If you’re looking to ace the HSC English Common Module and finally understand what a “human experience” is, this is the article for you.
As a qualified HSC English teacher with 8+ years of experience who also graduated with an ATAR of 97.30, I know the texts and human experiences module like the back of my hand.
In the next 4 minutes or so, I’m going to give you:
- A detailed breakdown of the key terms you need to know from the rubric,
- upcoming assessments so you’re not taken by surprise,
- how to pick a related text,
- what a “human experience” really is,
- and a FREE cheat sheet of 100+ individual and collective human experiences to use.
Let’s get into it!
What is the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences?
What does the ‘Texts and Human Experiences’ rubric even mean?
How will I be assessed for the Common Module?
What texts will I study in ‘Texts and Human Experiences?’
How do I pick a related text?
What is a human experience?
FREE List of 100+ Human Experience for Essays
What is the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences?
‘Texts and Human Experiences’ is the current Common Module which focuses on deepening students’ understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experience.
Texts studied in this module, whether literary works, films, poetry, or other forms of media, are chosen for their ability to engage with different facets of human experiences.
The Common Module takes up around 1/4 of your course time in HSC English and as the name implies, is common for students of Advanced English, Standard English and English Studies.
What does the ‘Texts and Human Experiences’ rubric even mean?
Take a look at the first half of the rubric put out by NESA. Read through it carefully and then skim through our table glossaries of keywords and ideas. 
| Key Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Texts | Different forms of human expression, such as a novel, short story, poem, play, film, television series, song, artwork, etc |
| Experience | An event or occurrence for which an individual is present and which leaves an impression upon said individual. For example: Although HSC is a nerve-wracking experience for many students, it doesn’t have to be. |
| Human qualities | Distinctive attributes or characteristics possessed by an individual. For example: She shows strong leadership qualities. |
| Human emotions | Strong feelings deriving from an individual’s circumstances, mood or relationships with others. For example: Grief is an emotion I know all too well. |
| Textual form | An umbrella term referring to various elements of a text’s construction, including medium, mode, structure and genre. The emphasis is on how the text is put together, rather than what the text has to say. For example: Orwell manipulates elements of textual form to create a harrowingly dystopian text. |
| Textual mode | The style of a text, similar to genre. In order to follow a particular mode, texts display certain prescribed characteristics pertaining to setting, characterisation, and narrative structure. For example: Billy Elliot navigates the bildungsroman narrative mode in order to connect with audiences both young and old. |
| Textual medium | Text type – e.g. is it a novel? Poem? Play? Etc. What differentiates one medium from others? |
| Anomalous behaviour | Behaviour that is considered “abnormal” and different in relation to prescribed norms and conventions within a particular social context. |
| Story | An account of real or imaginary people and events. |
| Extract from Rubric | Explanation |
|---|---|
| In this common module students deepen their understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experiences. | An individual human experience is one experienced by one individual whereas a collective experience is shared. |
| They examine how texts represent human qualities and emotions associated with, or arising from, these experiences. | Explore the attributes, characteristics and feelings connected to or caused by human experiences. |
| Students appreciate, explore, interpret, analyse and evaluate the ways language is used to shape these representations in a range of texts in a variety of forms, modes and media. | How do different forms of texts utilise language to explore human experiences? How effective is the use of language in exploring this? |
| Students explore how texts may give insight into the anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations, inviting the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally. | How do anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies prompt students to think about the world in a new way? Anomalies – Behaviour and motivations outside the norms and conventions of a particular social context. Paradoxes – Behaviour and motivations which on the surface, do not make sense… Inconsistencies – Behaviour and motivations which change in some way. |
| They may also consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and cultures. | How have storytelling techniques evolved throughout time, and how do they differ between cultures? What role does storytelling play in different communities and how does it explore human experiences? |
| By responding to a range of texts they further develop skills and confidence using various literary devices, language concepts, modes and media to formulate a considered response to texts. | Through studying the prescribed texts, students can strengthen their own writing skills, applying this to their essay responses. |
How will I be assessed?
‘Texts and Human Experiences’ involves school-based and external assessments.
Internal assessments look different for every school, but NESA’s sample assessment schedule suggests that Term 1 will involve a multimodal presentation on a prescribed text and related text.
At the end of the year, the internal HSC English Trial Paper 1 and external HSC English Paper 1 Exam for the Common Module will consist of two sections.
Once the 10 minutes of reading time is over, you are given 1.5 hours to complete Paper 1. It is advised by NESA that you spend 45 minutes on each section, as they are both worth 20 marks.
Section I: Short Answers
In this short-answer section, you will respond to around 5 unseen texts that relate to human experiences. See a sample question and response below:
As shown, the example response is only 3 sentences long! It clearly conveys how the author establishes a feeling of freedom, using quotes to analyse the use of techniques. This example should be kept as reference when constructing your own responses. Remember, less is more!
Section II: Essay
The second section of Paper 1 will require you to write an essay about your prescribed text. You will receive one question worth 20 marks.
A great way to find practice essay questions for the Texts and Human Experiences module is by using Artie, our FREE AI English Tutor. Simply click on the “Find Quotes” feature and select your prescribed text and themes to generate unlimited essay questions!
For example, if you were to choose ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare as your text and focus on the theme of revenge, here are some of the results:
- How does the pursuit of revenge shape the characters and events in The Merchant of Venice?
- Compare and contrast the motivations for revenge among different characters in The Merchant of Venice. How do these motivations affect their relationships with others?
- Discuss the role of justice versus revenge in The Merchant of Venice. Is revenge justified in the context of the play’s events?
What texts will I study in ‘Texts and Human Experiences?’
For the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences, you will study:
- ONE prescribed text (check out the prescribed texts in the syllabus)
- ONE related text of your own choosing
- And a range of short texts, likely given to you by your teacher
You will be assessed on your prescribed text in both school and external assessments however, you will NOT be assessed on your related text in your external HSC English Paper 1 Exam.
See the table below for a list of all the possible prescribed texts that your teachers may choose from, organised based on textual form:
| Prose Fiction | Doerr, Anthony, All the Light We Cannot See Lohrey, Amanda, Vertigo Orwell, George, Nineteen Eighty-Four Parrett, Favel, Past the Shallows |
| Poetry, Drama, or Shakespearean Drama | Dobson, Rosemary, Rosemary Dobson Collected (‘Young Girl at a Window’, ‘Over the Hill’, ‘Summer’s End’, ‘The Conversation’, ‘Cock Crow’, ‘Amy Caroline’, ‘Canberra Morning’) Slessor, Kenneth, Selected Poems (‘Wild Grapes’, ‘Gulliver’, ‘Out of Time’, ‘Vesper-Song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden’, ‘William Street’, ‘Beach Burial’) Harrison, Jane, Rainbow’s End Miller, Arthur, The Crucible Shakespeare, William, The Merchant of Venice |
| Nonfiction, Film or Media | Winton, Tim, The Boy Behind the Curtain (‘Havoc: A Life in Accidents’, ‘Betsy’, ‘Twice on Sundays’, ‘The Wait and the Flow’, ‘In the Shadow of the Hospital’, ‘The Demon Shark’, ‘Barefoot in the Temple of Art’) Yousafzai, Malala & Lamb, Christina, I am Malala Daldry, Stephen, Billy Elliot O’Mahoney, Ivan, Go Back to Where You Came From – Series 1, Episodes 1, 2 and 3 and The Response, Madman Walker, Lucy, Waste Land |
How do I pick a related text?
Your related text should ideally have some connection to your prescribed text for ‘Texts and Human Experiences’ – it is a related text, after all.
However, try to think outside the box a bit in terms of what this connection is.
Remember, the connection can take the form of a similarity or a difference (contrast in human experiences is a compelling point to raise) so you don’t need to search for your prescribed text’s long-lost twin.
Your related text is the one opportunity you will have in HSC English to choose your own text so you may as well pick something you actually enjoy!
So, what is a human experience?
A human experience refers to the diverse range of encounters, emotions, events, and interactions that shape individuals and communities. It encompasses the complexities of human existence, including our relationships, challenges, joys, struggles, beliefs, and personal growth.
Before you get overwhelmed by how broad this description may seem, my greatest piece of advice is to remind yourself human experiences are simply the events that we face every day, feelings that we all relate to in different circumstances, and how these moments ultimately influence our identities.
FREE List of 100+ Human Experiences for Essays
To help you out, I’ve created a FREE cheat sheet of 100+ individual and collective human experiences with examples from your prescribed HSC Common Module texts for you to use as a reference when writing essays. Get your copy below!
Looking for extra help with the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences?
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Genevieve D’Netto is a qualified English and History teacher who has successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (secondary), majoring in English and History at the University of Sydney, graduating with first class honours in 2021. Gen has just completed a Master of Education majoring in Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne. She graduated with ATAR of 97.30, placing her in the top 2.7% of the state! She received the Premier’s Award for All-round Excellence in the Higher School Certificate.
Luka Russell is an English tutor at Art of Smart Education, and graduated from UTS in 2023 with a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Journalism. Aside from educational content, she is passionate about health and beauty journalism, having written various articles on female health topics. She also loves to draw in her spare time.
