English Literature

Assessment

Each of the principal literary genres (Poetry, Prose, Drama) is taught, with links identified between the texts studied. In Poetry, there will be the requirement to write about a prescribed pre-1900 anthology, a post-2000 poetry anthology, as well as ‘unseen’ poetry. One Shakespeare play will be taught – the chosen text will likely be one of the major tragedies, usually Othello. Also in Drama, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is studied. In Prose, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood are studied, and pupils are also expected to write about ‘unseen’ prose. There will be a mix of final written external examinations and a coursework component (Non-Examined Assessment, or NEA). The examinations will attract 80% of the marks, leaving 20% for the NEA. In the examinations and the coursework, there will be both ‘whole text’ and ‘close reading’ styled assignments. Pupils will also be expected to write comparatively about their chosen texts in coursework and of set texts in the examinations.