AQA student guide. Why study. GCSE English?

Transcription

1 AQA student guide Why study GCSE English?

2 Why study GCSE English? English is invaluable for your future no matter what you are aiming for. A good command of the spoken and written word will help you every day and benefit all your other GCSEs too. Whatever you end up doing, English is a must have subject for college, university, work and life! From Architecture to Zoology, GCSE English will help you to: work independently be creative think critically communicate your ideas with confidence (handy when you re with your mates too!) think logically. Get your dream job GCSE English could help you land that dream job sports journalist lawyer film director public relations executive fashion journalist author newsreader politician actor architect creative director scriptwriter

3 English options either or GCSE English + GCSE English GCSE English Language Literature 2 GCSEs 1 GCSE GCSE English Language & GCSE English Literature GCSE English Language will allow you to demonstrate the use of English in real life, investigate how language is used and draw on your own experience. GCSE English Literature offers you the chance to study classic literature and some contemporary novels too. GCSE English Studying GCSE English gives you a combination of language and literature topics allowing you to demonstrate your use of English in real-life situations. GCSE Media Studies You may also have the option to study GCSE Media Studies as a single award (one GCSE) or as a double award (two GCSEs) alongside either GCSE English options.

4 What will I learn? Speaking and Listening learn these skills through discussions, presentations, and role playing. You could take part in a discussion on /talk about an issue such as bullying You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee Writing learn how to write for a specific audience or purpose to inform, persuade or take a viewpoint, as well as writing creatively. You could create a new twist on an old horror story or write a news article Reading discover how writers use their skills when writing fiction or non-fiction. You could use your new-found knowledge of writing structures and styles to analyse and review any book, past or present I already knew that words could take you into a new world, but I didn't know that on the strength of one word spoken for my ears only I would find myself in a room that no one else knew about. Mr Pip, Lloyd Jones

5 Spoken Language Study understand how people speak differently in different situations. You could investigate the role that new technology plays in altering the way we talk like MSN or text speak Poetry use the skills you have learnt to interpret poems. Poetry is about your personal response to a poem. You could experiment with writing your own poem Poetry is the best words in the best order. Samuel Taylor Coleridge Shakespeare and Literary Heritage understand the themes, ideas and characters and why these texts still have huge appeal today. You could act out one of the most famous roles in history like Macbeth. The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them. Samuel Butler

6 On your marks... English and English Language: Unit 1 exam 40% Unit 2 internally assessed 20% Unit 3 internally assessed 40% English Literature: Unit 1 exam 40% Unit 2 exam 35% Unit 3 internally assessed 25% Need help? Reach your full potential here are some sites full of information and resources that can help you with your English studies: This document is available online at aqa.org.uk/englishzone aqa.org.uk Copyright 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number ) and a registered charity (registered charity number ). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. MSD