KS5

AS (2 units)

LL1 30% 2½ hour Written Paper

• Critical Reading of Literary and Non-Literary Texts

Section A: Poetry pre-1900 (closed text) + unseen text

Choice 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 Assessment

Creative Writing

• 3 tasks (80 marks: 2 x 20; 1 x 40)

Two creative writing tasks and one commentary on both creative writing tasks

Suggested approaches for Creative writing in LL2:

• Literary approaches: opening chapters; short stories; re-working narratives e.g. fairy tales; play scripts; monologues/diaries/autobiography
• Non-literary approaches: travel writing; articles, reviews (although plagiarism can be an issue here), guides i.e. How to... or Rough guide to...; speeches (although teachers may choose to avoid using speeches for LL2 as they are an obvious text for performance and therefore may be more useful if kept back for LL3 in the A2 year). The tasks should allow for extended prose and the opportunity to show flair, originality and creativity.

Suggestions for the Commentary in LL2:

• It is important that the commentary begins with a brief overview paragraph which outlines the content, context, audience and purpose of both texts. Candidates should then go on to consider aspects of form and structure, grammar, lexis, imagery, sound and discourse.
• To encourage an analytical approach to the commentary writing, you should be posed a guiding question to answer, e.g. ‘Compare and contrast how crime is presented in your short story and newspaper article', or perhaps something more general, e.g. ‘Compare and contrast the impact on the audience of the stylistic choices you have made in your original pieces'. You should ensure that your analytical comments are focused on how meaning is conveyed, rather than simply listing or feature-spotting random points of comparison or contrast.

A LEVEL (the above plus a further 2 units)

LL3 20% Internal Assessment

80 marks

• Analysing and Producing Performance Texts

Section A: Dramatic texts in context

2 texts - one piece of extended writing (Shakespeare + one other) (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 Paper

80 marks

• Comparative Textual Analysis and Review

Section A: Comparative analysis of texts

3 unseen texts: one question (40 marks)

Section B: Reviewing approaches

1 text (poetry/prose - open text)

Choice of one from 6 questions. (40 marks)

Explanatory notes for LL3:

• You are required to produce a folder of work divided into two sections. For Section A you will study two dramatic texts, one of which must be Shakespeare, and for Section B you will write two original performance texts and evaluate one of them. The folder of work for this unit, as for LL2, should be approximately 3000 words.
• The Shakespeare text selected should be the focus of your detailed study, as this should be regarded as the ‘core' text. The second drama/performance text can be by any author other than Shakespeare, and from any time period. The focus of the study may be thematic or language specific, like the foci below:
• 1. Compare how language is used to establish power relationships in King Lear and Pinter's The Homecoming.
• 2. Compare and contrast how dramatists use linguistic and literary techniques to present magic in The Tempest and The Crucible.
• 3. By close analysis of linguistic and dramatic devices, explore how humour is used in both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead to present important themes.

Explanatory notes for LL4:

Section A: Comparative analysis of texts              

• In this part of the exam you will be required to answer one compulsory question in this section. The question will require you to produce a detailed comparative analysis of three unseen texts of different genres, chosen from a range of types and periods. The focus of the analysis will be provided in the question. In your response to the question, you are expected to select and apply relevant linguistic and literary approaches from your integrated studies across the course as a whole. (see terminology list)

Section B: Reviewing approaches

• In this part you are required to answer one question from a choice of six. Each question will require a piece of extended writing designed to allow you to reflect on insights gained from integrated linguistic and literary study across the whole A level course.
• The questions set will not be directly linked to the prescribed texts, but will invite discussion of aspects of integrated study which will involve detailed knowledge of these texts as well as comparative reference to other texts (literary/non-literary, spoken/written) studied in the course as a whole or selected for wider independent study. The selected prescribed text should be regarded as the ‘core' text, and will require sustained reference and more detailed discussion than the texts discussed for comparative reference.
• In order to make links across texts, you need to think about how the following perspectives are addressed in each text:
  • presentation of characters/people
  • themes e.g. family life, power, love
  • narrative technique
  • influence of contextual factors in the production and reception of texts
  • importance of setting/location
  • language variation according to time, place, context
  • different readers' or listeners' interpretations of individual texts.