S3 English

Course Overview

The Level 4 English course builds on the level 3 S1/2 course and aims to develop your skills of reading, writing, listening and talking. Throughout the course you will: 

• listen and talk, read and write for a variety of purposes and audiences 

• understand, analyse and evaluate a range of texts (books, plays, poems and media texts) 

• write in a variety of ways (informative, persuasive, imaginative) 

• plan and research topics using reading and writing skills

Learning and Teaching Approaches

English lessons are inter-active, providing opportunities for listening, talking, reading, writing and thinking. Working in pairs, groups and individually, you will read, discuss and write about novels, plays, poetry and films. You will also research topics in depth and present your findings to the class. Knowledge about language will be taught throughout the course. 

Theatre visits, library links (including visiting authors) and debating will give you additional opportunities to use language skills in real contexts. At all times you will be encouraged to take an active part in your own learning.

Homework

You will receive regular homework. This might involve completing or redrafting class work, researching a topic, preparing talks or learning spelling. Personal Reading is very important and you will be expected to choose books from the library to read at home. 

Assessment Approaches

Assessment will take place both formally and informally throughout the course and will take one of four forms: ‘write’, ‘make’, ‘say’, ‘do’. Your folio of writing and reading pieces and group and individual talk will be assessed formally.