This unit of work considers the remarkable dynamism of the human condition and the notion of what it means to be human. Anchored in the study of the human condition, students will undertake study of one prescribed text, Past the Shallows and explore a range of short texts in a variety of forms and media; they must also select one related text. The prescribed text along with suggested related texts address the focus questions below, enabling students to draw from personal experience and consider how they connect with the text, themselves, the world of the text and the wider world. Further considerations include insight into anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations, inviting the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally.