English

English Department

The course in S4 to S6 will develop your English skills to a more advanced level. You will be formally assessed in reading, writing, listening and talking

The course will include: close reading of non-fiction texts, often from quality journalism; study of literary texts (including compulsory Scottish literature at National 5 and 6) - drama, poetry, prose and / or film.

Depending on your level of presentation, you will produce a portfolio of writing or an Added Value Unit which requires independent research, note-taking and writing.

Assessment

National 2

Assessment

3 unit assessments:

Understanding Language
Creating Texts
Listening and Talking

Exam

No external exam

National 3

Assessment

3 unit assessments:

Producing Language
Understanding Language
Literacy

Exam

No external exam

National 4

Assessment

4 unit assessments:

Analysis and Evaluation
Creation and Production
Added Value Unit
Literacy Unit

Exam

No external exam

National 5

Portfolio

You will be asked to write essays in two different genres, from which your better essay will be sent to SQA. This is worth 30% of your overall grade and is completed internally under supervision.

Exam

RUAE: Close Reading of a previously unseen non-fiction text, demonstrating understanding, analysis and evaluation. The exam lasts one hour and is 30% of your overall grade..

Critical Reading: Analysis of compulsory Scottish texts; Critical Essay on literature studied with teacher. The exam lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is 40% of your overall grade.

Internal Assessment

Performance: Spoken Language. This is completed in class and must be passed to be eligible to sit the exam.

Higher

Portfolio

You will be asked to write essays in two different genres, from which your better essay will be sent to SQA. This is worth 30% of your overall grade and is completed internally under supervision.

Exam

RUAE: Close Reading of a previously unseen non-fiction text, demonstrating understanding, analysis and evaluation. The exam lasts one hour and 30 minutes and is 30% of your overall grade..

Critical Reading: Analysis of compulsory Scottish texts; Critical Essay on literature studied with teacher. The exam lasts one hour and 30 minutes and is 40% of your overall grade.

Internal Assessment

Performance: Spoken Language. This is completed in class and must be passed to be eligible to sit the exam.

Advanced Higher

Portfolio

This will comprise one final piece, selecting from a wide range of genres. There is considerable freedom here for talented writers to express themselves. This is worth 20% of your overall grade and is completed internally under supervision.

Exam

Literary Study: an extended critical essay on major texts studied. The exam lasts one hour and 30 minutes and is 20% of your overall grade..

Textual Analysis: independent analysis of a previously unseen text, choosing from a range of genres. This requires a breadth of reading, good judgement and confidence! The exam lasts one hour and 30 minutes and is 20% of your overall grade.

Dissertation

An extended critical essay, normally on at least two major texts you have studied independently. This is completed in class and in your own time and is makes up 30% of your overall grade.

Ideal Candidate

For S1 to S4, English is a mandatory subject as part of the Scottish Curriculum.

The English course would be best suited to a young person who shows a keen interest in reading, writing and literature. Ideally they should read for pleasure every day – a mixture of fiction and non-fiction (good quality newspaper articles are perfect). They should constantly challenge themselves when it comes to literature, enhancing their vocabulary and understanding of the world around them through their reading choices.

Success at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English relies on a strong grasp of language and a confidence when dealing with increasingly complex vocabulary. It also requires the ability to interpret a range of different texts and discuss wider themes within them.

What you will learn

SQA publishes a list of prescribed Scottish writers to be included in National 5 and Higher qualifications, along with the range of other authors currently taught.

At Lanark Grammar, prescribed Scottish authors currently taught are:

Prose

Anne Donovan, Robert Louis Stevenson, Iain Crichton Smith

Poetry

Carol Ann Duffy, Norman MacCaig, Liz Lochhead, Don Paterson

Drama

Alan Spence, John Byrne, Anne Marie Di Mambro