English

Students will use knowledge gained from reading to inform and improve their own writing. They will learn how to communicate effectively using a confident control of Standard English, correct grammar, accurate spelling and punctuation, and a wide vocabulary.

The course is assessed by terminal examinations at the end of Year 11.

English Language Paper 1: Explorations in Creative reading and Writing

Section A: Unseen Fiction extract followed by 4 questions

Question 1: Select and retrieve relevant information

Question 2: Analyse and comment on how the writer has used language and linguistic devices to achieve particular effects.

Question 3: Analyse and comment on how the writer has used structural features to interest the reader.

Question 4: Evaluate how successfully the writer achieves particular effects by applying a given statement to the text. 

Section B: Creative Writing

Question 5: Narrative or descriptive writing based on the stimulus of a photograph or prompt.

English Language Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Unseen Non-Fiction (two sources)

Question 1: Select the correct comments about one of the sources from multiple choices

Question 2: Comparison of one of the writers' ideas/experiences/opinions/views about their topic

Question 3: Analyse and comment how one of the writers has used language and linguistic devices to achieve particular effects.

Question 4: Compare and/or contrast the methods used by both of the writers to convey their viewpoints

Section B: Writing to Express a Viewpoint

Question 5: Write to convey your viewpoint using a prescribed format. This will be one of the following:

• An essay

• A letter

• An article

• the text of a leaflet

• A speech

English Literature Paper 1:

Section A: Shakespeare - Answer a character or theme question on William Shakespeare's Macbeth in the form of an academic essay

Section B: The 19th Century Novel - Answer a question about the 19th century novel studied by their class in the form of an academic essay. The novels studied in our department vary and will be one of the following:

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 

• The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

English Literature Paper 2:

Section A: Modern Texts and Poetry - Candidates answer a character or theme question in the form of an academic essay on EITHER: An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley or Blood Brothers by Willy Russell - whichever text is studied by their class

Section B: Poetry - Candidates will produce a comparison detailing how poets present themes or ideas in a prescribed poem and a poem of their choice from the 'Power and Conflict' cluster of poetry

Section C: Unseen Poetry - Candidates will apply their analytical skills to an unseen poem, commenting on how the poet presents their ideas about a given theme. Candidates will then compare how particular ideas or themes are presented in the first poem and a second poem.