English Literature - AL

L3 Level 3
Part Time
4 September 2024 — 21 June 2025
City Centre Campus, Cardiff
£: This course is free for unemployed adults or adults in receipt of specific benefits. If eligible, you do not pay the 'Course fee' listed under 'Course fee per year'. A registration fee of £10-30 may be charged. Any professional registration fee / exam fee / other fee listed will need to be paid for. Financial support for these costs may be available. To find our more go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PartTimeFunding

About this course

Do you enjoy being creative, thinking for yourself, discussing contemporary issues related to literature, and developing your ideas in writing and reading? If so, then this course is the perfect choice for you! Based at our City Centre campus in Cardiff, this programme will explore novels, plays and poetry including texts and contexts, and is also an opportunity to develop creative reading and writing. The qualification covers both AS and A2 English Literature, so it is possible to gain a full A-level in one year.

What you will study

Unit 1: Prose and Drama
External 2 hour, closed book examination in the summer

Section A: Prose fiction pre 1900 – 20%of full qualification

For this module, you will study the novel Jane Eyre by the renowned writer Charlotte Brontë. You will also learn how to read this prose text in a variety of ways and how to respond critically and creatively. Students will use literary critical concepts with understanding and discrimination and will begin to identify and consider how attitudes and values are expressed in texts. Pupils will also learn to consider the cultural and contextual influences on readers and writers.

Section B: Drama

For this part of the course, you will study A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.  You will learn how to respond critically and creatively to this drama text and to draw on your understanding of different interpretations in responding to and evaluating this text. Students will also gain knowledge on how to write in an appropriate academic style.

Unit 2: Poetry Post-1900 – 20% of full qualification
External 2 hour, open book (clean copy) examination in the summer.

For this module, you will study the poetry of the renowned writer Seamus Heaney, covering a variety of poems from the collection of work called Field Work. Paired with this text, you will also be studying the poetry of Welsh Poet, Owen Sheers and his collection of poems in Skirrid Hill. 

You will learn how to analyse how meanings are shaped in poetry texts and the ways in which writers adapt structure, form and language in poetry for effect.  You will also learn how to identify and consider how attitudes and values are expressed in poetry, drawing on your understanding of different interpretations.


A2

A2 English Literature follows on from AS and covers the following three modules:

Unit 3 – Poetry pre-1900 and unseen poetry - 20% of qualification

The pre-1900 poetry text studied for the course is Chaucer The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale. Students will also have the opportunity to approach poems or extracts in a personal and engaged way that have not been previously set for study as part of the course.  There will be a written examination of 2 hours.

Unit 4 – Shakespeare – 20% of qualification

The set text for this unit is King Lear by Shakespeare. Students will answer one extract-based question from the play and one question from a choice of two on the same text. There will be a written examination of 2 hours.

Unit 5 – Prose Study - 20% of the qualification

Non-exam assessment: 2500-3500 word assignment

The emphasis in this coursework unit is placed on independent reading and research. Students should submit a 2500-3500 word assignment based on the reading of two prose texts by different authors, one published pre-2000 and the other published post-2000.  Possible texts are: Atonement by Ian McEwan and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Course fee per year

Exam Fee: £90.00

Course Fee: £583.00

Part-time enrolment fee: £35.00

Entry requirements

  • A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade A* - C including English Language and Maths.
  • Interview.

Individual subjects may require higher grades. 
Mature learners without these qualifications may be accepted after an interview with the subject tutor.

Teaching and assessment

  • Three written exams coursework and assessment

Important points

  • The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
  • Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
  • Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
  • Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
  • Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
  • All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
  • Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
  • Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.
Key information

Start date

4 September 2024

End date

21 June 2025

Time of day

Night Time

Part Time

3 hours per week

Location

City Centre Campus, Cardiff
Maps & directions
£: This course is free for unemployed adults or adults in receipt of specific benefits. If eligible, you do not pay the 'Course fee' listed under 'Course fee per year'. A registration fee of £10-30 may be charged. Any professional registration fee / exam fee / other fee listed will need to be paid for. Financial support for these costs may be available. To find our more go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PartTimeFunding

Course code

ALCC3E01
L3

Qualification

WJEC Level 3 Advanced GCE in English Literature

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What our students say

“I definitely think the College has helped me achieve my goals. It's been a really great, supportive learning environment. I've really enjoyed studying all of my courses. I think it's a really nice environment to study in."

A Levels
Oscar Griffin
Studying A Levels in Classics, English Literature and History

Career prospects & further study

500

Fantastic university progression routes! With hundreds of students gaining places at Oxbridge, Russell Group and other leading universities. In fact, this year more than 500 students achieved their firm or insurance choice through UCAS, with nearly 100 being Russell Group universities!

On completion of the A Level programme, the majority of our students progress onto universities across the country and beyond. Based on this course, there are many options but below are just a few examples of degree programmes you could go on to study at University:

  • Creative Writing
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • History
  • Government and Politics
  • Languages
  • Psychology

Locations

City Centre Campus, Cardiff
City Centre Campus, Cardiff

City Centre Campus,

Dumballs Road,

Cardiff,

CF10 5FE