Responding to texts

Students demonstrate a critical understanding of the language features, stylistic features, and conventions of particular text types and identify the ideas and perspectives conveyed by texts. This includes how language conventions influence interpretations of texts, and how omissions and emphases influence the reading and meaning of a text. Students reflect on the purpose of the text and the audience for whom it was produced.

The evaluation of the different ideas, perspectives, and/or aspects of culture represented in texts is achieved through the analysis of purpose, context, and language features through, for example, comparing a feature article or the reporting of current events from different newspapers in diverse cultural communities. Students may also evaluate the use of language features to create meaning, and consider how their own perspectives might influence their responses.

When responding to texts, students compare and contrast the distinctive features of text types from the same or different contexts. This may be done by analysing and evaluating how different authors employ the language features, stylistic features, and conventions of texts when exploring similar themes, ideas, concepts, or aspects of culture. Students compare the contexts in which texts are created and experienced. They also consider how the conventions of text types can be challenged or manipulated.

Students focus primarily on a shared reading of a variety of texts, but may also include an independently chosen text. Texts may be treated separately or linked.