KS5 COURSE OVERVIEW - ENGLISH LITERATURE

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: MS A CUNNIFFE

Course Content and Assessment

The course is designed to create a balanced programme of poetry, prose and drama from early literature to modern writing. Coursework widens the experience of literature and allows candidates to explore their individual interests.

Essential to this course is a love of reading and a willingness to discuss what you have read with the rest of the class. Candidates will also need to undertake other reading to support the work in class.

The course is assessed at AS level by two examinations plus the coursework folder. At A2 it is assessed by two examinations plus the coursework assignment. Coursework represents 15% for AS, 30% for A2.

Assessment includes:

AS level:

• Unit 1 - One prose text
• Unit 2 - One poetry text and one drama text
• Unit 3 – Shakespeare coursework (30% AS, 15% A)

A level:

• Unit 4 - One prose text and one other text for coursework (15% of the A level mark)
• Unit 5 - One drama text pre-1770
  one poetry text pre-1900
• Unit 6 – Exploring texts

For the whole 2 year course, assessment consists of:

• 4 examinations – 2 in Year 12, 2 in Year 13

• 2 pieces of coursework - 1 in Year 12, 1 in Year 13

Group discussion and shared exploration of stories, poems and plays is the cornerstone of this course of study. There are usually opportunities to attend literature conferences in Leeds or Manchester and to go to professional theatre productions when they are appropriate to the texts being studied.

Staff Soundbite - if you like to read, and to talk and write about what you read, then this is the one for you.

Student Soundbite - Literature is the book of life. To study it at A level is to experience and learn about characters and stories in a way you’ve never thought of before.

Higher Education and Careers

A Level English Literature is widely valued and respected by employers, colleges and universities as a good discipline to prepare candidates for a wide variety of occupations and further qualifications. It is also specifically appropriate for a number of Arts based occupations, including media, theatre, journalism, librarianship and teaching.

Entry Requirements
At least a C at GCSE English Literature and a C at GCSE English Language