1. Year 12 and 13: What to expect, what is expected?
A’ level literature
Year 12 and 13: What to expect, what is expected?

2. Welcome to English a level!
With the person next to you, discuss and make a list:
What made you choose English Literature A’ level?
What are your expectations of English Literature A’ level?
What do you think is expected of you as an English Literature A’ level student?

3. What makes an excellent English literature a level student?

4. What texts will we be studying?

5. What are you assessed on?
AO1: Responding to the text; creating a focused, clear argument; writing clearly.
AO2: Exploring the ways in which language/form are used to create a sense of meaning/ tone/ message.
AO3: Exploring the ways in which the context (when and where it was written, what the social and historical background is) influenced the text; how it has been read/ received in different contexts since then.
AO4: Compare the texts
AO5: Use others’ ideas (such as critics) to inform your own (this is probably the only ‘new’ skill that you will be picking up).
We will talk you through the Assessment Objectives when studying each text.

6. What is the plan for this year? (year 12)
Autumn Term
Spring Term
Summer Term
Miss Gladwyn
Ariel by Sylvia Plath (coursework)
The Tempest
Frankenstein
Wider reading of Gothic texts
Mrs Huntley
An Ideal Husband
Comparative coursework on The History Boys and Atonement
The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale

7. What is the plan for Next year? (year 13)
Autumn Term
Spring Term
Summer Term
Miss Gladwyn
The Bloody Chamber (with comparisons to Frankenstein)
Revision of The Tempest
Revision of the Gothic
Ms Huntley
The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale
Gothic unseen.
Comparisons between An Ideal Husband and The Merchant’s Tale.
Gothic Unseen.

8. What will be in the exam? Paper 1 (drama and poetry pre-1900)
1 hr 15 mins (5-10 mins to plan each and 30 minutes to write)
Close analysis question:
AO2: 75%
AO1: 25%
The Tempest: one close analysis question (analyse lines); one whole text question (closed text).
Example:
Discuss the following passage from Act 2 Scene 2, exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatic effects.
‘Prospero is a victim of his own talent.’ Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, show how far you agree with this view of the character Prospero?
Worth 30 marks
Whole text question:
AO1: 50%
AO5: 50%

9. What will be in the exam? Paper 1
1 hr 15 mins (10 mins to plan, 1 hour to write and 5 minutes to check)
Comparison between “An Ideal Husband” and ‘The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale’: one comparative essay (closed text).
Example:
‘To embrace love is to embrace danger.’ In light of this view, discuss the writers’ treatment of the theme of love.
‘Forbidden pleasures are the best.’ In light of this view, consider ways in which writers portray consequences of pleasure.
Worth 30 marks
AO1: 12.5%
AO3: 50%
AO4: 25%
AO5: 12.5%

10. Worth 30 marks each (60 in total)
What will be in the exam? Paper 2 (comparative and contextual study – the gothic)
1 hr 15 mins (10 mins to plan, 1 hour to write and 5 minutes to check) each
One unseen passage from The Gothic Genre on which to write a commentary and one comparative essay to write, exploring themes and ideas in light of ‘The Bloody Chamber’ and ‘Frankenstein.’
Example:
Write a critical appreciation of this passage, relating your discussion to your reading of the Gothic.
b) ‘Innocence is often an important element in Gothic writing.’
Compare its uses and effects in The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories with those in at least one other text prescribed for this topic.
Part a)
AO1: 12.5%
AO2: 75%
AO3: 12.5%
Part b)
AO1: 12.5%
AO3: 50%
AO4: 25%
AO5: 12.5%

11. Worth 40 marks (20% of your final exam)
Coursework
One close reading or re-creative task based on Sylvia Plath’s Ariel;
One comparative task, focusing Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys
Questions for these will be released via Showbie/ The Learning Space before October half term.
First drafts will be due in after Christmas/ before February half term.
Close reading/ re-creative:
A02 – 67%
A01 – 33%
Comparative:
A01 – 20%
A02 – 20%
A03 – 20%
A04 – 20%
A05 – 20%
The whole folder cannot exceed 3000 words (1000 for the close reading/ re-creative and 2000 for the comparative)

12. Extra-curricular opportunities
LitSoc: Thursdays, 4pm, Library
A level support, stretch and challenge club: Tuesdays, 1pm, 611
Literature film club: as advertised by your teacher
Sixth Form Reading for Pleasure Club: Wednesday, 1pm, 611 (alternate weeks)
Sixth Form Debating: Thursday, 1pm, 611
Go to the theatre/ talks/ seminars etc at various locations (follow @SHSEnglishDept and see the co-curricular board outside MB11)
Check your MIS messages for weekly details.