S3 English:
Reporting Window 1

Course content from Aug – Dec

BGE S3 English begins to establish skills needed for National 4 and National 5.

Study of play and /or Prose focusing on literary techniques such as plot development, key scene / chapter, character development, dialogue, complex theme and structure. Outcome is a critical essay where pupils should use literary techniques to show analysis and evaluation skills.  Listening outcomes and critical terms are integrated into the teaching of the play/novel and the essay structure. Examples of Literature include –

• Much Ado about Nothing

• Macbeth

• An Inspector Calls

• War Horse

• Sherlock Holmes

• Of Mice and Men

Close Reading skills using RUAE level 3-4 text book and close reading assessment that is considered level 3 showing developing close reading skills at level 3 (Level 3B)

Writing outcomes for this term have focused on persuasive writing. Learning has focused on persuasive devices used in advertising and the media. Techniques studied include use of formal and informal language, tone, target audience and demographic. Understanding of rhetorical language and questions, formal structure and research to be demonstrated in final written outcome.

Key Terminology

• audience / tone / pace / informal / formal / vocabulary / dialect / inform / persuade / entertain / gender, class, nationality, and interests (in terms of audience)

• context, paragraphing and linking, imagery, sound devices, punctuation.

The following terminology will need be covered / revised / reinforced:

• direct speech/reported speech/ paragraphing/ topic sentences/ link sentences

• own words, denotation and connotation, sentence structures, summary, prediction questions

At this point in the year English in S3 covers content from across CfE levels 3 – 4. S3 will be predominantly level 3 and developing level 4.

At this point in the year most S3 pupils will be developing skills in both English and Literacy required from the level 3 and level 4 CfE benchmarks and the majority of S3 pupils should be able to achieve Third B or above.

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S3 English:

Fourth A-B: Making outstanding progress with all level 4 outcomes. Can demonstrate understanding and application of skills that would secure a National 5 pass.

Fourth C: Making excellent progress at CfE level 4 and performing well against all outcomes covered. Can demonstrate secure understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment. Pupils at this level will being developing and overcoming many of the level 4 outcomes.

Fourth D: Making good progress at CfE level 4 and performing well against most outcomes covered. Can demonstrate sound understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment. Pupils at this level will be showing understanding and skill in some of the level 4 outcomes.

Third A: Making excellent progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against all outcomes covered. Is able to demonstrate secure understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment. Pupils at this level will being developing and overcoming some of the level 4 outcomes.

Third B: Making good progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against most outcomes covered. Is able to demonstrate sound understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment. Pupils at this level will be showing understanding and skill in some of the level 4 outcomes.

Third C: Making reasonable progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against many of the outcomes covered. Is able to demonstrate a developing understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the benchmarks both written classwork and assessment. May find aspects of written classwork and assessment challenging.

Third D: Making some progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against some of the outcomes covered. Is able to demonstrate a basic understanding of critical terminology and its application in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Talk and recall skills needed to achieve the benchmarks both written classwork and assessment. May struggle to apply aspects of the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment.

Second A-D: As above, with pupil working at CfE level 2.