English Literature

Taught at The Westwood Academy & Kenilworth Sixth Form

Exam Board: AQA

Assessment Method: 80% Examination, 20% assessment.

Why Should I Follow This Course?

You should follow this course if you are curious about the world around you, have a love of reading and are interested in how historical context influences how and what people write and how and what they read. You will read a range of engaging and stimulating texts (both modern and classic) which you will then be able to analyse in the lively atmosphere of the classroom, where you will have the opportunity to put forward your interpretations of the texts and argue against the views of others. The course also has an excellent record of helping students move into higher education.

What Teaching and Learning Methods Will Be Used?

Literature is a subject that is often about opinions and personal interpretation, so there will be lots of opportunities for individual or group presentations as well as engaging in informal discussion. Teacher-led activities, bespoke resources, research projects and the use of ICT will all feature in this course. A range of resources from centres as diverse as the Imperial War Museum and the British Library will allow you to immerse yourself in the contextual factors that surround and shape the key texts: interactive museum trips, recordings of World War I survivors – even exploring how texts has influenced musicians and been adapted into film.

What Will I Learn?

The AQA English Literature A course is aimed at encouraging a critical approach not only to primary texts but also to context. In Year 12 we look at how writers have portrayed love over time and discuss how and if attitudes have changed. You will study two novels, a Shakespeare play and an anthology of poetry. In addition to understanding the impact of how the world around readers and writers influences the production and reception of texts, you will explore a range of theoretical perspectives to enrich your appreciation of the text. In year 13, you will look at the literature of World War One, both contemporary and modern. Three texts, covering poetry, prose and drama, will be studied. Whilst certain texts are fixed components of the course, there is also a coursework element. This involves a comparison of two texts. In the past, we have studied one of these texts in class, with the second text being chosen by the student.

Where Will This Qualification Take Me?

The course will help you hone your critical thinking, writing, analytical and communication skills. English literature is therefore an A level valued by all manner of professions; English literature A level students are well prepared for careers in journalism, the media, the law, writing, publishing or teaching among other fields.

Entry Requirements:

GCSE English Language and Literature Grade 6.