1. National 5 English
Course Outline

2. The Course Internal Unit Assessments:
Reading for UAE and Listening ( Analysis and Evaluation Unit)
Talk and Writing (Creation and Production Unit)
These assessments will be done at various points throughout the year, when you are ready.
External Assessment (Exam)
Paper 1- Reading for UAE (30 marks)
Paper2 - Critical Reading (40 marks)
Folio of Writing (30 marks)

3. Close Reading
This is formally called “Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation” but we usually call it “Close Reading” You will read a non- fiction passage and answer questions worth 30 marks. In the exam, the time given for this is one hour.

4. Understanding Understanding questions test your ability to:
Understand a writer’s ideas/ opinions/ arguments and PUT THEM IN YOUR OWN WORDS
Understand, and be able to explain specific words and phrases used by the writer
Pick out and summarise MAIN IDEAS and put them in your own words

5. analysis and evaluation
Analysis and evaluation questions are testing your ability to explain and comment on: Word choice- to explain why the writer used a particular word or phrase; why is it effective Imagery- to pick out similes, metaphors, personification ; explain them and why they are effective Sentence Structure- to be able to recognise and explain certain features of sentence structure, and explain why they are effective

6. Paper 2 critical reading
This paper is split into two sections.
Section One- Scottish Set Text
Throughout the year we will study six poems by the same Scottish poet, Norman MacCaig.
In the exam, ONE poem will be printed on the exam paper. You will be asked questions about the poem which are worth 12 marks.
You will then have to do an 8 mark question which will ask you to comment on how an aspect of the printed poem, is similar to another poem(s) by him .

7. Paper 2 critical essay
We will study a novel, beginning in August ( I have chosen “Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck)- its characters, plot, language and themes. In the exam you will be required to write a CRITICAL ESSAY about that novel. This is worth 20 marks

8. The writing folio
This consists of two pieces of writing, done by you –
A discursive or persuasive essay
A piece of creative writing ( short story/ personal reflective/poem/ play script/ first chapter of a novel.)
These are primarily to be done independently. You will be taught about what is required, and given some help in class time, but the main work is at home. You will be allowed two drafts looked at by your teacher, and then a final draft. You will be given submission dates which you MUST stick to.

9. The writing folio
The folio is sent to the SQA to be marked. Each piece is marked out of 15. The SQA has very sophisticated software which can scan essays to find out if they are plagiarised. This means: If you have copied and pasted a whole lot of information from a website OR Found a piece of writing online and submitted it as your own If this is the case, you will get NO marks for that piece.