EASTER REVISION COURSEGUIDE

A Level English Literature

Aims  

1.To improve analytical techniques required by all
A level examining boards.

2.To build confidence in the understanding of the fundamental principles of literary criticism of literary and effective communication.

3.To provide intensive revision sessions concentrating on texts specified by students, in order to build up knowledge of key areas of these set texts.

4.To emphasise and practise important aspects of examination technique, with the aid of past paper questions.

5.To provide advice on, and assistance with, appropriate
methods of active and effective revision.

6.To help students improve essay planning and structure.

Course Design       

The course is tailored to meet the requirements of all students and arrangements can be made to cover any of the major texts prescribed for study by the Edexcel, AQA, and OCR examining boards.

Schedule of Work

Day 1
Essays         

Logical reasoning, developing a personal and informed
response, and the best use of textual evidence will all be explored.

Criticism      

Exercises in criticising poetry and prose will be carried out,
using a wide range of texts which may be taken from past papers or from other sources, if the extracted materials provide particularly good examination practice.  Analysis and discussion of answers, in order to enrich students’ interpretation, will compel students to play an active and effective part in their own revision work.

Day 2
Drama           

Discussion and note-taking will cover important themes, dramatic style and aspects of character. Exam-style essay questions will be set and analysed together, to be written up at home.  Help will be given when breaking down examination questions. Students will be given positive and constructive feedback with their written and verbal responses.

Day 3
Poetry           

Analysis of previous day’s written work will be followed by the introduction of a poetry text. Discussion and note-taking will cover important themes, historical and philosophical background, poetic language and aspects of character as appropriate. Exam-style essay questions will be set and analysed together, to be written up at home.  Students will be expected to take more of a lead at this stage, although plenty of help will still be provided.

Day 4
Prose Text 

Analysis of previous day’s written work will be followed by the study of a prose text (novel). Discussion and note-taking will cover the genre of Romanticism, important themes, historical and philosophical background, style and narrative structure, especially the use of symbolism, and aspects of the personalities and roles of the main protagonists.

Day 5

This day will be spent in completing a mock examination
featuring essay questions on the texts covered, and practical criticism of a previously unseen text.
We will conclude by discussing individuals’ performance and potential.