The course combines two SQA units: Literature 1 (FA58 12) and Communication (FA1W 12, also known as Communications 4). Together, these two units are accepted by a number of colleges and universities as an equivalent qualification to Higher English.

Whereas Higher English concentrates on the literary aspects of the language, the combination of Literature and Communication offers alternative language skills. The Literature aspect aims to help students to enjoy novels, plays and poetry, while Communication offers practical skills in reading, writing, listening and presentation that are transferable into both academic and commercial situations.

During this course students will learn how to produce and evaluate examples of spoken and written communication, and participate in the meaningful analysis of literature, its social and moral concerns, its devices and stylistic characteristics. Students will be expected to discuss, watch performances of, and make reasoned judgments about literary texts, plays, poems, novels, or short stories.

Skills:

Students will develop reading, writing, listening and talking skills:

• Listening skills are practised in a variety of contexts, for example watching broadcasts and group discussion of texts.
• Writing skills will be developed by employing different registers, formats and styles to fulfil a variety of purposes.
• Talking skills will be practised in a variety of contexts, for example presenting information and opinions and discussion of issues and texts.

This course provides an alternative to English Higher as an entry qualification for some HN and Degree courses. As such, it is available to any pupil with a C pass in English at National 5, or who has completed Level 5 Core Skills: Literacy and Communications.

Broad General Education
Pupils cover the Experiences and Outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence at the appropriate levels. The course is skills-based covering the skills of:

Talking and Listening
Building skills in group discussion, paying attention to others and responding appropriately
Building skills in solo talk

Reading
Textual study of prose fiction and poetry, building critical analysis and evaluation skills
Study of prose non-fiction, building skills in reading for understanding, analysis and evaluation

Writing
Building skills in a variety of creative and discursive writing genres

Senior Phase
National 3/4/5

National 5 courses consist of the study of two texts, Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation techniques and an externally assessed writing folio which is sent to the SQA in April. The texts being studied in this session are as follows:

Text 1 Selection of poetry

Text 2 ‘Sailmaker’ by Alan Spence (drama)

S5 / S6 National Qualification: Pupils progress to the next level of English depending on results at the end of S4 or S5. Courses available are:

National 4/5, Higher, Advanced Higher

Higher English also consists of the study of two texts, Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation techniques and an externally assessed writing folio which is sent to the SQA in April. The texts being studied in this session are as follows:

Text 1: A selection of poetry by Liz Lochhead, Seamus Heaney, Edwin Morgan, Carol Ann Duffy, and Norman McCaig

Text 2: ‘The Cone-Gatherers’ by Robin Jenkins (prose fiction)

Advanced Higher English is also an optional subject for S6 candidates. It consists of two papers. In addition students are expected to complete a dissertation on a topic and texts of their own choice, as well as a Portfolio of writing:

· Paper 1: Textual Analysis

· Paper 2: Literary Study

For more information visit the SQA English webpage: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45672.html