National 4/5 English

Language and literacy are of personal, social and economic importance. Your ability to use language lies at

the centre of the development and expression of your emotions, thinking, learning and sense of personal

identity.

This course gives you the opportunity to develop skills in listening, talking, reading and writing, which are

essential for learning, life and work. You will develop your ability to communicate your thoughts and feelings

and respond to those of other people.

The skills that you develop in English are useful in a wide range of careers; these include teaching, editorial,

journalism, administration, legal work or in the arts.

What will I study at National 4 English

This course helps you understand how language works, and how to use it to communicate ideas and

information in English. You will get to use creative and critical thinking to produce ideas and arguments, and

to develop critical literacy skills as well as personal, interpersonal and team working skills. You will also

develop an appreciation of Scotland’s literary and linguistic heritage.

The course has three compulsory units plus an added value unit that assesses your practical skills.

What will I study at National 5 English

This course helps you understand the complexities of language through studying a wide range of texts,

including studying the use vocabulary, word patterns, text structures and style. You will develop high levels

of analytical thinking and understanding of the impact of language.

The course comprises two areas of study. Analysis and Evaluation and Creation and Production

Unit assessment

All Units are internally assessed. They are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

English: Analysis and Evaluation (National 4)

Through the study of straightforward texts in literature, language or media, learners will use their listening and reading skills to provide evidence of understanding, analysis and evaluation, as appropriate to purpose and audience.

English: Creation and Production (National 4)

Learners are required to provide evidence of their talking and writing skills to create and produce straightforward texts in a familiar context, as appropriate to purpose and audience. Learners are required to demonstrate technical accuracy in written texts.

Literacy (National 4)

Learners are required to provide evidence of their reading, listening, writing and talking skills in a variety of forms. The Literacy Unit is often covered through the activities required in the units above.

Added Value Unit

At National 4, added value will be assessed in an Added Value Unit. At National 4 the AVU will comprise a Comparative Writing unit in which learners will have to provide evidence of their ability to apply their language skills through investigating and reporting on a chosen topic. Learners will demonstrate their ability to select and evaluate relevant information using their reading skills, to present their findings in writing or talk, and to respond to questions on the chosen topic using their listening skills.

Unit assessment  

Performance-Spoken Language  

In this assessment candidates have to do at least one of the following spoken language activities: 

• • Take part in a group discussion, or discussion-based activity, to which they contribute relevant ideas, opinions, or information, using detailed language. Candidates must take account of the contributions of others and stay focused on the topic or task. 

  • Prepare and present a presentation. The presentation must be detailed in content, and must be structured in a clear and relevant way. Candidates must answer questions from the audience at some point in the presentation. 

Throughout the course the teacher and the pupil will record individual performance, noting areas for individual consolidation or improvement, and to assist teachers in calibrating estimate grades for the Scottish Qualification Authority.  

Final Assessment: 

Folio of Writing: 1x Persuasive/ Discursive; 1x Imaginative or Personal Reflective - (30%) 

Final External SQA Exam:  

• • Paper 1 - Close Reading of non-fiction text - (30%) 

  • Paper 2 - 1 Textual Analysis of set Scottish Text - (20%)

  • & 1 Critical Essay - (20%)