English Language and English Literature

ENGLISH LANGUAGE                                                      Edexcel 1ENO 

ENGLISH LITERATURE                                                    Edexcel 1ETO

English Language and English Literature are taught as an integrated course; students gain 2 GCSEs.

Why study English Language?

This course will develop your skills in:

• Reading a range of texts from Victorian to modern novels, poetry to newspaper articles

• Writing for a number of purposes, including description, persuasion and information and for a variety of audiences.  You will be given the opportunity to write in different styles including speeches, magazine articles and narrative writing.  

• Using spelling, punctuation and grammar correctly.

• Speaking and Listening in debates, small group discussions and presentations.  This is reported alongside the GCSE grade rather than contributing to it.

How is it assessed?

• • 100% Examination at the end of Year 11

Paper 1 (40%)                   1¾ hour                                Fiction and Imaginative Writing

Paper 2 (60%)                   2 hours and 5 mins                Non-fiction and Transactional Writing

Why study English Literature?

You will experience a wide range of literature from classics to contemporary and be able to explore and develop your response to a variety of texts.  These might include:

• • Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and a post-1914 text such as Lord of the Flies 

  • A Shakespeare play, Macbeth

  • A selection of modern and pre-twentieth century poetry based on a theme

How is it assessed?

• • 100% Examination at the end of Year 11

Paper 1 (50%)                   1¾ hour               Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature

Paper 2 (50%)                   2¼ hour               19th-century Novel and Poetry since 1789

What are the special features of the course?

• You will enjoy a breadth of reading and writing to cater for many tastes.

• You will have an appreciation of Literary Heritage.

• You will develop analytical skills and the ability to select relevant information from different sources.

• You will develop your essay writing skills and learn how to structure your ideas in a sophisticated way.

• You will learn the importance of the contexts of literary works.

• You will develop key skills, such as the techniques and confidence to speak in public and to present written assignments to meet a specification, eg a letter to a local newspaper or writing a dramatic story.

• You may have the opportunity to visit the theatre and participate in workshops on some of the texts you study.

How can I find out more?

See Mr Elgin (English Curriculum Manager), your English teacher or the English Subject Ambassadors. Have a look at the Edexcel website where you will find the specifications: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/english-language-2015.html and https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/english-literature-2015.html