Year 9 Focus Study – Genre – Science Fiction
All class work and assessment tasks must be completed.
You will be assessed on how well you:
-respond to and compose increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for
understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure
-select and use language forms and features, and structures of texts according to different
purposes, audiences and contexts, and describe and explain their effects on meaning
-think critically and interpretively using information, ideas and increasingly complex
arguments to respond to and compose texts in a range of contexts
-investigate the relationships between and among texts
-question, challenge and evaluate cultural assumptions in texts and their effects on
meaning
Part 1 Defining the Sci-fi genre
Understanding the term genre
Sorting things out- putting texts into genres
Model ideas
Characteristics of science fiction (plot, setting, mood, characters)
Title Page
Part 2. – Sci –fi in different text types – Reading and watching
How do different text types represent sci-fi ideas?
I Robot (film)
Novel (own choice)
Poem – ‘The End of Science Fiction’
TV – Dr Who
Short story – ‘The Veldt’
Cartoons
Analysis and class discussion of all text types
Part 3 – Responding to Sci –Fi
Short answer questions
Feature article writing
the 5 paragraph essay
Homework Tasks:
– Short Answer questions (/10)
Submit full sentence responses to the short answer questions on ‘The Veldt’ and Dr
Who. These will be a combination of comprehension, interpretation and language.
Assessment Tasks
– Feature Article (/15)
As a journalist, write a 1-page feature article for an in-flight travel magazine, describing
and explaining the setting of one of the sci-fi texts studied in class. You are writing for a
general audience and your aim is to engage and interest your audience with your
description. You must write about this setting as if it was real.
Describe sights, sounds, smells, textures, the inhabitants etc. Remember, this is a feature
article, not a report so your style should be subjective and engaging
This task should be completed in class by the end of the first week. Hand -write your
final copy and place it in your folder.
Follow the suggested format on the handout provided.
Criteria:
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Write using the form and language style of a feature article
Demonstrate understanding of your chosen text
Use language to engage your target audience
– Essay (/25)
Complete a 5-paragraph essay for the following question. If you choose you may answer
this question based on the sci-fi novel that you have read, rather than the film.
I Robot is a typical example of a science fiction narrative.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Use quotes and details from your text to support your answer.
Criteria:
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Write using essay form and style
Provide quotes/examples from your text to support your argument
Argue your point of view
Write using correct spelling, punctuation and grammar
Demonstrate an understanding of your text
You will be given handouts explaining the structure and style of an argumentative essay
and we will practice writing essays in class based on our other texts.
You will then need to complete this essay, type it and place it in your folder.