English Literature

 Grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Literature

This course allows students to study a wide range of poetry, drama and prose from a variety of eras.  They will be studying the poetry of Christina Rossetti, who writing in the Victorian era provoked much critical feminist interest, and also the poetry of star-crossed lovers Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, both hurt by the other and each writing about the other in their. They will also study Shakespeare’s moralistic playThe Tempest and Webster’s intriguingThe Duchess of Malfi as well as the more modern tragedy of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, which reveals the plight of a pitiful woman who loses her grip on reality when faced with the harsh consequences of life. Students will also be able to choose, depending upon their own interests and favourite authors, two prose texts to compare for their coursework. The course also has an unseen element.

This course has three exams: Poetry, Drama and Unseen Texts. The Poetry and the Unseen exams are open book, though the Drama exam is closed book. Students will sit all three exams at the end of Year 13. Over the course of the two years students will complete various timed essays and mocks in order for them to get a sense of what their final A-Level exam will be like and for them to be able to track their own progress and learn to perfect their written style.

This course also has a coursework element that is worth 20% of the overall A-Level. The coursework will be completed during the summer term of Year 12; students will be expected to have completed a first draft by July and then use the summer to perfect their final piece.

The ALPS results for English Literature at Samuel Ryder were outstanding with both the AS and the A2 course being graded a ‘2’. In addition 100% of the A2 cohort gained an A-C grade and 67% of that cohort gained A*-B. In addition, the English staff have selected this course because of their personal interest in the authors and texts that it allows them to teach.

All students must attend all lessons, hand in all work on time and show that they are engaged in lessons and making good progress. As this is a linear course studied over two years, students must show rigour with their note-taking and home-study, which will allow them to get excellent grades at the end of Year 13.

Publishing, journalism and teaching are to name but a few careers that English literature students go in to. However, this is an academic course that requires depth and breadth of study, thus all universities look favourably on students who have English Literature as one of their A-Levels.

An application form can be obtained from the Head of Sixth From h.potter@samuelryderacademy.co.uk. Once your application has been processed you will be invited to discuss your subject choices with the Head of Sixth Form.