English Language

AQAB (2705)

English Language is a highly respected A Level qualification, encouraging students to develop methods of exploring and understanding spoken and written language in use, as well as developing a range of their own writing skills for a variety of audiences and purposes: skills which are valued by universities and employers alike.

In this course, there is a wide scope for students to pursue their own particular interests, both in their own creation of texts, and in their language investigations at A2. The materials studied involve data from real life situations.

The AS specification has 2 units

Unit 1: Categorising Texts
Topic list
• Exploring and understanding spoken and written language in use
• The roles of purposes, audiences and contexts and the impact of these pressures upon language production and reception
• An analysis and investigation of a variety of extracts taken from everyday sources.
Assessment
External Exam: 2 hours
Weighting: 60% of total AS / 30% of total A Level marks

This unit covers the introductory aspects of the study of language, using a variety of texts for the basis of this study. In addition it focuses on three specific social contexts: Language and Power, Language and Gender and Language and Technology.

Unit 2: Creating Texts
Topic list
• Development of personal writing expertise through individual coursework
• Writing to entertain, to persuade, to inform and to instruct
• The use of register and style; characteristics of genres and sub-genres; the impact of language choices (lexis and grammar) and discourse strategies; the purposes and skills of planning, drafting and redrafting; the use of primary sources and of clear referencing of these materials; skills associated with analysing and reviewing the writing process and the reception of their own texts.
Assessment
Coursework
Weighting: 40% of total AS / 20% of total A Level marks
In this unit candidates are encouraged to develop their own writing skills, producing writing in different genres for different audiences and purposes.


A2 outline
At A2, the specification explores the nature and functions of language, how its key constituent parts have developed under the influence of a variety of contextual factors and how these changes may be analysed and evaluated creatively.
The A2 specification has 2 units:
Unit 3: Developing Language
Topic list
• Language acquisition - the nature and functions of language acquisition and social development of children from 0-11 years
• Language change - historical and contemporary changes in the English Language from Late Modern English (1700+) to the present day.
Assessment
External Exam: 2 hours
Weighting: 30% of total A Level marks
This unit has a detailed focus on two specific areas of language study: Child Language Acquisition and Language Change.


Unit 4: Investigating Language
Topic list
• Coursework exploring and analysing language data
• Data collection methodology
• Analysis and interpretation of data using appropriate linguistic methods and techniques
• Evaluation and investigative conclusions.
Assessment
Coursework
Weighting: 20% of total A Level marks
In this unit candidates apply their knowledge of linguistic methods and concepts to an investigation of their choice.