english

Why choose English at Carmel?English is one of the largest departments in the college offering a full range of courses whichwill allow you to develop your own specific enthusiasms and ideas. If you enjoy argument anddiscussion, it is invaluable in offering opportunities for engagement and debate. English is alively subject which will challenge your views, make you see things differently and possiblyeven change your life!

AS/A2 English LanguageAS/A2 English Literature

AS/A2 Combined English

WHAT WILL THE COURSEINVOLVE?

English Language is a popular A Levelappealing to students because it examinestexts in the real world such as adverts andnewspaper articles. In the AS year, you willlearn how to analyse language exploring arange of texts such as biographies, letters,adverts, journalism, speeches, leaflets,diaries and advice and guidance writing.The emphasis is on understanding how andwhy language is used in specific ways anddeveloping knowledge of key frameworkswhich will help you discuss the texts indepth. You will also learn about thedifferences between speech and writing.

The AS year will help you develop as awriter, practising genres such asmonologues, where you will create afictional “voice.” You will also learn tocomment on your own work and explainyour linguistic choices.

At A2, you will continue to develop yourunderstanding of key frameworks as well asstudying the development of the EnglishLanguage over time. This topic covershistorical, social and cultural aspects aswell as examining current attitudes towardsthe effects of new technology (text andemail) and English becoming a globallanguage. There is more focus on spokenlanguage and the gender, power andconversational theories associated withthis topic. You will also learn how childrenacquire speech.

In your coursework aspects, you will alsodevelop your writing and research skills.There is opportunity to pursue your ownspecific interest including creative writingsuch as an article for Marie Claire or Men’sHealth.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

In both AS and A2 years you will sit oneexam (worth 60%) and hand in a folder ofcoursework (worth 40%). Students will beexpected to complete drafts of theircoursework to ensure that only their bestwork is presented for assessment.

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AASS//AA22 English LanguageEXAM BOARD: WJEC

Where does an English course lead?English subjects are challenging, but are an excellent preparation both for university andyour future career.

Obvious careers include journalism, sales, teaching, management, administration,information management, publishing and careers in the public services.

What support will I receive?All staff in the department are there to enable you to achieve the best grades possible andyou can ask for help from any tutor. This is in addition to regular individual interviews withyour own specific teacher. Additional revision classes are held for all re-sits and we takepride in the level of support given to our students.

Making a point in the Debating Society.

BETH KELLY

Broadgreen

Studying: English Language, EnglishLiterature, Philosophy and Religion

The college environment at Carmelallows me to be more independent inmy approach to learning. Everyoneis really friendly here and the staff arevery supportive. What I like aboutstudying English Language is that itallows me to be both creative andanalytical. It has also provided mewith many different career prospectsand opportunities in highereducation. When I leave Carmel Iam going to study Journalism at theUniversity of Sheffield.

VICTORIA MARKSHead of English Language

ELAINE PEET English Tutor

MARK MCGRATHEnglish Tutor

HEATHER MOCKFORDEnglish Tutor

meet thestudentsmeet thestudents

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EXAM BOARD: AQA

What is the English Department like?There are seven tutors in the English Department all of whom teach the whole range ofcourses. There is an excellent library containing both traditional texts, but also the verybest of contemporary writing. The Department has a ‘book of the month’ programmegiving students the opportunity to enjoy the latest publications. We have comprehensive ITfacilities in the college and the English Department subscribes to a range of magazinesand on-line resources such as Pro-Quest and the Oxford English Dictionary.

What other activities do Englishstudents get involved in?The English Department offers the opportunity to be involved in theatre visits, trips toplaces of literary interest such as Howarth, study days on specific examination modules,workshops at Carmel on creative writing and examination preparation delivered by SeniorExaminers and conferences on English Language. You can also, through Enrichment, beinvolved in debating, personal creative writing, and the Classic Film Club.

WHAT WILL THE COURSEINVOLVE?

• “The Great Gatsby is a sordid tale of deception, adultery and murder.” How doyou respond to this view of the novel?

• Write about the importance of places in the telling of the narratives in three of the texts you have studied.

These are the kinds of questions that thiscourse will equip you to answer, and yearafter year our students produce fascinatingresponses. English Literature is achallenging course that will definitely stretchyour mind and widen your views, with acentral focus on comparing the ways inwhich different stories are told.

As the focus of the course is reading literarytexts of different genres and periods, adesire to read and explore ideas isessential. Lessons involve a variety ofactivities, but will always be challenging andenjoyable providing you are committed toyour studies.

There will be time spent on whole class andgroup discussion of ideas, attitudes, andtechniques in poems, plays, and novels,where your own ideas will be valued. Aswell as taking an active part in lessons weexpect students to undertake independentreading and research in order to developtheir thinking and study skills. This isexcellent preparation for university study.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

English Literature is assessed throughcoursework (worth 40%) and externalexamination (worth 60%) at both AS and A2Level.

“What is written without effort is ingeneral read without pleasure”

Samuel Johnston

AASS//AA22 English Literature

A2 Literature students enjoyed watchingThe Canterbury Tales.

JESSICA RAWLINSON

Wade Deacon

Studying: English Literature, EnglishLanguage, History, Mathematics,Critical Thinking

In English Literature I like studying awide range of poetry from differenttime periods, looking at theirhistorical relevance and how thepoets adopt this style of writing. AtCarmel there’s a really niceatmosphere and I always feelcomfortable asking for help if I needit. There are also great facilities andlots of opportunities available toeach student, depending on theirown individual needs. After CarmelI am hoping to either study Englishat Liverpool University or do adegree in Primary Education with anEnglish specialism.

JANET GATERHead of English Literature andCombined English

JUDITH VALEEnglish Tutor

LORRAINE DEVEREUXEnglish Tutor

HEATHER MOCKFORDEnglish Tutor

meet thestudentsmeet thestudents

meet the tutorsmeet the tutors

How successful are Carmel’s English students?Carmel’s English students achieve consistently high results across all three subjects:

Frequently Asked QuestionsIs there anything I should consider when choosing which English subject to take?

Students who know which specific English degree they are going to pursue shouldtake the same A Level course.

Students who are applying to Oxbridge or prestigious universities should check with the university's admissions team to see which English course is preferred as someprefer Literature.

WHAT WILL THE COURSEINVOLVE?

This course links the skills of both EnglishLanguage and English Literature study. Itwill appeal to students who have enjoyedboth aspects of GCSE and who wish tocontinue a broader and more in-depth approach. In your first year you willexplore voice in both speech and writing.You will look at a range of short literary andnon-literary texts and will also focus on amodern selection of short stories by AngelaCarter. You will discuss a drama text and apiece of prose and use these as a stimulusfor creative coursework.

In the second year, there will be theopportunity to work on a more creativeapproach to writing, read drama texts froma range of periods and further yourunderstanding and enjoyment of a range ofgenres.

As with the other English courses, there is astrong focus on group work and individualresponse. Combined English studentsdevelop a confident and well informedunderstanding of language and literaturewhich is of benefit to them in their futurestudies.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Combined English is assessed throughcoursework (worth 40%) and externalexamination (worth 60%) at both AS and A2Level.

“READING A BOOK IS LIKE RE-WRITING YOURSELF”

Angela Carter

AASS//AA22 Combined English EXAM BOARD: EDEXCEL

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ENGLISH LITERATURE

COMBINED ENGLISH

2008

A2 AS

100% 99%

100% 97%

100% 100%

2009

A2 AS

100% 100%

100% 99%

100% 100%

2010

A2 AS

100% 100%

100% 98%

100% 98%

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EXAM RESULTSmoreinformationmoreinformationThe Exam Board websites containdetails of the full coursespecifications:

English Language:

www.wjec.co.uk

English Literature:

www.aqa.org.uk

Combined English:

www.edexcel.com

BEN SAYAH

Rainford High

Studying: Combined English,French, Maths, Music

I enjoy Combined English becauseit encourages me to think for myselfas well as helping me to understandand appreciate more books. Thereare also opportunities to go on tripsto the theatre with the Englishdepartment which are really helpfulfor exams. Carmel is a great placeto study as you are treated like anadult and there’s lots of freedom.Also, the tutors are really dedicatedto helping the students.

Combined English students enjoyed atheatre trip to see All My Sons.