English - Advanced Higher

The Advanced Higher English Course provides learners with the opportunity to apply critical, analytical and evaluative skills to a wide range of complex and sophisticated texts from different genres. Learners develop sophisticated writing skills, responding to the way structure, form and language shape the overall meaning of texts. This enables learners to access their own cultural heritage and history, as well as the culture and history of others. 

Learners have the opportunity to personalise their study; choices enable learners to encounter a wide range of texts in different genres and to produce sophisticated writing in chosen literary forms. Building on the four capacities, Advanced Higher English enables learners to communicate, be critical thinkers, develop cultural awareness, and be creative. 

Course Content 

The main purpose of the Course is to provide learners with the opportunity to apply analytical and evaluative skills to a wide range of literary texts. Learners interpret complex literary forms, produce sophisticated language and develop the skills outlined in the Units. 

 Learners will provide evidence of their critical analysis and evaluation skills by:

• analysing and evaluating at least two complex and sophisticated literary texts in depth
• providing details of their literary research, and organising their findings

Learners will provide evidence of their writing skills by:

• producing at least two drafts of one piece of their own writing and showing critical reflection of the development of the writing process
   

External Assessment 

The four components identified below will provide pupils with their overall grading. The first two components are undertaken in an Exam, while the Portfolio and Dissertations are undertaken in controlled conditions in school.  

• Literary Study (Component 1) – 20% (One Critical Essay) 
• Textual Analysis (Component 2) – 20% (One Essay on an unseen passage) 
• The Portfolio (Component 3) – 30% (one piece of writing either creative or discursive writing) 
• The Dissertation (Component 4) – 30% (One piece of writing demonstrating an in-depth knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated literary text/s) 

Further details on the external assessment can be found here. 

Entry Requirements 

Pass in Higher English at A or B AND 

A joy of reading and analysing texts.