A Level English Literature
COURSE oVERVIEW
From Shakespeare to John Donne to Kazuo Ishiguro, English literature at Blackpool Sixth allows you to study both classic and contemporary works of prose, poetry and drama.
EXAMINATION BOARD: Pearson
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Grade 5 in GCSE English Literature is preferred but a student with a grade 4 who has a genuine enthusiasm for the subject will be considered.
Why study A Level English Literature at Blackpool Sixth?
Your study of literature will be enhanced by thought-provoking visits by writers and poets, and by taking part in our exciting trips to places such as Florence and London.
How will I be taught?
- Discussion
- Collaborative learning
- Analysis and evaluation of texts
- Essay writing
Teacher expertise
You will be taught by subject specialists who also hold senior roles at the examining board. Your teachers are passionate about literature and each have their own specialist subject areas.
What skills will I develop?
- Collaborative/team building skills
- How to structure, present and defend an argument
- How to use other people’s opinions to develop/counter and support your argument
- How to work individually and expand your knowledge of history, culture, art and literature
How will I be assessed?
20% coursework (3000 word essay) and 3 x examinations at the end of your 2nd year.
What will you study and other information about A Level English Literature
- What will I study?
- Component 1: Drama: Othello and The Duchess of Malfi
- Component 2: Prose: Comparison between Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go
- Component 3: Poetry: John Donne and a comparison between a poem from the Forward Book of Poetry anthology and an unseen poem.
- Component 4: A comparative essay on A Streetcar Named Desire and a text of your choice.
- Equipment and Financial contributions
You will need to have copies of each of the texts (your tutors will recommend versions throughout the year). We are also on the technology for learning scheme so you will need to have access to a device to enable you to work collaboratively in class and access a range of digital resources.
Students are required to purchase their own texts, approximate cost £30. The examination board required texts are:
- ‘Frankenstein’: Mary Shelley Penguin Classics
- ‘The Duchess of Malfi’: John Webster New Mermaids Edition
- ‘Never Let Me Go’: Kazuo Ishiguro Faber and Faber
- ‘Othello’: William Shakespeare Oxford School Shakespeare edition
- Selected poems: John Donne Penguin Classics
- Field trips, projects and employability opportunities
Past trips include visits to Florence, London, Manchester, Haworth and Lancaster to enrich our students experience of Literature. We also regularly welcome speakers from Universities and ex -students to inspire a love of the subject and support those who want to study it at university.
Over the last two years, we have made effective links with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Liverpool Moores University while continuing our links with Lancaster University, working with their tutors, extending our own academic experiences and aswell as gaining an introduction and developing an understanding of studying English at HE level.
Where does it lead?
Our students go on to pursue a range of career paths in areas such as teaching, marketing, publishing, Law and management. We have also had a number of students who have gone to Oxford, Cambridge and Yale as well as a range of other high ranking universities.