Faculty of English

English Information Videos

Faculty of English 

Principal Teacher – Mrs Emma McCluskey

 

Watch the videos below for more information about the English Faculty 

ENGLISH                 MEDIA

National 4/5

English

Entry Level

SQA Information

National 4

  • Working at CfE level 3 by the end of the Broad General Education

National 5

  • Current S3 pupils: Working at CfE level 4 by the end of the Broad General Education
  • Current S4/5 pupils: National 4 pass in this or a similar subject or interest in subject

Course Content

 

Through these areas of study, you will develop specific skills for learning, life and work through your ability to communicate with others. You will study a variety of texts and experience a range of learning methodologies while developing your skills.

National 4. The course has 3 units:

  • Unit 1 – Analysis and Evaluation       
  • Unit 2 – Creation and Production           
  • Unit 3 – Literacy
  • PLUS: Added Value Unit – Assignment

National 5. The course has 2 key areas for study. At National 5 English, literacy is embedded within the Course Units.

  • Key Area 1: Analysis and Evaluation. In this part of the course, you will study literature and also develop skills of analysing unseen texts. This is assessed in the exam.
  • Key Area 2: Creation and Production. This is assessed by the spoken language performance (talk or discussion) and a portfolio of writing (two pieces of writing of different purposes).

Assessment *

 

National 4

  • Each unit will be internally assessed.  Pupils must pass all internal assessments and complete the AVU successfully to be awarded the course certificate.

National 5

  • The course is assessed by the external exam and the writing portfolio.  The course award is graded A to D.
  • Internal Assessment:  Performance – Spoken Language
  • External Assessment:  Paper 1 – Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30%),  Paper 2 – Critical Reading (40%),  Portfolio – Writing (30%)

Possible Progression Routes

 My World of Work

  • From National 4 English to National 5 English/ from National 5 English to Higher English
  • Further Education
  • Training or employment
  • Careers for which English would be beneficial include: Academic Librarian, Administrator, Advertising, Bank Manager, Barrister, Journalist, Customer Service Manager, Teacher, Hotel/Leisure Manager, Human Resources Officer, Museum, Project Manager/Support Officer, Public Relations, Retail Buyer/Manager, Solicitor, Team Leader, Television/Radio Broadcasting, Theatre Stage Manager, Writer, and many others.
Media

Entry Level

SQA Information

National 5 Media:

  • Current S4/5 pupils: a Pass at National 4 Media
  • Current S4/5 pupils: National 4 or 5 English.
  • Current S3 pupils: Working at CfE level 4 by the end of the Broad General Education.

Course Content

 

During the course you will analyse several different forms of media texts, including feature films, advertisements, such as posters and trailers, and shorter texts such as TV series and viral ad campaigns. You will also design, plan and create a media text of your own, according to a set brief and evaluate your production in writing. Our analysis and production of media texts will revolve around the key aspects of genre, institutions, purpose, language and style in filming, as well as the ability to explain and evaluate texts based on their effectiveness at reaching their target audience.

You will be expected to work individually, in pairs or groups, as well as complete homework and work independently and to deadlines. The knowledge and skills you will acquire by successfully completing the course will be valuable for learning, life and work.

The course has 2 key areas

  • Key Area 1– Analysing Media Content         
  • Key Area 2 – Creating Media Content

Assessment

 

National 5

  • Pupils must pass the final Examination and Assignment to be awarded the course certificate.
  • The course assessment consists of an assignment for 50% and question papers for 50% of the overall mark.
  • The N5 question paper involves extended answer questions and analysis of unseen texts such as film posters, advertisements and magazine covers.
  • The assignment is an extended piece of writing, where you show your planning for and then evaluation of your piece of work. 
  • The assignment is submitted for external assessment in March and the exam is sat during the SQA exam diet.

Possible Progression Routes

 My World of Work

  • From National 5 Media to Higher Media
  • Further and Higher Education
  • Training or employment
  • Careers for which Media would be beneficial include:  Advertising, Arts Organisations, Education Institutions, Leisure Companies, Law, Teaching, Journalism, Youth/community worker, Projects Manager, Human resources, Events management, Marketing, Social work, Theatre, Public Relations, Film Industry, Arts Administration, Television and Radio broadcasting, Writer and many more.

Higher

English

Entry Level

SQA Information

  •  Current S4/5 pupils: National 5 pass in English

Course Content

 

Through these areas of study, you will develop specific skills for learning, life and work through your ability to communicate with others. You will study a variety of texts, for instance Drama, Poetry, Film and Prose, and you will experience a range of learning methodologies to develop your skills. You should be prepared to work individually, in pairs or in groups on a variety of tasks. You will work to analyse and evaluate texts, learn features of excellent writing and be able to replicate those in your own work.

The course has 2 key areas for study:

  • Analysis and Evaluation

The purpose of this unit is to provide you with the opportunity to develop listening and reading skills in the contexts of literature, language and media. You will develop the skills needed to understand, analyse and evaluate detailed and complex texts. This is assessed in the exam.

  • Creation and Production

The purpose of this unit is to provide you with the opportunity to develop talking and writing skills in a wide range of contexts. You will develop the skills needed to create and produce detailed and complex texts in both written and spoken forms. This is assessed by the spoken language performance (talk or discussion) and a portfolio of writing (two pieces of writing of different purposes).

Assessment

 
  • The course is assessed by the external exam and the portfolio of writing.  The course award is graded A to D.
  • Internal Assessment: Performance – Spoken Language
  • External Assessment:  Paper 1 – Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30%),  Paper 2 – Critical Reading (40%), Portfolio – Writing (30%)

Possible Progression Routes

 My World of Work

  • Advanced Higher in English
  • Further Education
  • Higher Education
  • Training or employment
  • Careers for which English would be beneficial include:  Academic Librarian, Administrator, Advertising, Bank Manager, Barrister, Journalist, Customer Service Manager, Teacher, Hotel/Leisure Manager, Human Resources Officer, Insurance, Management Consultant, Media, Museum, Project Manager/Support Officer, Public Relations, Retail Buyer/Manager, Solicitor, Team Leader, Television/Radio Broadcasting, Theatre Stage Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Writer and many more.
Media

Entry Level

SQA Information

Higher Media:

  • A pass at National 5 Media (A or B advised)

Course Content

 

During the course you will analyse several different forms of media texts, including feature films, advertisements, such as posters and trailers, and shorter texts such as TV series and viral ad campaigns. You will also design, plan and create a media text of your own, according to a set brief and evaluate your production in writing. Our analysis and production of media texts will revolve around the key aspects of genre, institutions, purpose, language and style in filming, as well as the ability to explain and evaluate texts based on their effectiveness at reaching their target audience.

You will be expected to work individually, in pairs or groups, as well as complete homework and work independently and to deadlines. The knowledge and skills you will acquire by successfully completing the course will be valuable for learning, life and work.

The course has 2 key areas

  • Key Area 1– Analysing Media Content
  • Key Area 2 – Creating Media Content

Assessment

 

Higher

  • Pupils must pass the final Examination and Assignment to be awarded the course certificate.
  • The course assessment consists of an assignment for 50% and question papers for 50% of the overall mark.
  • At Higher, the Question papers require extended writing, essay-style, on three questions covering Media Content, the Context of Media studied, and the Role of The Media, and pair of unseen texts that you must analyse and compare in an essay style answer.
  • The assignment is an extended piece of writing, where you show your planning for and then evaluation of your piece of work. At Higher, this can be on average 6000 words plus.
  • The assignment is submitted for external assessment in March and the exam is sat during the SQA exam diet.

Possible Progression Routes

 My World of Work

  • Further and Higher Education
  • Training or employment
  • Careers for which Media would be beneficial include:  Advertising, Arts Organisations, Education Institutions, Leisure Companies, Law, Teaching, Journalism, Youth/community worker, Projects Manager, Human resources, Events management, Marketing, Social work, Theatre, Public Relations, Film Industry, Arts Administration, Television and Radio broadcasting, Writer and many more.

Advanced Higher

English

Entry Level

SQA Information

  • Current S5 pupils: Higher pass in English (A or B is advised)

Course Content

 

In Advanced Higher English you will continue to develop specific skills for learning, life and work through your ability to communicate with others. You will study a number of literary texts from a range of genres. You should be prepared to work individually, in pairs or groups, on a variety of tasks. You will work to analyse and evaluate texts, learn features of excellent writing and be able to replicate those in your own work.

Assessment

 
  • The course is assessed by the external exam and the coursework.  The course award is graded A to D.
  • The coursework comprises of:
  • Dissertation:  You will produce a dissertation, demonstrating your ability to plan, research and present your knowledge and understanding of an aspect or aspects of literature.  This dissertation will be at least 2,500 words long and is worth 30 marks (30% of the total mark).
  • Portfolio:  You will produce two pieces of writing for different purposes. This section is worth 30 marks (30% of the total mark). Up to 15 marks will be awarded for each essay selected for the portfolio.

The dissertation and portfolio are assessed externally.

The external exam comprises of two papers, both of one hour thirty minutes’ duration. 

  • Paper 1: you will choose one question from a range to provide an extended written response on texts studied in class. This paper is worth 20 marks (20% of the total mark).
  • Paper 2: you will choose one unseen text from a range of genres on which to write an extended critical analysis. This is worth 20 marks (20% of the total mark).

Possible Progression Routes

 My World of Work

  • Further Education
  • Higher Education
  • Training or employment
  • Careers for which English would be beneficial include: Academic Librarian, Administrator, Advertising, Bank Manager, Barrister, Journalist, Customer Service Manager, Teacher, Hotel/Leisure Manager, Human Resources Officer, Insurance, Management Consultant, Media, Museum, Project Manager/Support Officer, Public Relations, Retail Buyer/Manager, Solicitor, Team Leader, Television/Radio Broadcasting, Theatre Stage Manager, Writer and many more.