National 5

Course Description

The course develops high levels of analytical thinking and understanding of the impact of language, and offers learners

the opportunity to develop and extend a wide range of skills, in particular:

• listening talking, reading and writing;

• understanding, analysing and evaluating;

• creating and producing a range of texts;

• applying language skills

The work of the course

Skills – Reading, Listening, Writing and Talking

• Critical reading and listening activities will engage the learner in a wide variety of written, visual and oral texts,

including some of their own choice.

• Learners will acquire the knowledge of a range of genre features.

• Responses to literary texts will be varied: discussion, critical essay, imaginative response, individual and group

presentation.

• Independent, analytical evaluation skills will also be developed through the study of non-fiction texts.

• In the study of media, learners will develop an understanding of key aspects and techniques.

• Learners will also engage in independent study in relation to their own critical reading programme, developing

skills in note-making and annotating texts independently.

Course Assessment

Internal Assessment

Component: Performance - Spoken Language

The performance–spoken language component is assessed on an achieved/not achieved basis. It is a compulsory

requirement for a course award in National 5 English.

It assesses skills in talking, and skills in listening, through taking part in a group discussion, or preparing and

presenting a spoken presentation.

External Assessment

Component 1: The SQA exam (70%)

• Reading for Understanding Analysis and Evaluation (Close Reading) 30%

• Critical Reading: Response to Set Text (Scottish) 20%

• Critical Reading: Critical Essay 20%

Component 2: Portfolio of Writing (30%)

• Expressive Writing 15%

• Functional Writing 15%

Useful Links:

Digital Learning Platform

Progression