S2 English:
Reporting Window 1

Course content from Aug - Dec

Study of Media / Film focusing on media techniques such as camera angels and shots, lighting, sound effects, mise en scene and dialogue. Outcome is a critical essay based on key scene or key character. Listening outcomes and critical terms such as genre, audience and purpose are integrated into the teaching of the film and the essay structure.

Close Reading skills using (Close Reading 11-14 and RUAE level 3-4 textbooks. Baseline close reading assessment that is considered level 3 showing developing close reading skills at level 3 (Level 3D)

Pupils have also begun the study of Prose though either Novel or Short Story. Final outcomes will be Critical Essay in response to literature and / or a creative piece based on character, plot, setting and themes. There are several prose texts that each faculty teacher can access e.g., Skellig by David Almond and Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. Talk is covered through group and class discussion and based on individual themes relevant to the novel.

Writing outcomes for this term have also included creative writing on a focused genre. This term was the genre of mystery (Halloween Ghost stories) and spy fiction.

All S2 pupils to begin all English lessons with personal reading. This is to boost vocabulary, understand a variety of texts and writing styles and to develop a culture of engagement with reading to support attainment.

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

English in S2 covers content from across CfE levels 3 – 4, though predominantly CFE level 3.

At this point in the year most S2 pupils will be developing skills in both English and Literacy required from the level 3 CfE benchmarks.

 Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S2 English:

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.

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.

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: Overall, has found the majority of the work completed over the course of the current term very challenging and the pupil requires most tasks to be broken down into a smaller scaffolded size. Requires slower pace to complete classroom tasks. 

At this stage in the English curriculum, pupils on a pathway towards achieving SCQF Level 5 in S4 will be working at Third D or above. 

Further information, including an overview for all subject areas can be found here.