English Language

To study this course you will have achieved a grade C or better in both G.C.S.E. English and English Literature.

You will be encouraged to develop your interest in and enjoyment of English though learning about its structures and its functions, its development and its variation.

The course will allow you to develop your ability to express yourself in speech and writing for a variety of audiences and in both fiction and non-fiction genres.

Why Study English Language?

English Language is a well established and widely respected A Level that will give you a good foundation for both university and future employment. It will develop your critical and analytical reading skills as well as improving your writing skills for a variety of audiences and purposes. It will also give you an insight into the way language works on a societal level. It is useful for law, teaching, journalism and business management .

The English Department is staffed by a team of specialists. We also offer a range of support in addition to the lessons;including theatre visits, conferences, trips to Oxford and other literary areas, workshops led by
writers and examiners and extensive additional materials in the library and via the intranet. This provision contributes to the considerable academic success our students attain.

At AS you will be assessed in 2 units:-

Unit 1 Categorising Texts (60% of AS marks)

This will be examined by a 2 hour paper in January.
This unit covers the introductory aspects of the study of language, using a variety of texts for the basis of this study. In addition it focuses on three specific contexts: Language and Power, Language and Gender and Language and Technology.

Unit 2 Creating Texts (40% of AS marks - coursework)

Candidates will produce a folder comprising two pieces of original writing, differentiated by primary audience, purpose and genre, and two commentaries which explore the writing process. The total length of the two pieces of writing should be between 1500 and 2500 words. The total length of the two commentaries should be 1000 words.

At A2 you will be assessed in 2 units:-

Unit 3 Developing Language (60% of A2 marks)
This will be examined by a 2 hour examination in the Summer. Students will study Language Change and Language Acquisition

Unit 4 Investigating Language
The coursework folder will consist of two individual pieces of writing:-
A language investigation (1750- 2500 words) and a media text (750 – 1000 words) on the same theme.

English Literature

To study this course you will need to have achieved a grade B or better in both English and English Literature GCSE.

The course will develop your interest and enjoyment of literature. You will read a variety of texts written across centuries by both male and female authors and covering a variety of genres. You will also learn about the influences on writers and how these affect their ideas and styles of writing as well as looking at critical responses to texts.

Why Study English Literature?

English Literature is a very well established and widely respected A Level that will give you an excellent foundation for many university or employment applications. It will develop your critical reading skills and your ability to analyse a text in detail. It will be useful for anyone interested in a business career, publishing and journalism.

The English Department is staffed by a team of specialists. We offer a range of support in addition to lessons; including theatre visits, conferences, trips to Oxford, Dorset and other literary areas, workshops led by writers and examiners and extensive additional materials in the library and via the intranet. This provision contributes to the academic success our students attain.

At AS you will be assessed in 2 units:-

Unit 1 Aspects of Narrative (60% of AS marks)
This will be examined in the Summer Term by an open book examination of two hours length.
We will explore aspects of narrative across two novels Enduring Love by Ian McEwan and The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and also in a selection of poems by W H Auden and Keats.

Unit 2 Dramatic Genres
Coursework (40% of the AS marks)
Candidates will study two plays (one by Shakespeare) with a focus on the tragic genre and produce 2 pieces of coursework. Each coursework piece must be between 1200-1500 words.

At A2
Unit 3 Texts and Genres
This will be tested by a closed book examination of two hours length with a focus on ‘Elements of the Gothic’.Texts studied are Wuthering Heights, Paradise Lost and Dr Faustus.

Unit 4 Further and Independent Reading
Candidates will produce a coursework folder consisting of two pieces. One will be a comparative piece exploring an aspect of two texts (1500-2000 words). The second will be the application of an aspect of pre-released critical anthology to a literary text (1200-1500 words).

GCSE English

At post 16 we offer a one-year Connect course in English. English Literature is not available on thisr course.

We aim to build on the skills you acquired in Years 10 and 11 and to fine tune these to the best possible level in the limited time available.

You will be required to have a high level of commitment and you must be able to meet tight deadlines .

The G.C.S.E. courses at Castle is rigorous and the pace is brisk. Students are encouraged to work more independently and take a greater responsibility in the production of homework.

If you narrowly missed getting a C grade November is the optimum time to re-sit G.C.S.E. English. Written coursework is carried forward and you will sit two exams, one of which is based on the Anthology. There is a further opportunity to re-sit in the Summer.

If you are considering a November re-sit, you must see Dr Parsons, Key Stage 5 English Co-ordinator, before you make your final decision.

CONNECT ENGLISH

You must produce four pieces of coursework in a folder, which will constitute 20% of the final grade:

Media
Original Writing
Prose Study
Shakespeare

You will also take part in a range of assessed speaking and listening activities, which will constitute 20% of final grade.

Final examinations will take place in the summer and will constitute 60% of the marks.