NATIONAL 4
1) Why did you pick this subject and how did you get advice and support?
A: I know I need this subject for lots of jobs.
2) What did you need to get in? (e.g. a Pass at Nat 4, a B in Nat 5, good grades in S3; good practical skills, ability to work well with others)?
A: Basically just had to read and write.
3) Will you do this subject next year?
A: If I pass this level then I want to go up a level.
4) What kinds of topics do you cover?
A: Essays, poems for essays, close reading and bold girls play.
5) What has been your favourite topic and why?
A: I like doing a creative essay because I like to be imaginative.
6) What kinds of learning activities have you done?
A: Bold girls, we watched a film and worked on answers.
7) What kinds of skills does this subject help you to develop?
A: Mostly my reading and writing.
8) What is the homework like?
A: Only had 1 bit of close reading, supposed to do revision at home.
9) What kinds of tests or assessments do you have?
A: Talk, close reading and listening assessment.
10) What kinds of careers could this subject lead to?
A: I don’t see it useful for what I want to do, but it’s a good qualification to have.
11) What would you say to someone who is thinking about picking this subject next year?
A: You’ve got to concentrate and take it seriously. There’s a lot of writing sometimes so don’t be lazy.
NATIONAL 5
1) Why did you pick this subject and how did you get advice and support?
A: It’s a good qualification to have and I enjoy the class.
2) What did you need to get in? (e.g. a Pass at Nat 4, a B in Nat 5, good grades in S3; good practical skills, ability to work well with others)?
A: To have a good enough understanding of English in third year.
3) Will you do this subject next year?
A: Yes hopefully at higher, I want a good pass at Nat 5.
4) What kinds of topics do you cover?
A: Textual analysis – Bold girls, critical essay – Midterm break, close reading and folio.
5) What has been your favourite topic and why?
A: Bold girls is a really fun play to learn.
6) What kinds of learning activities have you done?
A: People from class take turns reading out parts of play and then work on each scene separately, close reading.
7) What kinds of skills does this subject help you to develop?
A: Good listening skills, I can type faster, concentration skills.
8) What is the homework like?
A: We don’t get much homework, sometimes stuff for close reading and textual analysis.
9) What kinds of tests or assessments do you have?
A: Close reading, talk, group talk. Not done listening assessment.
10) What kinds of careers could this subject lead to?
A: Anything – you basically need English for everything.
11) What would you say to someone who is thinking about picking this subject next year?
A: You should definitely take it and try your hardest. Great qualification to have even if you aren’t staying on.
HIGHER
1) Why did you pick this subject and how did you get advice and support?
A: I didn’t get advice and support, but I took the subject because it’s easier to carry on and I need it for the university course I want to do.
2) What did you need to get in? (e.g. a Pass at Nat 4, a B in Nat 5, good grades in S3; good practical skills, ability to work well with others)?
A: Nat 5 above a C.
3) Will you do this subject next year?
A: No, but if I fail then yes because I need it. Not taking advance higher.
4) What kinds of topics do you cover?
A: MacCaig poetry, folio essays, Agnes Owens 2 short stories, Jekyll and Hyde, multiple readings.
5) What has been your favourite topic and why?
A: The film Shindlers list for critical essay because the film is a good watch and easy to understand. The techniques are easily adoptable for different critical essay questions in the exam.
6) What kinds of learning activities have you done?
A: Loads of close reading, textual analysis – analyse each poem thoroughly, critical essays.
7) What kinds of skills does this subject help you to develop?
A: A better understanding of language – more sophisticated use of language, writing with more complexity, time keeping.
8) What is the homework like?
A: No homework – own revision.
9) What kinds of tests or assessments do you have?
A: Internal assessments, talk, close reading, listening, taken from folio is a clear understanding of how to write.
10) What kinds of careers could this subject lead to?
A: A variety of careers – loads of university courses want you to have higher English.
11) What would you say to someone who is thinking about picking this subject next year?
A: You need it for a lot of things. It’s basically a repeat of N5 but you need to harder and more detail.
ADVANCED HIGHER
1) Why did you pick this subject and how did you get advice and support?
A: I live English. Passionate about subject.
2) What did you need to get in? (e.g. a Pass at Nat 4, a B in Nat 5, good grades in S3; good practical skills, ability to work well with others)?
A: I got a B in higher so got accepted.
3) What kinds of topics do you cover?
A: 3 folio things – 2 essays and 1 dissertation.
4) What has been your favourite topic and why?
A: The essays because I find them the easiest.
5) What kinds of learning activities have you done?
A: Researching topics for dissertation.
6) What kinds of skills does this subject help you to develop?
A: Writing long essay – more independent learning.
7) What is the homework like?
A: Revising.
8) What kinds of tests or assessments do you have?
A: All folio work basically – exam is only about 20%.
9) What kinds of careers could this subject lead to?
A: Teaching, journalism, literature.
10) What would you say to someone who is thinking about picking this subject next year?
A: Think about your dissertation as soon as possible, don’t leave it until last minute. Beware you don’t get a proper teacher all the time.
