English Language

AS and A2

Which English to study?

Course Structure

Unit 1 – examination 2 hours

Categorising Texts

60% total AS marks

30% total A2 marks

Unit 2 - coursework

Creating Texts

40% total AS marks

20% total A2 marks

Unit 3 - examination 2 ½ hours

Developing Language

30% total A Level marks

Unit 4 – coursework

Investigating Language

20% total A Level marks

Unit 1 Section A: Categorising Texts

• ‘Big picture’ to detail• Frameworks - Systematic approach to analysing

any spoken or written text (pragmatics, discourse, grammar, lexis and semantics, phonology, graphology, morphology)

• Concepts: register, mode, idiolect, dialect, sociolect

• Link analysis to audience, purpose and context• Linguistic terminology• Grouping texts• A range of unseen texts from contemporary culture• Encourages students to think differently about

texts they see in the media every day.

Unit 1 Section B: Language and Social Contexts

• Explore how spoken and written texts reproduce ideas about cultural values and assumption

• One question from a choice of three.

• Texts provided for analysis for each question.

• Example question: ‘Comment on the representation of gender in text G’

Three topics will be studied:

• Language and Power• Language and

Gender• Language and

Technology

Unit 2: Creating Texts• Two pieces of original

writing for different audiences and purposes

• Commentaries• Freedom• Creative writing• Journalism skills• Independent study• Folder totals 1500 –

2500 words for original writing and two commentaries with combined word limit of 1000 words

• Writing to entertain

• Writing to persuade

• Writing to inform• Writing to advise /

instruct

Unit 3: Developing Language

Language Acquisition• Acquisition of speech• Stages of

development and social interaction

• Theories of language acquisition

• Reading development• Writing development• Data from children up

to age 10

Language Change• Historical

development - change over the last 5 centuries

• Change that is happening now – living language

• Socio-cultural causes of change

• Changes in style

Trips to infant and junior schools, Sheffield Archives and the cemetery!

Unit 4: Investigating Language

• Individual topics• Establish context and

method• Collect data• Apply knowledge of

frameworks in analysis

• Present material and findings coherently, using terminology appropriately

• 2000 – 2500 words• Develops

independent learning and research skills which will impress universities.

Past successful topics:

• Relationships between English and Portuguese

• Original language use in the television show, ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’

• Linguistic devices used by journalists to report a disaster, comparing how methods have changed over time

• Persuasive devices in travel brochures / night club flyers

• Comparing types of rap music• Slogans in the beverage industry• Interruptions in conversations

between men and women• Development of children’s writing

Unit 4 Part 2:The Media Text.

• In addition to the Investigation, students will be required write an informative media text, linked to the topic of their Investigation. This allows students to show their ability to adapt materials and write for different audiences.

• For example, an investigative topic of child language acquisition might lend itself to the production of a guide for new parents about how to understand and support their child’s early language development.