English Literature

A brief description of the A level course.

Students are prepared for the OCR (Oxford and Cambridge Board) AS and A2 examinations in English Literature (AS 3828 and A2 7828).  Three units are taken in summer of the Lower Sixth, and three in June in the Upper Sixth.  There is the opportunity to re-sit certain AS units in January in the U6, should a student wish to try to raise his or her UMS score.

At both AS and A2 there is a strong emphasis on the importance of student response.  Teaching is centred on seminar discussion and takes for granted a strong interest in reading and a willingness to take the initiative in pursuing this interest.  Students who do not enjoy reading and taking part in discussion should not take this subject in the sixth form.  It should be noted that Advanced Level candidates are also expected to compare ‘different interpretations of literary texts’ (Assessment Objective 4); to show understanding of the context in which literary texts are written and understood (AO5i) and to evaluate the significance of cultural, historical and other contextual influences on literary texts and study (AO5ii).  These objectives will be implicit in much of the teaching throughout the course, but will be of particular importance in the ‘Comparative and Contextual Study (Synoptic)’ in the second year.

The six units are outlined below.  OCR’s web address is www.ocr.org.uk.

OCR ENGLISH LITERATURE AS/A LEVEL 2000 QCA Approved

1 AS     90 minutes       15%

DRAMA: SHAKESPEARE

Candidates select one play, and answer two questions: one passage –based and one essay.

(Closed text)

4 A2                     2 hrs                   15%

POETRY & DRAMA (Pre 1900)

Candidates answer two questions, one from each selection (A: Poetry; B: Drama).  At least one question must be on a text published pre-1770.

(Closed text)

2 AS    90 minutes       20%

POETRY & PROSE

Candidates answer two questions one on a poetry text, the second on prose.  At least one text must be be pre-1900.

Questions will require close study and critical appreciation of set passages from prepared texts.  In their answers candidates must discuss the set passages in relation to the text as a whole.

(Open text)

5 A2                                                15%

PROSE (post – 1914)

Internal Assessment (coursework)

OR

Open Text 2 hrs

Candidates study one or more prose texts not previously used in Units 2 or 3.

Internal: a folder (max. 3000 words) containing EITHER two items of writing OR an extended essay.

External: Candidates answer two questions, one passage-based and the other an essay, either on the same or on a different text.

3 AS                          15%

COMPLEMENTARY STUDY

Internal Assessment

A folder (guideline 1500-2000 words) containing two items of writing on a single text chosen by the candidate.

(This must be a fourth text, not one of the three previously studied for Unit 1 or 2.)

One item should focus on the text as a whole; the second should involve a close reading and critical discussion of a single selected passage.  (This may take the form of a re-creative response with commentary.)

6 A2          2 hrs (+15mins)             20%

COMPARATIVE AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY (Synoptic)

Candidates answer two questions on a single topic area (see below), one question from each section.

A: close study of an unseen passage or passages related to the set topic areas.

B: essay questions involving comparative and contextual study of at least two related texts.  Satire; Gothic Tradition; the Great War in British Literature; 20th century American Prose; Post-Colonial Literature. (Closed text)

15 minutes will be allowed for initialreading before the question paper is issued.

Mrs L. Lloyd-Jukes

R.S.

English Literature

History

Geography

Economics

Business Studies

Mathematics

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Latin

Classics

French

German

Art and Design

Design and Technology

Music and Music Technology

I.C.T.

PE and Sports Studies

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