Course description
English Literature A Level
You will have the opportunity to study all aspects of English, analysing literary texts including novels, plays and poems.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Grade 6 in GCSE English (Either Language or Litrature)
Training Course Content
What you'll learn
Students studying English Literature at City of Oxford College will be following AQA English Literature specification A. This specification approaches literary study through exploration of texts that are thematically linked, in their different historical contexts.
The course is structured around two units, taught over the two-year A level course:
- Love through the Ages: Shakespeare, poetry and prose
- Texts in Shared Contexts: Modern Times, English literature post-1945
Studying English Literature, students will develop skill and confidence in their close reading of texts and in presenting their ideas in coherent, analytical writing. They will develop an understanding of literary texts in the contexts in which they were produced, and learn to think about the ways in which our contexts inform our responses to literature.
At AS, students will study F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Shakespeare's Othello and a collection of poetry written before 1900, from the AQA Anthology for this specification. At A2, students will re-visit these Love through the Ages texts, as well as studying prose, poetry and drama texts written since 1945: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood; A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams; and Skirrid Hill by Owen Sheers. In A2 students work independently on an ‘Independent Critical Study: Texts across time' comparing two literary texts; this coursework assignment constitutes 20% of the final A level grade.
Continuing Studies
You learn in a variety of ways, typically through discussion, group work, independent study, traditional essays, reading and research tasks. There is a balance between challenge and support. You play an active part in your learning and there is a strong focus on your individual learning needs.
You will develop the skills necessary for further academic study, such as strong report writing, essay writing and study skills, including presentation skills. You also improve the wider skills vital for success in further study or employment, including self-confidence, speaking in front of others, working with others, taking responsibility and managing your time. By the end of the course, you will benefit from individual support, including clear advice about higher education and careers.
Activate Learning
Activate Learning is a forward-thinking education group that aims for far-reaching, progressive change and impact through learning. We work with learners as individuals, helping them make the choice of course and career pathway that’s right for them. Our mission is to provide work-ready talent for business, and...