GCSE CCEA GCSE Specification in English Literature Version 3: 5 May 2018 For first teaching from September 2017 For first assessment in Summer 2018 For first award in Summer 2019 Subject Code: 5110 Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Aims 4 1.2 Key features 4 1.3 Prior attainment 4 1.4 Classification codes and subject combinations 4 2 Specification at a Glance 5 3 Subject Content 7 3.1 Unit 1: The Study of Prose 7 3.2 Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry 9 3.3 Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare 11 4 Scheme of Assessment 12 4.1 Assessment opportunities 12 4.2 Assessment objectives 12 4.3 Assessment objective weightings 13 4.4 Quality of written communication 13 4.5 Reporting and grading 13 5 Grade Descriptions 14 6 Guidance on Controlled Assessment 15 6.1 Controlled assessment review 15 6.2 Skills assessed by controlled assessment 15 6.3 Level of control 15 6.4 Task setting 15 6.5 Task taking 16 6.6 Task marking 18 6.7 Internal standardisation 18 6.8 Moderation 18 7 Curriculum Objectives 19 7.1 Cross-Curricular Skills at Key Stage 4 19 7.2 Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities at Key Stage 4 20 Summary of Changes since First Issue 32 Version 3: 5 May 2018 8 Links and Support 22 8.1 Support 22 8.2 Examination entries 22 8.3 Equality and inclusion 22 8.4 Contact details 23 Appendix 1 24 Glossary of Terms for Controlled Assessment Regulations Appendix 2 26 Additional Details on Texts for Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry Appendix 3 28 Controlled Assessment Themes and Tasks for Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare Appendix 4 30 Assessment Criteria for Unit 3: The Study of Shakespeare Subject Code 5110 QAN 603/0784/5 A CCEA Publication © 2017 This specification is available online at www.ccea.org.uk Version 3: 5 May 2018 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 1 Introduction This specification sets out the content and assessment details for our GCSE course in English Literature. We have designed this specification to meet the requirements of: • Northern Ireland GCSE Design Principles; • Northern Ireland GCE and GCSE Qualifications Criteria; and • Subject Criteria and Requirements for English. First teaching is from September 2017. We will make the first award based on this specification in Summer 2019. This specification is a unitised course. The guided learning hours, as for all our GCSEs, are 120 hours. The specification supports the aim of the Northern Ireland Curriculum to empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives, as well as its objectives: • to develop the young person as an individual; • to develop the young person as a contributor to society; and • to develop the young person as a contributor to the economy and environment. If there are any major changes to this specification, we will notify centres in writing. The online version of the specification will always be the most up to date; to view and download this please go to www.ccea.org.uk Version 3: 02 May 2018 3 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 1.1 Aims This specification aims to encourage students to: • become critical readers of prose, drama and poetry; • develop the ability to analyse the impact of language, structure and form in a range of texts; • connect ideas, themes and issues in a range of texts; • explore contexts and experience different times, cultures, viewpoints and situations in texts; and • read for enjoyment and nurture a lifelong love of literature. 1.2 Key features The following are important features of this specification. • It offers opportunities to build on the skills and capabilities developed through the delivery of the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 3. • It is a unitised specification, allowing students flexibility in preparing for assessment; students can enter for a unit when they are ready to be assessed and can resit each unit individually. • It allows students to study English Literature and related subjects at a more advanced level and to develop the skills they need to progress to employment. • Students can use texts that they are studying for GCSE English Literature as the stimulus for GCSE English Language controlled assessment tasks. 1.3 Prior attainment This specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the statutory requirements for the following areas of Key Stage 3 in the Northern Ireland Curriculum: • Language and Literacy: English with Media Education; and • The Arts: Drama at Key Stage 3. Students do not need to have reached a particular level of attainment before beginning to study this specification. 1.4 Classification codes and subject combinations Every specification has a national classification code that indicates its subject area. The classification code for this qualification is 5110. Please note that if a student takes two qualifications with the same classification code, schools, colleges and universities that they apply to may take the view that they have achieved only one of the two GCSEs. The same may occur with any two GCSE qualifications that have a significant overlap in content, even if the classification codes are different. Because of this, students who have any doubts about their subject combinations should check with the schools, colleges and universities that they would like to attend before beginning their studies. Version 3: 02 May 2018 4 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 2 Specification at a Glance The table below summarises the structure of this GCSE course. Content Assessment Weightings Availability Unit 1: External written 30% Summer from The Study of Prose examination 2018 Untiered 1 hour 45 mins Students answer two questions, one from Section A and the set question in Section B. Section A is closed book. Unit 2: External written 50% Summer from The Study of Drama examination 2019 and Poetry Untiered 2 hours Students answer two questions, one from Section A and one from Section B. Section A is open book. Section B is open book. Version 3: 02 May 2018 5 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 Content Assessment Weightings Availability Unit 3: Controlled assessment 20% Summer from The Study of 2019 Shakespeare Untiered 2 hours Students complete one task: an extended writing question based on a theme. For the themes for first teaching in September 2017, see Appendix 3. Teachers mark the tasks, and we moderate the results. Students must take at least 40 percent of the assessment (based on unit weightings) at the end of the course as terminal assessment. Version 3: 02 May 2018 6 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 3 Subject Content We have divided this course into three units. The content of each unit and the respective learning outcomes appear below. 3.1 Unit 1: The Study of Prose Section A: Novel In this section, students explore and respond to a modern novel they have studied. They communicate their knowledge and understanding of the novel. Assessment for this unit is a written examination that lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. The Section A part of the examination lasts 1 hour and is worth 20 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students answer one question from a choice of two on each novel. Content Learning Outcomes Lord of the Flies Students should be able to: William Golding • read and understand a novel; or • respond to the novel critically and imaginatively; About A Boy Nick Hornby • select and evaluate relevant textual material; or • use details from the novel to illustrate interpretations; and How Many Miles to Babylon? • Jennifer Johnston explain and evaluate how the author uses narrative techniques, language, structure and form to present ideas, or themes, characters and settings. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee or Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck or Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha Roddy Doyle or Animal Farm George Orwell Version 3: 02 May 2018 7 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 3.1 Unit 1: The Study of Prose Section B: Unseen Prose In this section, students explore, respond to, and learn how to analyse and evaluate an unseen nineteenth-century prose extract. The Section B part of the examination lasts 45 minutes and is worth 10 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students should spend 15 minutes reading the extract and 30 minutes writing their response to the set question. Content Learning Outcomes Unseen prose Students should be able to: • read and understand a prose extract; • use details from the prose extract to illustrate interpretations; and • explain and evaluate how the author uses narrative techniques, language, structure and form to present ideas, themes, characters and settings. Version 3: 02 May 2018 8 CCEA GCSE English Literature from September 2017 3.2 Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry Section A: Drama In this section, students explore and respond to a play they have studied. They communicate their knowledge and understanding of a play by a modern dramatist. Assessment for this unit is a written examination that lasts 2 hours. The Section A part of the examination lasts 1 hour and is worth 25 percent of the marks for this qualification. Students are permitted to bring an unannotated copy of their chosen play into the examination. They answer one question from a choice of two on each play. See Appendix 2 for more information on the prescribed texts. Content Learning Outcomes Juno and the Students should be able to: Paycock Sean O’Casey • read and understand a play; or • respond to the play critically and imaginatively; An Inspector Calls • select and evaluate relevant textual material; J B Priestley • use details from the play to illustrate interpretations; and or • Philadelphia, Here I explain and evaluate how the dramatist uses dramatic Come! techniques, language, structure and form to present ideas, Brian Friel themes, characters and settings.