These units examine questions and involve students in analysing a range of texts, developing skills in reading closely and critically, and discussing and debating various ways of interpreting and evaluating texts.

Unit 1 Approaches to Literature

In this unit students focus on the ways in which interaction between the text and the reader creates meaning. Students analyse the features and conventions of texts to help them develop increasingly discriminating and sophisticated responses to a range of literary forms and styles. Students respond critically, creatively and analytically to the ideas and concerns in the texts they are reading and gain insight into how texts represent the human experience. They develop familiarity with key terms, concepts and practices that equip them for further studies in literature.

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Respond analytically to a range of texts and reflect upon the influences that have shaped their understanding and reading of these texts
2. Analyse the ways in which a selected text reflects or comments on the ideas and concerns of individuals and particular groups in society

Unit 2 Context and Connections

In this unit students explore the ways literary texts are connected with each other and the world. They deepen their examination of the ways their own culture and the cultures represented in texts can influence their interpretation of that text. Drawing on a range of literary texts, students consider the relationships between author, reader and contexts. Ideas, language and structures of different texts from past and present eras and/or different cultures are compared and contrasted. Students analyse similarities and differences between texts and establish connections between them. They engage in close readings of texts and create analytical responses that are evidenced based. By experimenting with textual structures and language features, students will understand how to create their own imaginative texts based upon a close reading.

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Compare texts and consider how they have influenced each other
2. Analyse and respond critically and creatively to a text from a past era/different culture

Unit 3 Form and Transformation

In this unit students consider how the form of a text affects meaning, and how writers construct their texts. They investigate ways writers adapt and transform texts and how meaning is affected as texts are adapted and transformed. They consider how the perspectives of those adapting texts may inform or influence the adaptations. Students draw on their study of adaptations and transformations to develop creative responses to texts. Students develop their skills in communicating ideas in both written and oral forms.

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Respond creatively to a studied text and make a detailed analysis of their own response and its relationship to the original text
2. Critically analyse the extent to which meaning changes when a text is adapted to a different form.

 

Unit 4 Interpreting Texts

In this unit students develop critical and analytic responses to texts. They consider the context of their responses to texts as well as the ideas explored in the texts, the style of the language and points of view. They investigate literary criticism informing both the reading and writing of texts. Students develop an informed and sustained interpretation supported by close textual analysis.

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Produce an interpretation of a text using different literary perspectives to inform their view
2. Analyse features of texts and develop and justify interpretations of texts

Assessment

Contact Teacher - Jane Overton