You will need to have already attained a grade C or better in both GCSE English and English Literature in order to gain entry to this course. Equally as important is that you need to enjoy reading books, since the study of prose, poetry and drama texts is at the heart of the course. You will have the opportunity to study both modern texts and texts from previous centuries and you will need an ability to analyse what you have read and to communicate your ideas effectively in writing.

What will I learn on the course?

The course will enable you to:

develop your interest and enjoyment of literature by reading widely;
gain an understanding of the traditions of English Literature;
gain an understanding of literature outside the UK;
communicate your response to a wide variety of texts and respond to texts of different types and periods;
make informed judgements on literary texts;
gain an understanding of cultural, historical and other influences on texts.

What kind of student is this course suitable for?

This course will appeal to students who:

have an interest in reading a wide variety of literature from the past and present;
enjoy expressing opinions and justifying their comments on literary texts;
enjoy studying a subject which is relevant to their own lives and experiences;
want to keep their options open for further study – English Literature is a popular qualification for a wide range of courses in higher education or for future careers.

How is the course at Theale organised?

The core of the course is the discussion, analysis and investigation of literary texts, led – but not dictated – by the teacher. It is emphatically not a course which simply involves sitting in lessons dutifully making notes, although notemaking is not unimportant. You will be encouraged to assume responsibility for your own learning. Often you will be asked to prepare a presentation and lead a discussion on a particular topic. Sometimes the class will split into smaller units to work.

You will be required to write essays every so often, some of them as coursework pieces. The course is intended to be stimulating and enjoyable, but at the same time rigorous, and students are expected and encouraged to develop their own ideas about literary texts. You will be taught in a small class of about 12-15 students and the teaching will be shared between two teachers.

In addition to classroom-based work, there will be opportunities to visit the theatre in London and Stratford. There is also a two-day residential course at Ufton Court, usually at some stage in the first term of the first year, involving visiting speakers and arrange of workshop activities.

What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?

Students are currently prepared for the AQA Specification in English Literature (AS 5741 and A 6741).

AS (Advanced Subsidiary) is a stepping-stone to the full A2 qualification. However, you can take AS on its own, if you and your teacher agree that this is best for you. You can even decide towards the end of the AS course whether to continue to take the full A2 qualification.

An As course consists of three units of assessment or modules:

Module 1 The Modern Novel 1 hour (AS 30%; A2 15%)

In this unit you will have to make a detailed study of one prescribed novel written in the second half of the twentieth century and will be required to answer one question on it. There will be a choice of questions but you will not be allowed access to your set text in the examination.

Module 2 Shakespeare (AS 30%; A2 15%)

This is an internally assessed coursework unit. You will have to study one play by Shakespeare and submit a coursework folder of approximately 2000 words.

Module 3 Texts in Context 2 hours (AS 30%; A2 15%)

In this unit you will have to study one poetry text and one drama text, one of which must have been written before 1900. You will be allowed to take your texts into the examination.

The full A2 qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units which are studied at a higher level. You do not necessarily have to take the full A2 qualification; you can still get a certificate for the AS, and your teacher will advise you on what is best. If you do decide to take the second half of the course it will cover the three units below.

Module 4 Texts in Time 2 hours (A2 15%)

In this unit you will study two set texts, one pre-1770 drama text, which might, for example, be a Shakespeare play and one pre-1900 poetry text, which is likely to be from the Romantic period. You will have to answer one question on each in the examination and you will not be allowed to have your texts with you.

Module 5 Literary Connexions (A2 15%)

This is an internally assessed coursework unit and for it you will study two texts for the purposes of comparison. One of the texts has to be prose and your coursework folder should consist of one essay totalling approximately 2000 words.

Module 6 Reading for Meaning 3 hours (A2 20%)

This is the so-called synoptic unit, in which you are expected to draw together many of the different skills and the knowledge and understanding you have gained during the course. The focus is on a specific area of literature and the examination consists of one compulsory question with several tasks based on a collection of unprepared material, including prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction.

What could I go on to do at the end of the course?

Students with AS or A level English Literature have a wide range of possible career and higher education options. You will learn and use a variety of transferable skills, including writing for a range of purposes, responding to literary texts, expressing informed and independent opinions and identifying and developing the links between different parts of the subject. Such skills are in demand by employers and universities and colleges, apart from being valuable in their own right.

English Literature can be studied as a single subject in higher education or can be combined with a number of other subjects. It could form a good basis for study in any arts subject combination, for instance, history, media studies, philosophy, law, politics or languages.

Many students may also use their qualification to go straight into employment rather than into higher education. A very wide range of occupations is open to students with an AS or A level in English Literature. This can include the opportunity to receive further training in areas such as journalism, the media or the law.

develop your interest and enjoyment of literature by reading widely;

have an interest in reading a wide variety of literature from the past and present;

AS (Advanced Subsidiary) is a stepping-stone to the full A2 qualification. However, you can take AS on its own, if you and your teacher agree that this is best for you. You can even decide towards the end of the AS course whether to continue to take the full A2 qualification.