ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THE HWA CHONG INTEGRATED PROGRAMME EL SYLLABUS (UPPER SECONDARY)

CONTENTS _________________________________________
INTRODUCTION AIMS OF TEACHING SYLLABUS ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT PAPER DESCRIPTION _____________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION
The Hwa Chong Integrated Programme English Language syllabus aims to nurture students who are critical thinkers, effective communicators and passion-driven lifelong learners. The English Language syllabus encourages students to explore and conduct extensive research on a range of pre-determined conceptual themes. These thematic units provide a conceptual lens on a topic of study and encourage conceptual integration on a broad spectrum of global and local issues that are transferable across time and culture. By the end of secondary education, students should become independent thinkers with a global perspective, ready to thrive in the realms of higher education and eventually, in an increasingly diverse workplace. The Hwa Chong Integrated Programme English Language syllabus is built on the foundation proficient language use both written and spoken in order to support the core endeavours of critical, integrated thinking.

AIMS OF TEACHING SYLLABUS

The Hwa Chong Integrated Programme English Language syllabus aims to enable the following outcomes:

 Speak and write in Standard English using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. Speak and write with varied sentence structures and a wide range of appropriate vocabulary with the appropriate register and tone. Speak and write clearly, effectively, relevantly and coherently in a manner that demonstrates planning, organisation and the development of ideas. Understand a variety of written, spoken and visual texts at the literal, inferential and evaluative levels and demonstrate the ability to synthesise, summarise and organise information. Foster a critical awareness of complex and ambiguous issues in the human experience that are encapsulated in the national and global contexts. Understand wider concerns and the points of inter-disciplinary intersection beyond the scope of the subject and make connections across historical, social and cultural experiences. Develop maturity of thought and apply critical reading and creative thinking skills. Promote extensive and independent reading and research within a context of collaborative learning platforms.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
The candidate will be expected to demonstrate: A broad and coherent understanding of a range of thematic units ranging from philosophy, culture and science & technology. These thematic units are embodied by a range of current affairs of global importance and issues of significance to Singapore. This includes the ability to: Demonstrate a broad understanding of interconnected areas within a topic. Recognise and analyse the multidisciplinary connections in a topic, showing an awareness of their significance and the implications for the individual and society. Formulate coherent personal responses backed by relevant and valid arguments extrapolated from representative sources.

Effective communication and proficient use of language. This includes the ability to: Speak and write clearly in Standard English with the accepted conventions of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Comprehend, interpret and apply a range of subject matter Identify, infer, summarise and evaluate information Plan, organise and show development of ideas clearly Synthesise, summarise and organise information in tasks derived from texts.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
Paper Paper 1: Essay Description Range of Marks The paper comprises 6 Content: 30 questions Use of Students answer any one English: 20 question and write a response of 500-800 Total: 50 words. Topic Areas: Issues drawn from across thematic units and disciplines Issues of local and global concern Comprises one passage of 1200 words. The text will be marked by paragraph numbers on the left margin and line numbers in the right margin. Questions cover: Understanding including literal comprehension, vocabulary and inference (20m) Summary (10m) Application (10m) Total: Weighting 50% Duration 1 hour 30 mins

Paper 2: Comprehension

Content: 40 Use of English: 10 Total: 50

50%

1 hour 45 mins

100

100%

3 hours 15 mins

PAPER DESCRIPTION
Candidates are expected to sit both papers. Paper 1: Essay Six questions will be set, of which candidates answer one. This task provides candidates with the opportunity to produce an informed, critical, creative and relevant response. The suggested areas for thematic focus are: Science & Technology Education Leadership

Crime & Punishment Culture News & Media Topics of local interest and global concern

Questions will not necessarily be set on every topic area and will not be set in any particular order. They will be general in nature and require candidates to draw on their knowledge from across disciplines to show an awareness of significant global/national/ local issues. The ability to convey a sustained and coherent argument is core. All arguments are expected to be well substantiated by concrete and relevant examples. Paper 2: Comprehension One passage of continuous prose of approximately 1200 words will be set. The passage should allow for critical and comparative analysis. There will be a range of questions on the text, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to comprehend, explain, infer, evaluate and summarise. Candidates will also be required to synthesise information and respond to concepts or ideas conveyed based on their understanding and interpretation of the text as a whole. They will apply their response to their own national contexts in a comparative task derived from the text.