Standard Grade English
Topics Taught
The Standard Grade course aims to build on skills developed in S1 and S2. Pupils are prepared for their external SQA close reading and writing exams in S4 and must also prepare a folio of work to submit to SQA in March of their fourth year. This folio consists of two writing pieces in different genres, three critical essays on literature and evidence of competence in both group discussion and solo talk presentation. Thus the core skills of reading, writing and talking continue to drive the curriculum.
Homework
The amount of homework issued varies according to the ability of pupils. Homework tasks will typically consist of reading (as part of a personal reading programme); preparation and/or research for a talk or essay; textual analysis; close reading; preparation for a test or exam.
Assessments (Internal and External)
In S3 and S4 pupils are assessed according to the Arrangements documents for Standard Grade, these assessment requirements being summarised in the Topics Taught section above.
Next Steps
The Standard Grade course has recently been reviewed by the English Department, and while some alterations have been made in the light of this, there are no plans to end the teaching of Standard Grade and replace it with Intermediate courses.