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This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5. A sample essay for the prescribed text, the short stories of Henry Lawson, answers the question from the 2025 sample paper: How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5. A sample essay for the prescribed text, Richard Flanagan’s Question 7, answers the question from the 2025 sample paper: How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

Memorized essays betray a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to commit to authentic answers. Examiners have always advised students to prepare ‘talking points’ instead - a selection of ideas that they can draw on and which convey solid analysis and interpretation of the text. These talking points can be used by teachers to focus discussion on higher-level or less-noticed features of the text and context. They also form effective student revision materials for formal assessment. Each point is supported by a piece of evidence from the text, and there are sufficient points to generate solid responses to almost any essay question. The Talking Points also model how students can articulate more complex thoughts about the text, and adduce evidence in natural and well-integrated writing.

This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5. A sample essay for the prescribed text, the poetry of Rosemary Dobson, answers the question from the 2025 sample paper: How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

‘The Drover’s Wife’, by the Australian writer Henry Lawson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the story with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the story for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this classic story which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘The Loaded Dog’, by the Australian writer Henry Lawson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the story with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the story for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this classic story which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘Our Pipes’ and ‘Shooting the Moon’ by the Australian writer Henry Lawson, have been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the stories with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the story for students who must study them in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of these classic stories which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘The Union Buries Its Dead’, by the Australian writer Henry Lawson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the story with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the story for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this classic story which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

Essay: This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5. A sample essay for the prescribed text, Jessica Au’s novel Cold Enough for Snow, answers the question from the 2025 sample paper: How effectively does your prescribed text tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences? There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

Memorized essays betray a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to commit to authentic answers. Examiners have always advised students to prepare ‘talking points’ instead - a selection of ideas that they can draw on and which convey solid analysis and interpretation of the text. These talking points can be used by teachers, to focus discussion on higher-level or less-noticed features of the text and context. They also form effective student revision materials for formal assessment. Each point is supported by a piece of evidence from the text, and there are sufficient points to generate solid responses to almost any essay question. The Talking Points also model how students can articulate more complex thoughts about the text, and adduce evidence in natural and well-integrated writing.

‘Young Girl at a Window’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘Summer’s End’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘A Fine Thing’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

'Piltdown Man’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘Every Man His Own Sculptor’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘Cock Crow’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

‘Child of Our Time’, by the Australian poet Rosemary Dobson, has been set for HSC study in 2027. This set of notes gives a full analysis of the poem with a handy grab-box explaining the elements of Texts and Human Experiences, poetic techniques, and related texts which complement the poem for students who must study it in concert with one other text. A simple, one-stop analysis of this complex poem which students can work through in class or take home for private study.

Flash fiction is a great way to get students writing and reading contemporary literature. The brevity and inventiveness of the flash form helps students to recognize and emulate writing for clarity, precision and originality. This 72-page unit has plenty of space for writing, and is full of engaging examples of great flash fiction. It has ten sections and many flash fictions included to promote the flash fiction form for further reading. The unit was tested successfully with a mixed-ability Year 10 (ages 15-16) class. What is Flash Fiction? How do you write flash fiction? Starting in the middle: Flashes in medias res Chatty flashes: Few characters and good dialogue The Voice of a Flash Genre flashes The Form of Flash Experimental flashes Flash Non-Fiction Novels in Flash

This unit, taught to a high ability Year 8 (13-14 years) class, is suitable for high-school students of all ages. It focuses on the poetry of loved things: people; food; objects, and experiences, and presents both traditional forms (the ode, the sonnet), and free-form contemporary poetry. Structured into eight parts, the unit covers: Love is in the head I love this feeling Things we love - stuff More Stuff I love eating I love you I love doing this Poetry, and loving it There is also an assessment paper requiring written responses to three poems. Students are introduced to poetic and literary concepts such as the four types of love, modern materialism, and parody. The written responses cover comprehension, analysis, personal discussion and evaluation, creative writing, and comparison with other provided poems. Please note: because recent works are protected by copyright, it is prohibitively expensive to place the texts themselves in the unit. However, to share the love of these poems, teachers should visit thecraftofwriting.org and look at the downloadable document indicated in the menu bar.

Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson. Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout. These activities support O’Flaherty’s famous short story, ‘The Sniper’. Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks. A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies. Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively. O’Flaherty’s gripping story about a sniper who discovers the cost of his mission has been successfully used with a Stage 5 / Year 9 class (15 years).