1. Advanced Higher Specialist Study Unit

2. Unit Assessment – Advanced Higher – Specialist Study Unit
Outcome 1 - The learner will:
Plan and research an independent specialist study, based on literature or media or language in work by:
1.1 Identifying an appropriate focus and creating a research plan
1.2 Selecting and analysing evidence

3. Specialist Study Unit - Outcome and Assessment Standards
1.1 Identifying an appropriate focus and creating a research plan
An appropriate focus is one which allows for analysis. A simple recounting of facts is not sufficient.
A research plan should include information on the intended sources in the language studied, research methods and proposed timescales.

4. Specialist Study Unit – Outcome and Assessment Standards
Relevant information selected from sources
Evidence analysed via a number of developed points
Conclusions may be drawn but are not necessary

5. Specialist Study Unit - Outcome and Assessment Standards - Recording of evidence
Candidates may choose to use an electronic logbook or similar
Sample logbook available in UASP, but not mandatory
Assessment of the Specialist Study may be combined with assessment of other Units
No set requirements for amount of evidence

6. Specialist Study Unit - Literature based study
At least two sources in the modern language, the first of which must be a written literary text
The second source may be another literary text or any other relevant source of information, eg a critique
Sources can be of any length - a novel, short story or a poem - but must contain sufficient material to allow for analysis

7. Specialist Study Unit - Literature based study - Possible approaches
Analyse techniques used to convey meaning
Analyse and compare a novel and a film adaptation
Analyse and compare two or more literary texts
Analyse how historical or cultural contexts are influenced or are evident in the literary text(s)

8. At least one of these two sources must be a written text.
Specialist Study Unit - Media based study
At least two sources in the modern language, the first of which must be a media text.
A media text is taken to mean content from cinema, radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, web-based or other digital media
The second source may be another media text or any other relevant source of information, eg a critique, a novel
At least one of these two sources must be a written text.

9. Specialist Study Unit - Media based study : Possible approaches
Analyse the techniques used to convey meaning in a media text
Analyse how nationality, class or gender is presented in a media text
Analyse and compare a film and a related novel
Analyse and compare two or more films by the same director – techniques, attitudes, characterisation
Analyse the ways in which historical or cultural contexts have influenced or are evident in a media text

10. Specialist Study Unit - Language in work based study
At least two sources in the modern language
At least one of these sources must be a written text
The other may be a written text or any other relevant source of information
There is no limit on the number of sources to be used and any additional sources can be in any language.

11. Specialist Study Unit - Language in work based study –
Possible approaches
Analyse the development of e-commerce and languages
Analyse the issues in working in a multilingual institution
Analyse opportunities for translators or interpreters
Analyse the opportunities for speakers of modern languages in a local industry