English Literature

STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR ENGLISH LITERATURE

English students at Charters school will be prepared for and capable of communicating effectively in the modern world in order to achieve success. Through the study of literature, students will develop an appreciation for the writer’s craft and the skills required to express oneself clearly. An advanced vocabulary and a broad range of reading skills will further students’ abilities to communicate in a mature, coherent manner whilst appreciating alternative viewpoints and perspectives. The study of literature will further develop students’ analytical skills and also encourage them to appreciate the aesthetic and entertaining qualities of high calibre literary texts.

This means:

• They will be able to communicate effectively and confidently in both written and spoken tasks.
• They will enjoy an environment and culture where reading is encouraged and positively supported.
• They will appreciate a broad range of literature across genre, gender, time and culture.
• They will have a strong grasp of how to use a range of vocabulary to craft academic writing, with technical accuracy.
• They will develop an analytical approach to texts, allowing them to appreciate layers of meanings and themes.

SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM - ENGLISH LITERATURE

The aims of this course are to encourage learners to develop their interest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies as they read widely and independently both set texts and others that they have selected for themselves. They will engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them. They will also develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation in writing. Finally, they will explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them.

COURSE DETAILS

Component 1: Drama and poetry pre-1900

This component requires learners to study and respond to three texts, a Shakespeare play for section 1, as well as pre-1900 drama and poetry for section 2. Learners will demonstrate their appreciation of the significance of cultural and contextual influences on the writers, readers and/or audiences and be able to explore relationships between the chosen texts in section 2. This section requires learners to read texts in a variety of ways and respond critically and creatively, considering performance as well as critical reception.

Component 2: Comparative and contextual study 

This component requires learners to study two core texts within a topic area, for example, American Literature 1880–1940 or Dystopian literature. Learners are also required to read widely and independently in the chosen topic of study, becoming experts in the genre.

Component3: Literature post-1900 

The aim of this internally assessed component is to encourage individual study, interest and enjoyment of modern literature and for learners to develop an appreciation of how writers shape meanings in texts through use of language, imagery, form and structure. They will develop an understanding of texts informed by an appreciation of different interpretations. They will further develop an ability to explore connections across texts, such as stylistic, thematic or contextual links. Candidates will usually write a comparative analytical essay and a piece of recreative writing in the style of a particular author. They will choose an independent text as part of this assessment.

KEY STAGE 5 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The minimum entry requirements for Charters Sixth Form can be viewed here

EXAM BOARD: OCR

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