Embedded Files
Bridging the Gap
This work will not be submitted but will provide a good foundation of knowledge that will give you a positive start with your course.
Prior Knowledge
Prior Knowledge
Scrapbook
The Language course has many different sections - creative, analytical and reflective. Keeping a scrapbook will help you to start to understand the breadth and depth of language study. Split the scrapbook into two sections.
Section 1: Language in action - into this section copy or paste pieces of writing that have captured your imagination or curiosity. This could be drawn from novels, speeches, websites, plays, poems, adverts, articles or leaflets. Find interesting and unusual examples of language in action. Ultimately, you'll be writing your own novel openings, travel writing and persuasive texts, so find some great model examples for these and stick them in.
Section 2: Whose language is it anyway? - into this section copy or paste any writing you can find ABOUT language. This could be articles on how texting is affecting daily language use, or how young people talk, or how accent and dialect affect people's views of the speaker. Once you start looking, you'll find that a lot of people have very strong views on how language is used and how they think it ought to be used. Try to get as many of these articles as you can - they'll be extremely useful next year!
Understanding the press
How much do you know about the British press?
What do the terms 'tabloid' and 'broadsheet' mean? Why do we use them even now most papers are the same size? Find out!
Investigate the following titles and see what you can discover about who they're aimed at, who they represent, what stories they cover and what attitudes they have towards social and political issues.
The Daily Telegraph
The Times
The Guardian (and Observer)
The Independent
The Daily Mail
The Express
The Mirror
The Sun
Choose a couple of key stories and compare how each paper has chosen to report the same story. This works best if you can pick one story that appears in all papers on the same day. Look at what details the papers choose to focus on (or ignore). Look at the language they use - is it designed to reassure, to outrage, to inform, to persuade, to shock?
Internal candidates: Log in to the ‘Preparing for A Level English Language’ Google Classroom and complete the ‘Making the Leap to A Level Language’ task booklet. Class code: 4hf7igk
New to Heathfield candidates: Email csavage@heathfieldcc.co.uk for a task booklet.
Further Reading
Further Reading
English Language.pdfClick the icons to visit the highlighted reading material.
Transition Work
This work is to be completed before starting your course. The work will be set on Taster Day and due in during the first full week of College. This work will be assessed alongside subject assessments and Attitude to Learning.
Task Overview
Task Overview
Read ‘The Story of English in 100 Words’ by David Crystal and keep notes as you read it. Come ready to discuss the key ideas (there is a worksheet that will be sent out to help with this)
Work to be Submitted
Work to be Submitted
Detailed notes and be ready to discuss your five favourite words and why! Worksheet on website.
Preparation for September
Find below the guidance on what will be required from September for your subjects. Subject textbooks are listed in priority order. Please see guidance before purchasing any textbooks.
Folders & Organisation
Folders & Organisation
A lever arch folder with dividers will be essential to organise notes for different areas of study.
A scrapbook to keep cuttings from newspapers and other sources about language and linguistic issues.
Subject Textbooks
Subject Textbooks
The Story of English in 100 Words
David Crystal
ISBN: 978-1846684289
Optional Textbook:
AQA A Level English Language: Student Book
Dan Clayton
ISBN: 978-0198334002
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