Thursday 9th September 2010

Welcome to AS Language & Literature

Success criteria:I understand the structure of the

course.I know what will be expected of me.I can identify the skills I will need to

succeed.

What Makes a Successful AS Student?

Conscientiousness Enthusiasm Determination Dedication Interest in the

subject Reflective practice Resourcefulness Punctuality Responsibility

Organisation Revision Commitment Wider reading Ability to study

independently Confidence Motivation Hard work Attendance

Which of these qualities do YOU need to develop?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURESUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT

This specification is divided into a total of 4 units, 2 AS units and 2 A2 units. Weightings noted below are expressed in terms of the full A level qualification.LL1 30% 2½ hour Written Paper80 marks (120 UMS)Critical Reading of Literary and Non-Literary TextsSection A: Poetry pre-1900 (closed text) + unseen textChoice of one from two questions (40 marks)Section B: Prose (open text)2 prose texts: choice of one from two questions (40 marks)

LL2 20% Internal Assessment80 marks (80 UMS)Creative Writing3 tasks (80 marks: 2 x 20; 1 x 40)• 2 creative writing tasks• commentary on both creative writing tasks

A LEVEL (the above plus a further 2 units)

LL3 20% Internal Assessment80 marks ( 80 UMS)Analysing and Producing Performance TextsSection A: Dramatic texts in context2 texts – one piece of extended writing (40 marks)Section B: Producing texts for performance• writing 2 original texts for performance• evaluating one of the texts. (40 marks)

LL4 30% 2½ hours Written Paper80 marks ( 120 UMS)Comparative Textual Analysis and ReviewSection A: Comparative analysis of texts3 unseen texts: one question (40 marks)Section B: Reviewing approaches1 text (poetry/prose – open text)Choice of one from 6 questions. (40 marks)

LL1Section A Poetry pre-1900 and unseen text (‘closed’ text)Relevant assessment objectives: AO1, AO2, AO3This section is based on the comparative analysis of two texts, one of which will be apoem from an anthology produced by WJEC. The anthology is a sample of poetryfrom the Early Modern English period to 1900. It is designed to introduce candidatesto the historical development of the English language, the rich heritage of writing inverse, as well as illustrating the variation of poetic content and style over time.Candidates will answer one question from a choice of two. The questions aredesigned to provide candidates with the opportunity to make connections between apoem from the anthology studied by the candidates and another text previouslyunseen by the candidate. The two texts will be linked in terms of content, theme orstyle, and candidates will be required to compare and contrast them, usingknowledge and skills gained from the integrated study of language and literature. Thepoem from the anthology will be printed on the paper. As this section of theexamination is ‘closed text’, candidates are not permitted to take a copy of theanthology into the examination.The relevant assessment objectives for this section expect candidates to:• select and apply relevant concepts and approaches from integrated linguistic and

literary study, using appropriate terminology and accurate, coherent writtenexpression (AO1);• demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in whichstructure, form and language shape meanings in a range of spoken and writtentexts (AO2);• use integrated approaches to explore relationships between texts, analysing andevaluating the significance of contextual factors in their production and reception

(AO3).

Section B Prose (‘open’ text - clean copies)Relevant assessment objectives: AO1, AO2, AO3

This section is based on candidates’ study of two prose texts from a prescribed list.

Candidates are required to study in depth one ‘core’ text and for wider reading a

‘partner’ text. Clean copies (no annotation) of the texts studied must be taken into

theexamination.Candidates are required to answer one out of a choice of two

questions on each textpairing. They will be expected to demonstrate their ability to read

closely a keypassage from a familiar text, using insights and approaches gained

from integratedlinguistic and literary study, and to relate the key passage in the

core text to the textas a whole (e.g. characterisation, plot, setting, themes or style), and

to their readingof the partner text.

LL2Creative Writing 40% (20%) Internal AssessmentThis coursework unit is internally assessed and externally moderated.The assessment is based on a folder of work of approximately 3,000 words,comprising three pieces in total, each of approximately 1,000 words. Candidates arerequired to produce:(a) one literary piece of original writing(b) one non-literary piece of original writing(c) one commentary on both pieces of original writing.In this unit, candidates are required to demonstrate the following skills:• use English appropriately, accurately and creatively for a variety of audiencesand purposes;• use a range of techniques to produce texts for different audiences and purposes,informed by wide reading and listening;• apply integrated linguistic and literary methods and concepts in the study ofspoken, written and multimodal texts;• identify and describe how meanings and effects are created and conveyed intexts;• compare and contrast texts, exploring relationships between them.Candidates will be expected to show knowledge and understanding of:• some of the key constituents of language and how they function in combination tomake meaning in spoken and written English;• how variations in language, form and context shape and change meanings inspeech and writing.The AS internal assessment unit provides candidates with opportunities to use arange of techniques in producing texts for different audiences and purposes,informed by wide reading. The writing tasks also allow candidates to developindependent creative approaches to the study of texts, most notably in Task (a).Candidates will be required to produce two separate pieces of original creativewriting, each of approximately 1000 words (less for verse). Each piece of writing isequally weighted.

Tasks:(a) One piece of writing must be literary, inspired by the candidate’s widerindependent reading.(b) The second piece must be non-literary: journalism, reviews, information texts,etc. (c) Candidates will be required to produce a commentary of approximately 1000words.The commentary formally assesses candidates’ understanding of their choices ofcontent, form, and style in both pieces of the original written work, making points ofcomparison and contrast between them.This task provides candidates with opportunities to:• identify and describe how meanings and effects are created and conveyed intheir own writing;• show knowledge and understanding of analytical approaches to the criticalstudy of texts, drawing on linguistic and literary methodologies and concepts;• show knowledge and understanding of how variations in language, form andcontext shape and change meanings in writing.The relevant assessment objectives for this task expect candidates to:• use integrated approaches to explore relationships between texts, analysing andevaluating the significance of contextual factors in their production and reception(AO3);• select and apply relevant concepts and approaches from integrated linguistic andliterary study, using appropriate terminology and accurate, coherent writtenexpression (AO1);• demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in whichstructure, form and language shape meanings in a range of spoken and writtentexts (AO2).