English Language & Literature

Course summary

Think about all the times you tell someone about something. In effect, you are telling a story. Why do you tell the story in the way you do? What do you keep in and why? What do you leave out and why? This applies not just to the way we tell stories, but how we present our ideas and attitudes. Many factors affect how people tell stories or present their ideas. Building on the knowledge and skills developed in your GCSEs in English Language and English Literature, we will analyse in depth and detail how and why people tell stories – in the broadest sense – by looking at a variety of fictional and non-fictional texts including Shakespeare. You will be expected to engage in a considerable amount of independent reading and be willing to take the initiative when exploring how writers use language to present their ideas and attitudes.