English Language & Literature - AS/A2 AQA Syllabus B
Why choose English Language and Literature?
In addition to developing your own writing skills for a range of audiences you will examine how writers and speakers use language in poetry, prose and drama, as well as travel writing, biography, conversation transcripts, media articles and other texts.
What can I expect to learn?
Students follow a unified course that combines language and literature and includes the study of prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction texts. You will study the same texts for both language and literature and will look at contemporary written and spoken English. You will explore different literary genres, produce your own creative writing and undertake independent research. You will develop the ability to create and sustain your own interpretations of texts and aspects of language and develop your literacy and communication skills.
The AS course covers the study of prose, poetry, drama and non-literary texts around a themed language production (writing for specific audiences/purposes). You will also compare set texts on a theme and produce a piece of creative writing based on the text.
The A2 course covers the study of spoken language including analysis of play scripts and transcripts of real life spoken situations and the transformation of two literary works into different genres.
Which subjects combine well with English Language and Literature?
There is a wide range of choice regarding subjects you can take alongside this course but often students will combine this choice with other subjects in the humanities and social sciences or with a foreign language.
Where does this lead? What can I do next?
English subjects are challenging, but are an excellent preparation both for university and your future career. Obvious careers include journalism, sales, teaching, management, administration, information management, publishing and careers in the public services.
What background or achievements do I need?
A minimum of a grade C in English Language and a grade C in English Literature are required though a grade B is preferred. Students should be keen readers and read widely, fiction and non-fiction.
"The difficulty with literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader but to affect him precisely as you wish."
Robert Louis Stevenson
