Thursday 9 th September 2010 Welcome to AS Language & Literature Success criteria: I understand the structure of the course. I know what will be expected of me. I can identify the skills I will need to succeed.

What Makes a Successful AS Student? Conscientiousness Enthusiasm Determination Dedication Interest in the subject Reflective practice Resourcefulness Punctuality Responsibility Organisation Revision Commitment Wider reading Ability to study independently Confidence Motivation Hard work Attendance Which of these qualities do YOU need to develop?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT This specification is divided into a total of 4 units, 2 AS units and 2 A2 units. Weightings noted below are expressed in terms of the full A level qualification. LL1 30% 2½ hour Written Paper 80 marks (120 UMS) Critical Reading of Literary and Non-Literary Texts Section A: Poetry pre-1900 (closed text) + unseen text Choice of one from two questions (40 marks) Section B: Prose (open text) 2 prose texts: choice of one from two questions (40 marks) LL2 20% Internal Assessment 80 marks (80 UMS) Creative Writing 3 tasks (80 marks: 2 x 20; 1 x 40) 2 creative writing tasks commentary on both creative writing tasks

A LEVEL (the above plus a further 2 units) LL320% Internal Assessment 80 marks ( 80 UMS) Analysing and Producing Performance Texts Section A: Dramatic texts in context 2 texts – one piece of extended writing (40 marks) Section B: Producing texts for performance writing 2 original texts for performance evaluating one of the texts. (40 marks) LL4 30% 2½ hours Written Paper 80 marks ( 120 UMS) Comparative Textual Analysis and Review Section A: Comparative analysis of texts 3 unseen texts: one question (40 marks) Section B: Reviewing approaches 1 text (poetry/prose – open text) Choice of one from 6 questions. (40 marks)

LL1 Section A Poetry pre-1900 and unseen text (‘closed’ text) Relevant assessment objectives: AO1, AO2, AO3 This section is based on the comparative analysis of two texts, one of which will be a poem from an anthology produced by WJEC. The anthology is a sample of poetry from the Early Modern English period to It is designed to introduce candidates to the historical development of the English language, the rich heritage of writing in verse, as well as illustrating the variation of poetic content and style over time. Candidates will answer one question from a choice of two. The questions are designed to provide candidates with the opportunity to make connections between a poem from the anthology studied by the candidates and another text previously unseen by the candidate. The two texts will be linked in terms of content, theme or style, and candidates will be required to compare and contrast them, using knowledge and skills gained from the integrated study of language and literature. The poem from the anthology will be printed on the paper. As this section of the examination is ‘closed text’, candidates are not permitted to take a copy of the anthology into the examination. The relevant assessment objectives for this section expect candidates to: select and apply relevant concepts and approaches from integrated linguistic and literary study, using appropriate terminology and accurate, coherent written expression (AO1); demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings in a range of spoken and written texts (AO2); use integrated approaches to explore relationships between texts, analysing and evaluating the significance of contextual factors in their production and reception (AO3).

Section B Prose (‘open’ text - clean copies) Relevant assessment objectives: AO1, AO2, AO3 This section is based on candidates’ study of two prose texts from a prescribed list. Candidates are required to study in depth one ‘core’ text and for wider reading a ‘partner’ text. Clean copies (no annotation) of the texts studied must be taken into the examination. Candidates are required to answer one out of a choice of two questions on each text pairing. They will be expected to demonstrate their ability to read closely a key passage from a familiar text, using insights and approaches gained from integrated linguistic and literary study, and to relate the key passage in the core text to the text as a whole (e.g. characterisation, plot, setting, themes or style), and to their reading of the partner text.

LL2 Creative Writing 40% (20%)Internal Assessment This coursework unit is internally assessed and externally moderated. The assessment is based on a folder of work of approximately 3,000 words, comprising three pieces in total, each of approximately 1,000 words. Candidates are required to produce: (a) one literary piece of original writing (b) one non-literary piece of original writing (c) one commentary on both pieces of original writing. In this unit, candidates are required to demonstrate the following skills: use English appropriately, accurately and creatively for a variety of audiences and purposes; use a range of techniques to produce texts for different audiences and purposes, informed by wide reading and listening; apply integrated linguistic and literary methods and concepts in the study of spoken, written and multimodal texts; identify and describe how meanings and effects are created and conveyed in texts; compare and contrast texts, exploring relationships between them. Candidates will be expected to show knowledge and understanding of: some of the key constituents of language and how they function in combination to make meaning in spoken and written English; how variations in language, form and context shape and change meanings in speech and writing. The AS internal assessment unit provides candidates with opportunities to use a range of techniques in producing texts for different audiences and purposes, informed by wide reading. The writing tasks also allow candidates to develop independent creative approaches to the study of texts, most notably in Task (a). Candidates will be required to produce two separate pieces of original creative writing, each of approximately 1000 words (less for verse). Each piece of writing is equally weighted.

Tasks: (a) One piece of writing must be literary, inspired by the candidate’s wider independent reading. (b) The second piece must be non-literary: journalism, reviews, information texts, etc. (c) Candidates will be required to produce a commentary of approximately 1000 words. The commentary formally assesses candidates’ understanding of their choices of content, form, and style in both pieces of the original written work, making points of comparison and contrast between them. This task provides candidates with opportunities to: identify and describe how meanings and effects are created and conveyed in their own writing; show knowledge and understanding of analytical approaches to the critical study of texts, drawing on linguistic and literary methodologies and concepts; show knowledge and understanding of how variations in language, form and context shape and change meanings in writing. The relevant assessment objectives for this task expect candidates to: use integrated approaches to explore relationships between texts, analysing and evaluating the significance of contextual factors in their production and reception (AO3); select and apply relevant concepts and approaches from integrated linguistic and literary study, using appropriate terminology and accurate, coherent written expression (AO1); demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings in a range of spoken and written texts (AO2).