Welcome to our English Department. Our aim is to foster awareness of the importance of language and literature as a means of understanding ourselves, other people and the world around us.
You’ll continue to work on improving your spelling, punctuation and grammar and will enjoy numerous opportunities to work independently and participate successfully as part of a group. You’ll study a range of prose, poetry, drama and media texts and will learn how to write essays and analyse these texts closely. When you come to our English Department, you’ll get loads of opportunities to explore texts and topics in depth.
“Language is at the heart of children’s learning. Through language they receive much of their knowledge and acquire many of their skills.”
‘Languages for Life: 3-18 Curriculum’ Learning Teaching Scotland
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
Margaret Fuller (May 23rd 1810 – July 19th 1850)
Higher; Nat 5; Nat 4; Nat 3 (Advanced Higher depending on numbers): ENGLISH
Higher; Nat 5; Nat 4; Nat 3: ESOL
: HigherMEDIA STUDIES
SCOTTISH STUDIES: Full Nat 4 Course or stand-alone Units
Advice for successful learning
Most college courses require entrants to have studied English to at least National 4 or 5 levels, with many university courses requiring a pass at Higher English. A qualification in English is an essential requirement for most career pathways.
It supports you in every subject you will study and opens up opportunities in all aspects of your life. Literacy is vital in developing you not just educationally, but emotionally and socially too. The four basic literacy skills – Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening – are key elements in the English courses you will study.
In order that everyone can enjoy and engage with their work, we ask that you abide by five simple ground rules: The study of English and Literacy will develop in you the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence – it will help you to become a Successful Learner, a Confident Individual, a Responsible Citizen and an Effective Contributor.
Arrive on time – prepared to learn·
Follow directions, first time·
Always listen to the person who is meant to be talking·
Keep hands, feet, unkind words and actions to yourself·
Engage in order to enjoy·
Do all you can to achieve the very best grade you can. Keep up with classwork and homework. Be ambitious.
Good Luck!
Advice for parents
· Provide access to newspapers and watch the News together. Discuss current affairs - this will help with generating ideas for folio writing
· Talk to them about the texts they study in class. Ask them to summarise the main events, or tell you about character, theme and setting
· Encourage them to take a note of websites that they visit/books they read in preparation for their folio essays – it’s crucial that they include a bibliography to avoid plagiarism
· Ask to see their writing. Proofread it for any technical errors. Ensure they’ve included a bibliography and word count in any discursive writing
· When they’re preparing for exams, ask them to make a Study Timetable and make sure that they stick to it
· Ask Senior Phase pupils to recite quotations from their texts - it’s important that they are able to memorise these as they won’t have access to them in the final exam
· Clear their room of any distractions while they’re studying: phones, games consoles, TVs
· Encourage them to attend Supported Study in school
· Encourage use of the SQA Website (especially the candidate guides)
Your support is very much appreciated!
Occupations associated with English
• Teaching: School, College, University, Teaching English Abroad
• Media: Journalism, Publishing, TV and Radio, Copywriting, Events Management
• Influencing: Politics, Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing
• Helping: Social Work, Youth Work, Probation, Nursing, Housing
• Legal and Finance: Law, HR, Banking, Accountancy, Insurance
• Information: Librarianship, Archives, Information officer, Bookseller
• Public Sector: Civil Service, Health Service, Police and Armed Services
• Postgraduate Study: MA, PHD
Clubs and Activities
You’re very welcome to participate in a range of fun, enriching activities:
· Supported Study (Senior Phase)
· Reading Champions (BGE)
· Visiting Writers (all years)
· Writing Competitions (all years)
· Debating Society (all years)
· Film Club (BGE)
· Connections Club: Homework and Literacy Support (BGE)
· Theatre Visits: Paul Hamlyn Foundation (S5 & S6)
· Trips to Literary Events (all years)
Senior Phase Courses
NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The Nat 5 qualification in English develops your ability to read, write, listen and talk effectively. The course will enrich candidates through the study of Scottish texts, literature and language.
You can study novels, short stories, plays, poems and films and will be expected to write Critical Evaluations. To help deepen understanding and appreciation, redrafting is expected after the class teacher has assessed the first draft. You’ll be expected to prepare for Solo Talks, using ICT to research an appropriate topic and practising your talk.
You’ll prepare a Portfolio of Writing. Your two best pieces of writing are required by the exam board for external assessment. This portfolio is worth 30% of your overall grade.
There are a number of internal assessments (UASPs). These UASPs will be assessed by the class teacher and cross-marked within the department at appropriate times in the course.
There is an exam for Nat 5 English which is externally assessed. The exam consists of two papers: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation and Critical Reading.
If you study at Nat 4 and Nat 3, all work is internally assessed and, therefore, there is no exam.
ENGLISH HIGHER
When you pass the Nat 5 course, you may progress to Higher. This course is similar in format to the Nat 5 course.
Nat 5 performance, Higher Education and career ambitions are taken into account when advising you of the most appropriate pathway. If you’re successful at Higher, you can then attempt Higher Media Studies or you may opt for Advanced Higher (if sufficient number of candidates).
The Higher qualification immerses you in literature. You’ll develop an understanding of the great works of writing – from various cultures – and you’ll be expected to study these independently. You’ll gain extensive skills in analysis and evaluation, creation and production.
As at Nat 5, this challenging course has three elements – Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation [30%], Critical Reading [40%] and Portfolio of Writing [30%].
S6 – MEDIA STUDIES HIGHER
Our English Department has just introduced this new course which is on offer to students who achieved a pass at Higher English and wish to pursue their interest in analysing in depth how and why media texts are constructed.
It’s a very challenging course that requires students to develop a strong understanding of the seven key aspects of the media: Categories, Language, Narrative, Audience, Representation, Technologies and Institution.
Pupils get the opportunity to make their own films which will be shown in the ‘street’ area and at the GFT in June.
S6 - SCOTTISH STUDIES
If you don’t wish to study English in S6, there’s the option of gaining a qualification in Scottish Studies. If you choose this option, you’ll gain passes in a number of units from a range of subjects such as Media, RE and Art, as well as English. Each unit has a Scottish context and allows you to explore aspects of your culture in an exciting and relevant way.
All units are internally assessed and verified.
USEFUL STUDY RESOURCES
· Link to Bitesize:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/
· Link to Spark Notes:
http://www.sparknotes.com/
· Links to debating websites:
http://idebate.org/
http://www.debatingmatters.com/
· Links to Literacy Games:
http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html