Course Live_AC_paperturn-3 - Flipbook - Page 28
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A Level
If you are interested in the English language itself
– how we use language for different purposes,
how speech differs from writing, and whether
gender makes a difference to language-use,
then this will be the right course for you. You will
explore a diverse range of topics, including how
we shape our identities according to our gender,
dialects, ethnicity/diversity & power, occupation
and class. As you do so, you will develop the
skills of analysis, grammar and writing. Students
also learn about how the English language has
evolved over the last 450 years and the ways in
which children acquire speech and literacy.
During the course, you will have the opportunity
to produce a variety of creative writing
coursework from opinion articles, reviews and
memoirs, worth 20% of the final grade. In the
second year, you also collect your own data
to undertake an Investigation unit, based on a
specific linguistic area.
COURSE CONTENT
UNIT 1: Exam Language Variation: 35%
The language of identity
Language change from 1550
UNIT 2: Exam Child Language: 20%
Speech or literacy development
UNIT 3: Exam Investigating
Language: 25%
Research project on a key topic: Gender/
Power/ Journalism/ Dialect/ World Englishes
UNIT 4: Coursework Crafting
Language: Creative writing: 20%
Two creative nonfiction texts & one
commentary
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
CAREER PATHWAYS
Standard Advanced Level entry
requirements
Our popular Creative Writing enrichment
class meets weekly and has produced
prize-winning and published writers. It is
open to anyone interested in creative work.
English Language students go on to take a
variety of degree courses, including English
Language and Linguistics, Journalism,
Education and Creative Writing. This
subject can lead to working in journalism,
PR, teaching, law, speech therapy and
any other career where the ability to
communicate and use language effectively
is valued. Other options available include:
Digital Copywriter, Editorial Assistant,
Teaching, English as a Foreign Language
Teacher and Web Content Manager,
Librarian, Advertising Account Executive,
Arts Administrator, Information Officer,
Public Relations Officer.
assessment
80% exam/ 20% coursework
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Written competence and accuracy;
speaking and communication skills; the
ability to structure and organise arguments;
widened vocabulary; improved use and
grasp of grammar; analysis of texts; drafting
and editing; IT skills.
Course trips have involved taster days at
local universities and visits to the British
Library and Dr Johnson’s house for
language change.
VA R N D E A N S I X T H F O R M C O L L E G E 2 0 2 6
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