English Language and Literature
Overview
Throughout the three year course, students will further develop their writing, reading, speaking and listening skills to produce written and oral work in a variety of different styles and for a range of different audiences. Texts are taken from the 19th, 20th and 21st century and from a range of different genres and cultures. Students will prepare for two GCSEs in English Language and English Literature. Assessment will be via externally assessed examinations to take place in May and June in year 11.
Topics covered
Topics covered will include: creative writing for different purposes including writing to describe, explain, persuade and advise as well as a range of reading response tasks. Students will be required to read and respond in writing and in discussion to a variety of different texts and media such as documentaries, films, advertisements, newspapers and magazines, as well as works of Literature including works from the English Literary Heritage and different cultures, a Shakespeare play, a modern play and/or novel and a range of poetry from the published Anthology.
Assessments
Assessment will be via externally assessed examinations to take place in May and June in year 11.
English Language:
English Language: Paper One - Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of English Language GCSE
No tiers of entry
Section A - Reading analysis and interpretation based on one unseen literature text extract
40 marks - 25% weighting
1 short form question (1x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (2x 8 marks)
1 extended question (1x 20 marks)
Section B: Writing: Creative writing based on writing to describe, or narrative writing
40 marks 25% weighting
1 extended writing question
24 marks for content
16 for technical accuracy
English Language: Paper Two - Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
No tiers of entry
Section A - Reading - One non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
40 marks 25% weighting
Two linked texts (in theme)1 short form question (1x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (1 x 8 marks & 1x 12 marks)
1 extended question (1x 16 marks)
Section B - Writing- Writing to present a viewpoint
40 marks 25% weighting
1 extended writing question
24 marks for content
16 for technical accuracy
English Literature:
Paper One- Shakespeare and the 19th Century novel:
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks
40% of GCSE
No tiers of entry
Whole texts must be studied
Section A: Shakespeare 30 marks & 4 for SPAG (Spelling and Grammar)
Students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B: 19th Century Novel- 30 marks
Students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.
Paper Two- Modern Texts and Poetry
Written exam: 2 hours 15 minutes
96 marks
60% of GCSE
No tiers of entry
Section A: Modern Texts- 30 marks & 4 marks for SPAG
Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose text
Section B: Poetry- 30 marks
Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem and another from their chosen anthology choice
Section C- Unseen Poetry- 24 marks & 8 marks
Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem to a second unseen poem
FAQs
Which GCSEs in English will I do?
All students will sit two GCSEs in English. These are GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. You receive them as two separate qualifications in Y11. We move between the courses as we deliver the curriculum, so you learn both subjects with your class through KS4. We follow the AQA exam courses.
When do the GCSE courses start in English?
We use Year 9 as a transition year in English to develop and hone your skills and help you to have a wide range of input before we focus on the selected GCSE skills and texts we start the GCSE Literature course properly at Easter in Y9 when we start to look at your first GCSE text and teach the ideas all around it. However, for both Language and Literature, all the skills and work you have already completed in English are designed to help you develop and enjoy Literature and Language all the way through since Y7.
Will I need to buy my own books for Literature?
We do advise that students buy the books we will study for Literature so that you can make useful notes, highlight quotations and keep records in your own copy. We provide all texts to students in receipt of PP.