Nat 5 | English Department

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 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 to read a passage 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. 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 one piece of personal/creative writing and one of a more persuasive/discursive nature.

Information for Parents

This Powerpoint is used at our National 5 Information Evenings and gives tips for parents on how to help their child achieve in National 5 English Nat 5 English Information for Parents

National 5 Writing Folio Template

From 2015-16, all National 5 and Higher English folios will be scanned and e-marked. To enable this, all pupil work must be submitted on an SQA template. You should complete your work on this template and then print the document off and submit it to your teacher as usual.

Please select the version that is compatible with the programme you are using:

Microsoft Word: English Coursework Template

Google Docs: English Coursework Template

Important information

This template must be used. If it is not, then we will not be able to submit your folio to the SQA.
Tolio piece should be submitted on one document. Clear headings should be used to make it obvious where one ends and the next begins.
There is space for your Scottish Candidate Number and a page number at the bottom of every page. These must be filled in. If you are unsure of your Scottish Candidate Number then Mr Fisher will inform you.
You must include your word count for each piece of writing and your list of sources.
Unfortunately, footnotes will not transfer to the template. A list of sources is adequate.

If you have any questions, then please check the following document Instructions For The Submission Of N5 and Higher English Coursework or ask your teacher for guidance.

Scottish Text

As part of the National 5 examination, candidates will be expected to write about a Scottish text that they have studied in class from a list prescribed by the SQA. At Williamwood all classes are either studying 6 poems by Edwin Morgan or the play ‘Sailmaker’ by Alan Spence

Edwin Morgan

Feel free to browse and download these Powerpoints which give a thorough analysis of the poems and insight into their key themes.

There are also helpful resources on the BBC Bitesize website

Sailmaker