S3 English:
Reporting Window 2

Course content from Jan – June

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. This supports continuous understanding of complex plotlines and language necessary in N5. 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

• Romeo & Juliet

• An Inspector Calls

• War Horse

• Sherlock Holmes

• Of Mice and Men

• Kidnapped

• The Machine Gunners

• Woman in Black

Close Reading skills continue to be supported using RUAE level 3-4 textbook and close reading assessment that is considered level 3 and 4. All S3 will be given a second close reading assessment in March.

All S3 will study Love Poetry where they will complete a timed pre N5 critical essay & write a persuasive essay in the style of N5 portfolio.

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.

 By June the majority of S3 pupils will be working securely within Level 4 therefore progressing to Nat 5.

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S3 English:

Fourth+ D or 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 good progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against many of the outcomes covered. Can 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 some aspects of Level 3 written classwork and assessment challenging.

Third B: Making progress at CfE level 3 and performing well against some of the outcomes covered. Can 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 continue to struggle to apply aspects of the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment that overcome all level 3 outcomes.

Third C-D: Making limited progress at CfE level 3 showing progression against some of the outcomes covered. Will likely find it very challenging to complete formative assessments. May continue to struggle to apply aspects of the relevant benchmarks in both written classwork and assessment that meet level 3 outcomes.