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.