Sixth Form English
AS Level English Literature - Edexcel
If you genuinely enjoy reading, aren't frightened of expressing opinions and have at least a C preferably an A or B in both GCSE English and English Literature then read on to find out more.
English Literature is a popular and challenging subject. It seeks to develop effective communication skills, independent thinking, an analytical approach and encourages a sensitive and humane outlook.
English Literature complements many other subjects particularly: Christian Theology, History, Geography, French, German and Politics.
AS skills for English Literature
Have you got the following skills or are you interested in developing them?
The Advanced Subsidiary specification requires students to:
- Read texts in a variety of ways and respond critically and creatively.
- Vary strategies for reading, including for detail, overview and gist,
depending on the texts being studied and purposes for reading
them.
- Explore comparisons and contrasts between texts, establishing
links and relationships.
- Identify and consider how attitudes and values are expressed in
texts.
- Draw on their understanding of different interpretations when
responding to and evaluating texts.
- Fluently, accurately and effectively communicate their knowledge,
understanding and judgement of texts.
- Use literary critical concepts and terminology with understanding
and discrimination.
- Make accurate reference to quotations from texts and sources.
If so, this is what you'll be studying over the next year.
Unit 1: Explorations in Prose and Poetry
Examination: 2 hours 15 minutes
Students are required to take into the examination only clean copies of the texts studied. 100 Marks
Section A: Choice of either Unseen Poetry or Unseen Prose
Short questions will require students to comment on the use of key features in either poetry or prose.
There are 20 marks available for Section A
Section B: Poetry
One question on poetry
Students respond to one of two essay questions on the chosen topic area.
In their response, students will compare and contrast the poems they have studied.
One question, from a choice of two, on one selection (Home or Land or Work). There are 40 marks available for Section B.
Text: The Rattle Bag, ed. Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes on the themes of either Home, Land or Work.
Section C: Prose
One question on chosen prose texts
Students respond to one of two essay questions on the chosen topic area.
Students will respond to a question, focusing on their core text to establish their argument and referring to their second text in order to develop their line of argument.
One question on one core novel, with reference to another novel from the same grouping to support the line of argument.
There are 40 marks available for Section C.
Texts: Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte (core novel)
Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys
Unit 2: Explorations in Drama
The coursework folder
Coursework folder: 2000-2500 words maximum (including quotations)
80 marks
Two responses are required: an explorative study and a creative critical response.
Tasks allow students to produce informed, analytical responses
which consider playwrights' crafting of the text(s), the ways texts
can be compared and the students' own and others' critical
response in a creative treatment.
Independent research must be undertaken as references to
texts, sources and quotations must be provided.
Texts: Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare
The Duchess of Malfi, John Webster
A2 Level English Literature
We follow the AS with two more units to make up the full A Level.
Unit 3: Interpretation of Prose and Poetry
Examination: 2 hours 45 minutes
100 marks
Section A: Choice of either Unseen Poetry or Unseen Prose
Students will select either one unprepared prose passage or one unprepared poem presented in the paper. In their response students will explore, through close reference, the writer's choice of structure, form and language when shaping meaning. There are 40 marks available for Section A.
Section B
Students will be presented with a reader’s comment. Students will write
about their response to their texts in the light of this comment, referring to at
least two of the texts they have studied. There are 60 marks available for Section B.
Texts: Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Rapture, Carol Ann Duffy
Unit 4: Reflection in Literary Studies
The coursework folder
Coursework folder: 2500 – 3000 words maximum (including quotations)
80 marks
Students will produce a coursework folder that demonstrates that the four assessment objectives have been fully met. Tasks enable students to make
informed analytical responses, showing critical awareness of the connections
and comparisons between texts.
The coursework folder will consist of one extended study referring
to three texts studied in this unit. Two texts are read and studied in class, the other text must be chosen, read and studied independently.
Independent research must be undertaken as references to texts, sources and quotations must be provided.
Texts: A variety of texts are all based on the theme of "outsiders".