1. Advanced Higher Modern Languages
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio

2. As part of your Advanced Higher you will have to prepare and submit to SQA a piece of writing of words in English, on a topic taken from Literature, Media texts, or Language in Work. This piece of writing will be worth 30 marks, or 15% of your final mark. You will also have to plan and research this, and write a report on your preparation as a Unit Assessment. It makes a lot of sense to do this planning in the language, as this will help you prepare for the visiting examiner.

3. The Portfolio 15% of your final mark
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Portfolio
15% of your final mark
words in English, unlimited time
one essay, from literature, media, or language in work
select the question carefully
structure
bibliography
plagiarism

4. one literary written text with another literary or factual text
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Portfolio
one literary written text with another literary or factual text
media and/or literary texts with a thematic link
a language in work context

5. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
you should discuss the choice of topic area with your teacher (in the TL)
you should have an input into the choice of title
you should have regular meetings to discuss progress, (in TL)
you should show your teacher the bibliography

6. what should guide you in your choices? what are your strengths?
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Portfolio
what should guide you in your choices?
what are your strengths?
who can help you?
where will you find resources?

7. text: a wide definition tackling the book choice and personalisation
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Portfolio
text: a wide definition
tackling the book
choice and personalisation
text or texts
film: advantages and disadvantages
always on a computer, double spacing

8. The Specialist Study should be linked to the Portfolio piece
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Specialist Study
should be linked to the Portfolio piece
is a piece of writing in English or the target language describing the processes you went through to prepare to write your Portfolio piece
describes how you chose the area
details your research and way-stages
explains your choice of material and title

9. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Literature
At least two of these texts should be in the language studied. One of them must be a written literary text, that is a novel, a drama or a collection of poems or short stories. The other could be a second literary text, a factual text related to the literary text such as a review, a biographical note or a text giving historical background, a documentary, newspaper or academic article, or it could be a film in the language studied.

10. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Literature
many literary texts have been translated into English, which might give you a head start in understanding the whole work, before you start going into detailed study of the studied text
many texts have been filmed, so you can watch the film early on to gain an overview, and perhaps compare the film version with the original as part of your portfolio
texts which relate to a precise historical context allow you to select other texts in the language and English which help explain the work, and allow you to have a clear idea of what is going on, and perhaps form the focus of your portfolio piece

11. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Media texts
A media-based analysis must use at least two sources in the language studied. One of them must be a media text, that is an article in a newspaper, magazine, a graphic novel, a film, radio or TV programme (or their script), a song or collection of songs, or a number of other possibilities from digital media! The other could be a second media text, a factual text related to the media text such as a review, a biographical note or a text giving historical background, a documentary, newspaper or academic article, or it could be a film in the language studied. At least one of the two or more sources must be a written text in the foreign language.

12. Media texts and literature: looking at a topic
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Media texts and literature: looking at a topic
analyse and compare one media or literary text and one or more related written text(s)
analyse the techniques used to convey meaning in a media or literary text(s)
analyse how nationality, class or gender is presented in a media or literary text
analyse and compare a film and a related novel
analyse the ways in which historical or cultural contexts have influenced or are evident in a media or literary text

13. The Specialist Study: selecting and analysing evidence
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Specialist Study: selecting and analysing evidence
What you decide to use will depend upon the precise focus you intend to use. For this, you have to have some idea of the title of your portfolio piece. This should be a title which permits an evaluative report. The SQA guidance refers to:
 an analytical/critical approach, with reasoned and relevant arguments
a consistent demonstration of an understanding of the focus of the study

14. The Specialist Study: presenting your evidence
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
The Specialist Study: presenting your evidence
If you have filled out the Specialist Study record, then you have all the evidence you need for your presentation. Discuss with your teacher which format they would like: a presentation and discussion, handing over your record along with copies of the resources you have identified, turning your recorded notes into a written report, or something else. Once you have done this, if your teacher is happy with your progress, you are ready to work on your portfolio. It might well be worthwhile having the presentation and discussion with your teacher on your Specialist Study in the language you are studying, as this will help you prepare for the oral assessment you will have with the visiting examiner.

15. Preparing for the visiting examiner
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Preparing for the visiting examiner
As part of your Advanced Higher, during February or March you will have a talk assessment with a visiting examiner. This talk assessment should last about 20 minutes, and will take the form of a conversation in the target language about the areas you have been studying this year. It is worth 50 marks, or 25% of your final mark.
Part of the conversation will be about your specialist study and possibly your portfolio work. You have to write the portfolio in English, but you are expected to work from target language texts, and also to discuss them in that language. It is worth getting used to having the regular discussions about your progress with your teacher in the target language, as this will help you prepare for the visiting examiner.

16. Success criteria: the portfolio
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Success criteria: the portfolio
Three main aspects of your portfolio piece of writing will be considered when it is marked.
Content: understanding, analysis
Style: use of critical terminology, quoting from sources
Organisation: coherence, structure, clarity

17. Success criteria: the portfolio
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Success criteria: the portfolio
Content: understanding, analysis
This means your work should take an analytical/critical approach, with reasoned and relevant arguments and demonstrate an understanding of the focus of the study. The arguments should be based on the media or literary texts, and explain why you are using the extracts you are. There should be a clear introduction, explaining what the focus of the writing is going to be. The arguments and any counterarguments should lead to a conclusion.

18. Success criteria: the portfolio
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Success criteria: the portfolio
Style: use of critical terminology, quoting from sources
The language should be formal and appropriate to the subject. If you have a Higher in English, think back to writing about literature in Critical Reading. It is important that you select relevant quotes (in the language!) from your texts and sources to support your arguments and that you explain their significance. You also must make sure to put in a bibliography, giving details of all the sources you worked from.

19. Success criteria: the portfolio
The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
Success criteria: the portfolio
Organisation: coherence, structure, clarity
Your work should be well structured, with an introduction, arguments backed up by evidence from the text and a reasoned conclusion with your opinions.
All of the work should be relevant to the title, it must not just be a bland report or recounting of what you have read or done, and it should be coherent throughout, following a series of arguments through to the end.

20. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
starting to write
choose a focus and a title which allows you to discuss two different points of view
do you agree or disagree with the question, or are both points of view valid?
collect arguments and evidence from the text and from the background texts you have looked at
select quotes from the text to help back up your argument and put together a plan, with an introduction, a series of arguments, counterarguments and a conclusion
decide which quotes you will use and where

21. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
starting to write
start your work electronically. This allows you to change things easily, to keep an eye on the word count, and to share it with others to get their opinions on what you are writing
always print with double spacing to allow comments and suggestions to be made easily. remember you can change your mind at any time: that could be on the wording of the question, or whether you think the text is successful or unsuccessful!
remember your bibliography (better a big one than a small one, so put down everything you consulted, whether it is quoted in your writing or not)

22. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio
starting to write
start your work electronically. This allows you to change things easily, to keep an eye on the word count, and to share it with others to get their opinions on what you are writing
always print with double spacing to allow comments and suggestions to be made easily. remember you can change your mind at any time: that could be on the wording of the question, or whether you think the text is successful or unsuccessful!
remember your bibliography (better a big one than a small one, so put down everything you consulted, whether it features in your writing or not)

23. The Specialist Study and the Portfolio

27. 1. 4 AH Spanish Portfolio and Specialist Study 1. 4
1.4 AH Spanish Portfolio and Specialist Study The Specialist Study: The choice between literature, media or language in work Portfolio and Specialist Study on Literature Starting your portfolio The Specialist Study: A literature study The Specialist Study: Selecting research methods The Specialist Study: Selecting and analysing evidence Word Count Success Criteria for Portfolio The Specialist Study: Presenting your evidence The Specialist Study and the portfolio: Preparing for the external examiner The Portfolio: Bibliography

28. Thank you
This presentation has been recorded and will be available to view at any time on the SCHOLAR website.
Next session is on Tuesday January 24th, on preparing for talking with the external examiner , for 45 minutes.