English Language and Literature

Awarding Body : AQA – Specification B.

Entry Requirements : Grade C or above in GCSE English and English Literature Course Content :

AS Course Module Outlines :

Unit 1 : Introduction to Language and Literature Study : Students will study a thematic anthology containing a wide variety of poetry, fiction, drama, transcripts and non-literary texts.  The theme for 2012 is ‘Food' ( a one a half hour exam).

Unit 2 : Genres in Life and Literature : Students will study a pair of texts written more than 100 years apart. The theme for 2011 is that of facing challenges and the texts will be ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll and ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ by J.K. Rowling.

A2 Course Module Outlines :

Unit 3 : Talk in Life and Literature   :  Students will examine the nature and function of speech in everyday life and how Shakespeare transforms this in ‘Hamlet’.  A 2 hour exam.

Unit 4 : Text Transformation :  Students take two existing literary texts and transform them into different genres. For example, a candidate might take ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ a poem by Robert Browning, and turn it into a short story or film script. Coursework.

Assessment :

Assessment is by an even mixture of coursework and exams. 

Unit 1 : Exam : Anthology, 2 questions, open book, 1 ½ hours

Unit 2 : Coursework : 2 pieces.  Analytical 1200 – 1500 words and creative 550 – 800 words.

Unit 3 : Exam : Hamlet and transcripts, 2 questions, closed book, 2 hours.

Unit 4 : Coursework : Text transformation 1500 – 2000 words and commentaries 1000 – 2000 words.

Progression :

Degree courses in English Language, English Literature, Communications, Media and related areas.  This is a useful qualification for all courses and recognised by employers for its rigour.