Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

Introduction

The Group 1 course is designed to support future academic study by developing a high social, aesthetic and cultural literacy, as well as effective communication skills.

In the Studies in Language and Literature course, focus is directed towards developing an understanding of the techniques involved in literary criticism and promoting the ability to form independent literary judgements.

The aims of the study of Language and Literature at SL and HL are to:

• engage with a range of texts, in a variety of media and forms, from different periods, styles, and cultures
• develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, presenting and performing
• develop skills in interpretation, analysis and evaluation
• develop sensitivity to the formal and aesthetic qualities of texts and an appreciation of how they contribute to diverse responses and open up multiple meanings
• develop an understanding of relationships between texts and a variety of perspectives, cultural contexts, and local and global issues and an appreciation of how they contribute to diverse responses and open up multiple meanings
• develop an understanding of the relationships between studies in language and literature and other disciplines
• communicate and collaborate in a confident and creative way
• foster a lifelong interest in and enjoyment of language and literature

Year 1 Texts: “Maya Angelou”, “Medea”, “Wilfred Owen” and “The Assault”.

Year 2 Texts: “Death of a Salesman”, “Macbeth” and “Paradise of the Blind”

Course Content

The Language and Literature course runs over two years and involves the study of six works for Higher Level and four works for Standard Level. As well as these works, students will study a range of non-literary texts. There are three Areas of Exploration:

Area 1 - Readers, writers and texts

Area 2 - Time and space

Area 3 - Intertextuality: connecting texts

Non-literary texts are chosen from a variety of sources and media to represent as wide a range of text types as possible, and literary works are chosen from a variety of literary forms. The study of the non-literary texts and literary works focused on the nature of language and communication and the nature of literature and its study. This study includes the investigation of how texts themselves operate as well as the contexts and complexities of production and reception. Focus is on the development of personal and critical responses to the particulars of communication.

Non-literary texts and literary works are chosen from a variety of sources, literary forms and media that reflect a range of historical and/or cultural perspectives. Their study focuses on the contexts of language use and the variety of ways literary and non-literary texts might both reflect and shape society at large. The focus is on the consideration of personal and cultural perspectives, the development of broader perspectives, and an awareness of the ways in which context is tied to meaning.

Non-literary texts and literary works are chosen from a variety of sources, literary forms and media in a way that allows students an opportunity to extend their study and make fruitful comparisons. Their study focuses on the intertextual relationships with possibilities to explore various topics, thematic concerns, generic conventions, modes or literary traditions that have been introduced throughout the course. The focus is on the development of critical response grounded in an understanding of the complex relationships among texts.

Assessment

Examinations

There are two externally set and examined papers. Paper 1 is a “Guided literary analysis”

• For SL students: (20 marks) (1 hour 15 minutes)
• For HL students: (40 marks) (2 hours 15 minutes)

Paper 2 is a “Comparative essay”

• For SL students: (30 marks) (1 hour 45 minutes)
• For HL students: (30 marks) (1 hour 45 minutes)

Written Tasks

Only Higher Level students complete the literary essay: HL Essay.

• They are required to write on one non-literary body of work, or a literary work studied in the course.
• The required word count for the essay is: 1,200 – 1,500.
• The assignment is externally assessed. It is worth 20% of the marks.

Oral Component

SL and HL students complete an Individual Oral.

• Supported by an extract from one non-literary body of work and one from a literary work, students will offer a prepared response of 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions by the teacher. (40 marks)
• It is internally assessed, but moderated externally.
• For SL students it is worth 30% of the marks.
• For HL students it is worth 20% of the marks.