A Level English Language & Literature

Unit 1 – Voices in Speech and Writing

This component has an explicit focus on the concept of ‘voice’. You will study how spoken voices are formed and written voices created in literary, non-literary and digital texts. You will study a range of texts from an anthology of non-fiction and non-literary genres and learn how to critically analyse these texts by comparing them with other, unseen, examples. As part of this unit you will also study the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. As well as learning terms to help you approach the analysis of language and literature, you will also explore the conventions and characteristics of these two genres and look at the significance and influence of the contexts in which texts were produced and received. As a result, you will learn from other disciplines in the course of your A Level – such as History, Philosophy and Sociology.

Unit 2 Varieties in Language and Literature

This component focuses on the ways in which different writers convey their thoughts or ideas towards a theme in literary texts. We will be focusing on the theme of ‘Society and the Individual’ and the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the poetry of Philip Larkin from The Whitsun Weddings. Your understanding of how writers use language techniques and literary devices to craft their pieces and communicate ideas or issues will be developed in this module – as well as your understanding of the historical and social context in which this literature was written.

Unit 3 – Investigating and Creating Texts (Coursework – worth 20% of A Level grade)

This exciting module allows you to express your creative writing skills through the production of two pieces of writing which have been inspired by your wider reading. You will submit one piece of fiction writing and one piece of creative non-fiction writing. You will then write one analytical commentary reflecting on your studied texts and the pieces of writing you have produced.