The study of English Language will help you

Heanor Gate Science College
AS/A LEVEL ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The study of English
Language will help you
to understand how
t e x t s
a r e
constructed.
Each
text is an act of
communication with a
specific audience and
purpose.
Understanding
how
texts work helps you
to understand the
wor ld
a nd
th e
motivations of the
people in it.
Q: What do I need to
do AS or A Level
English Language?
A: Grade C or above in
English GCSE
Why study English
Language?
English Language study
is the gateway to many
exciting careers and
further
education
opportunities.
Whatever your chosen
path, from journalism
and politics to teaching
and
the
law,
communication is the
key to success.
The
study of written and
spoken
methods
of
communication at AS/A
level
is
the
ideal
foundation for a career
d e m a n d i n g
communication skills.
Course Content
The new AQA specification for English
Language allows the AS and A level courses
to be co-taught, which allows greater
flexibility to transfer between AS and A
level courses. Central to these courses is
the systematic study of spoken and written
texts. Students are given the opportunity to
build on their language skills by producing
their own original writing, conducting
research leading to a language investigation
and analysing real examples of speech and
writing from a range of everyday contexts.
AS Course
This course is assessed through 2 exam
papers, each worth 50% of the final grade and
both lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Paper 1 : Language and the Individual
Read 2 texts and analyse how language is used
in each text.
Paper 2 : Language Varieties
Section A - A discursive essay on language
diversity (e.g. gender, occupation), with a
choice of 2 questions. (30 marks).
Section B - A directed writing task (e.g. an
opinion article) on attitudes to language. (40
marks).
A Level Course
This course is assessed by 2 exams and 1
coursework folder. Each exam lasts 2 hours
and 30 minutes; they are each worth 40% of
the final grade. The coursework folder is
worth 20%.
Paper 1 : Language, the Individual and
Society.
Section A - Read 2 texts and analyse how
language is used in each text. (2 x 25 marks).
Compare and contrast how context affects
language use in these 2 texts. (20 marks).
Section B - Discursive essay on children’s
language development, with a choice of 2
questions on spoken, written or multi-modal
language. (30 marks)
Paper 2 : Language Diversity and Change
Section A - Choose one essay question
from two choices on language diversity (e.g.
gender/change). (30 marks)
Section B - Read 2 texts about language
diversity and change and answer 2
questions:
 An analytical response to how the texts
use language to present ideas, attitudes
and opinions.
 A directed writing task linked to the
same topic and the ideas in the texts.
Coursework Folder
Students are given a wide choice to allow
them to pursue individual interests. They
produce:
 A language investigation (2,000 words
excluding data)
 A piece of original writing and a
commentary (1500 words total)
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM STUDENTS
 Contribute to group discussion of a
range of written and spoken texts.
 Read critically and respond sensitively
to texts.
 Essays and extended writing.
 Meet coursework/class work and
homework deadlines.
 Read around the subject and apply
terminology to texts.
 Read related linguistic texts.