English Courses

English Language A Level English Language and Literature A Level English Literature A Level

English Courses Subject Descriptions

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English Language A Level When do I start studying for this qualification?

September 2018.

For how long will I study?

For two years.

What is this course about?

The course aims to develop your understanding of the English Language - what it is and how it works and how it has changed since 1550.

Students will explore a wide variety of English Language texts - spoken, written and multi-modal, and will learn how to analyse language use in different contexts.

What topics will I study?

Students will study: • Language Variation.

• Child Language.

• Areas from the following: Regional Global English, Gender Identity, Journalism, Power.

• Non-examined assessment will take the form of a creative writing folder with two pieces of differentiated writing and one commentary.

Students will also study “language frameworks” to help them analyse language.

How will my work be assessed?

Students will be assessed at the end of two years by three exams, one of 2 hours and 15 minutes focusing on Individual Variation and Variation over Time, one of 1 hour focusing on Child Language and one of 1 hour 45 minutes focusing on Research into a particular topic. Also by non-exam assessment (coursework) which adds up to 3000 words in total.

You may be assessed for an AS qualification in this course at the end of your first year as a measure of your progress.

What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course?

Students will need a genuine interest in language: how it is used in different contexts and how it has changed over time, as well as how it is acquired by children What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed?

Students will need to learn to analyse language data clearly and accurately, using the appropriate terminology and linguistic frameworks. Students will need to be able to write effectively for different audiences and purposes in the coursework. Students will need to be able to comment on and analyse their own writing. It is essential that they are able to work to deadlines.

Are there any specific entry requirements?

You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 or A*- C. Individual Level 3 subjects may have further entry requirements and these will be advised to you at your Course Guidance meeting once we receive your application.

What are the lessons like?

A wide range of teaching and learning styles is used during the course. Lessons include: discussion, group work, taskbased learning and research activities.

It is also expected that students will work independently outside lessons, completing a range of tasks and activities which are provided in an Independent Study Pack.

1:1 support is available to all students.

What do students say about this course?

“It’s nothing like GCSE English Language - it’s much more interesting.”

“You really get to develop your research skills and we find so much out about how language has evolved.”

What have I got to do in order to do well?

• Complete all assignments and Independent Study tasks on time.

• Display good communication skills in speaking and writing.

• Learn and be able to apply the necessary terminology and ideas about language.

• Above all be interested and enthusiastic.

Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so how do I choose between them?

Combined A Level English Language and Literature, and separate A Level English Literature and A Level English Language are obviously related. They have different entry requirements.

Combined A Level English Language and Literature is the closest relative to GCSE English. This English Language A Level is more specialised.

More information on choosing between our English A Levels is shown below.

Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one?

English Language is a popular subject and experience has shown that it can be successfully combined with any of the AS/A Levels at Worthing College.

More common combinations include: Media Studies, Psychology and History but for some people it makes an interesting addition to Sciences and Maths or a helpful adjunct to Drama and Theatre Studies or Music. Use it as a helpful qualification in careers such as teaching, journalism and the media, and speech therapy. If you intend to specialise in English at university, you should consider combining separate A Levels in both English Language and English Literature.

What do people do with A Level English Language?

• Go on to study English at a higher level at university.

• Use it as a widely recognised entrance qualification for many degree courses.

• Use it as a helpful qualification in careers such as early years or primary teaching, journalism and the media.

English Language and Literature A Level

When do I start studying for this qualification?

September 2018.

For how long will I study?

For two years.

What is this course about?

The specification provides an integrated linguistic and literary approach to the study of texts in each of the three units which make up the full A level. It offers students an accessible and stimulating course in which they will engage with a variety of spoken and written texts, both fiction and non-fiction.

What topics will I study?

You will study six texts, which will include a mixture of novels, poetry and plays, as well as non-fiction and spoken texts, using a range of linguistic and literary concepts to explore them.

You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the texts both through analytical essays and creative responses.

How will my work be assessed?

You will be assessed by two examinations at the end of the second year.

The first exam will test your knowledge of an anthology of short non-fiction texts,

a novel and a selection of poems.

The three questions will ask you to write analytical essays in response to the texts.

The second exam will test your knowledge of a full-length non-fiction text and a play. The questions will ask you to write an essay in response to the play, and a creative piece in response to the non-fiction text.

You will also be asked to write a commentary explaining the effects you have achieved in your creative response.

You will also be assessed by one piece of coursework (non-exam assessment) of 2500-3000 words, in which you will make connections between one literary text and some non-literary material.

You may be assessed for an AS qualification in this course at the end of your first year as a measure of your progress.

What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course?

Students need to be keen readers, and genuinely interested in what language and literature are and their importance.

Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one?

English Literature is a popular subject and experience has shown that it can be successfully combined with any of the AS/A Levels at Worthing College.

More common combinations include Media Studies, Psychology and History but for some people it makes an interesting contrast to sciences and maths or a helpful adjunct to Drama and Theatre Studies or Music.

If you intend to specialise in English at University you should consider combining this separate A Level in English Literature with the separate A Level in English Language.

What do people do with A Level English Literature?

• Go on to study it at a higher level at university.

• Use it as a widely recognised entry qualification for a wide range of degree courses.

• Use it as a helpful qualification in careers such as teaching, journalism, publishing and the media.

Why would you pick English Language and Literature instead of one of the single subject options of English Language or English Literature?

• You enjoy English at GCSE but aren’t sure which strand to follow next. English Language & Literature A Level is the closest relative to GCSE English.

• You like reading but prefer

•

• •

•

•

interesting contemporary texts rather than classics.

There is less emphasis on the context and historical aspects of the texts than in English Literature; and more emphasis on analysing features of the language The terminology used is the same as in English Language, but less rigidly.

You want to do English, but it’s an additional subject for you rather than your main area of study – you don’t want to ‘specialise’ in English.

If you are a great enthusiast for English you can study both English Language and English Literature as separate A Levels.

The entry requirement is a minimum of five GCSEs at A*- C grade (or equivalent), including English.

Why would you pick English Literature instead of English Language or English Language and Literature?

• You want to develop your interest in and enjoyment of English Literature, through reading widely and through experience of an extensive range of views about texts.

• You want to develop as an informed, independent reader and critic of literary texts.

• You want to develop your personal responses to literary texts.

What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed?

• You will need to learn to analyse texts clearly and accurately, using the appropriate terminology and literary/linguistic concepts.

• You will need to enjoy reading widely and be willing to discuss your ideas and listen to those of others.

Are there any specific entry requirements?

You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 or A*- C. Individual Level 3 subjects may have further entry requirements and these will be advised to you at your Course Guidance meeting once we receive your application.

What are the lessons like?

A wide range of teaching and learning styles are used during the course. Formal lessons are combined with discussion, group work, taskbased learning and research activities. It is also expected that you will work independently outside lessons, completing a range of tasks and activities.

1:1 support is available to all students.

What have I got to do in order to do well?

• Complete independent study tasks.

• Complete all assignments and homework tasks on time.

• Display good communication skills

in speaking and writing.

• Learn and be able to apply the

necessary terminology in analysing texts.

Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so how do I choose between them?

Separate A level English Literature and A Level English Language are obviously related.

More information on choosing between our English A Levels is shown overleaf.

Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one?

English Language and Literature is a popular subject and experience has shown that it can be successfully combined with any of the AS/A Levels at Worthing College.

For some people it makes an interesting contrast to sciences and Maths or a helpful adjunct to Performance Studies or Music.

What do people do with A Level English Language and Literature?

• Go on to study it at a higher level at university.

• Use it as a widely recognised entry qualification for a wide range of degree courses.

• Use it as a helpful qualification in careers such as teaching, journalism, publishing and the media.

English Literature A Level When do I start studying for this qualification?

September 2018.

For how long will I study?

For two years.

What is this course about?

The course is designed to offer opportunities to explore English Literature through time, across different types of literature and writing styles and to encourage the development of wide and close reading skills and independent judgement.

What topics will I study?

The course focuses on studying two drama texts, one modern and one Shakespeare play which will be studied in relation to critical writing.

The prose study involves exploring two novels on a specific theme. For the poetry students will study an anthology of modern poetry (post-2000) and a named poet or literary period.

There will be a focus on different ways texts can be read, connected and written about with a strong element of independent reading and thinking.

Responses to literary texts will take the form of analytical essays.

How will my work be assessed?

There are three exams and one piece of non-examined (coursework).

All exams are open book exams requiring clean (unannotated) copies of the texts.

The first exam is a two-and-a-half-hour exam focusing on drama and aspects of tragedy. One question will focus on Shakespeare and the other question will focus on the modern play.

The second exam is one hour long and focuses on comparing the prose texts focusing on the theme of science and society in one pre1900 and one post-1900 text. You are required to answer one question from a choice of two.

The final exam is the poetry exam, which has a duration of two hours and fifteen minutes. This exam focuses on an anthology of post-2000 poetry and a named poet or poetic movement.

The non-examined assessment (coursework) is a comparative study of two texts of your choice in the form of a 2500-3000 word essay.

You may be assessed for an AS qualification in this course at the end of your first year as a measure of your progress.

What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course?

You need to be able to read and write accurately so that you can explore your ideas and interpretations of texts.

You should also have a love of reading.

What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed?

Students will need to develop their understanding and analyse literary texts clearly and accurately, using the appropriate terminology and literary concepts. Students will need to enjoy reading widely and be willing to discuss their ideas and listen to those of others.

Are there any specific entry requirements?

You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 or A*- C. Individual Level 3 subjects may have further entry requirements and these will be advised to you at your Course Guidance meeting once we receive your application.

What are the lessons like?

A wide range of teaching and learning styles are used during the course.

Formal lessons are combined with discussion, group work, task-based learning and research activities.

It is also expected that students will work independently outside lessons, completing a range of tasks and activities in an Independent Study pack.

1:1 support is available to all students.

What have I got to do in order to do well?

• Complete all assignments and homework tasks on time.

• Display good communication skills in speaking and writing.

• Learn and be able to apply the necessary terminology and ideas about literature.

What do students say about this course?

“The literary texts and themes which we explore are exciting and produce interesting discussions in class. My teacher is one of the most supportive I have ever met and a complete inspiration to me.”

“This course complements a real interest in literature by providing deep analysis of every aspect of a text.

Further course reading is key to your success on this course so a positive attitude to independent study is vital.”

Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so, how do I choose between them?

• Combined A Level English Language and Literature, and separate A level English Literature and A Level English Language are obviously related and have different entry requirements.

• More information on choosing between our English A Levels is shown overleaf.

• If you are a great enthusiast

•

for English, you can study both English Literature and English Language.

The entry requirement is a minimum of five GCSEs at A*- C grade (or equivalent), including English Literature, at least at grade 6.

Key Differences Between English Courses Why would you pick English Language instead of English Literature or English Language and Literature?

• You want to develop methods of exploring and understanding spoken and written language in use.

• You want to understand the roles of purposes, audiences and contexts and the impact of these pressures upon language production and reception.

• You want to use linguistic methods to analyse and investigate a variety of extracts taken from everyday sources.

• If you are a great enthusiast for English, you can study both English Language and English Literature.

• The entry requirement is a minimum of five GCSEs at A*- C grade (or equivalent), including English at least at grade 6.

Why would you pick the combined Language & Literature instead of English Language or English Literature?

• You enjoy English at GCSE but aren’t sure which strand to follow next. English Language & Literature A Level is the closest relative to GCSE English.

• You like reading but prefer interesting contemporary texts rather than classics.

• There is less emphasis on the context and historical aspects of the texts than in English Literature; and more emphasis on analysing features of the language.

• The terminology used is the same as in English Language, but less rigid.

• You want to do English, but it’s an additional subject for you rather than your main area of study – you don’t want to ‘specialise’ in English.

• If you are a great enthusiast for English you can study both English Language and English Literature as separate A Levels.

• The entry requirement is a minimum of five GCSE’s at A*- C grade (or equivalent), including English.

Why would you pick English Literature instead of English Language or English Language and Literature?

• You want to develop your interest in and enjoyment of English Literature, through reading widely and through experience of an extensive range of views about texts.

• You want to develop as an informed, independent reader and critic of literary texts.

• You want to develop your personal responses to literary texts.

• If you are a great enthusiast for English you can study both English Literature and English Language.

• The entry requirement is a minimum of five GCSEs at A*- C grade (or equivalent), including English and English Literature, one of which should be at least at grade 6.

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All info correct at date of issue. Please check www.worthing.ac.uk for updates.

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