English Literature

Assessment

We follow AQA English Literature B and the course is as follows: Two exams – 80% of A Level One coursework unit – 20% of A Level Study of the three main literary genres: prose fiction, poetry and drama Unit 1 – ‘Aspects of Tragedy’ (2.5 hour exam) In this unit, students will study the key features of the tragic genre and learn how to apply them to a broad range of drama and poetry. Students will also learn how the genre has changed over time with a detailed analysis of the following texts: ‘Othello’ William Shakespeare ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller A selection of poetry by John Keats Unit 2 – Elements of Social and Political Protest Writing (3-hour exam) In this unit, students will study the key features of social and political protest writing and learn how to apply them to a broad range of poetry, prose, and drama. Students will also learn how writers respond to key contexts such as global politics, gender, race, and class through detailed analysis of the following texts: ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen and A selection of poetry by Tony Harrison Unit 3 – Theory and Independence (non-examined assessment) In this unit students have the opportunity to work independently on a project, but with guidance from their teacher. Students will produce a coursework folder consisting of two 1,200 – 1,500 word essays with texts and questions chosen by them. One essay will respond to a prose text and the other poetry. Students will study a range of critical approaches such as feminism, Marxism, and post-colonialism, and will choose an approach to use to write their essays.