In the Williamwood High School English department, students work hard to build their reading, writing, listening and talking skills. Students will have a wide variety of excellent experiences which challenge them to refine their literacy skills, as well helping them to achieve the broader aims of Curriculum for Excellence. In the senior years students receive a high standard of preparation for their National Qualifications and are challenged to maximise on their potential.
These skills, achievements and overall experiences in English are an integral part of every student’s time in the school.
The purpose of the site is to provide advice to parents and students about the courses for each year group. Also, the site will provide helpful links for classwork and homework resources. There are also updates about achievements in the department, as well as inter-disciplinary learning opportunities.
Use the tabs at the top of the page to access the information relevant to your child.
You can also follow us on Twitter. Follow us @EWilliamwood to get regular updates on what’s happening in the department as well as recommended newspaper articles and study tips.
Course Overview
S1 and S2 Course Information
In line with the English and Literacy outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence, the English course at Williamwood in S1 and S2 encompasses detailed study in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. Pupils will study a variety of texts from a range of different genres. These texts will be used as a basis for pupils in the study of language and writing as well as providing a clear stimulus to help develop skills in talking and listening. S1 and S2 classes visit the Library and are given the opportunity to read for ten minutes at the start of each lesson. At the end of S2 pupils will participate in “Page Turners”, where they select a novel to study.
S3 Course Information
In line with Curriculum for Excellence, the S3 course in English sees pupils continue to develop their abilities in the experiences and outcomes that they have covered in S1 and S2, with a focus on Level 4 CfE benchmarks. Once again, pupils will be assessed across four key areas of the course: Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. Pupils will continue to refine their skills in each of these key areas using a range of different texts as a stimulus. Much of the S3 course is devoted to developing literacy skills through a colourful range of activities and texts. Pupils will, as always, be encouraged to read an increasingly varied and more sophisticated range of literature and quality journalism. In S3, classes continue to visit the school library and will be encouraged to continue to pursue their personal reading. At the end of S3, pupils will sit an examination comprising close reading and critical essay. Following the examination they will begin aspects of their National Qualifications courses.
S4 Courses
National 4 English and Literacy
The National 4 course helps pupils to develop core skills for life, learning and work and provides a foundation for success at National 5 English. The course consists of two units and is internally assessed. In the Creation and Production unit pupils will complete assessments of their writing and talk skills. In the Analysis and Evaluation unit pupils will complete assessments of their reading and listening skills. An AVU is also required. national 4 classes will also have the option to prepare for Literacy 5 units, which will enhance their skills in each of the 4 components.
National 5 English
The National 5 course prepares pupils to be examined in three elements:
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
This element of the exam is worth 30% of the overall grade. Pupils will learn key formulas to help them answer a range of questions and this will be supplemented by continued reading of quality newspaper articles. In the examination, pupils have 1 hour to read a passage and answer a series of questions.
Critical Reading
Pupils will read a range of texts across genres to prepare them for the Critical Reading paper. Pupils will have 1 hour 30 minutes in which to produce a critical essay and to answer a range of questions on the Scottish text/s which they have prepared for. This paper is worth 40% of the overall grade
Portfolio of Writing
Pupils are required been required to produce a folio of writing that is worth 30% of their overall mark. Pupils will produce either one piece of personal/creative writing or one of a more persuasive/discursive nature. This should be no more than 1000 words.
Higher English
The Higher examination consists of three elements:
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
The Close Reading element of the exam is worth 30% of the overall grade. Pupils will learn key formula to help them answer a range of questions and this will be supplemented by continued reading of quality newspaper articles. In the examination, pupils have 1 hour and 30 minutes to read two passages and answer a series of questions.
Critical Reading
Pupils will read a range of texts across genre to prepare them for the Critical Reading paper. Pupils will have 1 hour 30 minutes in which to produce a critical essay and to answer a range of questions on the Scottish text/s which they have prepared for.
Folio of Writing
Pupils are required to produce a folio of writing that is worth 30% of their overall mark. Pupils will either produce one piece of personal/creative writing or one of a more persuasive/discursive nature. This should be no more than 1300 words.
Advanced Higher English
In S6 pupils who have been successful in Higher English have the opportunity to further develop their skills in Advanced Higher. The course is excellent preparation for university as it requires a great deal of independent work, organisation and a high level of understanding of complex and sophisticated texts.
The Advanced Higher classes are also given a range of opportunities beyond the classroom to develop their skills. In recent years, these opportunities have included online support from the Mitchell Library to develop their understanding of how to use secondary sources, theatre performances, access to the Royal Literary Fund Bridge Workshop and visits from author (and ex-Williamwood pupil) Martin Stewart.
The Advanced Higher Course consists of four elements
Literary Study
Throughout the year, students will study a range of work by classic writers, such as Tennessee Williams, Sylvia Plath, John Donne and James Joyce. In the final exam they will complete a critical essay that will require them to compare a number of different texts. This is worth 20% of their overall mark.
Textual Analysis
Over the course of the year, students will develop their independent analysis skills. In the exam, students will be given an unseen text and will be required to complete an extended analysis. They will be able to choose between poetry, prose-fiction, prose non-fiction and drama. This is worth 20% of the overall mark.
Portfolio of Writing
Pupils will be given the opportunity to study a range of different genres of writing and be given a number of stimuli to help them begin their own work. They will select two pieces to re-draft and submit as coursework. The writing folio of worth 30% of the overall mark.
Dissertation
The dissertation is very different to any work undertaken at Higher and an excellent opportunity for pupils to explore their own literary passions. Pupils will choose their own texts and topic and will complete, re-draft and submit a 2500-3500 word essay. The dissertation is worth 30% of the overall mark.
