Welcome to the Sixth Form English Department!

Transcription

1 enough women nation Welcome to the Sixth Form English Department! This booklet will provide you with an overview of your new course and details of an Induction Task to be completed over the summer. Please have a good look through it so that you know what to expect in September

2 English Language AS Level In your AS year you will complete two units: Paper 1 Language and the Individual is worth 50% of the AS marks Paper 2 Language Varieties is worth 50% of the AS marks There is NO coursework component at AS level. For more information, go to Here you will find a detailed breakdown of the course. Make sure you look for the Specification for teaching from 2015, examined in Paper 1: Language and the Individual The aim here is to introduce you to the many ways of looking at language in use, both spoken and written. This is very different from how it is done at GCSE. You will use new methods of language analysis to explore audience, purpose, genre, mode and representation. This will involve analysing and investigating a variety of texts taken from everyday sources. These methods are called Language Levels The following areas of language form the basis of study: 1. Phonetics, phonology and prosodics (How speech sounds and effects are labelled and analysed) 2. Graphology (The visual aspects of texts)

3 3. Lexis and Semantics (Vocabulary and meanings) 4. Grammar and syntax (How language is organised at sentence, clause, phrase and word level) 5. Pragmatics (Context and implied meanings) 6. Discourse (How longer stretches of communication are organised in a variety of modes and contexts) Text Variations and Representations From recipes to facebook chat; from blogs to short stories, here you study a WIDE RANGE OF TEXTS about various subjects, from various writers and speakers in a variety of MODES (written, spoken and electronic). You will: Explore how language is shaped by audience, purpose, genre and mode; Explore how language is shaped by context Explore how it is used to construct meanings and Representations Epxlore how language is used to enact relationships between participants, writers, speakers and audiences. What is in the exam? The exam is 1 hour 30 minutes. You will be given two UNSEEN texts to study and a three-part essay question to answer. You are assessed on Textual Variations and Representations and you are expected to employ the Methods of Language Analysis (Language Levels) Paper 2: Language Varieties The aim of this paper is to allow the students to explore how language VARIES according to the social or geographical context This section covers three broad topics: Language Diversity Writing Skills Language Levels

4 Language Diversity: This includes the study of low language VARIES according to: Social group Ethnic group Gender Sexuality Regional /Geographical factors Occupation You will study both how these groups use language differently and how these groups are represented through language. You will study a range of examples of language in use and research data in order to inform your study. Examples of the topics covered are below: Language and Power This topic looks at how power is represented in speech and writing, for example in official documents, media texts, advice leaflets etc. You will also study the ways participants in interactions position themselves and others, for example in interviews, debates, consultations, speeches etc. Language and Gender You will study how gender is represented and reproduced in the everyday texts that surround us, such as advertising, fiction etc. How does gender affect the way we use language in mixed or single sex interactions?

5 Writing Skills This paper also tests two different types of writing skills: The discursive academic essay and original writing. The latter task will test your journalistic and creative skills. What is in the exam? The exam is 1 hour 30 minutes. It is worth 70 marks which is 50% of the AS. Section A: A Discursive essay on language diversity with a choice of two questions Section B: A directed writing task on attitudes to language. You are expected to employ the Methods of Language Analysis (Language Levels). They should be integrated into the activities.

6 Kit List In order to be prepared for your English A level, these are some things you ll need to have with you: Files/folders. You ll probably need two one for each teacher. You may also want to put some dividers in each and definitely some plastic wallets to store handouts, etc. Highlighters Fineline felt-tips for annotation Post its File paper Memory stick. You can store other students research and presentations this way, as well as your own. We will give you most of the books you will need including a course book but you may need to buy some texts, especially if you are making your own choices for coursework. These will all be things you can buy in paperback and often quite cheaply from Amazon or Abebooks. Most students like to use a lap-top for coursework and some students use them for their notes. (You don t NEED one).

7 SAMPLE TEXT: How is language used to represent this product in a particular way? Text G This is a card promoting a gallery. Source: HORNSEYS the gallery & Al Heighton (Artist)

8 Recommended Reading A-level English Language for AQA Student Book Authors: Marcello Giovanelli (Series Editor), Gary Ives, John Keen, Raj Rana, Rachel Rudman Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN-13: AS and A2 Study Guide Revision Express Alan Gardiner This one is really worth buying for yourself as it covers all topics for AS and A2. Rediscover Grammar David Crystal Your own copy of this will be really useful a recommended read over the summer, as a detailed knowledge of grammar is essential at A Level. The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language David Crystal Includes lots of fascinating stuff on all sorts of language related topics. Worth dipping into if you have a spare 5 minutes. Don t be put off by the size - it is very readable. Language and Society (Living Language series) Susan Cockroft Comprehensive coverage of major theories of language and social context. Recommended Websites E-magazine brilliant for exam preparation useful section on grammar postings of topical language debates and links to other useful sites covers all the basic topics

9 Expectations You will be expected to equip yourself for intelligent and active involvement in every lesson. You will be given homework from each teacher once a week. This could range from essay writing to shorter written tasks; research; or preparation for the next lesson. You should expect to work ONE HOUR in private study for every ONE HOUR lesson attended, i.e. 9 hours per fortnight. If you are unable to attend a lesson for any reason, it is vital that you explain your absence and catch up on the work you have missed. Induction Task Summer Scrapbook Pick a social or ethnic group e.g. Polish immigrant workers, travellers, City bankers OR an individual e.g. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kim Kardashian, Simon Cowell (!). Collect a series of 3-4 articles about these groups or individuals, using online archives or your own newspaper and magazine sources. Reflect on how language is used to represent these groups/individuals. Be ready to present your findings to the rest of the class in September

10 Examples of jobs where an English A Level would be useful Advertising account executive Advertising copywriter Arts administrator Librarian Writer Editorial assistant Marketing executive Journalist Press officer Public relations