Resource+2

= **// Resource 2: //** ABC News. (2009). //Uluru debate: to climb or not to climb?// Retrieved September 29, 2009 from [] =



This text is an online ABC News article about the proposed Uluru climbing ban. It provides a brief outline of the draft management plan for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the debate that this has generated. It provides arguments from those for and against the ban, including quotes from members of the public writing to ‘ABC News Online’. The text is highly relevant to outcome ENS2.6 because it enables students to learn about the significance and management a natural, heritage feature of Australia; Uluru (Board of Studies NSW, 2007, p. 17, 58). The use of opinions throughout the article allows students to gain an understanding of people’s relationships with their environment including Aboriginal people’s connection to the land. Reynolds (2009) highlights the importance of learners investigating value-laden issues by considering various perspectives (p. 113). This also provides cultural knowledge, encourages inclusivity and presents knowledge as problematic – all criteria of the New South Wales Quality Teaching Framework (NSW DET, 2003). ** Aspect of literacy suitable to be explored:  ** The news article is useful for looking at discussion text types. It begins by identifying the issue and providing a context and background information (Droga & Humphrey, 2003, p. 146). Although it does not provide a conclusion, it highlights arguments for and against through a variety of opinions. This range of perspectives provides a strong link to outcome ENS2.6 and is suitable for exploration through talking, listening, reading and writing. The article is useful for exploring modality - expressing a writer or speaker’s orientation towards possibility, probability and certainty (Winch et al., 2006, p. 228). Droga and Humphrey (2003) articulate the importance of modality in discussions since they help to persuade the reader through particular positions (p. 63). Modal verbs exist throughout the article (e.g. ‘could’, ‘should not’, ‘will’, ‘would’). There are further examples of modality, such as modal phrases/clauses (‘I think…’) and modal adverbials (‘probably’, ‘obviously’). Examining the effects of modality in texts supports students as text analysts – one of the four important roles of the reader (Luky & Freebody, 1999 cited in Winch & Holliday, 2006, p. 126). The article is also useful for learning about saying verbs as a feature of discussions (Board of Studies NSW, 1998, p. 242). The article uses ‘agreed’ and ‘recommending’ but overuses the word ‘said’. Students could critically examine this and alter the article to include a greater variety of saying verbs. Droga and Humphrey (2003) highlight the importance of saying verbs in news stories for acknowledging what people say, claim, announce etc. (Droga & Humphrey, 2003, p. 31). Learning about saying verbs can also provide students with the opportunity to develop the use of quoted and reported speech, another important feature of discussions (Board of Studies NSW, 1998, p. 242). Noun groups could also be explored through this article, including the use of adjectivals to condense information (Droga & Humphrey, 2003, p. 146). Long noun groups are used throughout the article, e.g. ‘a draft management plan’, ‘The Northern Territory’s Tourism Minister’, ‘the local Aboriginal people’, ‘the iconic rock’, ‘a popular tourist destination’ etc.
 * Explanation of the resource: **
 * Relevance to the outcome: **