Level 2 English through Hip Hop

Year 12 English through Hip Hop

Oppression, discrimination, power, resistance, and community are terms heavily linked with Hip Hop. Yet these are also ideas explored in a range of well-known texts commonly studied in English. The purpose of this course is to engage students in literature and literacy through texts based on Hip Hop and Spoken Word. Students selecting this course may have prior knowledge and keen interest in music and hip hop or just be interested in the ideas and wordplay inherent in the lyrics.

The course will use Hip Hop culture as a context for learning to enhance your listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, and presenting skills. Students will be trained in how to develop logical arguments in response to the texts they are studying. Students will create a portfolio of crafted and controlled writing as well as present a speech to the class.

Potential texts may include, but are not limited to, Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, Avondale Bowling Club, Public Enemy, as well as a range of spoken word artists from Aotearoa and the wider world. Students will be taught to appreciate these texts for their inventive uses of language but also to critically reflect on the themes and ideas explored.

Reading and writing will make up the biggest components of this course. Students will be expected to develop analytical skills during their literature studies as well as crafting their own creative pieces. Students have access to 13 internal credits, as well as 4 external credits. 17 compulsory credits in total.