1. A Level English Language
Week 1 Lesson 1
The BIG
Question:
What do we need to know?
Keywords:
Techniques, Framework, Linguistic, Variation, Representation, Objectives,
A Level English Language
F.Rigney

2. Prior Learning K W L

3. Challenge Yourself: To begin to apply the framework and terminology to different text types
Minimum Expectation:
To understand the main requirements and terminology of the AS English Language qualification.

4. How is the A Level assessed?
Paper 1: Language and the individual - Written Paper
2 hour 30 mins – 40%
100 marks
Section A - Textual Variations and Representations
Section B - Children's Language Development
Textual variations and representations
Two texts, linked by topic or theme.
A question requiring analysis of one text
(25 marks)
A question requiring analysis of a second
text (25 marks)
A question requiring comparison of the two
texts (20 marks)
A discursive essay on children’s language development, with a choice of two questions where the data provided will focus on spoken, written or multimodal language (30 marks)

5. How is the A Level assessed?
Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change- Written Paper
2 hour 30 mins – 40%
100 marks
Section A - Diversity and Change
Section B - Language Discourses
One question from a choice of two:
Either: an evaluative essay on language diversity (30 marks)
Or: an evaluative essay on language change (30 marks)
Two texts about a topic linked to the study of diversity and change.
A question requiring analysis of how the texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions (40 marks)
A directed writing task linked to the same topic and the ideas in the texts (30 marks)

6. How is the A Level assessed?
NEA – Language in Action
What's assessed
Assessed
Tasks
Language Investigation
Original Writing
Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities
Word count: 3,500
100 marks
20% of A-level
Assessed by teachers
Moderated by AQA
Students produce:
a language investigation (2,000 words excluding data)
a piece of original writing and commentary (1,500 words total)

7. What are the assessment objectives?

8. What are the AOs? AO Description AO1
Apply appropriate methods of language analysis, using associated terminology and coherent written expression
AO2
Demonstrate critical understanding of concepts and issues relevant to language use
AO3
Analyse and evaluate how contextual factors and language features are associated with the construction of meaning
AO4
Explore connections across texts, informed by linguistic concepts and methods
A05
Demonstrate expertise and creativity in the use of English to communicate in different ways
What are the AOs?

9. Text Variation & Representation
Think, Pair, Share
Language and the Individual
Text Variation & Representation
Your Understanding
Students should study a range of texts:
about various subjects
from various writers and speakers
for various audiences
for various purposes
in a variety of genres
using a variety of modes
This exploration will include:
methods of language analysis
how identity is constructed
how audiences are addressed and positioned
the functions of the texts
the structure and organisation of the texts
how representations are produced
When analysing texts, students should explore how language is:
shaped according to audience, purpose, genre and mode
shaped according to context
used to construct meanings and representations
used to enact relationships between writers, speakers and audiences or between participants within a text.

10. Task Instructions
Expected
Challenge Tasks
Work together to pair the terminology with the definitions. Start with those you recognise from GCSE
Using the definitions make a list of what you think each method will explore in detail, e.g.
Grammar = sentence structure, word classes etc
Think of an example for each definition

11. Match-up!

12. Week 1 Lesson 1 Do similar types of texts have a distinctive pattern?
The BIG
Question:
Do similar types of texts have a distinctive pattern?
Keywords:
Framework, GRASP, Genre, Sub-genre, Field, Convention, Expectation
You already know more that what you think...
Group task:
I’ll start. Once upon a time...
F.Rigney

13. What language features could you hear people using?
How did we do?
Expected:
What did you add? Why?
Did it work?
How did you know what to add next?
Would you change anything?
What language features could you hear people using?

14. Challenge Yourself: To recognise the importance of understanding the genre of a text by making predictions based on own experience.
Minimum Expectation:
To understand and recognise a range of different genres and associated writing styles.

15. Digging Deep TERM DEEPER MEANING
Each area of the framework contains more specific linguistic areas to focus on. We are going to create our own glossary. Let’s start with GRASP
TERM
DEEPER MEANING
Genre
Register
Audience
Subject
Purpose

16. What is genre? Think, Pair, Share Genre :
Similar types of texts with a distinctive pattern, such as novels , plays, and poetry. Spoken texts also have their own genres with distinctive patterns, such as conversations, and interviews.
A genre can be broken down into sub-genres, such as for novel: love, horror, sci-fi. Each sub-genre has its own specific and recognisable features.

17. How can we be more specific?

18. Each genre has a writing style associated with it...
Expected
Challenge Tasks
Work together to list the features of each of the following genres:
Letter
Recipe
Text Message
Postcard
Interview
Radio Show
Remember to ask yourself: what type of text is it, and how do I know?
How does the genre affect the language choices made by the writer?
2. When and why might a writing style of a particular genre NOT conform to its genre conventions?

19. Let’s feedback...

20. Now it’s time to work together to explore the texts around the room
Digging Deep
Now it’s time to work together to explore the texts around the room
Text
We think it’s a…
Because… A B C D E F G H I J K L

21. Week 1 Lesson 1 How do we identify features of a register?
The BIG
Question:
How do we identify features of a register?
Keywords:
Framework, GRASP, Register, Convention, Expectation
Register is the type of language used in different situations.
Registers are the different varieties of language used in
different situations. Deciding which register is appropriate to
use depends on several factors:
What might they be?
F.Rigney

22. Challenge Yourself: To recognise the importance of understanding the register of a text by making predictions based on own experience.
Minimum Expectation:
To understand and recognise register.

23. The Factors Field the subject being talked about
e.g. a field of lexis based on football (penalty, goal...etc.)
Audience
relationship between speaker/ writer and audience
e.g. knowing someone personally = informal register (use of slang, abbreviations.
Purpose
e.g. a report = formal register, purpose = to inform
a persuasive purpose = informal register...why?
Form/genre
a business letter= formal register, txt msg= informal

24. Can you think of any examples from your own experiences?
Context
Whether register is appropriate depends on the context it's used in...
Using an informal register in a formal situation is inappropriate because it could be seen as disrespectful or rude.
Using formal language in an informal situation could sound unfriendly and stuffy.
Can you think of any examples from your own experiences?

25. How else do registers vary?
Lexis
A conversation between two specialists would contain technical vocabulary that they would both understand.
For example, the lexis in the registers used by mechanical and medical specialists would be very different.
Grammar
Register can affect syntax- the structure of clauses and complexity of sentences...why might this be?
Some registers even have grammatical constructions that are specific to them, e.g. the legal register (legalese), which uses lots of clauses and passive sentences.
Phonology
This is to do with how the words in a particular register are pronounced.
An informal register often involves 'h' and 'g' dropping.
Generally speaking, a formal register will cause people to modify their accent so it's closer to Received Pronunciation.

26. Week 1 Lesson 1 How specific about audience do we need to be?
The BIG
Question:
How specific about audience do we need to be?
Keywords:
Framework, GRASP, Audience, Convention, Expectation
You should be able to identify a text’s target audience by analysing the type of language it uses
How many different audiences can you think of?
F.Rigney

27. How did we do?
Writers tailor their texts to suit different audiences and purposes.
To recognise the audience of a text, you need to be able to recognise and describe how a text suits a particular audience.
There are clues about the audience, their age, gender, status, and how the writer feels about them in the language of the text.

28. Challenge Yourself: To recognise the importance of understanding the audience of a text by making predictions based on own experience.
Minimum Expectation:
To understand and recognise a range of different audiences.

29. Audience
- Texts need to suit their audience in order to make them more accessible
- The expertise of the audience is also an important factor - this can mean that the LEXIS can be specialised
- content can reveal if it is for a specialised audience
- talk can be formal (speech) or colloquial (conversation) level of formality shows relationship of speaker to listener (respectfully and politely to someone in authority, casually with friends)
- long complex sentences - academic lecture or formal text - shorter sentences, contractions, interruptions, non-fluency features are more frequently found in informal conversations
- use of regional dialect or grammar can help place a target audience geographically, socially, or ethnically

30. Does a writer need to know their audience?
Known audience
- personal pronouns - memos, letters, diaries, stories
- use language that expresses emotion, feeling, opinion
- target audience is specific - they will know a lot about them and will choose language that they expect them to understand

31. Unknown audience
- sometimes a writer may be unfamiliar with their audience
- usually found in academic or instructive texts
won't acknowledge the reader directly
- usually written in third person
- no expression of personal feeling and no use of first or second person
quite formal
imperative sentences or the passive voice
- serious subject matter

33. Week 1 Lesson 1 How many different purposes can a text have?
The BIG
Question:
How many different purposes can a text have?
Keywords:
Framework, GRASP, Purpose, Convention, Expectation
All texts will have been written for a purpose, otherwise there wouldn’t be any point in writing them.
Texts usually have four main purposes: 1 2 3 4
F.Rigney

34. Challenge Yourself: To recognise the importance of understanding the purpose of a text by making predictions based on own experience.
Minimum Expectation:
To understand and recognise a range of different purposes.

35. Not all texts fit into a category
A film review might be informative, entertaining and persuasive. A text can have a primary, secondary, dual, tertiary purpose.
You can find out the primary purpose of a text by analysing the following:
Lexis -
Graphology -
Grammar -
Semantics -

36. Informative Texts - structured clearly -Knowledge or facts
- suitable for intended audience
- language is simple and less detailed
- assumes reader has some previous knowledge
- tone is usually serious and don't include opinions or comments
- usually written in the third person

37. Instructional Texts
- include information about how to do something practical
- clear, structured style
- chronological, numbered sections
- graphological devices such as bullet points and headings
- instructions are given as imperatives
- second person forms (you)
- lexis is straightforward and uncomplicated - subject specific

38. Persuasive Texts - influence the reader's opinion
- first person personal address
- emotive adjectives and subjective judgements to make you feel guilty
- facts, statistics, and other evidence to support argument
- use eye-catching graphology, such as logos, capitalisation and colour

39. Entertainment Texts sophisticated language extensive vocabulary
varied sentence types
figurative language
complex structure
eye-catching layout
These techniques help writers to influence the reader experience escape from reality, frighten, shock, emotional effect
novels, stories, articles, verses, songs, poetry, plays, biographies
autobiographies