English

Members of Department:

Mrs M Kemp (PT Faculty)
Miss A Fraser
Mrs V MacInnes
A N Other (position to be filled)

COURSE INFORMATION

STANDARD GRADE

READING

This skill is developed through:
 

• reading for understanding and information
• reading for enjoyment and enrichment.

Pupils read fiction, drama, poetry, newspapers, magazines and other print sources and make regular use of the school library for borrowing and research. One half of the final reading Grade is achieved through the submission of a folio of best classwork to the Examination Board at the end of March in S4 and the other half of the reading Grade is achieved through external examination in May.

WRITING

Pupils are taught and encouraged:
 

• to write creatively, accurately and appropriately
• to express feelings and convey information precisely
• to redraft, edit and improve using the school word-processors when possible
• to write for real audiences and purposes.

One half of the final writing Grade is achieved through the submission of a folio of best classwork to the Examination Board at the end of March in S4 and the other half of the writing Grade is achieved through external examination in May.

TALKING AND LISTENING

The opportunity to develop talking and listening skills is present:
 

• formally in Public Speaking and Debating
• less formally in such activities as small group discussions.

The overall Grade achieved at the end of S4 is the result of internal and external assessment against nationally prescribed standards and is an average of the final Grades in talking, reading and writing. The talking Grade is awarded by the class teacher on the basis of continuous assessment over the two year course.

 

HIGHER

The Higher course is taken in one year.

Entry Levels: Standard Grade 1 or 2.

To undertake the work confidently, students should have a sound command of language - word classes, sentence structures, conventions of written language, variety of language - and a basic critical terminology for discussing prose, poetry and drama.

Aims

To develop more sophisticated language handling skills.
To broaden and refine linguistic, literary and media awareness.
To expand experience and knowledge.
To obtain aesthetic satisfaction.

Approach - Class teaching, group work and individual study, supported by teacher, to foster increasing independence.

Time - Minimum of 160 hours in school over the session plus regular weekly homework.

Component Units

Unit 1 - Language Study
Unit 2 - Literary Study
Unit 3 - Personal Study

Outline of Assessment Procedures

These are a mixture of internal and external procedures. All summative internal assessment except for talk assessments, are to ensure the achievement of a minimum grade C in the appropriate level. Failure to achieve a C will require reassessment in all or part of the LO. Repeated failure will result in reassignment to a different level. All pcs must be passed. The external examination will determine grades.

Language Study (H) 40 hours
LO1: Close Reading of Non-fiction Print Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
Close reading of one passage under controlled conditions. 1hour Close reading of two linked passages under examination conditions: 90 minutes; 50%
LO2: Expressive or Discursive or Creative Writing or Report
Internal Assessment
Piece of writing composed under controlled conditions.
Literary Study (H): 40 hours
LO3: Respond Critically to Imaginative Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
One Textual Analysis 45 mins Two Critical Essays: 90 minutes; 50%

Internal Assessment
Personal Study 1 Hour

 

INTERMEDIATE 2

Entry Level – Standard Grade 3

To undertake the work students should have a good command of language - word classes, sentence structures, conventions of written language, variety of language - and a basic critical terminology for discussing prose, poetry and drama.

Aims

To develop more sophisticated language handling skills.
To broaden and refine linguistic, literary and media awareness.
To expand experience and knowledge.
To obtain aesthetic satisfaction.

Approach - Class teaching, group work and individual study, supported by teacher, to foster increasing independence.

Time - Minimum of 160 hours in school over the session plus regular weekly homework.

Component Units

Unit 1 - Language Study
Unit 2 - Literary Study
Unit 3 – Personal Study

Outline of Assessment Procedures

These are a mixture of internal and external procedures. All summative internal assessment except for talk assessments, are to ensure the achievement of a minimum grade C in the appropriate level. Failure to achieve a C will require reassessment in all or part of the LO. Repeated failure will result in reassignment to a different level. All pcs must be passed. The external examination will determine grades.
Language Study (H) 40 hours
LO1: Close Reading of Non-fiction Print Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
Close reading one passage under controlled conditions. 1 hour Close reading of one passage under examination conditions: 1 hour; 50%
LO2: Expressive or Discursive or Creative Writing or Report
Internal Assessment
Piece of writing composed under controlled conditions.
Literary Study (H): 40 hours
LO3: Respond Critically to Imaginative Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
One Textural Analysis; 45 mins Two Critical Essays; 90 minutes; 50%

Internal Assessment
Personal Study – Literature; 1 hour

 

INTERMEDIATE 1

Entry Level: Standard Grade 4/5

Aims
To develop more language handling skills.
To extend linguistic, literary and media awareness.
To expand experience and knowledge.

Approach - Class teaching, group work and individual study, supported by teacher, to foster increasing independence.

Time - Minimum of 160 hours in school over the session plus regular weekly homework.

Component Units
Unit 1 - Language Study
Unit 2 - Literary Study
Unit 3 – Personal Study

Outline of Assessment Procedures

These are a mixture of internal and external procedures. All summative internal assessment except for talk assessments, are to ensure the achievement of a minimum grade C in the appropriate level. Failure to achieve a C will require reassessment in all or part of the LO. All pcs must be passed. The external examination will determine grades.
Language Study (H) 40 hours
LO1: Close Reading of Print Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
Close reading one passage under controlled conditions. Close reading of one passage under examination conditions: 45 mins 50%
LO2: Expressive or Discursive or Creative Writing or Report
Internal Assessment
Piece of writing composed under controlled conditions. .
Literary Study (H): 40 hours
LO3: Respond Critically to Imaginative Texts
Internal Assessment External Assessment
One Textual Analysis; 45 mins One Critical Essay: 45 mins 50%

Internal Assessment
Personal Study

 

SURVIVAL ENGLISH

Entry Level: Standard Grade 4/5

Aims
To enhance life skills

Approach – class etc

Time – 3 periods per week

Component Units – Practical writing skills
Job-seeking skills
Media issues

 

ADVANCED HIGHER

The Advanced Higher course is taken in one year.

Entry Level: Higher English, Grade A or B.

Course Structure

There are three component units of 40 hours each:

Unit 1: Personal Study. This unit is compulsory – between 3,500 – 4,500 words – to be
submitted by 30 April.

Students may then choose any two from the following options:

Unit 2: Language
Unit 3: Scottish Language
Unit 4: Literature
Unit 5: Scottish Literature
Unit 6: Textual Analysis
Unit 7: Reading the Media
Unit 8: Oral Communication
Unit 9: Creative Writing

Assessment is a combination of internal and external assessment.