Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.4 Visual or oral text > Subject content > Content notes
- Subject: English
- AS: 90723
- Level: 3
- Credits: 3
- External
3.4 Respond critically to oral or visual text studied
Content notes
Content notes are the questions, learning activities, extra reading, and notes you should have completed in class when studying a visual or oral text. Texts will be discussed in general terms, so apply these suggestions to the text you have studied. At this level critical response involves the close examination and understanding of how and why the writer has chosen to express ideas in a certain way and that all aspects of a text work together to support the author's purpose.
Think critically about how one aspect of the text such as language influences or impacts on another aspect such as theme or character. Critical academic readings are journal articles that have been written by top academics as a discussion paper focusing on key issues from a text. You can access academic readings through your school library on 'close reserve' or you can order material online from the INNZ catalogue (ask your teacher or librarian for your school's password). Use this material to support and extend your study.
Key aspects to study
- plot and structure
- setting and context
- production techniques
- characterisation
- theme and purpose
- conflict
- symbolism.
Ways to study the content
- The style chart can be adapted for a close viewing of important scenes.
- Read/view the text closely
- Take detailed notes with scene references and quotations.
- To record your first impressions of the visual text use the worksheet You Be the Judge.
- Make flashcards to learn important quotations.
- Draw a storyboard or stage diagram to summarise important scenes.
- Draw diagrams and flow charts to show the relationship between different aspects of the text(s) such as character and theme or setting and mood. See graphic organizers for suggestions on how to organise your key points into a new format.
Websites with general information about visual and oral texts
