S4 English - National 5
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n5-course-spec-english 2023-4 (4) | [pdf 629KB] |
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N5 English Reading-for-Understanding-Analysis-and-Evaluation 2022 (1) | [pdf 208KB] |
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N5 English Critical-Reading 2022 (1) | [pdf 458KB] |
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N5 english E | [pdf 161KB] |
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Critical Essay
The critical essay is the component that parents and carers might be most familar with. The skills for critical essays are built during BGE. In fourth year pupils will study a novel or short story, a playor a poem. This text is studied in depth and pupils are taught how to analyse characters, themes, setting, the writer's techniques, key incidents and turning points. They are taught how to write a critical essay at National 5 level, and teachers use SQA exemplars to help pupils see what constitutes different grades. In the final exam, pupils will have a choice of two essay questions and must choose one. This essay is worth 20% of the overall mark.
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
Pupils will be well versed in RUAE by S4. This is a skill similar to 'close reading' or 'comprehension'. Pupils will continue to build their skills through regular revisiting of their knowledge. Having a wide range of vocabulary is one of the keys to success in this area that is worth 30% of the final mark. Pupils should also be reading a variety of non-fiction texts, especially quality news articles, to help them prepare for this exam.
Supported study is also offered to help pupils as they move towards their National English qualification.
Scottish Set Text
For the National 5 English course, pupils will study the Scottish Set Text element (SST), which means a text or texts by a Scottish writer. This will involve the close study of either six poems by one poet OR a novel OR a drama. All texts in this component are selected by the SQA and will be examined in the final exam. The SST element is worth 20% of the overall grade.
The texts pupils study will depend on the class and teacher.
Folio
Pupils aiming for National 5 English will be asked to complete ONE folio piece. This piece is out of 15 and that mark will be doubled to make a total out of 30. The folio piece represents 30% of a pupil's final mark.
Pupils decide, with the support of their teacher, whether to submit a 'broadly creative' or 'broadly discursive' piece of writing. They are taught the skills for both genres and will produce a piece of 'broadly creative' writing and a 'broadly discursive' piece. They will then decide, with the support of their class teacher, which genre they prefer and are best at. The SQA specification states that pupils can receive individual feedback on one draft only, and whole class feedback on the second draft. They must then redraft their piece and submit it. This will be sent to the SQA for assessment.
The folio piece should be 1000 words maximum. The class teacher will support each pupil to plan for success. We encourage pupils to take time to carefully improve these pieces and show off that style and flair they have been developing since S1.
The final submission in early March needs to be on the template provided by the SQA which pupils will receive from their class teacher.