Year 3 - English Programme of Study:
Student Guidelines
Third Form English (a pre-IGCSE course)
2015-16
Year 3 is a challenging and exciting year, which will be crucial in preparing you for the IGCSE Language and Literature courses in years 4 and 5. In Year 3, you will be exploring a wide variety of material to help you develop the skills required in the IGCSE courses so that you will be ready and confident to study these. It is important to remember that success is not remembering FACTS in English. Still, practising SKILLS, demonstrating that you understand texts you read, can build an argument, express opinions and give evidence to support your ideas (through the pattern of Point-Evidence-Explanation). You will also be able to explain HOW writers achieve effects in their work and then produce writing of your own in various different styles. Whichever subject you are studying, having good English will help you achieve to the best of your abilities, developing your analytical skills and improving your ability to discuss ideas with others.
At The English School, we study English as a native language, so it is vitally important that you get as much exposure to the language as you can through reading books of your choice, poetry, newspapers, the Internet, watching films in English etc. You will also practise your Speaking and Listening skills through group discussions, presentations, performing role-plays etc.
Factors of Assessment
Your assessment will be based on your writing skills (through class assignments, coursework, tests, exams etc), but also your oral (spoken) contribution during lessons.
How the course is divided
In preparation for IGCSE requirements, the course is broken down into a Language component and a Literature component.
For the Language component of the course, the texts studied are:
Student Guidelines
Third Form English (a pre-IGCSE course)
2015-16
Year 3 is a challenging and exciting year, which will be crucial in preparing you for the IGCSE Language and Literature courses in years 4 and 5. In Year 3, you will be exploring a wide variety of material to help you develop the skills required in the IGCSE courses so that you will be ready and confident to study these. It is important to remember that success is not remembering FACTS in English. Still, practising SKILLS, demonstrating that you understand texts you read, can build an argument, express opinions and give evidence to support your ideas (through the pattern of Point-Evidence-Explanation). You will also be able to explain HOW writers achieve effects in their work and then produce writing of your own in various different styles. Whichever subject you are studying, having good English will help you achieve to the best of your abilities, developing your analytical skills and improving your ability to discuss ideas with others.
At The English School, we study English as a native language, so it is vitally important that you get as much exposure to the language as you can through reading books of your choice, poetry, newspapers, the Internet, watching films in English etc. You will also practise your Speaking and Listening skills through group discussions, presentations, performing role-plays etc.
Factors of Assessment
Your assessment will be based on your writing skills (through class assignments, coursework, tests, exams etc), but also your oral (spoken) contribution during lessons.
How the course is divided
In preparation for IGCSE requirements, the course is broken down into a Language component and a Literature component.
For the Language component of the course, the texts studied are:
Extracts from Literacy Objectives and Grammar in Context.
Through the language texts, you will develop your skills in all areas to improve your fluency and expression in English. You will explore different styles of writing and practise using these, e.g. creative/descriptive/narrative, argumentative, discursive, persuasive, informative etc. You will also observe the rules of grammar in the context of writing, and comment on the effects of language used, allowing you to apply various techniques in a purposeful and expressive way in your own writing.
For the Literature component of the course, the texts studied are:
Short Stories (in the Literature booklet), Of Mice and Men, Poetry (in the Literature booklet), and an introduction to Shakespeare (extract from Romeo and Juliet in the Literature booklet).
Through the literature texts, you will study and respond to literature and develop literary appreciation. Whilst exploring prose and poetry, you will consider techniques used and offer a personal response. You will improve your own writing skills, and even produce poetry of your own!
Course Outcomes
Throughout the year, your teachers will be setting written and oral assignments, as well as tests, all of which will contribute to your term grades.
Your final grade at the end of year 3 will be based on the following:
Through the language texts, you will develop your skills in all areas to improve your fluency and expression in English. You will explore different styles of writing and practise using these, e.g. creative/descriptive/narrative, argumentative, discursive, persuasive, informative etc. You will also observe the rules of grammar in the context of writing, and comment on the effects of language used, allowing you to apply various techniques in a purposeful and expressive way in your own writing.
For the Literature component of the course, the texts studied are:
Short Stories (in the Literature booklet), Of Mice and Men, Poetry (in the Literature booklet), and an introduction to Shakespeare (extract from Romeo and Juliet in the Literature booklet).
Through the literature texts, you will study and respond to literature and develop literary appreciation. Whilst exploring prose and poetry, you will consider techniques used and offer a personal response. You will improve your own writing skills, and even produce poetry of your own!
Course Outcomes
Throughout the year, your teachers will be setting written and oral assignments, as well as tests, all of which will contribute to your term grades.
Your final grade at the end of year 3 will be based on the following:
- a written task on Of Mice and Men (minimum 500 words) – 15% of final Year 3 grade (Term 2)
- a written task on Romeo and Juliet (minimum 500 words) – 15% of final Year 3 grade (Term 3)
- a final exam – 70% of final Year 3 grade
This will take place in 2 sittings:
Paper 1 - A composition
Paper 2
a) response to an extract of a text focusing on language, and including a directed writing task
b) response to one of the studied poems, for analysis of literary techniques
Note: The coursework task will teach you the skills of drafting and re-drafting your work, which is good preparation for what you will be expected to do for IGCSE. This means you will have the opportunity to work at your own pace on an extended piece of writing, allowing you (especially those of you with exam nerves!) to show what you can do without the pressure of timed conditions.
Work which counts towards the final mark will also be moderated by teachers, who will discuss and agree on the grades awarded to all classes.
Sample Paper
Paper 1 - A composition
Paper 2
a) response to an extract of a text focusing on language, and including a directed writing task
b) response to one of the studied poems, for analysis of literary techniques
Note: The coursework task will teach you the skills of drafting and re-drafting your work, which is good preparation for what you will be expected to do for IGCSE. This means you will have the opportunity to work at your own pace on an extended piece of writing, allowing you (especially those of you with exam nerves!) to show what you can do without the pressure of timed conditions.
Work which counts towards the final mark will also be moderated by teachers, who will discuss and agree on the grades awarded to all classes.
Sample Paper
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Year Three Mid-Programme Entry English |
