Library Guides: English: General Resources

Source: Christine Hume

This page provides access to many great resources which will support your English subject studies at Norwood. Library and teaching staff have collected the websites and links on this page to help you! Click through the tabs below to explore these resources.

Newspaper article

Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informational pieces, because news articles present information in a specific way. It's important to be able to convey all the important information in a limited word count and giving the best information to your targeted audience. Knowing how to write a news article can help you expand a journalism career, exercise your writing skills and convey information clearly and concisely.

Advertisment

If you're in business you know that to attract customers and get results, you have to advertise. A great ad attracts attention, generates interest in your product, and leaves consumers with a strong desire to buy it. See Step 1 and beyond to learn the tenets of writing a compelling and effective ad.

Screenplay

This overview will begin acquaint you with the screenplay format writing rules and screenwriting etiquette you'll need to know about. Learning how to write a screenplay involves many facets but this basic information will give you a head start on your endeavours, including practical information to help you get your scripts read. And hopefully turned into movies.

Movie Review

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A good movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyse a movie, come up with an interesting thesis and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Young Adult Novel

Young adult fiction is one of the most rapidly expanding and exciting categories in which you you can write and publish. Although many people think young adult novels are only written for teenagers, they have a much broader audience and appeal. While engaging a young adult audience can be a challenge, you can make your novel a success by avoiding common mistakes, planning your novel carefully, and adapting your writing style.

Graphic Novel

Impressed and inspired by your favourite graphic novel? To make your own, start by perfecting your drawing style. Then come up with a set of amazing characters, plot out a story, and use pencil and ink to bring it to life. Finish by adding some colour to make your pages pop!

	NewsBank Norwood students now have access to a Victorian Newspaper Database by NewsBank - login to read and download full text articles from all Victoria's major newspapers (eg. The Age, Herald Sun), and local Leader newspapers. Type the following information when prompted for a username and password: USERNAME: norwoodsec PASSWORD: (for security reasons please email library@norwood.vic.edu.au for the password or come ask at the library)
	Current Social Issues & Current Environmental Issues Current Social Issues and Current Environmental Issues are two hard copy journals which bring together selected and reformatted newspaper articles from all the major metropolitan newspapers into a fortnightly journal. Annual indexes to the end of 2016 are available as PDF or Word documents. They also offer a free, searchable consolidated index which includes all articles published from 2001 to the end of volume 116 (2016).
	Herald Sun The NSC Library Resource Centre keeps the last 6 months of the Herald Sun in print form. To access please ask library staff. Today's edition of the Herald Sun is available for reading in the Library Resource Centre.
	Echo News Index A free program by the University of Queensland Library for secondary school students. LOGIN REQUIRED: Please see the library staff or your English teacher for username and password. Or email library@norwood.vic.edu.au
	Cambridge Dictionary Online Free online dictionary from Cambridge University Press.
	Google Scholar Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites.
	Google Books Book Search works just like web search. Try a search on Google Books or on Google.com. If the book is out of copyright, or the publisher has given us permission, you'll be able to see a preview of the book, and in some cases the entire text. If it's in the public domain, you're free to download a PDF copy. If you find a book you like, click on the "Buy this book" and "Borrow this book" links to see where you can buy or borrow the print book.

	Cite This For Me Create Harvard, APA & MLA citations for your bibliography.
	Grammarly Check your English text for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors with Grammarly’s free grammar checker!
	National Novel Writing Month National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days. Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand new novel. They enter the month as elementary school teachers, mechanics, or stay-at-home parents. They leave novelists.
	StoryBird Storybird provides simple tools help you build books in minutes. Let the art inspire and surprise you as you write. Readers will encourage you along the way. Contact library staff for log-in details.

How to find themes in books (Book Riot, 2021, August 27)

Whether you’re studying something for fun or pleasure, looking for themes can be a rewarding exercise. Though definitions vary a bit, a theme is usually the main idea of a work or the message an author wants to explore. For some texts, it may be a moral, but it does not have to be. Instead, look for something more universal and complicated, and you will probably be heading in the right direction. In order to understand what this means for an individual work, it may help to concentrate first on what a theme is not. Here are some simple steps on how to find themes in books you read.

VCE Study Guides

A great online resource for studying issues and techniques on delivering your oral presentations.

	CliffsNotes CliffsNotes is the original (and most widely imitated) study guide. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams.
	Novelguide Novelguide.com is the premier free source for literary analysis on the web. They provide an educational supplement for better understanding of classic and contemporary literature. Novelguide.com is continually in the process of adding more books to the website each week.
	Open Source Shakespeare Open Source Shakespeare attempts to be the best free Web site containing Shakespeare's complete works. It is intended for scholars, thespians, and Shakespeare lovers of every kind. OSS includes the 1864 Globe Edition of the complete works, which was the definitive single-volume Shakespeare edition for over a half-century.
	Shmoop Never fret your regularly scheduled, mid-class space-out sesh again! What you wish your teacher had actually told you instead of going on that weird tangent about grapefruits. These literature study guides guide you through everything you need to know about everything literature.
	Sparknotes Sparknotes guides contain thorough summaries and insightful critical analyses. They offer more than 500 guides for English literature and Shakespeare, and a vast number of guides for history, math, biology, and other subjects. Their most popular guides now include quick quizzes, so you can test your retention before the test.

Analysing and presenting argument by Ryan Johnstone
Publication Date: 2015
Includes a code that provides complimentary access to Oxford's Digital obook and assess product.
The obook is a cloud-based web-book available anywhere, anytime, on any device, navigated by topic or by 'page view'. It includes the student text and study tools, plus a virtual laboratory containing specially-commissioned Australian-made lab experiment videos, drag & drops and other interactives. assess is an indispensable online assessment tool, explicitly mapped to the Australian Curriculum that drives student progress through tailored instruction.
30-second Shakespeare : 50 key aspects of his works, life and legacy, each explained in half a minute by Ros Barber & Ivan Hissey
Publication Date: 2015
30-second Shakespeare' features 50 of the key moments, works and lasting influences of the Bard, all explained clearly and without the clutter. Each entry is summarized in just 3 seconds - using nothing more than two pages, 300 words and one picture. Leading Shakespeare scholars present an expert guide to his life and works.
Argument & persuasive language by Melanie Napthine
Publication Date: 2018
Argument & Persuasive Language provides comprehensive coverage of Area of Study 2 of the new VCE English course. It covers the analysis of argument and of persuasive language in a variety of media texts, supported by stimulating activities that progressively develop students' analytical skills.
As right as rain : the meaning and origins of popular expressions by Caroline Taggart
Publication Date: 2013
The English language is littered with linguistic quirks, which, out of context, seem completely peculiar. As Right as Rain will explain how on earth 'off the cuff' came to express improvisation, why a 'gut feeling' is more intuitive than a brainwave, and who the heck is 'happy' Larry.
The Australian schoolkids' guide to debating and public speaking by Claire Duffy
Publication Date: 2015
This book covers everything kids, parents and teachers need to know about debating and public speaking. Claire Duffy not only demystifies the process but makes it fun by drawing on her many years of experience working directly with students. Learn all about the best way to prepare, the persuasive power of reason, the art of argument and rebuttal and, when it comes to that, how to lose graciously. Including practical tips from the pros and helpful step-by-step examples.
Checkpoints: VCE English analysing and presenting argument 2018 by Andrea Hayes
Publication Date: 2017
Exam Prep and Revision for students
Official past exam questions with suggested responses
Tips on studying effectively and succeeding in your exams
Written by experts in these subject areas
Checkpoints: VCE literature units 3 & 4, 2017-2020 by Annelise Balsamo
Publication Date: 2017
On title page and cover: Concise summaries of topic areas ; Practice and revision activities ; Sample responses.
Includes cut out and keep study cards.
Includes a unique access code to QuizMeMore online revision tools.
Clear writing: language and grammar by Jennifer Minter
Publication Date: 2011
Brings grammar alive with diagrams, illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions. Includes exercises for each explanation and shows students how a knowledge of grammar leads to better writing.
The complete guide to English usage for Australian students by M.A. Ramsay
Publication Date: 2011
The fifth edition of this invaluable sourcebook for secondary students has been revised and updated to support the Australian Curriculum.
The debating book by Jeremy Philips & James Hooke
Publication Date: 1994
Everything about debating is covered in this handy book, from how to prepare for a debate and rebut your opponent's arguments, to how to adjudicate and coach a team. Case studies and amusing anecdotes are peppered throughout the text to illustrate what good debating is all about.
English year 11 by Robert Beardwood
Publication Date: 2018
Updated to reflect the latest advice from teachers and assessors after the first year of external assessment in 2017, English Year 11 2nd edition is a comprehensive and practical guide to Units 1 and 2 of VCE English. It includes detailed guidelines and annotated sample responses for analytical, creative and comparative text responses, as well as explanations and sample responses showing how to analyse argument and present a point of view on an issue. Numerous activities, word banks, sentence starters and worksheets build skills progressively throughout the book.
English year 12 by Robert Beardwood
Publication Date: 2018
Closely based on the English/EAL Study Design 2017-2020, English Year 12 is a practical, comprehensive textbook for Units 3 and 4 of VCE English. This 2nd edition addresses a number of changes to the English/EAL text list. Media texts have been updated throughout.
Insight issues junior years by Melanie Napthine
Publication Date: 2019
Insight Issues: Junior Years is based on the highly successful Insight Issues: For and Against and aims to give junior secondary students an accessible introduction to argument and persuasive language.

With clear explanations and relevant examples, the book provides a strong foundation for understanding, analysing and producing persuasive texts throughout the secondary-school years.
Key skills for senior English : area of study 1 : analysing, creating and comparing text by Robert Beardwood, Melanie Napthine & Claire Warr
Publication Date: 2016
This book focuses on analytical, creative and comparative text responses. The accessible, carefully scaffolded exercises guide students through the processes of producing well-constructed and insightful responses to individual texts as well as text pairs.
Key skills for senior English : area of study 2 : analysing and presenting argument by Sandra Duncanson & Claire Warr
Publication Date: 2016
This book takes a step-by-step approach to developing students' understanding of the ways in which persuasive language and argument techniques work together to present a point of view. This holistic approach to Area of Study 2 is supported by a wide range of text types about interesting, up-to-date issues.
Literature for senior students by Robert Beardwood & Kate MacDonnel
Publication Date: 2013
The Literature Handbook covers novels, short stories, drama, poetry and film, explaining all essential terms and techniques. Section B: Studying Literature covers the main kinds of analysis and text response required in senior literature courses: adaptations of texts into other forms; views and values; alternative viewpoints; creative responses; and close analysis.
Love the lingo : VCE English language units 1 and 2 by Kate Burridge
Publication Date: 2015
Text book for the study of linguistics and the English language. Written in an engaging and accessible style for senior secondary students.
Living lingo : VCE English language units 3 and 4 by Kate Burridge & Debbie De Laps
Publication Date: 2015
Updated for the new study design VATE's (Victorian Association for the Teaching of English) Living Lingo is a comprehensive text for VCE English Language Units 3 and 4. The content reflects the dynamic nature of the English language, and the text is structured to reflect the course with a section for each Area of Study in Units 3 and 4.
Reading and creating, reading and comparing the essential preparation for VCE area of study 1 by Kellie Heintz
Publication Date: 2015
It includes the student text and study tools, plus a virtual laboratory containing specially-commissioned Australian-made lab experiment videos, drag & drops and other interactives.
Senior English skills builder the essential preparation for VCE by Kate Tehan, Amanda Ford & Elizabeth Haywood
Publication Date: 2015
Updated to prepare pre-VCE students with the skills they require to achieve success in senior English. This student-centred workbook is designed to complement any senior English program by teaching, reinforcing and extending the skills students need to succeed in their English studies.
Text types : a writing guide for students by Anne Townsend, Anne Quill & Philip Oostenbroek
Publication Date: 2006
Provides a ready reference tool for students, teachers and parents to assist in the production of twenty-one different types of written texts. Texts presented in the guide include Biography, Debate, Description, Exposition, Instructions, Poetry and Recoutnt etc. Both literary texts and factual texts have been included. Most of the text types are presented in a double page format, with one page analysing the structure of the text type and the second page presenting an example of the text. This presentation provides the scaffolding and modelling necessary for the development of writing skills.
VCE literature : steps to success by Anne Mitchell
Publication Date: 2016
This book offers a fresh approach for students undertaking the revised VCE Literature course. It provides support for the stronger focus on literary perspectives in the new study design, along with reading and analysing the ideas and concerns in texts,|understanding contexts and making connections, adaptations of texts, creative responses and close analysis. Steps to Success will support Year 11 students who are beginning to study Literature, and will also provide excellent strategies for Year 12 students as they work towards their final exam.

English: General Resources

Current Social Issues & Current Environmental Issues

Herald Sun