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All students must be fully informed about the requirements of the Negotiated Study before they start work on it. Careful explanation of the student guide is essential. Information broadsheets about possible topics are also available.

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As English teachers, we are in control of the curriculum. Students must negotiate a suitable area of study; if a proposal is of concern or inappropriate students must re-negotiate.

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All Negotiated Studies must involve reading, writing, speaking and listening. They must include an original component of writing and/or response to texts. Thematic studies, genre studies and author studies should be expected. Non-fiction studies should be discouraged, particularly in 417 courses.

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A proposal form must be completed and signed by students at the beginning of the study. It should be counter signed by the teacher.

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Students must be able to complete their Negotiated Study within the time provided. In Grade 10 this means a maximum of four weeks including homework. Individual extensions may be negotiated; class extensions should be avoided.

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The learning journal is a very important component of the Negotiated Study. Read it and sign it twice during the course of the study. It is one of the best ways of knowing what is happening with 25+ individual studies.

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Students must adhere to the 2000 word limit. Any longer study must be by negotiation with the teacher.

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The bulk of the work must be done in the classroom. It is not an extended homework study. All students must be fully aware of these requirements.

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The Negotiated Study is designed to give students an opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning. The process is important. Negotiating, reflecting, collaborating, setting and achieving learning goals, making independent judgements and completing work within an agreed time frame are key learning processes (TARGET = key learning processes).

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All Negotiated Studies must be assessed using criteria five, six, eight and ten. Students must know this in advance. Other criteria may also be used for assessment purposes. Students must complete some form of written self assessment, possibly as a final journal entry.

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The standard assessment sheet should be used by all teachers. Negotiated Studies should be returned within four weeks of their completion. Return on an individual basis is recommended.

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We should be fully informed about what all students are doing in their Negotiated Studies.

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Celebrate the achievements of your students. Display their Negotiated Studies in the classroom or Library. Organise for Grade 10 students to visit Grade 9 English classes.

1.

Decide on an area of study.

2.

Fill in a proposal sheet.

3.

Complete a plan.

4.

Start and maintain a learning journal.

5.

Complete all negotiated pieces of work, including some use of technologies.

6.

Conference with peers, parents and a teacher.

7.

Assess your own work.

8.

Share your work with others.

9.

Hand in your work in a display folder include :

• a contents list or cover page
• a copy of the proposal
• the learning journal
• all negotiated pieces of work
• a bibliography
• your self assessment.

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use a television and/or VCR to view a visual text.

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use a radio and/or a CD player to listen to a spoken text.

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use e-mail, a CD ROM and/or the Internet to gather information.

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use a word processing, graphics and/or desktop publishing package to compose and present part or all of your work.

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use a video camera, a tape player, a scanner, an electronic index or a camera.

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lists things you do, remember, think about, work on;

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charts progress in speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and thinking;

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shows you have worked constructively with others;

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indicates problems and solutions;

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records peer, group and teacher conferencing;

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lists and summarises relevant reading material;

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reflects on work done;

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charts the development and refinement of your work;

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demonstrates your planning and your use of time;

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reflects how you would assess your progress at the moment and your feelings about it.

4/8/99

I have now viewed a second film. The film was called "Close encounters of the Third Kind" and was directed by Steven Spielberg, and according to my parents is at least 15 - 20 years old. It was interesting and I’m sure twenty years ago it would have been very "up to date" with quite outstanding special effects. However, in comparison to more modern films dealing with alien encounters it was a bit flat.

5/8/99

I think at this stage of my study, now that I have begun work and I have recorded some of my reactions, it would be a good idea to complete a plan which I will then adhere to fairly closely for the remainder of my study. I have decided to present my reactions to my reading, viewing and other discussion in the form of reviews, critical responses or perhaps even book/book or film/book comparisons.

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Study picture books written for older readers.

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Explore fairy tales, myths and/or legends.

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Study the work of an Australian author.

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Write creatively in response to literature.

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Write a biography or autobiography.

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Produce a radio show.

1.

What is the title or focus of your study?

2.

Briefly outline what you intend to do in your study :

3.

How will you use technologies during your study?

4.

How will you include the following language processes in your study?

• Reading and/or viewing

• Writing

• Speaking and listening

5.

Who is the intended audience for your study?

I understand that the Negotiated Study is to be my own work undertaken in class and homework time. I have read the Grade 10 Student Guide and understand the requirements of the Study.

The Study will be completed by :

NAME :

Signature :

English Teacher’s signature :

NAME :

Title of Study :

1.

How realistic were your goals at the beginning of the study? To what extent did you achieve them?

2.

Comment on how well you completed or engaged in the following :

• reading and/or viewing

• writing

• speaking and listening

• editing and proofreading

• bibliography

• use of technology

3.

How well did you organise your time during the study? Did you use class time effectively or did you complete most of your study at home?

4.

Comment on your learning journal. Did you maintain it regularly? Did it help you, or was it unnecessary?

5.

What aspects of your study did you do well? List at least three positive outcomes.

6.

If you had the opportunity to complete your study again, what would you do differently?

7.

Consider the assessment criteria for the Negotiated Study. Identify one or two extra criteria that you satisfied in the course of your study. Give yourself an assessment for these criteria. Be prepared to justify this with your teacher.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

A

B

C

D

5. Create and craft a range of texts for a variety of purposes and audiences.

6. Appreciate and analyse the structures and features of spoken, written and visual texts.

8. Use technologies to access information, compose texts and communicate with different audiences.

10. Set and achieve goals for their own learning through negotiation, reflection and making independent judgements.