English Literature A level

English Literature encourages you to become a critical thinker. You will become a widely read student by studying a variety of texts from a variety of times. You will be introduced to the History of Literature, Literary Theory and find out about critical theories and contexts surrounding a text.

How will I be examined?

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

EXAMS

Unit 1 Aspects of Narrative - a 2 hour open book exam at AS Level in June of Year 12.

Unit 3 Texts and Genres - an exam in June of year 13.

COURSEWORK

Unit 2 Dramatic Conventions at AS Level (Year 12)

Unit 4 Further Independent Reading (Year 13)

In More Detail: AS level

Aspects of Narrative

introduces the central position of narrative in the ways in which literary texts work. The term narrative is taken in a broad sense here, involving many different aspects of literary representation, with particular focus on how narratives are constructed by authors, and the different ways in which readers can respond to them.

Dramatic Conventions

introduces aspects of genre. As used here the term refers both to a type of text described by its form, in this case drama, and a further sub-categorisation by content and method. The dramatic genre to be studied will be tragedy. This will include the study of one Shakespeare play.

A2 Level:

Texts and Genres

develops ideas about the significance of genre which have been established during the AS course. Texts will be grouped within two broad categories: Elements of Gothic and Elements of Pastoral. Individual texts will be explored and evaluated against some of the commonly accepted principles of the chosen genre, and three texts (or more) will be compared as representatives of that genre.

Further Independent Reading

The first of a number of aims is to introduce candidates to the study of a wide range of texts, some of which may be of their own choosing. The second is to introduce candidates to different ways of reading texts for study, including independently. The third is to introduce you to some critical ideas, and for these ideas to be applied with discrimination to literary texts.

Field Trips or Visits

In previous years we have taken students on a Residential Creative Writing Course. We have also organised visits from poets. We visit the Theatre and attend Student Conventions if relevant to the texts we are studying. There may also be other visits or speakers to enhance your learning.

Progression

In 2008, 100% of our A2 candidates achieved a pass grade in English Literature and 20% achieved an A-B grade. At AS Level 100% of our candidates achieved a pass grade with 32% achieving an A-B grade. Two of our students went on to study degrees with a significant English component.

Recommended Reading

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

Further Information

Head of English: Ms M Keown

Subject Teachers: Ms M Keown, Mr B Kelly, Mr P Plowman