June 2011

Introduction to the Language of Texts

Relevant Assessment Objectives: AO1 AO2 AO3

Two or more texts will be provided, and these will be linked in some way, usually by genre or theme. You will be asked to analyse and discuss the language used in the texts. The texts will be very varied, written or spoken, and could include multimodal texts. Most of the texts will be present day, but some will be from the past.

In this section there will usually be a single text, but there could be more than one. You will be invited to respond perceptively to the text(s), focusing on a specified aspect, rather than on the text as a whole. The main focus will be on how the writers or speakers have used language to convey bias, prejudices, feelings, attitudes, points of view, values, etc.

May 2011

This section should consist of a single, continuous, extended piece of creative, original writing in a fictional, 'literary' mode. You must not submit poetry, or any writing which is purely informative / factual / vaguely descriptive. One of the following may be chosen, or you may wish to choose another, provided that you write in a style that is clearly creative or original, based on some study of a chosen genre of style. For example, if the short story is chosen, there should be some study of a range of short stories. If you wish to choose to write in a form other than those from the list below, you should have studied appropriate examples of that form.

The focus in this section is on the spoken language of the media. An important part of the AS course in English Language is that students should become increasingly aware of the variations in language according to mode (spoken or written), and should develop their ability to listen critically and attentively to spoken English.

Coursework - 20%

This section of the A level internal assessment provides you with opportunities to show understanding and appreciation of the influence of mode and context, including time and place, on the meanings and forms of English, and to make connections between different areas of study in your course as a whole. You will eventually produce a study of approximately 1,500 words which looks at Language from the past. You may decide to investigate language from the Old English or Middle English period, or texts from more recent times.

Relevant Assessment Objective: AO4

You will study a genre or area of language in use, and then produce an extended piece of writing of your own in the same genre or area. The language used should be appropriate for the purpose and context of the chosen piece. The likely audience should also be borne in mind. The writing differs from that offered in LG2 for AS, where the emphasis was on creative, original writing. Here the emphasis is on a more functional approach, but there are still plenty of opportunities for creativity, and you will be expected to show expertise in using language in creative and interesting ways that are appropriate to their chosen context, and genre or area. The recommended length for the piece of writing is approximately 1,000 words. The writing must be accompanied by an analysis of approximately 500 words, which will play an important part in the assessment of the work.

You will be presented with more than one spoken text, and will be required to analyse, discuss, and evaluate the spoken language used. Each text may have one speaker or two or more speakers. You will be invited to make comparisons between the texts. You will also be expected to analyse and evaluate how the context has influenced the language used, and, as appropriate, how speakers have made linguistic choices to convey their attitudes, opinions, prejudices, viewpoints, etc. The section will provide opportunities for candidates to discuss and explore concepts and issues relating to spoken language in use. You will be expected to describe spoken linguistic features, drawing on your knowledge of the frameworks of language study, and using appropriate terminology.

Relevant Assessment Objectives: AO1 AO2 AO3

At A2 level, candidates are required to show deeper knowledge and understanding than at AS level of phonology and phonetics, lexis, morphology, grammar and discourse, and how some of these approaches can be applied as appropriate to the study of written language.