English Advanced Higher

Purpose and Aims of the Course

The main purpose of the Course is to provide learners with the opportunity to apply critical, analytical and evaluative skills to a wide range of complex and sophisticated texts from different genres. Learners will develop sophisticated writing skills, responding to the way structure, form and language shape the overall meaning of texts. The Course provides personalisation and choice for learners by allowing them to choose to develop skills in different types of writing, and by developing their awareness of the relationship between text and context in the analysis and evaluation of literary texts.

The Course aims to provide opportunities for learners to develop the ability to:

critically analyse and evaluate a wide range of complex and sophisticated literary texts, as appropriate to purpose and audience
apply critical, investigative and analytical skills to a literary topic of personal interest
create a range of complex and sophisticated texts, as appropriate to different purposes and audiences
apply knowledge and understanding of complex language in a wide range of contexts and use creative and critical thinking to synthesise ideas and arguments. The Course also develops high levels of analytical thinking and understanding of the impact of language.

Literature Study

This aspect of the course is worth 20% and is marked out of 20. Pupils are required to write a critical essay on the two texts studied in class in 1 hour and 30 minutes. They will be provided with approximately 8 questions to select from.

Currently pupils study, ‘A Street Car Named Desire’ and ‘Sweet Bird of Youth’ by Tennessee Williams.

Link to course page on SQA website here.

Link to Course Resources

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