VATE regularly receives review copies of books from publishers. If you would like to receive and review one of the books listed below please phone or e-mail the office. Any texts you receive for reviewing you can keep. Note to publishers: We will only review texts that can be used as a class text or teacher resource. The class texts for review will be selected using the 'VATE Text Selection Guideline policy' which can be found under the 'Policies and Positions Papers' section of this website.

Each of these sections contains books to be reviewed. Please allow time for the book to be sent to you, for you to read the text and write a review. A letter will be sent with the book with guidelines for review writing.

Most texts in these sections contain a portion of the blurb on the back of the book to help you select books that you are interested in reviewing. Contact kgillespie@vate.org.au for more information.

The English Resource Book plus...Creative Extensions
Barwick et al.
Phoenix Education
The English Resource Book plus...Creative Extensions provides a comprehensive and flexible teaching resource for English teachers. Each book contains approximately 100 photocopiable activity sheets applicable to most areas of the English curriculum and to a wide range of student abilities.

The Language of Persuasion
Jennifer Minter
English Works
Key features of the book: an exact match to the outcomes, key knowledge and skills for VCE, Area of Study 3; a discussion of a variety of media texts; an overview of persuasive techniques in a systematic, skills-driven way; relevant exercises to consolidate learning; essay plans, models and diagrams for practical application; tips and tactics.

The Language of Persuasion: an essay writing guide for VCE
Jennifer Minter
English Works

Writing Better Essays - An integrated approach Years 7 and 8
English Works
This workbook: helps students write better essays by following a clear structure and using basic persuasive techniques; matches the criteria in the national curiculum pertaining to the 'use of language to inform, persuade, entertain and argue'; covers specifications for grammar for Years 7 and 8; includes 35 exercises on current issues; includes guidelines for clear writing.

Successful Comprehension (Second Edition)
Ford and Haywood
Oxford
The fully revised second edition of Successful Comprehension will help students in the first three years of their secondary school to improve their reading and comprehension skills.

Successful Spelling (Second Edition)
Ford et al.
Oxford
The fully revised second edition of Successful Spelling will help students in the first three years of their secondary school to master their spelling skills and expand their vocabulary.

Successful Writing (Second Edition)
Ford and Haywood
Oxford
The fully revised second edition of Successful Writing will help students in the first three years of their secondary school to improve their writing skills and expand their vocabulary.

Successful Grammar (Second Edition)
H Mcintosh
Oxford
The fully revised second edition of Successful Grammarwill help students in the first three years of their secondary school to master their grammar and writing skills.

Imagination, Innovation, Creativity: Re-Visioning English in Education
J Manuel, P Brock, D Carter, W Sawyer (Eds.)
Phoenix Education

My.word/s Comprehensive English Skills Book Two
John and Jenny Barwick
Phoenix Education
My.word/s is aimed at developing students' understanding of the English language and their ability to use it with authority and confidence.

Five Senses: 15 Short Stories with Activities for Lower Secondary Students
Elli Housden (Ed.)
Farr Books
Each story has a choice of written and spoken tasks asking students to read, talk and write, and to complete spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation activities. Extension activities are also included.

Spelling Strategies for Middle School
Peter Clutterbuck
Five Senses
Spelling Strategies for Middle School provides students with learning activities in the four essential knowledge forms vital to the process of learning to spell.

English Workbook 1, 2 and 3 (Second edition)
Anne Mitchell
Macmillan
These workbooks are part of a series of fully revised and updated workbooks for junior and middle secondary students. They develop reading, writing, speaking, language, listening and thinking skills that define successful English programs.

Insight Contexts: The Imaginative Landscape
Robert Beardwood & Timothy Roberts
Insight Publications
Insight Contexts are specially designed for students. Yhey clearly explain what is required for Area of Study 2: Creating & Presenting in Units 3 & 4 VCE English.

Cousins Across the Seas: Short Stories from the Countries of the Commonwealth
Glenys Acland and Ken Watson, Ed
Phoenix Education
The British Empire was responsible for spreading the English language across the world. This selection of short stories comes from the writers of many of those countries.


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Schill, Janne, 2005, In the Wild: Brave New World and Blade Runner, Sapientia
In the Wild: Brave New World and Blade Runner offers a fresh approach to study guides and is aimed at fulfilling the requirements of the new HSC.

Maher, D, 2008, Medusa 3000, Jacaranda (26/05)
What if there was a computer game that could bring back the ancient gods from the past? What if a deadly creature was reborn as part of this game?

Ryan, J, 2007, A Streetcar Named Desire for VCE English, The Leading Edge (3/12)

Rucco, A, Essential English Skills: Year 10, Cambridge (3/12)
Essential English Skills: Year 10 systematically covers three core areas of literacy: language skills; reading skills; writing skills.

Burgess, t, 2006, Top Skills: Comprehension for Selective Schools and Scholarship Preparation, Five Senses (05/09)
Top Skills:Comprehension is intended primarily as an aid for the Selective Schools and Scholarship exams. However this book can be used productively by any upper primary student wishing to improve his or her comprehension.

Grumley,L & Ruello, T, 1998, Advanced English Skills For Years 6 and 7, Five Senses (05/09)

Schymkiw, G, 2006, Teaching Values through Literature: Didactic Stories Book 1 Ages 8-10, Five Senses (31/08)
Teaching Values through Literature: Didactic Stories Book 1 Ages 8-10, is a series of books which uses stories whose purpose is to encourage students to think about issues of conduct, good manners and sustainable values.

Schymkiw, G, 2006, Teaching Values through Literature: Didactic Stories Book 2 Ages 11-12, Five Senses (31/08)
Teaching Values through Literature: Didactic Stories Book 2 Ages11-12, is a series of books which uses stories whose purpose is to encourage students to think about issues of conduct, good manners and sustainable values.

Grumley, L, Kalceff, J and Ruello, T, Multiple Choice Comprehension for Years 7 and 8, Five Senses (14/08)