English Language AS / A Level

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS / A LEVEL
At Scarborough Sixth Form College, English Language is available as a one year AS Level AQA English Language course, or we offer a two year A level English Language course. All students follow the same course in the first year.

What and how will I be studying?
Throughout the course you will be producing your own writing for different audiences and purposes. You will learn to write commentaries on your own work.

You will learn grammatical knowledge to enable you to describe and analyse texts.

You will investigate the different uses of language, both spoken and written.

AS
In year one you will begin by studying different varieties of language, and you will learn how to categorise and analyse texts. You will consider the ways in which language is used in society, looking at language and power, the different ways men and women use language and the language of ICT. Alongside this examined component you will be developing your own writing skills as you produce a folder of coursework containing writing in different genres for different audiences and purposes.

A2
At A2 you will build on and develop the knowledge and skills acquired at AS and you will be examined on two specific areas of language study; child language acquisition and language change. The coursework component of A2 consists of a piece of language investigation of your own choice and a piece of creative writing.

What skills will I need and be developing during the course?
You will need to read and write a lot. During the course you will write for a wide range of audiences and purposes and you will analyse texts closely to sort out what is actually going on when we speak to each other or communicate in writing or through technology.

How is the Course assessed? AS
: Module 1
: Categorising Texts
: 1.5 hour exam
: 60%
:
AS
: Module 2
: Creating Texts
: Coursework
: 40%
:
A2
: Module 3
: Developing Language
: 2 hour exam
: 60%
:
A2
: Module 4
: Investigating Language
: Coursework
: 40%
:
What career opportunities are there?
English does not equip you for a particular career but the range of skills you acquire gives you flexibility and opportunity. Many English students head for careers in business, marketing and promotions, personnel, administration, management, teaching, the caring professions and the media.

...and what else?
All students have the chance to attend study days, and during the A2 course, to be involved in a week's exchange visit to Ostersund in Sweden.