English Language
What will I learn?
This course comprises four units completed over two years. In Year 12 you will analyse and investigate language, both spoken and written, from everyday sources and in many different contexts. You will also explore the vast array of different types of communication which go on in the world today and learn how these might be understood and grouped. You will learn how to construct texts at all levels of complexity as a basis for your own creative writing. In Year 13 you will carry out your own detailed investigation of language in an area of your own choice for your coursework assignment. You will also learn about the acquisition of language in young children and how this develops in their early years. Alongside this you will study the whole historical process of the way the English language has changed and consider its current use and how it might develop in the future.
(The AS is made up two units and can be completed in the first year.)
What are the entry requirements?
The school requires 5 A* - C in any subjects at GCSE. Students on this course should have a curiosity about literature and a willingness to partake and involve themselves enthusiastically in their studies.
How will I be assessed?
The AS Units:
UNIT 1 Categorising texts 30%. This is a two hour examination. There are two questions. One asks you to explore a variety of texts and note their similarities and differences. The other question asks you to analyse texts in their social contexts relating to gender, power or technology.
UNIT 2 Creating texts: coursework 20%. This is internally assessed coursework and involves you planning and writing two pieces of work which are of your own devising and which seek to persuade, entertain, instruct or inform. There is obviously huge scope for creative decision making by the student in this unit.
The A2 Units:
UNIT 3 Developing Language 30%. This is a two-and-half hour examination. You will answer one question on language acquisition amongst children and one question on the wider forces that bring about language change.
UNIT 4 Investigating Language: coursework 20%. This is an internally assessed 2500 to 3500 word folder which consists of two pieces of writing. One will be a language investigation into a language issue of your choice. This will involve you collecting and analysing data and coming to some judgements about what you have found. Also, you will produce a media text which will be based on your language investigation. We aim to offer maximum scope for student choice in this and in all of our coursework.
Future opportunities
This course is excellent preparation for university. Its mixture of formal academic and classroom based learning is coupled with the development of independent study and decision making. At university you might take an English Language degree or have access to the vast range of other related courses which couple English Language with many other subjects in joint honours degrees. The course might also be seen vocationally for those who wish to go into teaching or who wish to develop careers in journalism or the media. It has proved useful for those who have gone into advertising, too. Marketing and advertising also value the skills developed. It is one of the top subjects and will be appreciated on any Curriculum Vitae. Of course if you just want to achieve a good A level grade in an interesting subject this would be it.
Is there anything I need to know?
This is an ideal course for those who enjoy language issues and want to look at them in an objective and critical manner. It is ideal, too, for those wanting to learn the skills needed to write brilliantly in almost any genre. A whole 40% of the final mark is based upon coursework and the teachers at Driffield are highly skilled at supporting students in their own choice of topic for this coursework.
