The VM Literacy Handbook 2

THE
VM
LITERACY
HANDBOOK
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THE VM LITERACY HANDBOOK 2
Copyright © Ticking Mind 2023
All rights reserved.
Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968
of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this publications may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior permission of the copyright owner.
First Published 2023 by: Ticking Mind Publications, Thornbury.
ISBN 978-0-6455181-2-2
Designer: Tasha Hassapis
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The VM Literacy Handbook 2
4
Contents
Unit 3: Information and procedural texts
01. Consumer texts 12
• Buyers and sellers have different purposes .................................................................................... 14
• Loyalty schemes ........................................................................................................................................... 16
• Mobile phone plans ..................................................................................................................................... 18
• Product descriptions ................................................................................................................................. 20
• Warranties and returns policies ............................................................................................................ 26
• Consumer rights .......................................................................................................................................... 28
02. Life information texts 30
• Recipes ............................................................................................................................................................ 32
• Rental agreements ..................................................................................................................................... 34
• TAFE websites .............................................................................................................................................. 36
• Planning an overseas trip ........................................................................................................................38
• Acceptable use of internet agreements ........................................................................................... 40
• Information alerts ....................................................................................................................................... 42
• Instructional video on a hobby ..............................................................................................................44
03. Health texts 46
• Medicare and Health Care Cards .........................................................................................................48
• Nutritional information ............................................................................................................................. 50
• Sexual health campaigns ........................................................................................................................ 52
• Health fact sheet ........................................................................................................................................54
04. Financial texts 56
• Applying for government support payments ..................................................................................58
• Guide to paying income tax .................................................................................................................... 60
• Superannuation funds .............................................................................................................................. 62
• Renters insurance ....................................................................................................................................... 64
• Information about insurance .................................................................................................................. 66
05. Workplace texts 68
• Wages for apprenticeships ......................................................................................................................70
• Vocational advice social media pages ................................................................................................72
• Safety guidelines .........................................................................................................................................74
• Codes of conduct .........................................................................................................................................76
• Bullying case study .................................................................................................................................... 78
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5
06.
Information and instruction
words and phrases 82
• Signal and sequence words ................................................................................................................... 82
• Words to describe how to do something ........................................................................................... 82
• Words to describe causes and effects ..............................................................................................83
• Explaining what something means .....................................................................................................83
• Highlighting important things ...............................................................................................................84
Unit 4: Promoting, advocating and reflecting
01. Promoting a service 88
• Poster for a service .................................................................................................................................... 90
• Airtasker profile ........................................................................................................................................... 92
• Instagram branding .................................................................................................................................... 94
• Webpages ...................................................................................................................................................... 96
• Influencers ....................................................................................................................................................100
02. Promoting a product 102
• Basic promotional language .................................................................................................................102
• Online marketplace ...................................................................................................................................104
• Editing promotional texts .......................................................................................................................106
• Slogans .......................................................................................................................................................... 108
03. Promoting and advocating for a group 110
• Donation drive ...............................................................................................................................................110
• Case study of community group promotion ....................................................................................112
• Grant application ad ..................................................................................................................................114
• Example grant application ......................................................................................................................116
04. Creating a folio 118
• Tips for creating a folio ............................................................................................................................118
• Community flyer .........................................................................................................................................120
• Facebook page ............................................................................................................................................122
• Email asking for donations ....................................................................................................................123
• Promotional video ......................................................................................................................................126
06. Reflecting on learning 128
• Tips for reflecting on learning ..............................................................................................................128
• Openings ........................................................................................................................................................130
• Body paragraphs ........................................................................................................................................132
• Closing ........................................................................................................................................................... 134
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6
Overview of Unit 3
The detailed version
In Unit 3, there are two different Areas of Study:
→ Area of Study 1: Accessing and understanding informational and procedural texts
→ Area of Study 2: Creating and responding to informational and procedural texts
But in this book, we’ve kinda put the two areas together, because whenever you study an information
text to understand how it works there’s also an opportunity to create your own.
Essentially, this Unit (which takes a whole semester of study to finish) helps you to think about all
types of information texts that are important to our interests, our work and our participation in the
community.
Throughout this unit, you’ll do these sorts of things with informational and procedural texts:
→ watch and read texts that you find interesting
→ watch and read texts that you find boring
→ discuss different purposes of texts
→ get information from texts
→ compare texts and think about them
→ evaluate the effectiveness of different texts
→ take notes, annotate, journal, draw doodles in the margin
→ research weird and wonderful stuff
→ create recipes, instructional videos, infographics, posters and fact sheets.
The 5-second version
So, during this semester, you’ll be studying and creating texts that provide information and
instructions. You’ll learn how to unpack complex information, make boring information interesting
and present information in different ways.
Stuff you need to hand in to pass
At the end of the unit, you will have to produce at least two assessment tasks. They might be
something like:
Area of Study 1
¨ Annotate an information text.
¨ Summarise information in a table.
¨ Create and produce some kind of
presentation.
Area of Study 2
¨ Create an information poster or infographic.
¨ Create a fact sheet.
¨ Create an instructional video.
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7
Overview of Unit 4
The detailed version
In Unit 4, once again, there are two different Areas of Study:
→ Area of Study 1: Understanding and engaging with literacy for advocacy
→ Area of Study 2: Speaking to reflect
Unlike in Unit 3, we’ve actually separated out these two units of study. This is because in Unit 4, you
really need to do the first area of study before you can do the second one.
The first area of study is called ‘literacy for advocacy’, which is just a fancy way of saying ‘using words
and pictures to advertise and promote yourself and your skills, or even promote other stuff’. In this
area of study, you’ll look at how you can promote yourself or a service, product, community group or
worthy cause. You’ll view, read, respond to and create texts like:
→ print and video advertising
→ flyers and posters
→ online product descriptions and business profiles
→ community web and social media pages.
In the second area of study, you need to do a presentation (either recorded or in person), where you
reflect on how you’ve used literacy strategies to create a folio of texts or carry out a project. You can
reflect on a folio of promotional texts you created for Area of Study 1 or a project you’ve done in
another class, like PDS or WRS. You’ll need to reflect on things like:
→ what literacy skills you used
→ how you used planning or drafting strategies
→ things you found easy, hard, fun or frustrating
→ how you might use your learning in the future.
The 5-second version
So, during this semester you’ll be studying and creating texts that promote you, a community group,
a product or a service. You’ll also be doing a presentation where you reflect on literacy skills you
learnt and used this year.
Stuff you need to hand in to pass
At the end of the unit, you will have to produce at least two assessment tasks. They might be
something like:
Area of Study 1
¨ Annotate a promotional text such as
a print ad.
¨ Write a case study of how a community
group promotes itself.
¨ Create a folio of promotional texts.
Area of Study 2
¨ Create a recorded presentation reflecting
on your literacy learning.
¨ Do an in-person presentation reflecting
on your literacy learning.
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8
Using this textbook
To make this textbook into an AMAZING learning experience that you’ll want to share with your
friends and parents and will make you say things like, “I’ve got the most amazing textbook ever”,
we’ve used … icons. Yep, throughout this textbook are icons that help you work out what you need
to do and where you should do it (hint, it’s not the back of your hand).
Here’s a cheeky guide to how they work.
Information to read
This is boring information that we spice up with some gags. You’ll need to read this
stuff BEFORE you do something else so you know why it’s important.
What do you already know
This icon shows that there is an opportunity to share how much of an expert
you already are on the topic.
Example text to read
Read this
Yes, you need to read stuff. Joy! This icon points out what you need to read.
View online
Sometimes you’ll need to view cat videos serious stuff online. This will be
accompanied by a link you need to visit.
Writing to do in this workbook
Throughout this textbook, this icon indicates that there is an activity and space for
you to share your AWESOME response in this actual book!
Activity to do somewhere else
Of course, you’ll also have to do stuff in other places apart from this textbook, like in
an old-school exercise book or on your computer. This icon tells you when you need
to do this.
Find your own example
Lots of activities throughout this textbook require you to show you’ve become
a BLACKBELT in the topic by finding your own examples.
Discuss
Regularly throughout this textbook, this icon will prompt you to turn to another
student and share your thoughts about how right you are and how wrong
they are.
Create your own text
Oooh … this icon is super serious. It tells you that you need to create your own
version of a text that you’ve been studying. Your teacher might even ask you
to submit what you do as an assessment.
Tip
This icon will be accompanied by some great advice about how to find buried
treasure or do the activity you’ve just been asked to do.
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9
Annotating texts
like a pro
When you grow up, you’ll regularly look back at your school years and thank the universe you learnt
how to annotate a text properly. This skill will probably save your life one day. In the meantime, you’ll
need this skill a lot throughout this year.
Steps to annotating a text:
Whenever you annotate a text, you will always need to do steps 1 and 2. Sometimes you will need to
do steps 3 or 4:
1. Circle or box important features.
2. Label features.This textbook will often give you a checklist of features to help with this.
3. Comment on: how features help the reader or viewer.
4. Comment on: how effective the features are.
How to give your pet a name
(that doesn’t suck)
In 2023, some of the most popular names for a dog around the world were Bella,
Max, Daisy and Buster. Boring, Boring, Boring. If you’re going to bother having a pet,
it should have an interesting name like Captain Sparkle-Dust. This will indicate just
how unique your pet is in the animal kingdom. Here are some tips to show how cool
and imaginative you are and give your pet the name it deserves.
1. Use the middle name of a person
you admire
Middle names are way more interesting
than first names. Just ask the person
sitting next to you – they probably have
a really embarrassing middle name
like Beaufort or Kay. And celebrities
and famous historical people have the
craziest middle names you could think
of. For example, Marie Curie was an
incredible scientist, with an incredible
middle name: Salomea. Just imagine if
your pet turtle was called Salomea –
awesome sauce!
2. Pick the most interesting name
in the credits of a show
You know when you watch the credits of a
show and you see that that stunt woman
was called Asterea Brooding-Monk?
That’s A SIGN. It was MEANT TO BE. Give
this gift from the world to your duck,
lizard or whatever weird pet you keep.
3. When all else fails
If you’re really having trouble thinking of
an interesting pet name, then the fail-
proof rule is to follow this formula:
your favourite thing to put on toast + your
anime animal avatar.
So … Peanut-butter Wolfken.
Subheadings signpost the main idea
for the reader. Clear, easy to follow.
Introduction emphasises the
most important information.
Funnier than most boring intros
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10
Unit 3
Information and
procedural texts
List of incredible stuff that’s in this chapter
Consumer texts��12
Life information texts �� 36
Health texts�� 62
Financial texts �� 36
Workplace texts�� 62
Information and instruction text phrases �� 36
Information texts make the world go round. You literally can’t get from your home
to school without engaging with an information text (street signs, billboards, public
transport notices). We seek out information and instruction texts all the time to find
answers to burning questions like who has the longest toenails in the world. In fact,
if you’re not watching a show on the internet, you’re probably doing a search to find
some type of information text. Importantly, we also create information texts. Every
time you give your friends advice about how to level up on a computer game, you’re
actually coming up with your own information or instructional text. And you do it all
the time! So this whole chapter will be about SUPER CHARGING the skills you already
have to find, understand and make up information and instructional texts.
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Unit 3 Information and procedural texts 11
Are you looking for the same information
as other people?
Listed below are some of the most frequent questions people ask on Google around the world.
Read through the questions and:
• tick any question you’ve already Googled
• cross any question you’d never, ever ask
• tick whether you think an answer to this question would be best in video or written form
Have you
googled this? Video Written text
What is AI? ¨ ¨ ¨
What to watch? ¨ ¨ ¨
How do you tie a tie? ¨ ¨ ¨
How to delete an instagram account? ¨ ¨ ¨
What is the weather today? ¨ ¨ ¨
How to take a screen shot on Windows / Mac? ¨ ¨ ¨
How to delete a facebook account? ¨ ¨ ¨
What song is this? ¨ ¨ ¨
Is [celebrity name] pregnant? ¨ ¨ ¨
When does school start? ¨ ¨ ¨
When is Easter? ¨ ¨ ¨
Is [Google/Reddit/Youtube] down? ¨ ¨ ¨
Why does my stomach hurt? ¨ ¨ ¨
How long to boil eggs? ¨ ¨ ¨
Are jellyfish immortal? ¨ ¨ ¨
How old is [celebrity name]? ¨ ¨ ¨
Why is my poo green?* ¨ ¨ ¨
When was [name of historical event]? ¨ ¨ ¨
Can dogs eat bananas? ¨ ¨ ¨
(*This is no joke. It is seriously one of the most popular questions.)
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12
Look at the list below and try to match each consumer text up with its
(incredibly hilarious) definition:
Receipt
when you promise not to troll people in a vile way while using free
WiFi
Contract
a long and boring list of details that uses technical terms like
75GMs and ‘made of recycled polymerized Tencel’
Terms and
conditions
a promise that manufacturers make but have no intention
of ever keeping
Subscription
list
printed proof that you didn’t sneak it out of the shop in
your backpack
Internet use
agreement
a document that different people sign (in ink or, more traditionally,
blood) to prove that they have actually agreed
to something
Warranty
when you give your email details to a company so they can
send you spam for the rest of your life
Product
description
a long and boring list of technical and legal stuff that no one
actually reads before they tick a box that says, ‘Yes, I agree
to all of this (including the part that says you can have my kidneys)’.
Consumer texts
Unit 3 Information and procedural texts
In life, whenever you use or buy something – which is like, ALL THE TIME –
you’re a consumer. Because consuming is such an important part of life, this section
of the textbook has some fairly incredible activities about consumer texts.
Since you’re already such a pro at consuming, you probably already know A LOT
about consumer texts. And that might surprise you, because you’re probably thinking,
‘I’ve never even heard about consumer texts before today’.
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Unit 3 Information and procedural texts | Consumer texts 13
Now that you’ve already established what a pro you are with consumer texts, have a think
about when you might come across these texts.
Below is a list of different consumer experiences you might have. In the space provided, put
at least one different consumer text type that might be part of each of these experiences.
Buying a phone:
Using the internet at the local library:
Renting a flat:
Deciding between two different items:
Buying a hoodie:
All of these consumer texts are LEGAL DOCUMENTS, which means they can actually
be important. But a lot of the time, you’re probably just going to ignore them. Turn to someone
else and discuss when you think you might actually NEED to use each of these documents.
Record your answers here:
Receipt:

Contract:

Terms and conditions:

Subscription list:

Internet use agreement:

Warranty:

Product description:

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14
Buyers and sellers have different purposes
Whenever you look at information about something you’re thinking of buying – like
an ad, or a product description on the packaging – it’s important to keep in mind that
what YOU want to get out of that information is different from what the SELLER
wants to tell you. That’s because consumers have different aims from sellers.
The table below shows one basic aim of consumers and sellers. Add at least two more aims
to each column.
Aims of consumers Aims of sellers
Buy a quality product Persuade consumers to buy products
Like a romantic comedy where two people never talk openly about their feelings,
buying stuff can sometimes be tricky because buyers and sellers want different things.
Below are four issues consumers can have:
→ needing to work out what to do when something you just bought doesn’t work
→ purchasing something expensive and deciding between two or more products
→ figuring out the ordering process for a difficult-to-use online store
→ finding out more details about something someone has advertised online with
only a bit of information.
Identify one issue you’ve had, and write 2–3 sentences explaining what the specific problem
was and what you did to try to figure it out:

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Consumer texts can often have technical terms in them. Sometimes the aim of these terms is
to be specific about a product or process. But sometimes that aim is also basically witchcraft to
bamboozle consumers.
Have a go at matching some of these common terms from consumer texts to a definition.
Flat rate
shipping
a cart pulled by goats that some shops supply to do your shopping
Extended
warranty
marks out of five that customers have given a service or product
there is only one method of delivery
Provider
a period of time after purchase when a buyer is allowed to change
their mind
Shipping
magic that is used to make something you bought online very flat
to send in an envelope
Product
care plans
an extra fee
extra protection for a product a consumer can buy
Surcharge a complete rip-off that someone tries to sell you at the checkout
Standard
delivery
there is only a single cost for delivery no matter where you live
how a product will be delivered to your address
Product
disclaimer
increasing the period of time after purchase when a manufacturer
guarantees to replace a product it if stops working
(Add to) cart
rants from unhappy people about the evil nature of something they
bought
Manufacturer
selecting something you want to buy from a website and putting it
in a virtual ‘shopping bag’
Terms and
conditions
the company that made a product
the company supplying a service
Customer
ratings
being frozen with anxiety just after you bought something online
that it’s going to be a super rip-off
Cooling off
period
the rules a business has about how they will act and consumers
need to act
a list of things that a company selling a product says it has no
responsibility for
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16
Loyalty schemes
Whenever you buy a new shirt, a bag of carrots or a replacement deodorant, the
checkout process will ask if you are a member of a cult of their loyalty scheme.
Sometimes they even want you to download their app so you have an easier way to
buy your way into short-term happiness.
Why do loyalty schemes appeal to shoppers? (Tick all that apply)
¨ so you can get new, free stuff
¨ so you feel like part of a community
of people who will support you
¨ so they can tell you when your favourite
products are on sale
¨ so you can get discounts on products
¨ so you know when there is new stuff
available to buy
¨ so you are the first to find out about
new stuff
GLOW Insiders is a membership program that offers you inside knowledge
and gifts to the beauty world. Insiders get special gifts, exclusive offers,
luxurious samples and fabulous in-store experiences of the newest
and most desirable products that GLOW has to offer.
GLOW Insiders
Fledgling level
At this newest level to the Insiders, members will receive:
• A FREE birthday gift every year, just to celebrate luminous you!
• Once every year, you’ll also receive an exciting GOODY BOX of new
and interesting samples to try.
Polished level
At this level of our Insiders group, you’ve already demonstrated
a real commitment to your own beauty and fabulosity. Polished
insiders will receive:
• a FREE birthday gift every year
• TWO goody boxes of new and fabulous samples to try
• Once a year, you can come into the store to have a customised
make-over from one of our learned and luminous consultants.
Luminous level
You are a true connoisseur of the world of beauty and you expect only
the best from your GLOW team. Luminous insiders will receive a:
• FREE birthday gift every year
• FOUR goody boxes of luxurious and best-selling products
• Three times a year, you can book into the store to have a customised
make-over from one of our learned and luminous consultants, for a
special occasion, or just to celebrate the magic of you.
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Obviously, if you sign up for the loyalty scheme on the opposite page, you will never experience
another pimple in your life. Because that’s how beauty programs work. So, this loyalty program
probably sounds amazing for someone who is keen on beauty products. BUT, you’ve gotta ask
yourself – why do businesses have loyalty programs in the first place?
Why does GLOW have a loyalty program? (Tick all that apply)
¨ to encourage you to spend more money
so that you ‘up-level’
¨ to make you feel important and
included
¨ so you can save money on your
favourite products
¨ to give you samples of products that
are not selling well
¨ so you only buy certain products from
the same place
¨ so they find out your purchasing habits
and advertise similar stuff to you
¨ to get your email address so they can
send you more ads
¨ because they’re worried you don’t get
enough birthday presents
How do the images on this page help to promote each level as being exciting or attractive?

How do the subheadings make the information easier to read?

How does the CAPITALISATION make the information seem more exciting or interesting?

In what way is the price point of each level less prominent than the other information?

Think of a business that you, a friend or family members are a loyalty member of (or have
thought about joining), such as Coles, Woolworths, Priceline or a specific shop or business.
Look at the webpage of membership benefits this business offers.
How does this webpage make membership look good and how does it hide less exciting
information (like the fact that they will send you endless spam, or you need to spend loads
of money)?
How stuff is made to look good:

How stuff is kinda hidden:

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18
Mobile phone plans
One day, you’re going to have to buy a new phone because you’ve dropped your old
phone down the toilet one too many times. Buying a new phone is tricky because it
usually involves getting a phone plan. This means you’re going to have to get your head
around a whole lot of technical terms, like ‘40GB’, or ‘Interest Free’ or ‘Types of Tin
Hat’. Even worse, you’re going to be looking at webpages with too many dot points.
Phone company Plan Name and details
VADERPHONE
Simple Plan $40 per month over 24 months
Monthly data
• Extra data use will be added to the total of next
bill cycle.
• Your unused data will expire at the end of each
bill cycle.
Minimum cost
$960+ phone
45GB
5G coverage where available
in Australia.
Calls and texts
Unlimited national
calls and texts.
Small Extra Choice Lifestyle Plan:
$49 per month over 24 months
Monthly data
• If you use more than your included data, your use will
be slowed until the start of the next payment cycle.
• Any unused data will accumulate on your plan.
• We’ll let you know when you’ve used 50%, 75% and
90% of your data.
Minimum cost
$1176+ phone
30GB
5G coverage where available
in Australia.
Calls and texts
Free within Australia and
to selected International
destinations.
Phoneco
Small Plan: $35 per month over 36 months
No excess data charges
• After 40GB, data will download at slower speeds.
• Your unused allowances will expire at the end of
every month.
Minimum cost
$ 1260 + phone
40GB
5G coverage in all major
Australian cities.
Calls and texts
Unlimited standard national
and international calls and texts.
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Obviously, there should be dedicated oompa loompas who are able to tell you what the best
plan is for you. But sadly, we don’t live in a world of chocolate fountains and happy, singing
assistants. YET. So, you’re going to need to figure this stuff out for yourself.
Answer the following questions to demonstrate your SUPERIOR and INSIGHTFUL
understanding of how to read phone plans.
1 Which phone plan is overall the cheapest?

2 Which phone plan is the cheapest per month?

3 If you live in a country town, which plans will allow you the best access to the internet
and which are the worst?
Best:
Worst:
4 Which plan will cost you the most if you overuse your data limit?

5 Which plan is the best if you want to contact family and friends overseas?

6 Which plan allows you to control and monitor your own internet use?

On balance, which plan do you think would be best for YOU to use?
Write a 4–5 sentence explanation of the plan that you would choose, comparing it to the other
plans you rejected. Use the sentence vocabulary table to help you.
Is better than Is the worst Seems to be, but is really
is preferable to
is more suitable for
suits my needs more than
is an inferior choice to
would be a trap for me
because
seems to offer less value
at first glance, this seems … but
this looks good, but is really …
this isn’t as good as … because …
Research which real-life phone plan would be best for you.
Write a one-paragraph reflection about why this phone plan would work for you. Again, use
the words from the table above to help you write the reflection.
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20
Product descriptions and specifications
We’ve all had the disappointment of purchasing a flying tiger from eBay because we
all want a real, flying tiger but then it arrives and turns out to be a toy. It turns out
that reading product descriptions and specifications carefully will help save a lot of
PAIN and HEARTACHE from getting something you don’t want.
www.lifesupply.com.au/electronics/speakers
DreamSound Smart Blast XR2001
(2) add a review
$179
ADD TO CART
Description Description
Returns
Reviews
Product care
Ask a question
Easy streaming
With its built-in QuickConnect technology, the DreamSound
Smart Blast will connect automatically to your home WiFi and
your smartphone, tablet or computer. With just one touch, you
can connect to streaming services, including Spotify, YouTube
Music or Audible.
The sound you deserve
The DreamSound Smart Blast XR2001 produces incredibly clear
sound. Due to its line-shape diffuser technology and innovative
non-circular diaphragm design, this speaker is capable of producing
sound of such quality, you’ll think it’s being created live in your
space. The speaker’s unique design also spreads high-quality sound
further and wider around your venue, without the sound losing
quality.
Long battery life
With battery life of up to 20 hours, you can listen all day and into
the night with the DreamSound Smart Blast XR2001. The quick
charging RapidBolt charging cable will also have your speaker
re-charged in under an hour. And, because of its lithium-silico cell
design, the battery is guaranteed to retain its long-lasting capacity.
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You’ve decided that a smart speaker will improve your life because it will do EVERYTHING
for you. In fact, you’ve even come up with a dream list of things you want from your smart
speaker. It’s below (called ‘Everything I Want in a Speaker’).
Tick the things the DreamSound Smart Blast actually does, according to the
product description:
Everything I Want in a Speaker
¨ Time travel
¨ Simple connection to WiFi/streaming
¨ Fast charging
¨ Waterproof
¨ Voice activated
¨ Long battery life
¨ Will do your homework
¨ Good quality audio
¨ Can connect to other speakers
Product descriptions often use a mix of everyday language and technical terms to describe
stuff. From the production description on the opposite page:
→ Identify and write down at least two examples of speaker functions that are easy to
understand.
→ Identify and write down two examples of technical phrases that only people with expert
knowledge of speaker technology would really understand.
Easy-to-understand functions Technical terms
As someone shopping for a speaker, when you read the technical terms in the product
description on the opposite page, how does this technical language make you feel?
Use the phrases below to help explain your answer:
Words like ‘…’ and ‘…’
Technical terms such as ‘…’ and ‘…’
When the description uses language such as ‘…’ and
‘…’, these words
make me feel … because …
confuse me because …
make the product sound to me like …
make me see the product as …
impress me because …
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22
Good and bad product descriptions
Not all information texts are as AMAZEBALLS as this textbook. Some are … well
… just a bit crap. Let’s look at the differences between good and bad information texts.
What is an information text you have read recently:

What is one helpful feature of this information text that you can remember? (Use the list on
the opposite page to help you with this step.)

www.appliancebarn.com.au/audio/smartspeakers
DreamSound Smart Blast XR2001
$179
ADD TO CART
Gallery Description Reviews
The DreamSound Smart Blast XR2001 creates an amazing sound in your venue. Plus, its
metal design looks cool meaning it can be displayed anywhere.
Better sound all around
The XR2001 has a Line-Shape Diffuser that will help your music reach further, even to
the side of the speaker.
Introducing the Line-Shape Diffuser
Inspired by the audio systems used at professional concerts, DreamSound’s XR2001
Line-Shape Diffuser creates line source and distributes the sound energy much more
evenly, across a wide sound front, to better fill your venue with audio. This spreads high-
quality sound further and wider around your venue, without the sound losing quality.
Key Features
Wider sound with Line-Shape Diffuser
X-Balanced Speaker Unit for powerful and clear sound
Dustproof
Up to 20 hours charging
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Information Text Strategies
Formatting and sequencing features Content and language features
• Headings and subheadings signpost big
ideas.
• Different sizes, colours or types of text
and font are used to separate headings
from other information.
• The most important information is placed
first.
• Small, simple sections of writing break
down long and detailed ideas.
• There are spaces between chunks of
text to make it clear where one bit of
information ends and another begins.
• Dot points, checkboxes or tables are
used to present lists of information or
points.
• Linking words and phrases show the
connection between ideas and elements
(i.e. firstly, secondly, however, moreover).
• Explanations are provided for technical
terms (i.e. with brackets in a sentence or
glossaries at the end).
• Examples are provided.
• Pictures, diagrams or visuals help
present and explain information.
• Suggestions are provided for places
to find further information (i.e. links to
websites, lists of other information texts
to read, contact information for people or
organisations).
Use the list of features of a good information text above to identify what the text on the
opposite page doesn’t do.
1.
2.
3.
Draw a line from each of these three items to the place where the example text SHOULD
have put these features.
Compare the ad on the opposite page with the ad on page…
Write a brief comparison of the differences between the two texts, using the sentence starters
below to help:
Although both Appliance Barn and Life Supply are advertising the same speaker, it is
’s ad that is much easier to follow. This is because it has
and
to help its readers understand the information presented. However, even this better ad from
could have been improved if it
also included or .
By including these features, the ad would have been easier to follow, since these features help a
reader

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24
Product descriptions
Product descriptions are really interesting information texts, because when was the
last time you read a product description that said something like:
This is pretty much just your average sort of skateboard.
OR
This shampoo will leave your hair basically the same, but cleaner.
Probably you answered: ‘hardly ever’, and that’s because product descriptions are
designed to both inform you AND convince you that you should buy something.
Sunday Arvo Hoodie
$84.95
Specially designed for comfort, style and
easy movement, our Sunday Arvo Hoodie
is perfect for your weekend wardrobe.
Made with ground-breaking and eco-
friendly recycled Polylite™ fabric, this
gender-neutral garment is crafted to be
both casual and cosy. You’ll enjoy the
brushed, fluffy texture of the inner fabric
and the understated cool of the outer.
This hoodie is the perfect addition to your
weekend wardrobe.
Add to bag
Features −
• eco-friendly Made from our own patented recycled Polylite™ fabric, this garment
has a low environmental footprint
• gender-neutral Express your own individual identity in a garment that’s designed
for inclusivity
• comfortable Crafted to be cosy, yet slouchy, this garment will feel supremely comfortable
Design −
• Dropped shoulders for a casual look
• Hood with drawcord to add detail and interest
• Kangaroo pocket to add extra comfort for your hands
• Ribbed cuffs so you can push the sleeves up for an individual look
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You’re probably ready to rush out and buy this hoodie right now. It sounds like the most
awesome hoodie you’ll ever buy. It’s even made of a special kind of material – the ‘ground-
breaking and eco-friendly recycled Polylite™ fabric’. Oooh. Special. Technical. But, sadly,
this hoodie doesn’t even exist. It’s just a made-up hoodie to show you how to write a product
description.
Re-read the product description for the ‘Sunday Arvo Hoodie’. Circle all of the descriptive
words that show you how special or good this hoodie is.
Hint, you should have between 7–15 circles when you are finished. Look for words like ‘cosy’ or
‘extra’ or ‘individual’.
Now it’s time for you to create your own product description, following these steps:
1 Think of a product type that interests you (for example: tools, beauty products, indoor
plants, electronic gizmos, instruments, clothing items or anything else that occurs to you).
2 Online, find at least two different examples of product descriptors for products of this
type.
3 Read through the product descriptors and identify examples of technical and persuasive
language they use to make the products sound awesome. Note these terms down in a
table like this:
Product description 1 Product description 2
Words used to label and
describe features
describe design
describe other details
4 Create your own fake version of the product you have been researching. Fill out the
table below to help you plan your product description. Use some of the words (or similar
ones) to the examples you found in step 3.
Section Notes
Vocabulary you will
use to make this
sound awesome
Product overview (what is
the product, what makes it
special?)
Features
Design
Other details
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Warranties and returns policies
Sometimes things you own break – like those awesome headphones you have with cat
ears on them. This could be because it turns out they were only made of dried pasta
and rubber bands or because an asteroid hit them. Depending on the reason, you’ll
want to return your stuff or get it fixed. This means you’ll need to understand how a
warranty or returns policy works.
What is a product you own that is covered by a warranty?

What damage might occur to your product that a warranty could cover?

www.lifesupply.com.au
Life /Supply
Home Services Returns and Warranties
Services —
Faulty Goods Returns
Extra Cover
Australian Consumer
Law
FaultyGoodsReturnsPolicy
LifeSupply will replace faulty goods within 12 months of purchase. If you believe you
have purchased a faulty product, you must provide proof of purchase to receive a
refund, replacement product or repair. Proof of purchase may be your original register
receipt, credit card statement or any other form of evidence.
LifeSupply may have the faulty product assessed by a third-party certified repair agent
to determine the nature and cause of the fault. LifeSupply will not exchange, refund or
repair any product where the fault has been caused by misuse or neglect.
ExtraCoverforGuaranteedReplacements
The purchase of Extra Cover for $54 from LifeSupply provides an extended warranty
for up to 3 years on products costing $100–$500. Extra Cover can be purchased for the
following new items at LifeSupply:
• Computers, laptops, tablets, monitors
• Printers, scanners, hard drives, projectors
• Audio equipment, keyboards, mice
Extra Cover provides a once-only replacement for your product for any failure that
occurs or accidental damage it receives within the three-year period of cover.
Find produces, brands, categories and more ...
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Draw a line from each word on the left to the statement on the right which best defines what
it means.
Policy evidence that you paid for something
a type of duck
Warranty a refund or voucher for something that is broken
a company’s list of rules about what it will and won’t do
Faulty Goods a promise that a product sold is high quality
products that don’t work properly
Proof of
purchase
a written promise from a company that it will repair, fix or replace
something it has sold you if something is wrong with it.
a sausage roll filled with spicy peanut butter
Under its Faulty Goods returns policy, for which of these reasons would you
be able to get an exchange from LifeSupply for broken headphones:
¨ If your pet lizard chewed your headphones
¨ If you dropped your headphones
¨ If your headphones stopped working for no reason
¨ If your headphones received water damage
At Life Supply, customers can pay to get Extra Cover. This provides them with more
benefits than the standard Faulty Goods policy that covers everyone. Is this statement true
or false:
Under the Extra Cover policy at Life Supply, you can get an exchange for a broken product no
matter how the damage is caused.
¨ True ¨ False
Draw a line from your answer to the part of the text that supports your answer.
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28
Consumer rights
Did you know that if you find a finger in a tinned food product from the
supermarket, you have the right to free supermarket shopping for life? Nah … we just
made that up. There are tons of myths about what rights you do and don’t have as a
consumer. So let’s try and figure out what’s true and false.
What can you do if something you recently bought breaks instantly?
(Tick all that apply)
¨ get your receipt out of the recycle bin and take your purchase back to the shop
for a refund
¨ go back to the shop and shout at the 15-year-old behind the counter
¨ make a video of yourself complaining and upload it to TikTok so that everyone
will know how terrible this product is
¨ go out and buy a replacement
¨ ask your grandma to buy you a new one
Consumer Affairs Victoria
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au
While the Consumer Affairs Victoria website doesn’t tell you how to
make magic tacos, it does provide some other useful information. On
the opposite page are some statements about rights you might have as
a consumer.
Use your internet ninja skills to click through the pages on the Consumer Affairs website
to see if the statements on the next page are true or false. Write down the name of the specific
page you find the answer on.
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Under Victorian law, you don’t have to return a product in its original packaging to get
a refund.
¨ True ¨ False Name of page
Shops don’t have to guarantee you a refund if something is wrong with a product. They can
make their own rules.
If you buy something from someone privately on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, you have
the right to a refund if something is wrong with it.
The ‘cooling off’ period after buying a car means you have the right to cancel your purchase
after five days.
The landlord of a rental property has to pay for repairs for all damage to a house that is not
caused by renters.
A landlord is able to ask you to provide a complete bank statement to assess if you can pay rent
or not.
While the Consumer Affairs Victoria website has some useful information on it, let’s face it
– a turtle could probably design a more interesting website. Let’s say that Consumer Affairs
Victoria wanted to join the 21st century and create a website just for teenagers. What are three
things the website could do to be more useful and engaging for an audience of teenagers?
1 Thing it could do:
This would be useful or engaging for an audience of teenagers because:

2 Thing it could do:
This would be useful or engaging for an audience of teenagers because:

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30
Life information texts
Being an adult is awesome because you get to move out of home, travel wherever you
want, buy whatever you want and stay up all night. You can also dress up as Dorothy
the Dinosaur and go supermarket shopping, which is hilarious.
But the downside of being an adult is the PAPERWORK. You will be surrounded by
forms, complicated decisions and INFORMATION OVERLOAD.
Sadly, you can’t just ignore this paperwork and hope it goes away. You can’t even put
it in a sink full of glitter and hope it turns into pixie dust (it does get sparkly, but it’s
still boring).
You’ll probably be able to cope with all of the information you need to process if you
understand WHY you’re doing it in the first place. So let’s do a quick survey and see
if life information texts are things that will be important to you in the future
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Unit 3 Information and procedural texts | Life information texts
Put a cross on each of the arrows next to how likely you are to do it, and when you’d like
to do it:
During the next few years, do you plan to …
Move out of home
Super-definitely
Never gonna happen
Travel overseas
ASAP
I’m not in a hurry
Buy something expensive (like a car, an amazing sound system or a hot-air balloon)
ASAP
Go to TAFE or university
Super-definitely
Never gonna happen
Cook something to eat
ASAP
If your answers were mostly on the right side (that’s → way):
You are ready to get out there and embrace the next phase of your life. You’ll probably also
need a lot of help with this and you’ll read loads of life information texts. This part of the
textbook is SUPER important to you and you’ll get a LOT out of it.
If your answers were mostly in the middle (or all over the place):
You need some help with some aspects of your life and some of these texts will seem important
to you. But on the other hand, you’re probably worried about some parts of life and need help
feeling confident with this kind of adulting. HUZZAH – we’re here to help!
If your answers were mostly on the left side (that’s ← way):
You are obviously the kind of person who likes to live under a rock and collect ceramic
figurines. You also have a slave-robot who looks after you by cooking and cleaning. Also,
maybe you need to get out a bit more and see what life has to offer.
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Recipes
Eating is an important part of preventing an early death due to starvation. But eating
can also get pretty boring if you don’t know WHAT or HOW to cook. Fortunately,
there are information texts that can help with this. They’re called ‘recipes’. And luckily,
the internet is full of them.
What is your favourite meal?
What is something you would like to learn how to cook?
How long does it take to make two-minute noodles?
Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
minced beef
cans of chopped tomatoes
diced onion
minced garlic
tomato paste
sugar
salt
dried oregano
dry spaghetti noodles
Method
• Saute the onions and garlic (about 3 minutes)
• Brown the beef (about 4 minutes)
• Add all of the other ingredients. Stir and leave to simmer for between
30 minutes and 2 hours.
For the pasta
• Bring a pot of water to boil
• Add the spaghetti and cook until soft.
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33
Re-write this recipe so that someone who is not a complete KITCHEN-WHIZ would be
able to follow it. Follow these steps to help you
1 Find an online video of someone making spaghetti bolognese and take notes about
the useful things they do when cooking this meal.
2 Write the list of ingredients out in the order you need to add them.
3 Include instructions on what to do with all of the ingredients (i.e. instead of listing
‘diced onions’, put instructions to cut the onions up in the method).
Have a look at an example of a good written recipe so you know how to write yours.
Also, see pages…for some useful phrases to use when writing instructions.
Jamie Oliver Spaghetti Bolognese
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/spaghetti-bolognese/
Unless you’re on MasterChef, most recipes are super-confusing. The recipe on the opposite
page doesn’t even tell you HOW MUCH of each ingredient to use! It basically tells you to
get a bunch of random stuff and shove it all together then hope you don’t poison yourself.
And there are a bunch of confusing words. Let’s make a glossary of some of these weird and
technical cooking terms. If you don’t know what a word means, type the following phrase into
your web search engine to help you look it up: ‘What does mean in cooking’
Write the definitions of the following terms
Minced:
Diced:
Saute:
Brown:
Simmer:
Boil:
Write a list of the equipment you think you would need to complete this recipe
(hint: think of knives, bowls, pans, chopping boards and other kitchen-y things)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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34
Rental agreements
One day, you might move out of home and life will be awesome because you’ll be able
to stay up all night, dance in the nude and do WHATEVER you want. All the time.
Actually, only some of that is true (the bit about dancing) and moving out of home
means a whole lot of paperwork. Most people rent somewhere to live and that means
that you have to sign a rental agreement. A rental agreement is a loooooong document
full of technical jargon that no one wants to read. It’s also a legal document, which
means it’s QUITE SERIOUS and legally binding. So you probably should understand
what it means.
You’re going to be reading a standard rental agreement. Before this:
1 Look through the questions on the bottom of this page and on the opposite page.
2 Put a tick next to any questions you think you might already know the answer to.
3 Put a question mark next to questions you have no idea about.
Consumer Affairs Victoria – Residential rental agreement
https://bit.ly/41g9GJd
Questions
Part A – Basic terms
1. There are two different groups of people who need to sign this agreement. Who are these
two kinds of people?
• Type 1:
• Type 2:
2. What does the word ‘premises’ mean?

3. What is a ‘periodic agreement’?

4. What is a ‘bond’ for? (Hint: you might need to look this up online)

Part B – Standard terms
5. Who needs to fill this part of the agreement out first?

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35
6. Under what circumstances does a renter need to pay for professional cleaning?

7. What is a ‘condition report’? (Hint: you might need to look this up online)

Part C – Safety-related activities
8. Who is responsible for making sure the smoke alarm is working?

Part D – Rights and obligations
9. What are ‘common areas’?

10. What are two things a renter is NOT allowed to do in their rented space?
• Thing 1:
• Thing 2:
11. What is an example of an ‘urgent repair’?

12. Under what circumstances can an owner inspect their property?
• Circumstance 1:
• Circumstance 2:
In 5–6 sentences, explain things you found surprising or not surprising about a rental
agreement. Use the phrases from the table below to help write your explanation:
Surprising It was completely surprising to me that …
Because I’ve never …, I had no idea that …
I didn’t think rental agreements would … because …
Not surprising While I didn’t specifically know that …, I had some idea that …
It wasn’t surprising to me at all that … because …
I know someone who … so I already knew that …
Linking phrase On the one hand … On the other …
Also, …
As well as this, …
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TAFE websites
By now you’ve probably realised that you love learning so much you can’t wait to do it
again. Or maybe you know that the job you’d like has some kind of qualification you
need. Either way, you might need to do some research to find the best place to get your
qualification. This is the kind of research you don’t need a lab coat and goggles for
(but you should still wear them if you want!). You just need a computer and some basic
internet skills.
Because you’re a SUPER AWARE person, you’ve realised that if you get a job helping other
people, you’ll never be out of work again. That’s because there will always be older people
and people with different abilities who need a decent human to give them a hand with
everyday tasks.
Here are three different TAFE courses that give you a Certificate III in Individual Support:
Holmesglen
https://bit.ly/3McrW1Q
Swinburne
https://bit.ly/41i74Lb
RMIT
https://bit.ly/3VRxcvd
Partners in Training
https://bit.ly/3Me2ZU0
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37
Look up a TAFE course you are interested in studying.
Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph that explains where you would take this certificate and what
factors helped you to decide. You should also explain why this provider is better for you than
the other providers. Use the phrases in the table below to help you.
easier for me because
more appropriate for
more convenient
a better choice since
not as easy
less suited to my needs because
more inconvenient
less adapted to my needs since
All of these TAFE providers want you to study with them. They want you to think that they are
the most awesome education providers ever. But different providers will work better for some
students than for others, so you should be careful about choosing which would be best for you.
Where would these different providers need you to study?
Holmesglen:
Swinburne:
RMIT:
Partners in Training:
What is a ‘prerequisite’?

List the providers that require prerequisites.

What does ‘contact hours’ mean?

How many contact hours are required at these different providers?
Holmesglen:
Swinburne:
RMIT:
What other requirements do these different providers have?
Holmesglen:
Swinburne:
RMIT:
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Planning an overseas trip
Soon, you’ll leave school and become a PRETEND ADULT. One of the things you
might want to do as a fake grownup is travel the world and find true wisdom. Or
perhaps just travel the world. If you do decide to travel overseas, there are mountains
of stuff you need to research and read. So let’s get a head start on it.
1 Where might you like to go?
Unless you land an incredibly high-paying job like working at McDonald’s, you’re probably
going to be travelling on a budget when you go overseas.
Scan through this online article and identify one cheap overseas destination you might like
to travel to:
Sky scanner
https://www.skyscanner.com.au/news/7-
best-budget-destinations-for-australians
2 What do you need to organise?
Remember, you’re travelling overseas as a FAKE GROWNUP – that means you need to
organise your own stuff. Below is a list of things you’ll need to research and organise when
you go overseas. We spent hours brainstorming and came up with the name of a ‘To do’ list.
Number the things in the list in the order that you think you will need to do them.
‘To do’ list
When should
you do this?
Research how to use your phone/stay in contact with people when you’re
at your destination
Research and book accommodation
Research and book air tickets
Research where to stay and what to do
Get a passport
Find out if you need travel vaccinations
Find out if you need to get a visa* to go to your destination and work out
how to get it if you do
*
In order to get into some countries, you will need a visa. This is like a ticket or licence you need to enter a country.
It’s provided by the government of the country.
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39
3 Find reliable information
Now you need to find some places on the internet that will give you the information you need.
And you might not realise this, but the internet is infested with scammers, dodgy websites and
people who want to steal your AWESOME IDENTITY. So when you do your research, you
should be looking for sites that provide reliable information.
Here are some tips:
• Use Australian Government websites.The web address of Australian Government sites
always ends in gov.au
• Use websites belonging to the government of the country you’re travelling to.This
is particularly important to find out about visa applications – there are lots of non-
government websites that will give you dodgy info or try to scam you.
• Use sites that LOTS of other people use to share and find travel information.Trip Advisor,
booking.com, Wikitraveller or Expedia are good because so many people use them.
• If you think a website might be dodgy, do a search for: Is a scam?
Find and comment on a website that you can use to get information and do each of the
overseas travel tasks from the previous page. You should:
1 Put your ‘to do’ list in the left-hand column with the items in the order of when
you need to do them.
2 Write down the main web address of a useful website in the middle column
(you might find a website useful for more than one task).
3 Make a comment about why the website is reliable or trustworthy in the
right-hand column.
Thing you need to find out
or do:
A good website to use
would be: Because:
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Acceptable use of internet agreements
If somewhere offers you free use of its internet, you will usually have to agree to an
‘Acceptable Use of Internet’ form. This means you agree to not use the free WiFi for
dodgy things like plotting online to overthrow the government or setting up an eBay
shop that sells human teeth. You need to do that stuff with your own internet.
A big problem with acceptable use of internet agreements is that NO ONE READS THEM
because they’re too detailed or you just want to get to the bit where you use free internet and
start streaming Netflix.
What are two things organisations could do to improve the likelihood that people will
actually read their internet use policy?
1.
2.
TAFE SA
https://bit.ly/3WpAztC
South Regional TAFE
https://bit.ly/3WrVZWY
Holmesglen
https://bit.ly/45qVdxC
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The internet use agreements on the previous page are all designed for TAFE students – so,
people of a similar age to you.
Use the table below to make notes about how well each of the agreements uses the features
of information texts to be useful for its audience of TAFE students.
Your notes might include:
• ticks or crosses to show something has or hasn’t been done
• examples of how the text uses informative features (see see page 23)
• comments that describe things the text doesn’t do: such as ‘didn’t have useful headings’.
TAFE SA
South Region –
TAFE WA Holmesglen
Uses understandable
language
Focuses on the most
important information
Sequences information
in a helpful way
Organises information
with headings, dot points
and paragraphs to make it
easier to understand
In one paragraph, explain which user agreement you find most useful as a student.
Use at least two specific examples from the text to explain why it is useful and make at least
one comparison to a part of a different text that is less useful.
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Information alerts
Sometimes people’s home routines need to be interrupted because a power company
has to turn the power off or Thor, the god of thunder, is visiting the area. In this case,
residents need to be informed of all the details.
Disruption to water supply notice
Replacing water supply pipes on Turner St.
May 1
Evolution Water is replacing and upgrading water
supply pipes in your area. Due to these works, we
will be disrupting the water supply of homes on
Turner St from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm on May 1.
What we’ll be doing
Replacing and upgrading water supply pipes means:
• accessing the central pipe conduit at the Turner
St. and Hobson St. intersection
• accessing the end pipe conduit at the Turner St.
and Robe St. intersection
• feeding new pipe into the central pipe conduit
• replacing sections of the footpath at the Turner St.
and Hobson St. central pipe conduit access point.
Where and when we’ll be working
These works will take place from 9.00 am to 4.00
pm on May 1. Works will occur at the Turner St and
Hobson St intersection and the Turner St and Robe
St intersection. There will be some disruption to
traffic in these areas during the period of the works.
What this means for you
During these works, there will be no water supply
to homes on Turner St. You should:
• plan to complete high water use tasks such
as using the shower, bath or washing machine
before or after the period of water disruption
• have a supply of drinking water on hand by
filling drink bottles and kettles before the
period of water disruption.
How we’ll support you
During the time of these works, we’ll be offering
these services and resources to provide access
to water:
• Temporary public toilets will be available at
Warran Park.
• Complementary bottled water will be available
at Warran Park.
Contact and further information
For further details about the works or to ask questions, visit us online, email or call us:
www.evolutionwatersystems.org.au
upgrades@evolutionsys.orgn.au
1800 333 675
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One of the purposes of many information texts is to set information out in a way that
can be easily and quickly scanned for the most important details. This is because while
the information might be important, it’s probably SUPER BORING and the audience
really doesn’t want to read all the details. This is definitely the case with the water
disruption notice on the opposite page. Most people reading this really wouldn’t care
about the details of why or how the water disruption is happening – they just want to
know when it’s happening and perhaps what they personally need to do.
What are two things the disruption notice does to present information to its audience so the
most important information can be quickly read?
1.
2.
You’re organising a Halloween festival on your local street, which means the street will be
closed down for a period of time on the 31st of October. You need to create and distribute a
Neighbourhood Notice about the festival to provide locals with important information about
the festival and how it will affect them. Because the festival is a bit more interesting than
replacing water pipes, let’s also try to get your audience excited.
Follow these steps:
1 Brainstorm all the information people need to know about the event (you can use the
headings in the example text to help you identify what people might need to know).
2 Divide the information into categories and give the categories headings (make more
exciting versions of the example headings).
3 Add any other information to the categories you can think of.
4 Identify the best order to present information in.
5 Write an introduction that highlights the most important information the reader
needs, as well as making them feel excited about the festival you are bringing to the
neighbourhood.
6 Create your neighbourhood notice. A simple way of setting this out will be to create a
table like the one below on your computer:
Neighbourhood notice
Main information summarised in a heading
Date
Summary of most important information
Subheading 1
Subheading 2
Subheading 3
Subheading 4
Contact information
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Instructional video on a hobby
Once upon a time we used to read books or asked a relative who was born during the
time of dinosaurs for advice about how to do stuff. Now we just look up videos on the
internet. Because the internet is never wrong.
Showing people how to do something in a video can be way more effective than writing about
it. What are two reasons an instructional video can work better than written information?
1.
2.
View at least two of the following instructional videos:
How to apply eyeliner three ways
https://bit.ly/41AsT8D
8 care tips for bearded dragons
https://bit.ly/41Dlk1d
DIY Ghostbusters 2016 costume
https://bit.ly/3pEsbKm
How to do the pinch coin vanish magic trick
https://bit.ly/4524Faw
Foolproof technique for learning to ride a unicycle
https://bit.ly/42Bfm1U
How to cut your own hair
https://bit.ly/44UJgQB
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Instructional videos use lots of the same techniques as written information or instructional
texts, like simple language and explanations of technical terms. They can also use headings and
break things into steps. They’re probably also created by people who are way better looking,
because if writers were actually good looking they’d make videos instead. Obviously. BUT
because videos are spoken, there are some techniques that instructional videos tend to use more
than written texts, such as:
• showing and explaining important
equipment
• directly addressing and looking at the
audience
• showing a step a number of times or in
slow motion
• repeating key information
• sharing interesting or entertaining facts
• sharing personal stories and experiences
• sharing personal comments and opinions
(i.e. ‘I really like ...’, ‘This is my favourite
part’ or ‘I find this tricky sometimes’.
Of the two videos you watched, which did you think was the best at teaching you something?
Explain your choice by giving examples of how the video used at least two of the instruction
features listed above:

Plan and create your own instructional video. To do this, follow these steps:
1 Choose a topic that is reasonably simple.Think of something you can do that would
be easy to explain to someone else.
2 Brainstorm things people need to know about:
• important equipment
• key terms
• steps in the process
• common issues/tricky things
• where to get help.
3 Plan out your instructional video. Creating a ‘running sheet’ like this will help you plan
your instructional video:
Section of video (i.e.
intro, step 1, important
equipment, etc …)
What you’ll be doing/
What will be on screen What you’ll say
4 Film your instructional video. See page 129 for some tips.
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Healthcare
information texts
Health is way more complicated than going to the doctor and saying, “Ouch, me
hurty”. Part of the reason that caring for your health is SOOOO tricky is that there is
a lot of bureaucracy (forms and official rules) around it. It’s not as simple as just feeling
sick and going to the doctor, or having a mental health illness and popping down to
see a psychologist.
There are forms … and paperwork … and prescriptions … and specialists … and
boxes to tick … and scans to have … and information sheets … and, well, the list feels
endless and confusing.
Added to all of this is the weird, technical language that you need to learn about when
going to see a healthcare worker, like these examples:
→ GP
→ allied health professional
→ specialist
→ referral
→ prescription
→ over the counter
→ branded prescription
→ generic prescription
→ bulk billing
→ gap payment
On the opposite page is a flow chart that shows what might happen after you see a GP.
This flow chart illustrates where and when you would use the terms above. Show your
understanding of what these terms mean by writing a definition in your own words in the
space provided on the opposite page.
To find definitions of these words online, do a search for the term + definition (i.e. GP
definition). Look at a number of definitions for each term to find the one that best explains
what it means.
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Unit 3 Information and procedural texts | Healthcare information texts
Referral
Referral
YOU WILL PAY FOR SEEING THESE
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EITHER THROUGH:
Could
provide
Could be ...
OR
Bulk billing
Gap payment
Over the counter
Allied health
professional
Branded prescription
medication
Specialist
Generic prescription
medication
GP
Prescription
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Medicare and Health Care Cards
Getting sick can be pretty expensive – there are doctor’s or psychologist’s bills and
medications to pay for AND you probably need to take time off work. So the best plan
is not to get sick at all. Ever. But that’s only a good plan if you’re Wolverine and have
mutant powers of regeneration. The rest of us are gonna get sick at some point and will
need to get medical or psychological help. And since we don’t have unlimited pots of
gold, we’re probably going to need help with paying for that help. This is where the
Australian Government steps in.
There are two different schemes that the Australian Government provides to help
people make health and life-related payments. To use them, you need to have a card
(either an old-school, physical card or a digital card on your phone).
Here’s the basic difference between the two:
1 Medicare Card: Medicare is a government-funded scheme that allows
patients to see doctors and other health care providers at a cheaper rate.
2 Health Care Card: The government also recognises that there are people who
need a bit more help than others – they are provided with a Health Care Card.
Have a look at the three websites below to learn more about the difference between these two
systems and how to apply for them.
Medicare card
https://bit.ly/3IagVvJ
Health Care Card
https://bit.ly/3Br7a8M
https://bit.ly/41wfyhT
Health
Care Card
1234 56789 1
1 JANE CITIZEN
medicare
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Obviously, there are a few key differences between the two cards. But there’s also a bit of an
overlap. Let’s try to make sense of all of this information by sorting it out.
1 Look at the different questions listed below:
• Who is eligible for this card?
• Can this card be used as identification?
• Does this card make medications cheaper?
• Does this card allow doctors to bulk bill you?
• Does this card provide other discounts?
• How long is this card eligible for?
2 Write your responses into the appropriate part of the diagram below:
Medicare
Both
Health Care
NOW, have a go at applying for one or both of these cards for yourself. You can use this
Australian Government website to get you started:
Get your own Medicare card and number
https://bit.ly/3IcRqK9
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Love noodles
Quick noodles chicken flavour
Quick noodles chicken flavour
3-star
health rating
Net 74 g 1 serve
STOVE TOP
Break noodle cake into bits.
Cook in 375 ml of boiling
water on stove top for 3
minutes. Stir in contents of
flavour sachet.
MICROWAVE
Break noodle cake
into bits. Cook in
375ml of boiling water for
3 minutes on HIGH. Stir in
contents of flavour sachet.
INGREDIENTS
NOODLE CAKE: Wheat flour, Vegetable oil
(Antioxidant 319), Salt, Mineral Salts (508, 451,
501, 500), Vegetable Gum (412)
FLAVOUR SACHET: Contains Gluten, Wheat,
Soy. May Contain Celery, Crustacean, Fish,
Milk, Mustard
NUTRIONAL INFORMATION
Servings Per Pack: 1 Serving Size 380 g**
Av. Qty Per Serve as
Prepared
%DI* Per serve
as prepared
Av. Qty Per 100g
as prepared
Energy 1370 kJ
Protein 7.6 g
Fat, Total 11.6 g
-Saturated 5.6 g
Carbohydrate 46.0 g
-Sugars 1 g
Dietary fibre 1.8 g
Sodium 920 mg
16%
15%
17%
23%
15%
1%
6%
40%
360 kJ
2.0 g
3.1 g
1.5 g
12.1 g
1 g
1 g
240 mg
*Percentage Daily Intakes are based on an average
adult diet of 8700 kJ.
**When made according to the directions with the addition
of 375 ml of water and consumed as soup.
Best Before End:
END NOV 2024
GET IN TOUCH
180002636156
Love Noodles LTD
1 Wattletree way
Homebush NSW 2138 Australia
www.lovenoodlesday.com.au
Nutritional information
The front of every packaged food item at the supermarket has an amazing picture of
the food you’re buying that makes it look like the tastiest and healthiest thing ever.
It’s only when you flip to the back and read the tiny details that you find out how many
human fingers and dried caterpillars are in your favourite snack.
What is your favourite packaged supermarket snack?
What are three pieces of information you might find on the back of the packaging about what’s
in this snack?
1.
2.
3.
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51
1 Eating stuff that’s not going to kill us or the people we’re serving it to is kinda
important. Circle the place on the food packaging that provides information about
things it contains that people might be allergic to (like nuts, gluten or dairy).
2 Under Australian law, all packaged food needs to contain information about what’s in it
so consumers can decide if they want to eat it or not.This information always includes
technical health terms.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the terms in the Nutrition Information of the Quick
Noodles on the opposite page:
• Saturated fats: unhealthy fats that lead to things like heart disease and obesity
• Sodium: salt – too much salt leads to heart disease and leads to a higher risk of
having a stroke
• Daily intake: the amount of nutrients and kilojoules an average adult needs to eat
per day
• Nutrients: vitamins and other things in food that are good for you
• Kilojoules: units of energy – your daily intake of kilojoules should equal the
amount of energy or exercise you take (if you want to maintain the same weight)
Look at the column titled % DI Per serve as prepared in the Nutritional Information section of
the example text. Circle the percentages that seem high to you. Use that information to help
you do the sentence activity below.
Write eight sentences using the words in the grid below. Follow these steps:
• Use three words at a time.
• Use the three words in the top row.
• Use the words in any order.
• Add as many other words as you want (including ‘not’ or ‘isn’t’).
• For example:
An important part of nutrition is eating the correct number of kilojoules each day because this
helps maintain a healthy weight.
• Follow these steps for each of the other rows, as well as the three columns and the
two diagonals.
nutrition because kilojoules
percentage Quick Noodles healthy choice
saturated fats daily intake diet
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52
Sexual health campaigns
While it seems weird to say it, the government takes a strong interest in keeping
everyone’s private bits and pieces in good working order. They don’t want people –
young people in particular – getting diseased reproductive parts, because it’s a major
bummer for everyone. So around the country, different state governments put a lot of
effort into public information campaigns on Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs)
that are aimed at young people.
1. VIC
Better Health
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/sti-testing-week
2. NSW
Play Safe
https://playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/could-i-have-an-sti/
3. WA
Healthysexual
https://www.healthysexual.com.au/
4. QLD
Stop the rise
https://stoptherise.initiatives.qld.gov.au/
5. SA
Health Care Card
https://shinesa.org.au/sexualhealthcheck/
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Apart from its use of basic information text features, what are two specific strategies the
Better Health website uses to achieve its aims?
Strategy Example
1
The purpose of an information text is rarely just ‘to inform’. It will usually have one
or more specific purposes and use some particular strategies to achieve these purposes.
Purposes Strategies
• to persuade you to do or buy something
• to persuade you that something is
important to understand
• to show you how to do something
• to show you that doing something is easy
• to help you remember something
• to help you make a decision
• to prepare you for something
• to correct false information about a topic
• to give you quick, easy-to-understand
information
• to meet legal requirements
• basic features of information texts (see
page 23)
• humour, to engage you
• personal stories, to help you connect
• addressing you so you feel included
• memorable and simple language like:
slogans, catchphrases, acronyms
• summaries and overviews
• persuasive strategies such as:
• positive and negative language
• evidence
• technical legal language
For example, the Victorian Government’s STI public health campaign on the Better Health
website has these purposes:
→ to persuade you that it is important to understand STIs
→ to show you that doing something is easy – i.e. talking about or getting tested for STIs.
2
Visit the websites of two other STI campaigns. Identify TWO specific purposes and TWO
strategies each of the websites has. Create a table like the one below to record your answers:
State/
Campaign Purpose of website Strategies Examples
1
2
1
2
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Wisdom teeth removal: what to expect
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars at the back of your mouth. They usually emerge between
the ages of 16 and 25 (when you start to get ‘wise’). Some people have four wisdom teeth, while
others may only get between 1 and 3 or none at all.
Why get them removed?
There are a range of reasons your dentist will recommend the removal of your wisdom teeth:
• They’re ‘impacted’ – because they grow so far back in your mouth, they might grow into your
jaw at an odd angle. They can even grow into your gums, which can be quite painful.
• You have cavities or gum disease – since they’re right at the back of your mouth, wisdom
teeth can be hard to clean, which can lead to them becoming diseased.
• They grow at the wrong angle – sometimes, wisdom teeth can grow into other teeth,
causing them to become crooked or crowded.
What happens when you have your wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth have to be surgically removed,
which means that a dental surgeon will carry
out the procedure.
Before surgery
Before the surgery takes place, you will meet
with the surgeon and discuss the process.
You will also need to discuss any other health
issues you have or any drugs you take on a
regular basis. Your surgeon will also talk to
you about the kind of anaesthesia you will
have. At this time, you will be able to ask any
questions you have.
Types of anaesthesia:
• Local: This is an injection that numbs the
site of your wisdom teeth. It doesn’t affect
your mind, so you will be able to drive home
afterwards.
• IV sedation: This kind of sedation is also
called ‘twilight’ sedation – it will make you
sleepy and you might even sleep through the
whole procedure. Your dentist will also numb
your mouth.
• General: This kind of sedation happens
either intravenously or by breathing in gas.
You will sleep through the whole procedure
and might not wake up for an hour after the
surgery. You will need someone to drive you
home after this kind of procedure.
During the surgery
Your surgeon will remove your teeth, which may
involve cutting the gums or the bone your teeth
are in. They will stitch up the site so that you
heal quickly. These stitches dissolve after
a couple of days, so you don’t have to have
them removed.
After surgery
Depending on the kind of anaesthesia you
received, you may feel sleepy or tired. Most
people have no pain directly after the surgery,
because of the anaesthesia. Your mouth may
be swollen or sore for a couple of days, but
your surgeon will prescribe you the appropriate
analgesia to help you manage this discomfort.
After surgery you SHOULD
• use an ice pack to reduce swelling
• eat soft foods like soup or ice cream
• drink plenty of fluids
• brush your teeth on the second day, avoiding
any blood clots on the wounds
After surgery you SHOULDN'T
• drink through a straw – sucking can loosen
the blood clots on the wounds and slow
healing
• eat hard or crunchy foods that might scratch
your mouth or get stuck in the wounds
• smoke – smoking can loosen the blood clots
Health fact sheet
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If you slipped into unconsciousness while reading the text on the opposite page, that’s because
it’s dangerously boring. Like – don’t read it while operating heavy machinery, because you’ll
fall asleep and accidentally maim people.
So, your task is to edit and re-write this information text for an audience of people your age.
You’ll need to follow the steps below to do this:
1 When re-writing this text, your specific purposes are to:
• engage an audience, while giving boring information
• prepare them for a wisdom teeth operation
• show them it’s not too hard or scary.
2 Think about strategies you could use to achieve these purposes. Look at the table on
page 53 to help you with this.
3 Look through the information text on the previous page. Make some initial annotations
such as:
• Make notes about any places where you can add visuals, tables, colour, different
fonts or humour.
• Circle text that is particularly boring or complex that you can simplify or make
more interesting.
• Cross out any information that you think is unnecessary.
4 Consider a digital template you could use to present the information in a better way to
achieve your specific purpose.These two types of templates online at Canva will be helpful:
Infographic
https://www.canva.com/infographics/templates/education/
Newsletter
https://www.canva.com/newsletters/templates/school/
5 Map out your information text by inserting headings, subheadings and visual elements
into it.
6 Using the information and the annotations you made on the opposite page, write out
your text – changing things as you go along to achieve your specific purpose.
7 Swap your work with a partner and provide feedback to each other about:
• how clear or interesting the headings are
• how funny your poster is
• whether visuals help the reader understand
• whether the information is presented in the best order.
8 Make any changes to your text as a result of feedback.
9 Print out your text. Annotate features of an information text you used to achieve your
purpose (like the annotations on page 9)
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Financial
information texts
Over the next few years, you’ll start to do lots of grown-up things, like get a better-
paying job, move out on your own, go to Ikea and buy funeral insurance. This type of
grown-up activity will mean you’ll need to use the rich and lovely language of finance.
There are a range of finance terms you’ll already know and probably some you’re less
familiar with.
Write your own definitions next to these words:
Savings account:
Budget:
Income:
Expenses:
Magical money fairy:
Credit:
These might be some words you haven’t come across a lot. Read through the definitions:
Financial independence: being able to pay for your own stuff, like party-size Cheezels
Financial security: being safe and certain that you have enough money … to buy Cheezels
Financial planning: having a long-term plan for how you’re going to save up to buy your own
private island
Cost of living: how much things the essentials in life – like rent, supermarket food, roller
skates, public transport – cost
Personal debt: how much money you personally owe your friends and family from all of the
times you ‘forgot your wallet’
Debt trap: borrowing money you don’t have – through loans, credit cards, or after-pay – and
then getting stuck in a loop of borrowing more money to pay off the money you’ve already
borrowed. It’s basically a two-star time-travel movie.
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Unit 3 Information and procedural texts | Financial information texts
Money is going to be a big part of your life. So take some time now to think SERIOUSLY*
about your approach to money by writing 2–3 sentences in response to each of the prompts
below**. Try using the financial terms on the previous page as well as the words below to help
you write your responses:
dependant
varied
week-by-week
thoughtless
mood-related
begin to
start
get help to
stop
enjoy
improve
utilise
create
gain
manage
avoid
reduce
be careful
understand
for example
such as
because
since
through
by
*We recommend finding some atmospheric whale music to listen to while doing this task.
**Keep in mind that you’ll be locked into your answers and can NEVER, EVER change your mind.
So far in my life, I’d describe my approach to finance as

Next year in particular, I’d like to

In general, I’d like to

Someone I look up to as a financial role model is
because

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58
Applying for government support payments
Now that you’re getting to the end of school, you basically know everything and don’t
need to listen to adults anymore. Also, because you’re becoming more independent,
there might be a range of governments payments that you are eligible for, such as:
→ Youth Allowance
→ Rent Assistance
→ ABSTUDY
→ Youth Disability Supplement
One of the payments many young people are eligible for is Youth Allowance. You can check
online if you are eligible for this payment. However, there’s a fair bit of stuff you need to know
to check your eligibility. Here are a few of the trickier questions you’ll be asked.
Tick the answers that you already know.
¨ Have you received a government support payment in the last 12 months?
¨ Do you have a job? How much do you earn in a fortnight?
¨ What is the total value of the assets you own?
¨ What kind of accommodation does your parent/guardian live in:
own home, renting, board and lodgings, government rent
¨ Does your parent receive child support for you?
¨ What is the birthdate of any other dependent children your parent/guardian has?
¨ Do these dependants receive any government support payments?
¨ How much do your parents or guardians earn?
¨ Do you have a parent that gets paid child support? How much?
Filling out the webpage below will give you a taste of what filling in a government payment
form is like. And that taste will be nasty – like Vegemite chips – because even if you know all
the information above, filling in government forms can still be really tricky. Here’s some advice
about what to do when you don’t know how to answer anything on the website below:
• Click on question mark icons ( ? ) to get more information about what something means.
• Click on words or questions that are hyperlinked to get more information about what they
mean.
• If you’re not sure about an answer, make your best guess or leave a box blank (if you are
able to).
Centrelink
1. Visit this site: https://bit.ly/451OJFj
2. Select ‘Payments’
3. Answer all the questions as best you can
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59
So, you made it to the end! And that wasn’t even a REAL form – it was just a PRETEND
form to see if you are eligible to fill out the real one.
Think about your experiences with the form and tick at least three boxes below to
help you articulate your experience.
Does it seem like you are eligible for Youth Allowance:
¨ Yes ¨ No
What words best describe how you found using the Centrelink website?
¨ Easy
¨ Straightforward
¨ Understandable
¨ Confidence-building
¨ Upanddown
¨ Acceptable
¨ Logical
¨ Reasonable
¨ Hard
¨ Long
¨ Difficult
¨ Confusing
¨ Poorlyexplained
¨ Discouraging
¨ Overwhelming
Discuss your responses with a partner. In your discussion, explain the reasons you have for
each of the words you ticked. Listen to your partner’s responses and ask them questions about
the specific parts of the process they are referring to. Try to find things that you agree on and
at least one thing that you don’t agree on.
When you fill out another similar government form or an actual application for Youth
Allowance, which of these things might best help you?
¨ Set aside a good chunk of time to do it.
¨ Ask someone who has done it before for some advice.
¨ Do it with an adult/parent/guardian.
¨ Get help from the school careers team.
¨ Do some online research beforehand about what I need to know.
¨ Go to or call Centrelink for advice.
Imagine that you’ve been asked to give advice to someone else who is about to apply for a
government payment of some type.
Write a short instructional piece that tells them how to prepare for filling out the form.
Follow these steps:
1 Write a 1–2 sentence overview of how they might feel during the process (use the
words you ticked in the table to help you with this sentence).
2 Put 3–4 hints in dot points about how they can make the process easier (use the
hints from just above to help you). In your dot points, add extra detail, explaining
why these hints are important.
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60
Guide to paying income tax
You’ve got a job and have started earning pots of money – hooray! But now you have to
start paying tax – boo! Paying tax feels like a real downer for a number of reasons:
→ you don’t get to keep all of the money you earn
→ you can’t use sparkly pens to fill in tax forms
→ you don’t get to keep all of the money you earn
→ you have to fill out tax forms yourself, you can’t get your pet turtle to do it
→ you don’t get to keep all of the money you earn.
Like basically everything in this textbook, we’re thinking that the more you
understand why and how something works, the better off you’ll be. So let’s have a look
at two information texts on income tax.
You’ve probably already heard about tax, but do you know what taxes are actually for?
Write down two things that taxes are used for:
1.

2.

Read the questions on the opposite page first. Then, read and watch the two texts to find the
information you need.
HR Block
https://www.hrblock.com.au/tax-academy/beginners-guide-to-
income-tax
ABC
https://www.abc.net.au/education/my-five-cents-how-does-
income-tax-work/13623446
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61
By now you’re fascinated by tax and have probably come up with some ideas for a Netflix mini-
series about it. So, you’ll be able to answer these questions:
1 What are three examples of ‘income’?
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
2 What does ‘progressive tax system’ mean?
3 What is a ‘tax bracket’?
4 What does ‘deduction’ mean?
The two texts you just accessed were in very different forms. In dot points, fill out the table
below, noting the pros and cons of different forms of information:
Text Form Pros Cons
Video
Written info
Turn to a partner and discuss these three things:
1 Do you think that the idea of a progressive tax system is fair?
2 Would you change the income of the tax brackets?
3 Do you think that taxpayers should have more of a say about what governments
spend their taxes on?
4 Which text type made it easier for you to understand the tax system? Why do you
think this is?
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