text : message: The future of A level English

Hodgson, John; Snapper, Gary; Harris, Ann; Cockcroft, Susan; Bluett, Jane

Abstract

This book argues that A level English does not provide an appropriate curriculum for its students. Although specifications in English Language and English Language and Literature are available, many institutions still offer only English Literature. This course is largely uninformed by the radical changes that have transformed the subject in higher education. Where students do have a choice of A level English subject, it is often between two courses - Language and Literature - with little common conceptual basis or content. It is time then to reconsider English courses at this level. Even when taken together, the specifications available represent (rather like the AS/A2 curricular structure itself) a patchwork of older and newer elements that fails to provide a coherent vision of thesubject English. Crucially, they do not provide a focused means by which students can become creative and critical workers in language, citizens in a world of globalised digital communication. We make this argument in detailed and specific ways in the pages that follow.

Citation

Hodgson, J., Snapper, G., Harris, A., Cockcroft, S., & Bluett, J. (2004). text : message: The future of A level English. National Association for the Teaching of English

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2004
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 1-234567-89-0
• Keywords: English, A level, language, literature, post-16 education
• Publisher URL: https://www.nate.org.uk/