Broad General Education S1 – S3 

During S1 are given opportunities to interact with a variety of texts, such as poetry, drama, etc.  As a means of developing reading skills in S1 the English Department are implementing and utilising the Active Literacy strategies which pupils have been learning in primary schools. This provides pupils with a sense of consistency and the can begin applying their skills to even more challenging texts. To complement the use of Active Literacy in class the pupils will complete a number of Independent Reading Projects where they choose a book and use the Active Literacy strategies to examine the text closely.

As pupils progress through S1 and into S2 during the reading of texts in class pupils will develop their skills in the analysis of the major elements contained within the texts and the techniques used to describe them. Furthermore, pupils will develop their writing ability by applying their knowledge of these texts into an essay format where they will demostrate their analysis and comprehension skills.

Writing in the BGE is not limited to the writing of essays, pupils will be given opportunities to study and create pieces of writing in different formats, ranging from creative short stories to research based reports.

As pupils progress into S3 as well as giving them the opportunities to develpo their literacy skills and experience a variety of literature, the pupils must look ahead to National 4 and National 5.

As such, pupils in S3 will be focussing on building skills in order to prepare for future exam courses. Also, pupils in S3 may have the opprtunity to compelete coursework required for National 4/5 and bank it towards their award. In May a number of S3 pupils will sit their S3 English Exam. This is graded at National 5 level and will provide them with a taste of what to expect next year.

Senior Phase S4 – S6

During S4 – S6 the ENglish department offers a number of courses graded at National level.

National 4

This course is internally assessed, meaning that pupils do not sit an exam, and is broken down into 4 Units which must be passed in order to achieve the award (for more information on the specifics of these Units please consult the links page).

The Units are as follows:

Analysis and Evaluation (Reading and Listening skills)

Creation and Production (Writing and Talking skills)

Added Value (researching a topic and comparing sources)

Literacy (assessed throughout the year)

National 5 

Unlike National 4 which is all internally assessed National 5 includes an external assessment which has two sections:

Section1: The exam (70% of overall grade)

A one hour paper, worth 30 marks, which will test skills in reading for understanding, analysis and evaluation.

The second ninety minute paper has two parts:

Part 1, valued at 20 marks, is a critical essay answering an unseen question on a text you will have studied in class that year.

Part 2, also worth 20 marks, involves answering questions on a Scottish Text then going on to write an extended answer concerning the themes or ideas within the text(s).

Section 2: The folio (30% of overall grade)

This will consist of two pieces of writing in two formats: one broadly creative and the other broadly discursive. Both essays are worth 15 marks each. Pupils will have opportunities to  redraft these essays thrughout the year.

In order to be entered for the exam you will need to complete and pass two units:

Unit 1: Analysis and Evaluation

Unit 2: Creation and Production

Higher

The structure of the Higher course is very similar to that of National 5, the difference being the standard and quality of work produced throughout the course.

Like National 5 there is an external assessment in two sections:

Section 1: The exam (70% of overall grade)

This consists of a one hour and thirty minute paper which will test skills in reading for understanding, analysis and evaluation by answering questions on a non-fiction text. The difference from National 5 is that the first extract has been answered, there is a second exract you will be required to read. The second extract is then followed by a question asking for an explanation of how the second paper is similar and / or different to the first one.

The second paper in the exam is one hour and forty-five minutes and has two parts:

A critical essay answering a question on a text covered in class that year.

The next part involves answering questions on a Scottish Text then going on to write an extended answer relating the ideas and / or themes in that text to other sections of the text(s). The development from National 5 is that the final question is worth 10 marks, not 8.

Section2: The folio (30% of overall grade)

This will consist of two pieces of writing in two formats: one broadly creative and the other broadly discursive. Both essays are worth 15 marks each. Again, pupils will be expected to redraft their essays throughout the year ensuring they achieve their potential.

As with National 5 pupils will also be expected to pass two units graded at Higher level:

Unit 1: Analysis and Evaluation

Unit 2: Creation and Production