English Language A level

A level English Language encourages you to become a professional writer. This includes developing your skills of analysis of any written and spoken material. You will create a bank of source materials. We also encourage you to read as widely as possible (both fiction and non-fiction texts) to develop your repertoire of reading experiences that can feed your writing.

How will I be examined?

Assessment is through a coursework unit and an exam unit each year. Full Exam Specification here.

EXAMS

Unit 1 Categorising Texts - a two hour exam at AS level in Year 12.

Unit 3 Developing Language -a 2½ hour exam at A2 level in June of Year 13.

COURSEWORK

Unit 2 Creating Texts at AS level (Year 12)

Unit 4 Investigation Language (Year 13)

In More Detail: AS level

Categorising Texts

covers the introductory aspects of language, using a variety of texts as the basis for this study. In addition, it focuses on three specific social contexts: Language & Power, Language & Gender and Language &Technology

Creating Texts

you are encouraged to develop your own writing skills, producing writing for different genres and for different audiences and purposes.

A2 level

Developing Language

builds on the knowledge and skills developed in AS studies, as well as having an additional focus on two new areas of language study: Child Language Acquisition and Language Change

Language Investigation

you will apply knowledge of linguistic methods and concepts acquired over the course to two separate pieces of writing; a language investigation and an informative media text.

Field Trips or Visits

In previous years we have taken students on a Residential Creative Writing Course. We have visited the Law Courts and the Old Bailey. There may be other visits or speakers to enhance your learning.

Progression

In 2008, 100% of our A2 candidates achieved a pass grade in English Language. 33% achieved an A/B grade. At AS level 100% of our students achieved a pass grade with 18% achieving A/B. We also saw five of our students go to study English related degrees at University in 2007.

Recommended Reading

Daily Newspapers, especially the broadsheets such as The Guardian, the Telegraph, The Independent and The Times. (A more detailed reading List is available on request.)

Further Information

Head of Department: Ms T Arabas

Subject Teachers: Ms T Arabas, Ms M Fisher Mr P Plowman, Ms M Conaghan