English Combined

English Combined Summary

English Language and English Literature is considered a high-status academic subject and as such is looked upon favourably by employers and university admissions officers. Students who decide to study English Language and English Literature are able to show that they have a broad and varied skill set. Studying English Language and English Literature shows that you have excellent powers of analysis, exceptional communication skills and the ability to read and absorb significant amounts of information. In addition to these skills, a key skill you will develop is the ability to listen to the views of others (peers as well as literary critics) and use these to formulate and extend your own thinking. At Swanwick Hall we expect students who choose this subject to enjoy reading and discussing texts. Most lessons are discussion based and allow students to explore and interpret texts in an engaging and active way. We expect a high level of participation from students in lessons and we expect students to be proactive and independent in their approach to their learning. English Language and English Literature is taught by a team of highly skilled and experienced teachers all of whom have excellent subject knowledge, but even more importantly they have a genuine enjoyment of and passion for the subject, something naturally we are really keen to instil in students.  

Entry Requirements

Grade 6 or higher in English Language or English Literature

Course Duration

2 years full-time

Specification

AQA

How you will study

Our combined English Language and English Literature course allows you to see how linguistic and literary methods are related and to explore these links in your work. The variety of assessment styles used, such as recreative writing, commentary writing, discursive essays and research-based investigative writing, allows you to develop a wide range of skills. These include the ability to read critically, analyse, evaluate and undertake independent research, which are invaluable for both further study and future employment. We believe this course offers opportunities for you to develop your subject expertise by engaging creatively, critically and independently with a wide range of texts.  

Component breakdown

Paper 1 – Telling Stories – 40% – 3hr exam 

‘Telling Stories’ focuses on how and why stories are told, the ways in which writers and speakers present stories, and how language choices help to shape the representations of different worlds and perspectives. In this part of the course you will study: the AQA Anthology: Paris, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry.  

Paper 2 – Exploring Conflict – 40% – 2hr 30mins exam 

‘Exploring Conflict’ retains this focus on language choices but looks at how these choices help to construct ideas of conflict between people, and between people and their societies. In this unit you will study: The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. 

Non-Examined Assessment – Making Connections- 20% – internal assessment (externally moderated) 

‘Making Connections’ focuses on language use in different types of text and requires you to make active connections between a literary text and some non-literary material. For the purposes of this specification, literary texts are defined as those that are drawn from the three main literary genres of prose fiction, poetry and drama. ‘Non-literary’ is an overarching term which describes more than simply non-fiction. For this part of the course you will have the opportunity to make some of your own text choices. 

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