English Language and Literature (AS/A level)

Specific Entry Criteria

Grade C in English Language and grade C in English Literature where taken. If you are not taking a separate GCSE in English Literature please speak to the Head of Department to discuss your suitability for the course.

About the Subject

This course is a study of how language is used by writers to craft Literary texts. The two disciplines are thoroughly integrated and very different to the delivery of either subject at GCSE. The Combined course will therefore appeal to students who enjoy reading independently and are interested in how writers shape their work. An enthusiasm for writing is also essential as you will develop your creative skills through a variety of written tasks.

You will learn how to analyse and respond to the spoken and written word. This means you will study literary texts, including those from the media. Communication through language is involved in almost everything we do and the main reason to study this subject is having a genuine interest in language and how it is used in a wide range of contexts.

Course Content

Year 1

In year 1 there is a focus on modern American and British drama.

In Unit 1 there will be an examination of 1 hour and 30 minutes, taken in May. For this exam you will study 2 modern drama texts, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and The History Boys by Alan Bennett. For the first text you will be assessed by way of a creative response, for the second you will be assessed via an analytical essay.

In Unit 2 there will be an examination of 1 hour 30 minutes taken in January. You will learn to analyse transcripts of people talking to each other and to compare spontaneous spoken language with the ways in which prepared speech is presented in non-literary texts. You will also study All My Sons by Arthur Miller, with an emphasis on how the dialogue is crafted.

Year 2

The second year of the course builds on the analytical and language production skills introduced in the first year. In the Unit 3 exam you will be asked to re-work a journalistic text into a new piece or writing, for a different audience and purpose. In Unit 3 you will also deepen your understanding of spontaneous language by further study of the language of conversation and the comparison of different types of spoken texts.

Unit 4 Coursework is based on comparing how 2 different writers have crafted the language of their texts. There is a wide range of texts to choose from. You can write about either 2 poetry texts or a poetry text and a novel or a play. Your work is assessed by submitting one essay of 2000-2500 words.

Assessment

At AS level you are assessed by examinations in January and June. Each exam makes up 50% of the AS level. At A2 assessment is split between coursework and examination. The coursework is worth 40% and the exam is worth 60% of the A2.