Task overview (in Ally McBeal speak)
Okay — imagine Ally standing in front of the town noticeboard, high heels clicking, inner monologue ON: ‘A noticeboard? A public stage? Two cities fighting for space? Oooh — this will be dramatic.’ You are going to be Ally-for-a-day: a lawyer-of-words and planner-of-places. On one half of the board, you will pin a Latinate, elevated notice (the City of God voice). On the other half, you will pin a Saxon, plainspoken notice (the City of Man voice). Then you will write a short reflective piece about how people live between those two cities and how language helps us name them.
What to produce
- Two noticeboard entries (each 80–120 words):
- Latinate notice — formal, abstract, longer words, maybe referencing ideals, duties, jurisprudence (City of God style).
- Saxon notice — clear, everyday language, short words, concrete details, focus on daily life and needs (City of Man style).
- Reflective paragraph (150–200 words): Explain how we ‘live between the cities’ — what that means practically for public space (e.g. parks, noticeboards, council notices) — and justify which kinds of language help different people understand and belong. Use examples from your notices.
- Optional creative addition: sketch or layout of the noticeboard showing placement and audience notes (photo or scanned drawing).
Learning objectives (ACARA v9 aligned)
- English — Language, Literature and Literacy: analyse and create texts that use different registers and stylistic choices; understand how word choice shapes tone and audience.
- Legal Studies / Civics: understand how public notices, laws and community rules communicate expectations and values; consider who has a voice in public space.
- Urban Planning & Public Policy: explore how design and language of public space (noticeboards, signage) influence inclusion, access and civic life.
Success criteria (what I will look for)
- Two distinct voices: Latinate notice uses formal diction and abstract nouns; Saxon notice uses short, concrete words and active verbs.
- Clear awareness of audience: notices show who is being addressed and why the register fits.
- Reflective paragraph makes explicit connections between language, power and place (how naming shapes experience between the two cities).
- Presentation is neat, readable, and shows intentional layout choices for a real noticeboard.
Assessment tips and suggestions for teachers/parents
Assess for: clarity of voice, range of vocabulary (Latinate vs Saxon roots), understanding of civic/public purposes, and thoughtful reflection on naming and belonging. Encourage drafting: students can write one version, receive feedback, then revise to strengthen contrast and argument.
Teaching & learning activities to prepare students
- Word roots game: sort a list into Latinate (e.g. justice, municipal, civic) vs Saxon (e.g. law, town, people) piles.
- Noticeboard scavenger hunt: collect examples from school/community; discuss intended audiences and tone.
- Mini debate: Which language helps more people belong in public spaces? Use evidence from notices.
Extension tasks
- Create bilingual or multi‑register notices that blend clarity and formality for different audiences.
- Design a community engagement plan that explains how to involve underrepresented groups when naming or re-naming public places.
Teacher/Parent/Home-school report feedback (approx. 500 words)
[Student name] has engaged thoughtfully with the integrated English, Legal Studies and Urban Planning task focused on public noticeboards and Augustine’s idea of the City of God and the City of Man, recast as a stylistic contrast between Latinate and Saxon prose. They demonstrated a strong understanding that language choices communicate values and shape who feels included in public spaces.
In English, [Student name] showed developing control of register and tone. Their Latinate notice used formal vocabulary and abstract nouns that conveyed ideals and civic responsibility; their Saxon notice used shorter, concrete words and direct verbs that made the message immediately accessible to everyday readers. This contrast was deliberate and effective, showing that [Student name] can vary language to suit purpose and audience. They would benefit from continued practice with vocabulary analysis (Latin/Saxon roots) and editing for precision to strengthen rhetorical impact.
From a Legal Studies perspective, [Student name] showed awareness of how public information establishes rules and expectations. In their reflective paragraph they identified that some formal notices aim to uphold shared standards, while simpler notices support quick comprehension and practical action. A useful next step is to examine whose voices are represented in public communications and to consider how to make language inclusive for people with different literacy, cultural or linguistic backgrounds.
Regarding Urban Planning and Public Policy, [Student name] began to link language and spatial design. Their optional layout demonstrated an understanding that placement, size and clarity of notice items affect visibility and access. They considered audience flow and the practicalities of public noticeboards. Encouraging them to engage in small-scale community consultation or to prototype signs for different groups will deepen this competency.
Strengths: clear stylistic contrast between notices; thoughtful reflection connecting language to power and place; attention to audience; creative presentation. Targets for growth: expand vocabulary and rhetorical techniques (e.g. persuasive appeals, succinct headings); more explicit consideration of equity — who might be excluded by elevated language; refine editing to tighten expression and reduce repetition.
Recommended next steps: practice register-shifting exercises, undertake a short audit of local public notices (identify tone and accessibility), and try a redesign project that produces a single notice in two formats: one for formal legal record and one for everyday readers. With these tasks, [Student name] will further develop abilities to write for diverse civic audiences and contribute positively to public space.