SUBJECT AIM
The English literature GSCE course exposes students to a range of set texts which are engaging, popular and accessible. Students will experience texts written by a diverse range of writers and poets and will encompass poetry, prose and drama. The set texts studies are engaging, popular and suitable for all. The literature course develops a broad range of deep skills including: the ability to engage with and develop the ability to read and respond to a wide range of literary texts from around the world; the appreciation of the ways in which writers use literary effects and develop the skills needed for literary study; the ability to explore the writer’s use of language to create effects and find enjoyment in reading literature.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
Students will complete two pieces of coursework throughout year 10 and sit a final examination at the end of Year 11. The coursework is based on drama. The first piece explores characterization in the modern drama An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. The second piece of coursework is focused on literary heritage and students explore a theme throughout Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. For the final examination at the end of Year 11, students will practice their analysis skills on a range of unseen poems. In addition, they will learn a collection of anthology poems and the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in order to write focused essays based on unseen questions.
HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED
Students complete two pieces of coursework in Year 10, each piece is worth 20% of their final grade. In order to best prepare for their coursework student may submit one draft to their teacher and receive feedback before completing and submitting a final draft. The modern drama (An Inspector Calls) coursework should be 1000 -1400 words and the literary heritage (Romeo and Juliet) coursework should also be 1100 – 1400 words. As this is a linear GCSE course, students will also sit an examination paper at the end of Year 11. This paper is worth 60% of their final grade. Within the paper half of the marks are awarded analysis of unseen poetry, anthology poetry and prose (Of Mice and Men)
WHAT THIS SUBJECT CAN LEAD TO
- Media and journalism, publishing, law, public sector, teaching and education.
| Unit / Block of work | Key Episodes / Questions | Additional Detail | Length of time. | Learner Attribute(s) |
| Descriptive and Narrative Writing | How do writers use language and structure to engage their audience in a creative and imaginative way? | Aspects of descriptive and narrative writing: Sensory language, figurative language, pathetic fallacy, use of sentence structure and punctuation. Effective whole-text structural features to engage a reader. Examples from a wide range of fictional creative writing. Assessment: English Language Paper 1 Section B | 6 weeks | Risk-taker Communicator |
| Literary Non-Fiction | How do writers effectively use a range of methods to communicate their perspectives of different experiences? | Analysis and exploration of a range of literary non-fiction text types such as autobiographies, travel writing, letters. Understanding the use of descriptive techniques used in literary non-fiction texts. Assessment: English Language Paper 1 Section A | 6 weeks | Caring Thinker |
| Writing for Purpose and Audience | How do we change our choices as writers to meet different purposes and needs? | Exploring different non-fiction text types. Conventions of non-fiction writing. Practice writing for different puposes and audiences. Assessment: English Language Paper 2 Section B | 5 weeks | Balanced Communicator |
| Source-Based Reading | How do writers effectively convey different beliefs and ideas about modern global issues? | Exploration and analysis of how modern global issues are presented in different forms, in both fiction and non-fiction texts. Development of comparison skills and how writers present their ideas in similar or different ways. Assessment: English Language Paper 2 Section A | 5 weeks | Principled Open-minded |
| Exam Preparation | How do writers communicate their ideas in complex and sophisticated ways? | Revision of descriptive, narrative and discursive writing. Revision of different text types with a focus on literary non-fiction. Practice examination questions. Assessment: English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 iGCSE examinations | 10 weeks | Reflective Knowledgeable |
| People and Places Poetry | How are we connected to the world around us and how do poets convey the significance of different places in our lives? | Reading and understanding of Literature poetry anthology Poetic devices revision Analysis and annotation of poems Comparison skills Practice examination questions Assessment: English Literature Paper 2 Section A | 5 weeks | Inquirer Thinker |
| Unit / Block of work | Key Episodes / Questions | Additional Detail | Length of time. | Learner Attribute(s) |
| Of Mice and Men | How have different groups in society been marginalised throughout history? | Knowledge of the context of 1930s USA. Reading and understanding of the text. Analysis of key themes, methods and characters. Practice examination questions. Assessment: English Literature coursework | 7 weeks | Inquirer Thinker |
| To Kill A Mockingbird | To what extent are contextual factors essential to our understanding of a text and the writer’s choices? | Knowledge of the context of 1930s USA. Reading and understanding of the text. Analysis of key themes, methods and characters. Practice examination questions. Assessment: English Literature Paper 1 Section A | 10 weeks | Caring Open Minded |
| An Inspector Calls | To what extent do writer’s use their positions of power to influence change in society? | Knowledge of context of 1910s Britain Reading and studying of key moments in the text Analysis of characters Dramatic devices Assessment: English Literature Paper 1 Section B | 9 weeks | Principled Thinker |
| Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry | Has the passage of time changed the way poets express their ideas? | Reading and understanding of Literature poetry anthology Analysis and annotation of poems Comparison skills Practice examination questions Assessment: English Literature Paper 2 Section A and B | 4 weeks | Balanced Thinker Inquirer |
| Exam Preparation | How do writers communicate their ideas in complex and sophisticated ways? | Revision of poetry anthology Revision of To Kill a Mockingbird Revision of An Inspector Calls Exploration of unseen poetry Practice examination questions Assessment: English Literature iGCSE examinations | 3 weeks | Reflective Knowledgeable |