English Language
Lesson Structure
- Group work – discussion
- Presentation
- Research
- Writing workshops
- Formal teaching
- University visits/lectures
- Seminars
Assessment Pattern
Year 1
Paper 1 – Language and the Individual
- Analysis of two texts on a common theme, focusing on meanings, representations and contexts.
Paper 2 – Language Varieties
- A discursive essay about language diversity (gender, occupation, dialect)
- A directed writing task about attitudes to language.
Year 2
Paper 1 – Language, the Individual and Society (40%)
- Analysis of two texts on a common theme (one is an older text) using the concepts for language analysis.
- Discursive essay on children’s language development.
Paper 2 – Language Diversity and Change (40%)
- An evaluative essay on diversity or change. This explores debates about social attitudes to language and includes topics such as gender and dialect.
- An analysis of how two texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions.
- A directed writing task.
Coursework – Language in Action (20%)
- A language investigation exploring and analysing language data independently.
- A piece of original writing and commentary. writing task.
Extra Information
This course offers clear skills progression from GCSE with exciting text and data-based sources of language in its various forms and contexts. The variety of assessment styles used, such as data analysis, discursive essays, original writing and research-based investigative writing, allows students to develop a range of skills. These include critical reading, data analysis, evaluation, the ability to develop and sustain arguments and a number of different writing skills which are invaluable for both further study and future employment. Career opportunities: Print journalism, public relations, teaching, the media (TV & radio), the civil service and publishing.