You will explore texts in a more focused and detailed way than at GCSE, increasing your awareness of writers’ uses of language, tone, structure and form. The course also involves a more thorough study of the importance of the varied historical, social, cultural and literary contexts within which texts were written. You will be encouraged to build your critical vocabulary and deepen the level of your interpretations of, and responses to, literature. In order to achieve this, independent and wide reading of related texts and works of literary criticism will be essential.

Methods of Teaching

A variety of teaching and learning styles are employed, including whole class discussion, small group and paired work, research followed by feedback and presentations, homework essays and timed practice essays. In lessons, tutors will make regular reference to the four Assessment Objectives in order to emphasise the relevance and specific focus of the work in progress. The teaching style and emphasis throughout the course is on drawing ideas from students and making suggestions to help their understanding rather than on formal lecturing. Students will be encouraged to explore and question writers’ intentions and achievements rather than look for ‘answers’.

Assessment

AS
Unit 1: Poetry and Prose 1800 - 1945
2 hour closed book exam
Selected poems of Robert Browning and Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.

Unit 2: Literature post-1900 coursework
‘My Boy Jack’, a play by David Haig; ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, by George Orwell; and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, by Margaret Atwood.

A2
Unit 3: Drama and Poetry pre-1800
2 hour closed exam

Unit 4: Texts in Time coursework
3 further texts from any time period and from a range of genres. The actual texts to be studied will be decided later but will be linked by style and type.

What We Expect From You

You need to show enthusiasm for the subject and to enjoy reading challenging and stimulating literature. You should contribute to class discussion and small group work and thus develop your own opinions. You will need to have a grade B in either English or English Literature at GSCE in order to succeed at A level. You will need to organise your time well to allow for reading widely and for meeting assignment deadlines. Successful students of A level Literature are those who read widely for pleasure.

Future Prospects

The study of English Literature encourages the development of close reading and analytical skills and so is a valuable course to go with many other A levels, regardless of your university or future career intentions. Those students who go on to study English at university might well be looking for a career in journalism, teaching, management or research.