KS5

 

English Language

 

Subject Information

You will study a number of aspects of English Language such as how the language has changed and developed over time and how children learn to speak, read and write. You will develop your analytical skills and your written skills to produce texts to suit a wide number of audiences and purposes. The course will include essay writing, independent research and creative writing. Discussion will form the core of some lessons and students should be confident and articulate. English Language complements a number of other subjects such as modern foreign languages, psychology, sociology and media.

 

Entry Requirements

You should have at least a Grade C in English Language.

 

Course Outline

 

Year 12 - AS

Two modules comprising an introduction to English Language and then more specific studies of how language works in society. Assessment is through a mixture of coursework and examination.

 

Year 13 - A2

Another two modules comprising the development of language and an independent research project. Again assessment is through a combination of coursework and examination.

 

Future Prospects

You could go on to study English Language at University. It is also an ideal basis for studying Journalism or Creative Writing. English Language is also an excellent generic A level to gain access to a number of other degree courses as it builds up excellent analytical skills and the ability to formulate a well constructed argument substantiated with evidence.

 

 

English Literature AS/A2

 

Start Date Sept 09

 

AS – 1 year

A2 – 2 years

 

Board – WJEC

Code – 5110

 

Subject Information – What will I learn

You will study a range of poetry, prose and drama texts by both modern and pre-1914 writers, including a Shakespeare play, as well as literary criticism on set texts. You need to have a keen interest in reading and analysing texts. You will gain many skills such as essay writing, formulating an argument and finding evidence to support this. This course will suit you if you are a self-motivated, independent learner able to formulate your own ideas and opinions of texts. You should enjoy discussion. You should be ready to read widely around the set texts.

 

AS Literature includes the following:

Poetry and Drama

For this module you will be expected to study a play by a modern dramatist.  Last year we studied the play Oleanna by the American playwright David Mamet with its thought provoking subject matter and controversial language.  We visited Bolton Octagon Theatre to see an excellent production of the play and undoubtedly this enhanced students’ understanding of the issues in the play and Mamet’s stagecraft. 

 

For the poetry section of the module you are expected to study the work of one poet in conjunction with a partner poet.  Students in the two literature groups looked at the work of Phillip Larkin and the Welsh poet Dannie Abse and the Irish poet Eavan Boland alongside that of Clare Pollard.  Both combinations provided challenge and enjoyment through a combination of thought provoking subject matter and creative use of poetic language.

 

Prose Study and Creative Reading

For this module you will study two texts for Internal Assessment.  The first text is chosen from a prescribed list of authors from the literary canon.  These include authors such as the Brontes, Dickens, Austen, Hardy and D H Lawrence.  Students have studied the science-fiction Gothic classic Frankenstein in conjunction with either Wuthering Heights or Enduring Love and explored themes such as love and obsession, science versus religion as well as the Gothic tradition in literature.  Other students studied the American classic The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald along with the haunting tale of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  These novels allowed students to look at aspects of the authors’ style such as narrative voice and the creation and establishment of character.

 

You then get to show your own creative writing skills by producing a piece which emulates a particular style or genre of your choice. You then get to critique your own writing by producing a commentary to accompany your work.  This is a new, exciting and challenging aspect of the course.

 

A2 Literature includes the following:

Period and Genre Study

For this module, you produce a 3000 word essay for Internal Assessment.  The folder will consist of an exploration of three texts, two of which must be of different periods and genres, one prose and the other poetry.  The third text can be from any genre.  There is a real emphasis in this module on you being independent in your choice of texts, your reading of the chosen texts and your choice of assignment title.  In light of this a “literary buffet” has been created for you  to browse before you select your core and partner texts: Women in literature, First World War literature, Literature of Social Criticism or Colonial/Post-colonial literature.

 

Poetry and Drama

The final module of the course is allows you to explore poetry and drama texts from the classic literary canon by authors who have produced some of the best known works in English.  The texts include a Shakespeare play such as King Lear, Measure for Measure and Richard II.  These are studied in conjunction with a partner text by another well known playwright such as Marlowe, Webster or Sophocles.

 

The poets on offer for this module include a range from the visionary William Blake and his Songs of Innocence and Experience, to the metaphysical poet John Donne, to the Romantics, Coleridge and Wordsworth.  As well as having an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the poems you are studying, you will have to tackle an unseen poem in the examination so throughout the course we will be building up skills of literary criticism and analysis in preparation for this.

 

How will I be assessed?

AS

• one examination of 2 ½ hours on Poetry and Drama
• one folder of coursework of 3000 words comprising a Prose Study and Creative Reading

A2

• one examination of 2 ½ hours on Poetry and Drama
• one folder of coursework of 3000 words comprising a Cross Genre and Period Study of 3 texts

 

Entry Requirements

At least a grade C in English Language and English Literature.

 

Future Prospects

Students could go on to study English Literature at University level but A level English Literature is also a widely respected generic A level which prepares students for studying a wide range of other subjects as diverse as Law, Marketing, American Studies or Cultural Studies.

 

Click here to read/download the KS5 English Homework Policy for 2010-2011

 

updated 9th July 2010