Head of Department: Mr S Hart
EDEXCEL GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE
UNIT ONE: UNDERSTANDING PROSE (1hr 45 mins examination, 50%)
Section A: Literary Heritage
• Extract provided
• FOUR questions (three on extract, one on other part of novel)
• Questions on characterisation, setting, language & themes
• Clean copies of text allowed
Texts: Animal Farm, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Felicia’s Journey, Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations
Section B: Different Cultures and Traditions
• One essay from a choice of two questions
• Clean copies of text allowed
Texts: Anita & Me, Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress, Heroes, Of Mice and Men, Rani & Sukh, Riding the Black Cockatoo, To Kill a Mockingbird
UNIT TWO: UNDERSTANDING POETRY (1hr 45 mins examination, 25%)
Section A: Unseen Poetry
• Single question
Section B: Anthology Poems
• Choice of FOUR themes
• Clean copies of poetry anthologies permitted
• Two part question. First question on single poem. Second question is a comparison of two poems, one of which is from the first question.
UNIT THREE: SHAKESPEARE & CONTEMPORARY DRAMA (Controlled assessment, 25%)
Shakespeare Task (2hrs, 1000 words)
• Critical response
• Students compare their reading/interpretation of the chosen play with a particular adaptation of it
• One essay from a choice of questions on characterisation, performance, theme & relationships
Contemporary Drama Task (2hrs, 1000 words)
• Choice of contemporary drama task
• One essay from a choice of questions on characterisation, stagecraft, theme & relationships
EDEXCEL GCSE ENGLISH
UNIT ONE: ENGLISH TODAY (Controlled assessment, 20%)
Reading / Studying Written Language Task (2hrs, 1000 words)
• Comparison of two (media?) texts from list of approximately six
• Choice of two different themes
Writing Task (2hrs, 1000 words)
• One original writing task from a choice of two
• Task based on the same theme as the reading task
• Writing must adapt to purpose and audience, e.g. writing to review, persuade, inform, describe...
UNIT TWO: THE WRITER’S VOICE (1hr 45 mins examination, 40%)
Section A: Reading
• Extract from Different Cultures ‘crossover’ text
• Extract provided
• Two questions. One on extract, one on another part of the novel
• Texts: Anita & Me, Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress, Heroes, Of Mice and Men, Rani & Sukh, Riding the Black Cockatoo, To Kill a Mockingbird, Touching the Void (Non-Fiction)
Section B: Writing
• Original writing task, e.g. review or article
• Pupils must adapt their style of writing to purpose and audience
• Students select one task from a choice of two
UNIT THREE: SPOKEN LANGUAGE (Controlled assessment, 40%)
Speaking & Listening
• THREE assessments
• Communicating & adapting language (Task one): talk on personal interest or issue
• Interacting & responding (Task two): group/paired discussion
• Creating & sustaining roles (Task three): role play / drama role
Spoken Language Study (2hrs, 1000 words)
• Commentary / comparison of two different examples of spoken language
• Focus on the way in which speakers adapt language to suit different contexts
• Students select one task from a choice of two
Writing for the Spoken Voice (2hrs, 1000 words)
• Original writing for a media form
• Pupils must adapt their writing to suit the purpose and audience, e.g. speech, script / dialogue for TV soap or radio drama, short story where direct speech is a major element.