N4 English
Course Overview
The course involves developing skills in reading, writing, talk and listening. Pupils will build on the skills they have already and tackle many tasks which will be familiar to them, such as reading literary texts, writing and group discussion.
The National 4 English Course offers pupils the opportunity to develop and extend a wide range of skills. In particular the course aims to enable pupils to develop the ability to: listen, talk, read and write, understand, analyse and evaluate texts; create and produce texts and apply knowledge and understanding of language across their learning and in their daily life.
Methodology
Assessment
Pupils will begin the course by preparing for internal assessments which cover both National 4 English and National 4 Literacy, this will minimise the number of assessments pupils have to undertake. Pupils will attempt individual assessments in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. Although pupils may be allowed some support in assessments they cannot receive support for the area in which they are being assessed. For example, pupils would not be allowed a reader in the reading assessment. This allows both the English and Literacy assessments to count as one assessment.
Later in the year pupils will work on the Added Value Unit. The Added Value Unit demands pupils analyse two different texts that they have chosen. Pupils will analyse and make notes on the texts using skills they have developed earlier in the course and some new skills. Pupils will then write an essay of 600-700 words (approximately) to demonstrate their understanding of the text.
The study of literature will continue throughout the course to allow some pupils to progress to National 5.
Recording & Reporting
Specific homework tasks will be distributed on a regular basis by individual class teachers, but pupils are also advised to revise English skills independently.
- Preparation for writing internal assessments
- Close Reading practice assessments
- Reading quality newspapers using close reading skills
- Preparation for presentations