English Literature

In the first year you will study:

• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Poems of the Decade by various poets from the last 10-15 years
• Two texts of your choice to prepare for coursework
• A level essay writing skills
• The social tensions of 1940s America and Victorian England which influenced two of the set texts
• Some excellent examples of A level English Literature essays to improve your own style

In the second year you will study:

• King Lear by William Shakespeare
• A selection of poetry from the Romantic era
• Your two chosen coursework texts
• Marxist and Feminist critical essays to help you understand EVERYTHING you read from now on!
• A selection of essays about King Lear to argue and debate with as you form your own opinions
• Advanced writing skills to aim for the highest grades
• Appropriate referencing for academic essays
• Shakespearean theatre and how it was influenced by its society

What will I be taught?

The course involves a lot of work being done in advance of lessons. Students will read each text before the lessons on that text begin and use the videos created by teachers to start annotating and making notes on their reading. In lessons, activities will allow students to discuss, think, and write about what they have read, working both in groups and independently to explore their views. They will also plan and write exam-style questions to feel confident about how they will be assessed.

Classroom activities will include:

• Group discussions and presentations
• Essay based assessments
• Marking exemplar work and suggesting improvements
• Presenting key themes in new ways, as powerpoint presentations or visual mind maps
• Class debates

Based on research into how students learn best, each subject will set independent work to allow you to recap what you have done in the past, consolidate understanding for what you are studying in the present and develop the skills and experiences which will help you for the future. You can read more about the college’s approach to independent study here

The Past
Click here for the suggested ongoing revision activities in this subject which research has shown are most likely to boost your achievement

The Present
Each subject will set weekly homework tasks to help you consolidate your understanding and prepare for your next lesson. This work is typically set through Microsoft Teams, so you will have an electronic log of all your work, notes and feedback.

The Future
A key part of your independent work in this subject will be to prepare for a range of potential jobs and higher education courses when you leave us. To get started, look below at the top higher education courses and jobs which previous students of this course have gone on to do.

As part of a wider programme this course provides an excellent basis for progression to many careers or university courses.

Former students of this college have gone on to study English Language and Literature at university, as well as Journalism and Creative Writing. Students have also gone on to a wide range of careers in law, the theatre, and business amongst others.