English

Length of Course : One year. Year 8 is the second year of the three year Key Stage 3 English programme.

Course description and aims

The course is a combined literature and language course. Language objectives are organized into four main areas of English. These comprise the four language strands: reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language study. The literature course is aimed at exposing students to a wide variety of texts covering different literary genres.

Course Aims

The broad aims of the course are to help students to:

●  Read and respond to a range of literary and non-literary selections read to extract meaning beyond the literal with some understanding of how choice of form and style shapes meaning

●      Write using appropriate style and tone for different purposes

●  Write with greater accuracy using a range of punctuation, vocabulary and paragraphing

●      Gather and collate relevant evidence to present a clear point of view

●      Understand the importance and significance of tone in speaking and listening

Main concepts and topics covered

The focus will be on the development of language skills and appreciation of themes, characters and writer’s craftsmanship. Thematic and formal links between texts and an understanding of the influence of cultural contexts on texts will be encouraged. In addition to empathy and discursive responses to the texts, students will write their own poems and stories in different forms. Students will be involved in oral presentations and dramatizations as a means to explore text and show their understanding. They will also be expected to read independently throughout the year and maintain a record of that reading.

Language work will include:

● Writing to persuade, entertain, and express point of view and review. There will also be revision and reinforcement of skills taught in Year 7- writing to narrate, inform, describe and explain

●     Remedial and vocabulary enhancement with a particular focus on usage

●     Students will do a writing project on Travel writing and a literature essay on a character

Contents

The focus will be on the development of language skills and appreciation of themes, characters and writer’s craftsmanship. Thematic and formal links between texts and an understanding of the influence of cultural contexts on texts will be encouraged. In addition to empathy and discursive responses to the texts, students will write their own poems and stories in different forms. Students will be involved in oral presentations and dramatisations as a means to explore text and show their understanding. They will also be expected to read independently throughout the year.

Course outcomes

Attainment/Assessment targets:

Reading

Students will:

•       Identify different layers of meaning and comment on their significance and effect

•   Give personal responses to literary  texts,  referring  to  aspects  of  language, structure and themes in justifying  views,  and  making  connections to real life experiences

•   Summarize a range of information from different sources

Writing

Students will:

●     Write fluently and engagingly, adapting style and register to different forms

●      Attempt a range of sentence structures and varied vocabulary to create effects; use a range of punctuation to clarify meaning, and organize ideas  into well-developed, linked paragraphs; spell irregular words accurately

●      Present work neatly and legibly

Speaking and Listening

Students will

●         Use standard English fluently in formal situations

●         Adapt talk to the demands of different contexts, purposes and audiences; show understanding of ideas and sensitivity to others; demonstrate knowledge of language variety and usage

Types of assessment

A combination of formative and summative assessments will be used. NC levels will be based on a variety of tasks covering a range of skills. This will be a combination of home and class assignments.

Methodology

•  Use of multimedia

•  Independent research by students

•  Study of characters

•  Presentations by students and teachers

•  Group and panel discussions on relevant issues

•  Debates

•  Dramatization of scenes from texts

•  Critical thinking tasks

Text and materials

Novel Study - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Shakespeare - 'Macbeth'

Genre Study - The Gothic 

Grading policy

Summative pieces will be assessed using our Progress Maps

 Additional expectations

Students are encouraged to participate in the Faculty’s annual House Activities Week. Furthermore, in conjunction with the Library, students should benefit from interactions with the Visiting Author. In addition, they should be encouraged to participate in various challenges such as the PTA Poetry Contest and the International Week story competition.