National 5 English

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Course offers learners opportunities to develop and extend a wide range of skills. In particular, the Course aims to enable learners to develop the ability to:

-  listen, talk, read and write, as appropriate to purpose, audience and context

-  understand, analyse and evaluate texts, including Scottish texts, as appropriate to purpose and audience in the contexts of literature, language and media

-  create and produce texts, as appropriate to purpose, audience and context

-  apply knowledge and understanding of language

COURSE ASSESSMENT

The course assessment is made up of a question paper (externally assessed), a portfolio (externally assessed) and a spoken language unit (internally assessed).

-  Question paper (70% of the total mark) is made up of two sections:

- Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation 30 marks (30% of the total mark):

Candidates are required to read and understand one unseen non-fiction text. A series of  questions will focus on their understanding, analysis and evaluation skills.

- Critical Reading 40 marks (40% of the total mark): Section 1 Scottish texts (20 marks)  Candidates apply their skills of understanding, analysis and evaluation to answering questions on a previously-studied Scottish text. Section 2 Critical essay (20 marks) Candidates will also have to complete a critical essay on a novel, play or poem previously studied in class.

Portfolio–writing 30 marks (30% of the total mark): The portfolio requires candidates to produce two different texts: one text will be broadly creative; one text will be broadly discursive. The candidate will produce the portfolio independently, but the teacher will support the candidate to choose the focus, theme and genre of the pieces of writing.

Spoken Language unit: The purpose of this performance–spoken language is to provide evidence of the candidates’ skills in talking and listening. It is assessed on an achieved/not achieved basis and is a compulsory requirement for a course award in National 5 English but does not contribute to the overall grade.

What will my Home Learning commitment be?

You will normally be required to undertake at least 1½ hours each week at National 4 and 5. However, this will be flexible depending on if you have reading to do or an   assessment to prepare for.

IS ENGLISH FOR ME?

You will enjoy this subject if: 

· You enjoy different ways of working including whole class, small group and individual tasks.

· You realise that most employers and colleges will look for a qualification in English.

· You would like to be more confident in reading, writing, talking and listening.

· If you want to work with a range of texts from media to plays and poetry with some room for personal choice