Senior Phase
S4
Courses Offered in S4:
National 4 English
This is an internally assessed course in which pupils will cover the four key skills of reading, writing, talking and listening through a range of texts and tasks.
There is a focus on short texts and media texts, allowing pupils the opportunity to experience language in an engaging context.
Pupils will complete assessment tasks which will allow them to demonstrate their skills in reading, writing, talking and listening.
Towards the end of the session, pupils will undertake tasks which will help to prepare them for National 5 English.
National 5 English
This course has a strong focus on literature with pupils studying a range of texts and pupils will undertake a final exam.
There are 3 main components:
Paper 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30% of overall grade):
Pupils are expected to read a passage and answer a series of questions which focus on demonstrating an understanding of the text, analysing the writer’s language and evaluating the effectiveness of the text.
Paper 2: Critical Reading (40% of overall grade):
This paper has two parts to it: the Scottish Text whereby pupils will study either one or a range of texts by a Scottish author in class and then they will have to textually analyse either one poem or a section of a longer text in the exam and a critical essay where pupils will write an essay based on a text they have studied in class.
Paper 3: Portfolio (30% of overall grade):
Pupils will write either a broadly creative or broadly discursive piece which will be submitted to SQA for external marking. This piece should be no longer than 1,000 words.
S5/6
Courses Offered in S5 / 6:
National 5 English
This course has a strong focus on literature with pupils studying a range of texts and pupils will undertake a final exam.
There are 3 main components:
Paper 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30% of overall grade):
Pupils are expected to read a passage and answer a series of questions which focus on demonstrating an understanding of the text, analysing the writer’s language and evaluating the effectiveness of the text.
Paper 2: Critical Reading (40% of overall grade):
This paper has two parts to it: the Scottish Text whereby pupils will study either one or a range of texts by a Scottish author in class and then they will have to textually analyse either one poem or a section of a longer text in the exam and a critical essay where pupils will write an essay based on a text they have studied in class.
Paper 3: Portfolio (30% of overall grade):
Pupils will write either a broadly creative or broadly discursive piece which will be submitted to SQA for external marking. This piece should be no longer than 1,000 words.
National 6 (Higher) English
The Higher course follows the same structure as the National 5 Course. However, it is more challenging in that the language pupils are asked to read and analyse is more complex, as is the selection of texts they will study. Furthermore, no marks are awarded for quoting in either the Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation paper and the Scottish Text paper, meaning that pupils are required to analyse the text in more detail.
There are 3 main components:
Paper 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30% of overall grade):
Pupils are expected to read a passage and answer a series of questions which focus on demonstrating an understanding of the text, analysing the writer’s language and evaluating the effectiveness of the text.
Paper 2: Critical Reading (40% of overall grade):
This paper has two parts to it: the Scottish Text whereby pupils will study either one or a range of texts by a Scottish author in class and then they will have to textually analyse either one poem or a section of a longer text in the exam and a critical essay where pupils will write an essay based on a text they have studied in class.
Paper 3: Portfolio (30% of overall grade):
Pupils will write either a broadly creative or broadly discursive piece which will be submitted to SQA for external marking. This piece should be no longer than 1,000 words.
Communication (SCQF level 5) and Introduction to Literature (SCQF level 5)
The course is assessed through ongoing class based assignments rather than a final exam, with the focus on developing the communication skills you need to take your education or employment further.
The course consists of 2 units:
Communication (SCQF level 5) - Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening all assessed through a variety of materials.
Intro to Literature - use a range of different texts to build skills in analysing and evaluating the written and spoken word.
Successful completion of both units would enable pupils to progress on to National 5 English.
Communication (SCQF level 6) and Literature 1
The course is assessed through ongoing class based assignments rather than a final exam, with the focus on developing the communication skills you need to take your education or employment further.
The course consists of 2 units:
NC Communication (SCQF level 6) - Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening all assessed through a variety of materials.
Literature 1 - use a range of different complex texts to build skills in analysing and evaluating the written and spoken word. You will also build confidence in writing and will explore different genres of literature: including poetry, short stories and film.
Successful completion of both units would enable pupils to progress on to Higher English.
NPA Journalism
The NPA Journalism course gives students an insight into the skills and attributes needed for this career.
There are 4 unit outcomes that cover all areas of the journalism world, from adverts to asking awkward questions; from design layout to debate styles and everything in between.
Unit 1 - Research and interview skills
Unit 2 - Feature writing
Unit 3 - Page layout and design for print
Unit 4 - News writing for print
The result will be a keen knowledge of the workings of the world of news and how it is delivered to an audience. So, if you are interested in politics, sport, music, entertainment or just a nosey person, journalism is a course that shows you how to put your talents in writing, investigation, imagination and research to good use in a career that offers excitement and progression but never boredom!
Entry into the above courses is dependent on pupils’ results in S4.
The S5/6 English course is fast-paced and demanding and a high degree of self-discipline is expected of our pupils. Pupils entering into the S5/6 English courses must do so with the expectation that they will have regular homework and deadlines to meet and that they will be required to take responsibility for managing their workload appropriately.
Assessment
Internal formal assessment will take place regularly and work will be assessed using the SQA criteria.
Formal assessments will be stored in each pupil’s folio which will be kept by the class teacher.
All pupils in S5 and S6 undertaking either will participate in a formal assessment week in January where they will sit a prelim examination which reflects the standard and content of the final exam. This will consist of two exam papers: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation and Critical Reading.
