English Language and Literature

Head of English: Mr O Smith

Syllabus Title: AQA A Level English Language and Literature

Examination Board: AQA

Length of course: 2 years

Entry requirements: GCSE grade 6 (or above) in English.

Description:

Focussing on the integration of language and literature, this course enables students to see how linguistic and literary methods are related and to explore these links in their work. A-Level English Language and Literature allows students to build on the skills and knowledge already gained and prepare for their next steps, offering clear skills progression from GCSE. There may also be opportunities for theatre trips as part of the course - students have previously enjoyed visits to London and Paris.

Topics studied in this course:

Remembered Places - the representation of place and time in non-fiction extracts:
• A variety of Paris-themed non fiction texts
• A range of sources including YouTube adverts, travelogues and letters detailing the events of the French Revolution

Imagined Worlds - point of view and genre in prose fiction:
• Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece Frankenstein

• Arthur Miller’s post-WW2 drama All My Sons

Poetic Voices - the forms and functions of the poetic voice:
• The poetry of Robert Browning
• Exploring how voice and narrative perspective is portrayed through stylistic and literary techniques

Writing about Society - the role of the individual in society, and re-creative writing based on a set text:
• The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
• Students work on their own skills as writers, recasting sections on the novel before producing a critical commentary which analyses their own writing decisions

Dramatic Encounters - conflict and relationships in drama:
• Students study a playtext, exploring the way in which the language of the stage is utilised to explore relationships between characters

Coursework and assessment of the course:

Paper 1: Telling Stories - 3hrs, 100 marks (40%)
• Section A - Remembered Places
• Section B - Imagined Worlds
• Section C - Poetic Voices

Paper 2: Exploring Conflict (40%) - 2.5hrs, 100 marks (40%)
• Section A - Writing about Society
• Section B- Dramatic Encounters

NEA: Making Connections - investigation on a chosen theme and texts - 50 marks (20%)
• Students draw linguistic connections between a non-literary text and a work of literature of their choice in this coursework unit

Post A-Level:

A qualification in English Language and Literature will enable you to access a plethora of university degrees. This is a subject well respected by universities owing to the numerous transferable skills it demonstrates. Students may opt to pursue a variety of degree-level studies such as journalism, publishing, speech and language therapy, forensic linguistics and teaching. This qualification also opens doors for those seeking a career in connected industries such as law, advertising, media and politics. The analytical and communicative skills associated with English also apply well to areas of business, such as public relations and human resources.

What the students say about this course:

“It’s a good introduction to the skills I need for my chosen University course”

“The course goes into a lot of detail, we take a deep dive into the books we study”

“The set texts are interesting to study, I’ve enjoyed learning more about them”

Specification links

English Language & Literature Specification Links