Why Should I Study This Subject?
English is a subject that opens doors to a wealth of lifelong skills such as written and spoken communication and working independently. It is a highly valued A Level to have and is universally respected by both universities and employers. Students of English Literature will find that the skills and experiences that they have on this course will be beneficial to their studies in other areas, as well as introduce them to some classic and contemporary literature.

What Will I Study?
This subject enables students to explore a wide range of drama, poetry and prose from past and present, our own and other cultures. You will respond to these texts in analytical and creative ways and will be assessed through coursework and exams. You will develop high quality communication skills and an ability to be creative and analytical. These skills are widely transferable for both higher education and employment.

Exam Board
AQA, further details can be found on the following website:
http://web.aqa.org.uk

What Can I do Next?
The AS course is divided into two modules.

Unit 1- LITB1: Aspects of Narrative
60% of AS, 30% of A level

Written paper: 2 hours. Open book. Four texts for study: two novels (at least one post 1990) and two poetry texts 1800-1945. The paper has two sections. Candidates answer one question from each section.

The aim of this unit is to introduce candidates to the central position of narrative in the ways in which literary texts work. The term narrative is taken in a broad sense here, involving many different aspects of literary representation, with particular focus on how narratives are constructed by authors, and the different ways in which they can be responded to by readers.

Unit 2 - LITB2: Dramatic Genres
40% of AS, 20% of A level
Coursework: A portfolio of two pieces of written coursework with each essay between 1200-1500 words.
The aim of this unit is to introduce candidates to aspects of genre. As used here, the term refers both to a type of text described by its form, in this case drama, and a further sub-categorisation by content and method. For at least the first three years of this specification the dramatic genre to be studied will be tragedy. This unit also addresses the compulsory requirement of the study of at least one Shakespeare play.

What Grades Will I Need?
8 GCSE grades A*- C. Students are required to have at least a B grade at GCSE to study English Literature at A Level.