What kind of student would enjoy this course?
.The A-Level course will appeal to students with a love of reading. They will be challenged to analyse, engage and form personal and informed opinions on a range of texts through lively debate, research and discussion. They will be expected to read and engage with critical literary ideas on the books they study and for the Comparative section on American Literature there is a comprehensive reading list students will be expected to read independently
What will I study?
You will study literature from the past and present, from both this country and beyond including prose, poetry and drama.
Assessment for the A-Level is through both coursework and examination.
A minimum of eight texts will be studied including:
Exam 1: Section 1 : Shakespeare – ‘Measure for Measure’
Section 2: Drama and Poetry pre-1900
Drama: Ibsen – ‘A Doll’s House’
Poetry: Rossetti – Selected Poems
Exam 2: Comparative and contextual study in American Literature 1880–1940
F. Scott Fitzgerald – ‘The Great Gatsby’
John Steinbeck – ‘The Grapes of Wrath’
Coursework 1 (worth 8 % of the A Level) Carol Anne Duffy – A World’s Wife
Coursework 2 (worth 12 % of the A Level) A comparison between ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ by Muriel Sparks and The History Boys by Alan Bennett
What skills will I learn?
Your powers of communication will be enhanced by a study of English at this level. You will learn to express informed and independent opinions on a wide range of literary texts, to write in a variety of styles and to work collaboratively with others.
What could I do at the end of my course?
English Literature can be studied as a single subject in Higher Education or combined with others. An A-Level or degree in English Literature is highly valued and could lead to careers in journalism, media or law.