LOGO Literature in English HKDSE

Public exam component WeightingDuration Paper 1Appreciation30% 2 ½ hours Paper 2Essay Writing 50%3 hours Paper 3Portfolio / SBA 20%

Assessment Objectives  Be familiar with the background and content of stories, novels, plays and films, and the techniques used in their works  Express your personal response  Write your arguments that can demonstrate your creativity and critical thinking skills  Write freely, informally and imaginatively in your portfolio

Syllabus in THREE years Form 4:  10 short stories  Around 12 poems  Unseen poems

Things to cover in short stories  writer’s background  understand the text first  narrative techniques  First / third person narration  Characterization  Plot  Irony  Symbolism  Suspense  compare the writer’s styles in different stories  learn how to write an analytical essay and imaginative essay

Things to cover in poems  poets’ background  main ideas of the poems  poetic techniques  Themes  Alliteration  Symbolism  Run-on-lines  Rhyming scheme  Repetition  compare the poems

Syllabus in THREE years Form 5:  1 novel: Lord of the Flies  Around 6 poems  Unseen poems  Portfolio (Part 1): a film or performance or play review OR a piece of creative work  8% of the subject mark

Things to cover in the novel  writer’s background  understand the text first  narrative techniques  First / third person narration  Characterization  Plot  Irony  Symbolism  Suspense  compare the novel with the short stories and the film  learn how to write an analytical essay and imaginative essay

Things to cover in the film  director’s background  understand the film first  cinematic techniques  Shot sizes: e.g. extreme close-up, long shot  Lighting  Flashback  Split screen  Sound effects  compare the film with short stories and novel  learn how to write an analytical essay and imaginative essay

Syllabus in THREE years Form 6:  1 Shakespearean play: Othello  Portfolio (Part 2: an extended essay of 1500 – 2000 words on a theme/work/writer connected to learners’ study)  12% of the subject mark

Paper 1 Appreciation (30%) You need to answer ONE question from each of the following sections. (THREE questions in total)  Section A: 10% Compare or analyze 1 or 2 passages from the novel / play  Section B: 12% Compare and analyze 2-3 poems (out of 18)  Section C: 8% 1 or 2 unseen poems

Paper 2 Essay Writing (50%) You need to answer THREE questions in total.  Part 1 (answer 2 essay questions from different sections)  Section A: Novel  Section B: Film  Section C: Short Stories  Section D: Play  Part 2 (answer 1 essay question not covered in Part 1)  Comparisons of 2-3 set texts

Question samples  Compare the effectiveness on the use of symbols in bringing out the themes in Othello and Lord of the Flies.  The danger of isolation is a common theme to all the set texts. Choose at least two of the set texts and describe the similarities and / or differences in the way the writers express this theme.

Am I suitable?  Do you like reading English books?  Up to how many pages?  Do you usually get a C or C+ in English?  After reading a book or watching a film, do you usually think about its meaning or the people?  Do you enjoy writing and express your views from different angles?  Do you want to achieve the following goals?

Advantages of Studying Literature  further enhance your English  broaden your views  Psychology  inner struggle, human thoughts  Social issues  family, politics, relationships  Philosophy  life and death, human nature / weaknesses  train your critical mind  be more expressive  be more thoughtful and creative  be more romantic …

If you think you can meet the above requirements and want t achieve the goals mentioned, you should probably choose Literature !

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