2 as Bus Mngment gets bombarded with students wanting a easy class at my school).

that is quite a valid reason.

If your interests are in History, the best thing to do is to try it out, worst come to worst, you can have a second try in your year 12. Even though the 1/2 course content might not be carried forward to 3/4, research skills [and essay writing and other skills] are definitely vital to success.