We study the Edexcel English Language and Literature specification which allows you to:
•develop and apply knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation
•develop and apply understanding of the concepts and methods appropriate for the analysis and study of language
•engage creatively and critically with a wide range of texts, exploring the ways in which texts relate to each other and the contexts in which they are produced and received
Course Details
You will pursue the study of literature and language through
the study of a minimum of five texts from the genres of prose fiction, poetry, drama and non-literary texts.
Component 1: Voices in Speech and Writing
This component has a focus on the concept of ‘voice’ and
how voices are created in literary, non-literary and digital texts. The set text is A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. You will also study an anthology of non-literary and digital texts from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Component 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
The component focuses on the ways in which different writers
convey their thoughts or ideas on a theme in literary and nonfiction writing. You will study a minimum of two texts exploring the theme of Society and the Individual, as well as a range of non-fiction texts on the set theme in preparation for an unseen text in the examination. The set texts are The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and/or Othello by William Shakespeare and/or The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin.
Component 3: Coursework - Investigating and
Creating Texts
The coursework has been designed to allow you to
demonstrate your skills as a writer, crafting their own original texts for different audiences and purposes. You will study two texts that link to either the topic of The Struggle for Identity or War and Conflict to produce two creative assignments and
one analytical piece.
How will it be delivered and assessed?
Component 1: Written examination (40%)
Open book, 2 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes
Component 2: Written examination (40%)
Open book, 2 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes
Component 3: Coursework (20%)
Including two pieces of original writing and one analytical commentary (2500–3000 words in total)
Entry requirements
As this course builds on GCSE skills, you should have GCSE qualifications in English Language and English Literature of at least Grade 6 or above.
