Dire Ambition: Course Outline
I am in blood / Stepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er.
1.8: Significant Connections
This task is an extension of our investigation into the nature of ambition. This is an opportunity to explore how unifying elements are employed across different texts by different authors that lead you to deeper insight into this very human drive.
Exam Preparation: 1.1 Extended Written Texts
You should attempt the sample paper and then have a look at the excellence exemplar and answer rubric to evaluate your response. You are most welcome to give your practice papers to me to assess as well.
Ozymandias
Percy Shelley's "Ozymandias" I met a traveller from an antique landWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stoneStand in the desert... near them, on the sand,Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,Tell that its...
Exam Preparation: 1.3 Unfamiliar Texts
AS 90851: Show understanding of significant aspects of unfamiliar text(s) through close reading, using supporting evidence. 4 Credits. External
Film Study: Gattaca
This study will concentrate on the viewing of the film Gattaca, directed by New Zealander Andrew Niccol. We’ll explore the film’s primary themes and how these are communicated in the script, images, allusions and cinematography of the film.
1.5 Formal Writing Assessment: Vaulting Ambition in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
This task is a culmination of our study of William Shakespeare’s Tragedy Macbeth. This is an opportunity to explore the techniques of language, structure and conventions of theatre that Shakespeare employed to convey his strongest themes
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow – Despair in Macbeth
Analysis of the language effects Shakespeare employs to reinforce the sense of despair Macbeth feels on learning of his wife’s death.
Weekly Outline – Term Two, Week Five
This week we’re back to working together online to read the play in each others’ company – reading aloud, and analysing what we hear. We’ll read the rest of Act III and then view the film.
Weekly Outline – Term Two, Week Four
This week we’re back to working together online to read the play in each others’ company – reading aloud, and analysing what we hear. We’ll read the rest of Act III and then view the film.
Weekly Outline – Term Two, Week Three
This week we’re back to working together online to read the play in each others’ company – reading aloud, and analysing what we hear. We’ll read the rest of Act II and then view the film.
Podcast
Listen to this course's companion podcast to help make sense of everything you find published here
Course Content
Choosing Dire Ambition as your English programme for Level 1 means that you probably like the world to see you as a political, more socially-conscious type; you’re probably irritated by injustice and your ironic humour has probably got you into trouble on more than one occasion… This programme will explore way ambition can destroy or empower groups and individuals. You’re not here to study English for the sake of it, you’re acquiring a set of skills that you will immediately put to use in life. You’ll need to think fast, question everything and be willing to speak up. You will be asked to challenge yourself as well as others, take risks and show ambition.
We’ll explore modern text communication and online language and compare this with your own speech to learn why, in spite of social attitudes to the contrary, these modern idiolects thrive.
We’ll read Macbeth and you’ll have the option to explore the impact of unfettered ambition in Lord of the Flies as well as the moral injunctions presented in the film Gattaca and its meditation on the consequences of human ambition. Throughout, you will be practising the key skills required to succeed in the NCEA examinations. In parallel to this everyone will be completing for homework their own longitudinal inquiry by investigating links between self-selected books, films and art and presenting these in written form.