English Language & Literature

Course

Exam Board

AQA

For more information contact Head of Department:

Ms G Higham - ghigham@stedmunds.org

Brief introduction to subject:

Key Points:

This specification encourages candidates to:

use integrated linguistic and literary approaches in their reading and interpretation of texts;
engage creatively and independently with a wide range of spoken, written and multimodal texts, exploring the relationships between texts;
undertake independent and sustained studies to develop their skills as producers and interpreters of language.

This one-year course can be taken as a fourth option in Year 12 to complement subjects such as mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry. The variety of assessment styles used, such as re-creative writing, commentary writing, discursive essays and research-based investigative writing, allows students to develop a wide range of skills. These include the ability to read critically, analyse, evaluate and undertake independent research, which are invaluable for both further study and future employment.

Course Requirements

English - Grade 5/6

Paper 1: Views and Voices

What’s assessed
Imagined Worlds – point of view and genre in prose
Poetic Voices – the forms and functions of poetic voice
Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Questions
Section A – Imagined Worlds
One compulsory question on prose set text (35 marks)
This section is closed book
Section B – Poetic Voices
One compulsory question on poetry set text (40 marks)
This section is closed book
Set Texts Include:
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
Mean Time (Poetry Collection), Carol Ann Duffy

Paper 2: People and Places

What’s assessed
Remembered Places – the representation of place
Re-creative Writing – adapting and shaping original material
Critical commentary – evaluating own writing
Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Questions
Section A – Remembered Places
One compulsory question on the AQA Anthology: Paris (40 marks)
This section is closed book
Section B – Re-creative Writing
One piece of re-creative writing using extract provided in Section A (15 marks)
Critical commentary (20 marks)
This section is closed book
Set Texts Include:
Paris Anthology, AQA

Students who study English Language and Literature have access to a wide range of careers and higher education opportunities. They develop a range of skills, which are recognised and valued by both universities and employers. Studying English provides an excellent foundation for a number of popular careers including journalism, law and business, and it makes an important contribution to lifelong learning.