English Course Specifications
Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level English Literature
What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
In order to study this subject at Greenhead it is essential to have GCSE English grade C or above and useful to have GCSE English Literature. Several areas covered in the course are developments of work at GCSE but others are new. You will need to be prepared to study prose, poetry and drama texts and, at A-level, make comparisons between texts. You will have the opportunity to study both modern texts and texts from previous centres. You will need an ability to analyse what you have read and to communicate your ideas effectively in writing.
What will I learn on this A-level course?
The course will enable you to:
- develop your interest and enjoyment in literature by reading widely
- gain an understanding of the traditions of English Literature
- communicate your response to a wide variety of texts and respond to texts of different types and periods
- make informed opinions and judgements on literary texts
- gain an understanding of cultural, historical and other influences on texts
- be aware of the way texts are read and interpreted in a variety of ways
What kind of student is this course suitable for?
This course will appeal to students who:
- have an interest in reading a wide variety of literature from past and present
- enjoy expressing their opinions and justifying their comments on texts
- enjoy studying a subject which is relevant to their own lives and experience
- will enjoy reading texts closely
- want to keep their options open for further study - English Literature is a popular qualification for a wide range of courses in Higher Education or for future careers.
You'll already know, from your GCSE studies, some of the appeal of literature. You'll know that it can move you and make you more aware of your own and others' experience, and leads you to face some of the big moral and philosophical issues. Studying literature at AS and A-level will take you further into the exploration of some of the most interesting fiction, poetry and drama, of modern times as well as that of the past. You will explore the ideas expressed in literature but also study the craft of writing and how writers use literary techniques to create meaning.
Perhaps most importantly of all, you'll become aware that the way you react to a text may not be same as the way others do, and you'll be expected to consider why that is. That's why class discussions and disagreements are an important part of your learning, as well as seeing plays on video and on stage. You will also be given a general reading list from which we hope you will read widely.
If you are considering English Studies at university you should be aware that the traditional and widely accepted route is via English Literature.
Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level Language and Literature
Why should I consider this course?
This combined course is specifically designed for students who wish to study both language and literature not as separate subjects but by exploring the way they interconnect to help you deepen your understanding and enjoyment of both areas. Throughout the course you will be developing your ability to read, write and analyse and of course speak and listen through classroom activity.
What will I read?
- whole fictional texts including prose, poetry and drama
- Non-fictional texts, for example, biography, travel writing, journalism and media-related writing
- Spoken texts, including scripts, speeches, face-to-face and telephone conversations
What will I write?
- Creative transformation of ideas in studied texts into 'new' texts
- Texts for different audiences and purposes (scripts, letters, articles etc.)
- 'Traditional' essays
- Analytical essays
What else will I be learning?
As you develop you skills of speaking, reading and writing you will:
- learn how to use literary and linguistic concepts when analysing written and spoken texts
- study the relationship between texts and the context in which they are produced
- acquire expertise in writing for a variety of audiences and purposes
- gain understanding of the ways in which structures and forms of texts shape meanings
How will I be assessed?
- By four modules, two for AS and two for A-level
What skills will I be assessed on?
You will be assessed on your ability to:
- communicate clearly the understanding you have gained from the combined study of language and literature using the appropriate terms and accurate expression
- respond to literary and non-literary texts and interpret meaning, using literary and linguistic concepts
- respond with knowledge to texts of different types from different periods, making connections between them
- show understanding of the way different contexts and choices in style and vocabulary shape the meanings of texts
- identify the way attitudes and values are created and conveyed in speech and writing
- show expertise in writing for a variety of purposes and audiences.
What kind of texts and authors will I be reading and studying?
- You will be expected to read widely across a whole range of genres: newspapers, magazines, fiction, as well as keeping up with television, radio and cinema to broaden your knowledge of different uses of language
- We cannot say exactly what literary texts you will be reading on the course, but they will be writers like Shakespeare, Hosseini and a range of poets - interesting and demanding literature!
- Non-fiction texts might include authors like Bill Bryson or Richard Dawkins or anthologies of journalism or famous speeches.
Both courses allow you to pursue your interest in language and literature equally. They will encourage you to develop as an independent reader and writer, while gaining a close understanding of the ideas, structure and linguistic features of four set texts.
Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced English Language (AQA spec. A)
If you choose to study English Language at AS or A-level, you will find that the subject is very different from English at GCSE. The scope is much wider, the approach is more analytical, and even those elements that seem most familiar - like writing about your own interests and opinions - turn out not to be so.
The AS qualification comprises two modules studied in one year. One is coursework and one is an exam.
Let’s start with the linguistics first. Here you will be expected to learn a systematic way of thinking of how language works as a communication machine, in speech as well as writing. What’s the difference between punctuation and grammar? What 'rules' do we follow when making a conversation? Is there a link between our language and the way we think? How do the press report on things like asylum seekers, women and celebrities? What is the power of metaphor? When a young child learns to speak, how is it that the process is so easy and so fast? How do writers modify their language when addressing different readers, or writing for different purposes, or writing for listeners? How has modern technology (SMS, MSN) blurred the distinction between writing and talking. (Do you ever write an 'er'?)
The exam will make you look at how people use language differently according to their purposes, method of communication and relationships. You'll write an essay on how children learn to talk and write. The coursework will demand two sets of skills. One will be to write one text - for an identifiable readership and publication - that writes about a topic positively, or attacks a negative attitude. The other will require you to write 1600 words which investigates how one topic (you choose) is handled by 3-5 different writers. Call it a small piece of research, if you like.
