Paper 1: Language Variation Section A of this unit explores how language is used to create identities or reflect on identity. The study will include an exploration of factors contributing to the reception of identity, including age, gender, and geography. Section B explores how language has changed over time. Students will develop their understanding of the factors contributing to the ways the English language has changed, including cultural, technological, and political influences, as well as standardization, borrowing, and archaisms. Paper 2: Child Language In this unit students will explore the development of both speech and writing in children between the ages of 0 and 8. Some of the features of child language to be explored will be how sound systems are acquired and developed (phonetics), how children understand the structure of words (morphology) and how meaning is understood in words (semantics). Paper 3: Investigating Language This unit allows students to develop their research and investigation skills into any of the following language topics: Global English; Language and Gender Identity; Language and Journalism; Language and Power; and Regional Language Variation. A subtopic will be pre-released in January for each of the five topic areas and should steer students’ research. Coursework: Students produce two pieces of coursework: firstly, two pieces of original writing in one particular genre, such as feature articles, journalist interviews or short stories; secondly, a commentary reflecting on the writing process. This coursework unit allows students to develop and experiment with their own creative writing styles, as well as fine-tune their knowledge of how text producers use language for their audience and purpose.