Year 10 Core Subjects (Compulsory)
Year 10 students are required to study a year long program in English.
General Description:
The Year 10 English Program seeks to develop students’ skills in and knowledge of reading, writing, speaking and listening as well the study of techniques of persuasive writing. Students will develop a folio of written work, incorporating the use of ICT, which contains texts written for different audiences and purposes. Students will explore a range of text structures and develop skills of re-drafting and proof-reading using and improving their skills in spelling, grammar and punctuation. They will read a wide range of complex texts whilst considering their context and purpose, writing Analytical Text Responses to demonstrate their understanding of themes, place, symbols and character. They will learn techniques to use in producing creative writing pieces and will submit a creative piece for assessment in Semester One. They will also study persuasive writing and speaking and will deliver an oral presentation to the class, based on a current issue in the media.
Course Content:
Work book/ digital English folio – questions & short pieces of writing
Writing- comprehension & analytical text / context response which may include:
Novels, films, poetry, short stories, plays
Analysis of persuasive language, oral presentations
Speaking and listening (class contribution)
Texts required:
- “I am Malala” – Malala Yousafzai (young readers edition)
- “Of Mice and Men” (play) – John Steinbeck
English Literature (Semester 1)
This is an extension English Elective, students must still complete English as part of the Year 10 program.
General Description:
In Year 10 Literature, students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the variety of human experience and a critical appreciation of our culture and the cultures of others, past and present, as they are represented in literature. This class will help extend students’ understanding of the different ways in which literary texts are constructed. Students will also examine the historical and social context of the author, and how it can affect the texts they create. The analytical skills introduced in this course will be a valuable foundation for VCE Literature. Students will respond to the set texts personally, critically and creatively. This variety of approaches to reading invites questions about the ideas and concerns of the text. It also gives some insight into the assessment types students will encounter in Literature in future years.
Assessment Film:
“Far from the Madding Crowd” – Thomas Vinterberg (*subject to change) Close analysis of a scene in which students will examine how the director creates and enhances meaning within the film.
Novel:
“The Dressmaker” – Rosalie Ham
Students will respond critically and creatively to the ways in which this text reflects the attitudes and culture of this past era.
Novel:
“Medea” – Euripides
An analysis of the views and values evident in selected passages.
English Literature Advanced (Semester 2)
This is an extension English Elective, students must still complete English as part of the Year 10 program. Although it builds on work in Semester 1, it can be completed without the Semester 1 course.
General description:
Students will examine how authors create meaning with language and structure. Students will also learn to produce an interpretation of a text using different literary perspectives to inform their own view. Furthermore, students will investigate ways in which writers portray attitudes within a social context and how the reader interprets the text, depending on their own world view. Students will respond to the set texts personally, critically and creatively . This variety of approaches to reading invites questions about the ideas and concerns of the text. It also gives some insight into the assessment types students will encounter in Literature in future years.
Assessment tasks:
Poetry:
A collection of poems by poets such as Carol Ann Duffy, Kate Tempest, William Ernest Henley and more.
Students will produce an analytical and creative response in which they will examine patterns of language and imagery used in the text and discuss how the features and conventions of the text contribute to meaning.
Play:
“Macbeth” – William Shakespeare
Students will produce an analytical response in which they will examine the relationships between authors, audiences and contexts.
Novel:
“The Great Gatsby” – F Scott Fitzgerald
Students will develop critical and analytical responses to this text. They will investigate literary criticism informing both the reading and writing of texts.
Humanities develops the knowledge and skills already acquired in previous studies and provides an understanding of the content of subjects which can be studied in VCE: History, Geography, Legal
Studies, Business Management, Accounting, Australian & Global Politics and Economics.
History and Geography
This unit develops students’ knowledge of the history of the twentieth century and the geography of human and natural environments.
Areas of Study:
- History – An overview of significant events of the twentieth century and an in depth study of World War Two, including the causes, events and significance, with an emphasis on Australia’s involvement in the war.
- Geography – An introduction to geographic concepts and skills, a study of coastal environments and their management and an examination of how geographers measure and compare human living standards and quality of life.
Business & the Law
This unit develops students’ knowledge of the main areas of business studies.
Areas of Study:
- Economics – how economic decisions are made and how they affect businesses and citizens.
- Accounting and business planning for small businesses – developing a business plan and basic accounting skills.
- Law – an introduction to the operation of the courts and the legal system including how the law affects young people.
Assessment:
A variety of assessment tools are used to assess students including assignments, research projects, topic tests and exam. A grade is recorded for each area of study, tests and exam.
This is a core subject offered in two levels, which provide the essential skills for various avenues of further study. Alternatively advanced students may take VCE General Mathematics Units 1 and 2. Students are required to choose (in consultation with their Year 9 Mathematics teacher) one of the following three:
Year 10 Mathematics Fundamental:
Course Content:
In Fundamental Mathematics, the emphasis is on consolidation of the previous years’ experiences and development of skills studied in Year 9 Mainstream Mathematics.
Students may continue studying Fundamental Mathematics through to Year 12.
OR
Year 10 Mathematics Mainstream:
Course Content:
In Mainstream Mathematics, the emphasis is on preparing students for extended study in Content: mathematics. For students who have done very well in Mainstream or SEAL Year 9 Mathematics, the basic concepts of maths are considerably extended. Students considering studying mathematics at tertiary level should undertake Mainstream Mathematics or VCE General Mathematics.
Topics Covered:
Both Year 10 Fundamental and Mainstream levels have a common core of basic concepts which is extended further in the Mainstream level.
• Trigonometry
• Geometry
• Indices
• Algebra
• Business Mathematics
• Measurement
• Graphs Statistics
• Probability
Assessment:
Assessment will be made by unit tests, projects, homework, assignments and exams.
OR
VCE General Mathematics
General Mathematics is offered to provide further extension for students who have completed (SEAL) accelerated maths classes in middle school or who are highly capable advanced mathematics students. Students considering studying higher mathematics at tertiary level should undertake VCE General Mathematics.
VCE General Mathematics is taken instead of Year 10 Mainstream or Advanced Mathematics.
Areas of Study:
Univariate and Bivariate Statistics, Financial Mathematics, Graphs, Variation, Matrices, Algebra, Measurement, Trigonometry, Networks and Recursion.
Assessment:
S or N will be awarded depending upon satisfactory achievement of the outcomes in each unit.
Also available:
Mathematics Elective: Pre-Calculus
Course Content:
This is a semester-based elective subject offered to students who wish to study Maths/Science course at VCE and beyond (Science, Medicine, Engineering etc), as well as students who enjoy studying Mathematics. Students will be provided with the essential skills for study of higher levels of Mathematics at VCE and into various tertiary courses. It is expected that students successfully completing this course will choose Mathematical Methods Units 1 & 2 and strongly consider Specialist Mathematics Units 1 & 2 in their first VCE year.
Topics covered will be a selection selection from:
Linear equations, Linear relations, Functions and relations, Surds/Exponential functions & Logarithms, Gallery of graphs, Circular functions, Introduction to Calculus and Problem Solving/Investigations.
Assessment:
Assessment will be made by unit tests, assignments and exams.
Year 10 Science is a core subject. There are two semesters of work, each with a different emphasis. It is preferred that each semester is studied separately; occasionally students will complete them both in one semester.
Students are to choose either Mainstream Science and or Advanced Science.
Mainstream Life Science- Life, where we come from and why
This unit of study prepares students for further study in Biology, Psychology and Environmental Science.
Students identify heritable characteristics and how they are handed down through thegenerations through the role of genes and the function of DNA. The diversity of life on earth is examined and students discover how individuals and species change over time through natural selection. The evidence for evolution is explored by examining scientific evidence such as the fossil record. The earliest life forms, and the existing descendants, microbes, are also investigated.
By exploring galaxies, stars and solar systems and the Big Bang Theory, the origins andfuture of the universe are discovered. Global Warming and Climate Change will be investigated through an understanding of the energy and nutrient cycles. Through practical investigations students explore how these concepts affect our understanding of life and where humans fit within the universe.
Assessment:
- Written Tests
- Practical Reports
- Extended Practical Investigations
- Assignments
- Exam
Mainstream Material Science- Living in a material world
Year 10 mainstream science is intended to prepare students for study of Physics and Chemistry in VCE.
Course Content:
This unit of study explains the properties of everyday materials in terms of particles and the forces holding them together. Through practical investigations, students explore ideas as to how chemicals are grouped together according to their behaviour and summarise different kinds of chemical reactions. Students will learn about electricity and the design of electrical circuits. The function of magnets, electromagnets and their fields will also be explored.
Students will have the opportunity to formulate their own hypotheses and plan and conduct investigations in order to explain the relationships between force, mass and movement using qualitative and quantitative data.
Assessment:
- Written Tests
- Practical Reports
- Extended Practical Investigations
- Assignments
- Exam
Advanced Life Science- Life, where to from here
This unit prepares students for further study in Biology, Psychology and Environmental Science at a higher level than the mainstream course.
Students examine the basis of life including inheritance, genetics and genetic engineering, how these processes work, and the impact of new genetic understanding and biotechnology. Through practical investigations students explore how this affects our understanding of life.
Students discover how individuals and species change through evolution, and what this means for our future. The interactions of ecosystems, energy cycles and nutrient cycles lead into investigations of what effects the environment has on the future. The diversity of microbes and their adaptability are studied.
Life on other planets, the history of stars, and the theory of the Big Bang, all form part of the study of the universe.
Assessment:
- Written Tests
- Practical Reports
- Extended Practical Investigations
- Assignments
- Exam
Advance Material Science- Living in a material world
Advanced Materials Science is intended to prepare students for study of Physics and Chemistry in VCE.
This unit of study explains the chemistry of reactions, looking at the reaction process through equations, comparison of reactants and products and calculations of ratios of materials. Properties of materials are related to the electron structure of elements and atoms.
Students will learn about electricity and the design of electrical circuits. The function of magnets, electromagnets and their fields will also be explored.
Newton’s laws of motion are investigated with a focus on acceleration and the application of vectors to forces.
Students will have the opportunity to formulate their own hypotheses and plan and conduct investigations in order to explain the chemical and physical relationships of materials.
Assessment:
- Written Tests
- Practical Reports
- Extended Practical Investigations
- Assignments
- Exam
This subject is compulsory for all Year 10 students at WSC. On successful completion of this subject, students will have a credit of one unit towards their VCE program. It is expected that students participate in the school’s Work Experience program to satisfactorily complete the unit.
Course Content:
This unit involves a thorough career exploration designed to allow students to match their skills, interests and abilities with future job prospects. The unit also considers work place issues and integrates Work Experience as a key component.
Areas of Study:
- Exploring career options through an understanding of the student’s skills, interests and abilities.
- Investigating possible career pathways.
- Job application preparation including letters of application, resumes and preparing for a job interview.
- Investigating workplace issues such as Occupational Health and Safety and conditions of work.
- Senior Programs course counselling and subject selection.
Assessment:
S or N based on the demonstrated achievement of the required outcomes. Assessment tasks will be graded (ie. A+ through to N) with the final grade provided on the end of year report. A progress report will be provided at the half year.