Varndean25 - Flipbook - Page 32
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES
A LEVEL
If you are interested in the English language itself
– how we use language for different purposes,
how speech differs from writing, and whether
gender makes a difference to language-use, then
this will be the right course for you. You will explore
a diverse range of topics, including how we shape
our identities according to our gender, dialects,
ethnicity/diversity & power, occupation and
class. As you do so, you will develop the skills of
analysis, grammar and writing. Students also learn
about how the English language has evolved over
the last 450 years and the ways in which children
acquire speech and literacy.
During the course, you will have the opportunity to
produce a variety of creative writing coursework
from opinion articles, reviews and memoirs, worth
20% of the final grade. In the second year, you also
collect your own data to undertake an Investigation
unit, based on a specific linguistic area.
UNIT 1: Exam Language Variation: 35%
The language of identity
Language change from 1550
UNIT 2: Exam Child Language: 20%
Speech or literacy development
UNIT 3: Exam Investigating Language: 25%
Research project on a key topic: Gender/ Power/
Journalism/ Dialect/ World Englishes
UNIT 4: Coursework Crafting Language:
Creative writing: 20%
Two creative nonfiction texts & one commentary
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Standard Advanced Level entry requirements
ASSESSMENT
80% exam, 20% coursework
ENGLISH LITERATURE
A LEVEL
Studying English Literature offers us the
opportunity to study who we are and the ways we
live. It invites us to critically engage with exciting,
interesting and challenging aspects of the world
we live in and the ways writers present such
issues.
We read, discuss, analyse and write on plays,
novels and poetry from the past and the present.
We study the ways in which writers use language,
form and structure to convey meaning. We
consider interpretations by different readers over
time, as well as how culture and context influences
readers and writers. All work is assessed through
essays and you will learn how to write effective
academic arguments with a range of textual, critical
and contextual support.
Please Note: Studying English Literature at A
Level is an invitation to engage in and examine
critical and theoretical discourse on challenging
and sometimes difficult topics, all of which are
dealt with intellectually and sensitively. You will
also be expected to read at least two novels
independently as preparation for study in class
and for coursework. The ability to read novels
independently is therefore essential, as is a
commitment to writing essays.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Standard Advanced Level entry requirements
ASSESSMENT
80% exam, 20% coursework
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