KS4
At Key Stage 4 most students will produce five pieces of coursework: Shakespeare, Prose Study, C20th Drama, Media and Original Writing. The Shakespeare and the Prose Study units are ‘crossover’ pieces. This means that each essay can be marked against both the English EN2 (reading) criteria and the Literature criteria. One piece of coursework must be handwritten.
All students are expected to be entered for Language and Literature, though exceptions are made. It is possible that some students will not sit Literature and that some will be entered for the Certificate of Achievement.
Coursework Guidelines.
It is important that students become familiar with the criteria against which their work is marked and also that they are familiarised with exemplar essays. Of primary concern is that questions allow students to satisfy all the criteria to reach their potential.
Coursework units are marked for the following:
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Shakespeare |
EN2 Reading |
Literature |
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|
Prose Study (pre-1914) |
EN2 Reading |
Literature |
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|
C20th Drama |
Literature |
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Media |
EN3 Writing |
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Original Writing |
EN3 Writing |
It is important to remember that the focus needs to be on how a writer writes and the effect this has on the reader or audience, rather that what a writer is writing about. For this reason, showing detailed knowledge of a plot or character will not satisfy the criteria.
Examinations.
Students sit mock examinations in the Spring term of Year 10 and in the Autumn term of Year 11. They are given the opportunity to practise all of the relevant papers. These are marked and moderated by staff.
Students should be given every opportunity to become fully familiar with the requirements of the examinations. The papers are as follows:
English Paper 1.
Section A: Reading response to non-fiction/media texts – 15%.
Section B: Writing to argue, persuade or advise – 15%.
English Paper 2.
Section A: Reading response to poetry from other cultures.
Section B: Writing to inform, explain or describe.
Literature.
Section A: One question based on post-1914 prose – 30%.
Section B: One question on pre- and post- 1914 poetry from the Anthology – 40%.
