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GCSE English Language

In this course, students are prepared for AQA GCSE English Language (8700). The following four units are studied sequentially across Years 10 and 11. (For information about English Literature, click here.)

Unit	Content
Unit 1 Narrative and descriptive writing	Students build on the creative writing skills that they developed at KS3, learning the knowledge and skills required in order to respond to Section B of Paper 1 of the AQA GCSE, in which they write a descriptive or narrative piece inspired by an image or written stimulus. Students study a diverse range of texts across this unit to support this learning. Key knowledge developed: Understanding a range of relevant planning strategies and structures Understanding how sentences can be shaped for effect Understanding how vocabulary choice shapes meaning and contributes to the creation of atmosphere Understanding the conventions of Standard English including accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar Understanding how writers engage their readers Key skills developed: How to write an engaging and imaginative piece of writing How to use a wide range of vocabulary effectively How to employ appropriate language devices for effect How to use accurate spelling and punctuation How to create characters that can be used in a range of situations How to create atmosphere when producing descriptive writing Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season. Various opportunities for students to practise their learning are provided throughout the unit.
Unit 2 Explorations in creative reading	Students read a diverse range of fiction texts throughout this unit in order to build an understanding of how writers construct their narratives. They further develop their understanding of language and structural devices as well as how to evaluate a text effectively. Key knowledge developed: Understanding techniques for identifying relevant information from within a text Understanding how writers use language devices Understanding how writers structure their texts Key skills developed: How to evaluate a piece of fiction How to select relevant information and evidence from a text to support an argument How to use point-evidence-explanation paragraphs to communicate a personalised response to a fiction text How to write efficiently in timed conditions Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season. Various opportunities for students to practise their learning are provided throughout the unit.
Unit 3 Writing to express a viewpoint	Being able to articulate ideas effectively in written English is the fundamental life skill that students develop throughout this unit. Building on the transactional writing units taught at KS3, they learn to write in a variety of forms and to express their viewpoints clearly and accurately. Students read a variety of speeches, articles and letters as they prepare to produce their own writing in this unit. Key knowledge developed: Understanding a range of relevant planning strategies and structures Understanding how sentences can be shaped for effect Understanding how vocabulary choice shapes meaning and contributes to the effective presentation of a point of view Understanding the conventions of standard English including accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar Understanding how writers engage their readers Understanding the conventions of letters, speeches and polemical articles Key skills developed: How to write using a wide vocabulary How to write using a wide variety of sentence structures How to write using accurate and expressive punctuation Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season in Year 11.
Unit 4 Writers' viewpoints and perspectives	Students develop a clear understanding of how writers express their own views and opinions. They read a range of opinion texts from the 1800s to the present day and explore how attitudes have changed across time. Across this unit, students encounter a diverse range of opinion-based non-fiction writing. Key knowledge developed: Understanding techniques for identifying relevant information from within a text Understanding how writers use language devices Understanding how writers structure their texts Key skills developed: How to evaluate a piece of non-fiction writing effectively How to annotate and highlight effectively as a means of planning a written response to a non-fiction text How to select relevant information and evidence from a text to support ideas How to use point-evidence-explanation paragraphs to communicate a personalised response to a non-fiction text How to write efficiently in timed conditions Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season in Year 11.

Unit

Content

Unit 1

Narrative and descriptive writing

Students build on the creative writing skills that they developed at KS3, learning the knowledge and skills required in order to respond to Section B of Paper 1 of the AQA GCSE, in which they write a descriptive or narrative piece inspired by an image or written stimulus. Students study a diverse range of texts across this unit to support this learning.

Key knowledge developed:

Understanding a range of relevant planning strategies and structures
Understanding how sentences can be shaped for effect
Understanding how vocabulary choice shapes meaning and contributes to the creation of atmosphere
Understanding the conventions of Standard English including accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar
Understanding how writers engage their readers

Key skills developed:

How to write an engaging and imaginative piece of writing
How to use a wide range of vocabulary effectively
How to employ appropriate language devices for effect
How to use accurate spelling and punctuation
How to create characters that can be used in a range of situations
How to create atmosphere when producing descriptive writing

Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season. Various opportunities for students to practise their learning are provided throughout the unit.

Unit 2

Explorations in creative reading

Students read a diverse range of fiction texts throughout this unit in order to build an understanding of how writers construct their narratives. They further develop their understanding of language and structural devices as well as how to evaluate a text effectively.

Key knowledge developed:

Understanding techniques for identifying relevant information from within a text
Understanding how writers use language devices
Understanding how writers structure their texts

Key skills developed:

How to evaluate a piece of fiction
How to select relevant information and evidence from a text to support an argument
How to use point-evidence-explanation paragraphs to communicate a personalised response to a fiction text
How to write efficiently in timed conditions

Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season. Various opportunities for students to practise their learning are provided throughout the unit.

Unit 3

Writing to express a viewpoint

Being able to articulate ideas effectively in written English is the fundamental life skill that students develop throughout this unit. Building on the transactional writing units taught at KS3, they learn to write in a variety of forms and to express their viewpoints clearly and accurately. Students read a variety of speeches, articles and letters as they prepare to produce their own writing in this unit.

Key knowledge developed:

Understanding a range of relevant planning strategies and structures
Understanding how sentences can be shaped for effect
Understanding how vocabulary choice shapes meaning and contributes to the effective presentation of a point of view
Understanding the conventions of standard English including accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar
Understanding how writers engage their readers
Understanding the conventions of letters, speeches and polemical articles

Key skills developed:

How to write using a wide vocabulary
How to write using a wide variety of sentence structures
How to write using accurate and expressive punctuation

Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season in Year 11.

Unit 4

Writers' viewpoints and perspectives

Students develop a clear understanding of how writers express their own views and opinions. They read a range of opinion texts from the 1800s to the present day and explore how attitudes have changed across time. Across this unit, students encounter a diverse range of opinion-based non-fiction writing.

Key knowledge developed:

Understanding techniques for identifying relevant information from within a text
Understanding how writers use language devices
Understanding how writers structure their texts

Key skills developed:

How to evaluate a piece of non-fiction writing effectively
How to annotate and highlight effectively as a means of planning a written response to a non-fiction text
How to select relevant information and evidence from a text to support ideas
How to use point-evidence-explanation paragraphs to communicate a personalised response to a non-fiction text
How to write efficiently in timed conditions

Assessment: Learning in this unit is assessed in exam conditions as part of the mock exam season in Year 11.

GCSE English Language

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