English Literature
Shoreham Academy - West Sussex
01273274100
Kingston Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6YT
Course summary

Drama: Othello (William Shakespeare) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Tennessee Williams) Study of both dramatic texts to include critique and analysis of the dramatic intentions of the playwright. Contextual research and understanding. A focus on the Tragic (genre). We start with this so that students can build on their prior attainment with the Shakespeare text at GCSE, and can then elevate their thoughts to the higher analytical standard required. Poetry: Poetry of the Decade (anthology) and The Romantics (chosen works) Comparative analysis of poems from modern writers, both known and unseen. A study of ‘The Romantics’ as a movement in which we explore a wide range of poetry, and consider the impact that Romantic ideals had on this poetry. This is studied in the first year to embed and develop skills of analysis which are vital for success at A Level. Additionally, there is a high volume of poems that need to be covered so ample time is required. Prose: Beloved (Toni Morrison) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde). Comparative study of the two texts based on thematic links. Students will develop an in-depth knowledge of both texts and the context in which they were written. These texts are studied in the second year due to their complexity. Moreover, this structure allows time for students to read both texts over the summer holidays.

Entry requirements

Grade 5 in English Literature and Language GCSE.

How you'll be assessed

We are an Edexcel centre, and there are three external exams at the end of the two year course. All exams are open book (excluding the Critical Anthology for Shakespeare): Drama: One exam lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes in which students write two essay responses (one on Othello and another on A Streetcar Named Desire). This is 30% of the qualification. Prose: One exam lasting 1 hour in which students write a comparative essay on Beloved and Picture of Dorian Gray. This is worth 20% of the qualification. Poetry: An exam lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes in which students write one comparative essay on Modern Poetry, and one essay on Romantic poetry. This is worth 30% of the qualification. Coursework essay: A comparative essay of 3000 words, to be completed towards the end of first year of the course. This is worth 20% of the qualification.

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionSouth East
Local AuthorityWest Sussex
Ofsted RatingOutstanding
Gender TypeCo-Educational
AddressKingston Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6YT