English - Advanced Higher

Vale of Leven Academy

The Advanced Higher English course enables and encourages candidates to develop their language skills, showing growth and progression from those demonstrated in prior learning and attainment, most likely in Higher English. Skills development concentrates primarily on reading and writing, but talking and listening have a prominent place in the form of critical debate facilitated by seminars, discussion groups, and/or presentations.

By the end of the course, candidates will display evidence of growth and competence in all aspects of language use, but especially in reading and writing where wide reading and a variety of written-response types are required and assessed. Literary texts across the genres of poetry, prose fiction, prose non-fiction, and drama are the prime focus of the course. There are no restrictions in the selection of texts for study, as long as the content, style and structure of the texts allow candidates to conduct an appropriate level of analysis and evaluation.

Texts selected should promote an extension of the range and depth of candidates’ reading. Candidates learn to connect one text to another in terms of shared contexts, themes and stylistic features. Teaching and learning approaches, based on the needs of individuals or groups, can include whole-class teaching, group discussion, seminars, candidate-led tutorials, and individual learning.

Candidates are encouraged to learn with independence in all areas of the course, but especially in the project–dissertation, which is a substantial piece of critical reading and writing. Candidates are made aware of the need for depth of ideas, clarity, accuracy, and creativity in their use of language. The development of sustained critical lines of thought is essential in both writing and talking. This should include reasoned and evidenced analysis, rather than assertion.

The course offers an introduction to academic research and guides candidates towards critical and contextual materials, where appropriate. This can include digital resources, access to university libraries (where practicable), and critical publications.

Component 1: question paper

Literary Study 1 hour and 30 minutes

Component 2: question paper

Textual Analysis 1 hour and 30 minutes

Component 3: portfolio–writing 30 marks

Component 4: project–dissertation 30 marks