| Exam Board | Specification | Title | Head of Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | 7707 | A Level English Language and Literature | Mrs M Whibley |
Introduction
A-Level Literature is an accessible and stimulating course in which students engage creatively and independently with a variety of spoken, written and multi-modal texts.
Designed with a focus on the integration of language and literature, this specification enables students to see how linguistic and literary methods are related and to explore these links in their work.
Offering clear skills progression from GCSE, this course allows students to build on the skills and knowledge already gained and prepare for their next steps.
The variety of assessment styles used, such as re-creative writing, commentary writing, discursive essays and research-based investigative writing, allows students to develop a wide range of skills. These include the ability to read critically, analyse, evaluate, and undertake independent research, which are invaluable for both further study and future employment.
Aims of the Course
The aims of the course are to encourage students to develop their interest in and enjoyment of English as they:
- develop and apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation
- develop and apply their understanding of the concepts and methods appropriate for the analysis and study of language
- use linguistic and literary approaches in their reading and interpretation of texts, showing how the two disciplines can relate to each other
- engage creatively and critically with a wide range of texts
- explore the ways in which texts relate to each other and the contexts in which they are produced and received
- develop their skills as producers and interpreters of language
- develop their interest in and enjoyment of English as they undertake independent and sustained studies to develop their skills as producers and interpreters of language.
Assessment
Paper 1: Telling Stories
What’s assessed
- Remembered places – the representation of place
- Imagined worlds – point of view and genre in prose
- Poetic voices – the forms and functions of poetic voice
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Assessed
- Written exam: 3 hours
- 100 marks
- 40% of A-level
Paper 2: Exploring Conflict
What’s assessed
- Writing about society – the role of the individual in society, and re-creative writing based on set texts
- Critical commentary – evaluating own writing
- Dramatic encounters – conflict in drama
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 100 marks
- 40% of A-level
Non-examination Assessment: Making Connections
What’s assessed
- Making connections – investigation on a chosen theme and texts
- Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activity
Assessed
- Assessed by teachers
- Moderated by AQA
- 50 marks
- 20% of A-level
Next Steps
This A-Level encourages students to be critical analysts of the world around them. Students will be able to appreciate the construction of language and meaning in a plethora of texts, including prose, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. Students will become widely read in a range of different genres. This course provides students with the opportunity to complete independent study to university standards. Literature and Language are integrated on this course and thus students reap the benefits of gaining skills in investigative and theoretical discussion, suitable for a wealth of career paths.