TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME : 2011-12

This specially devised course bridges the gap between Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate, and introduces you to a variety of interesting texts and approaches to literature. Your standard of achievement is measured not just by exams, but also by your teacher’s assessment of effort, and an emphasis is put on long essay work and on improving and re-presenting written work.

Assessment of the Course

30% Extended literary essay (Michaelmas Term).

20% Michaelmas and Hilary Term exams.

25% Work portfolio (Hilary and Trinity Terms).

25% Teacher’s estimate of effort and commitment throughout the year.

At the end of the year, certificates will be awarded, based on the following levels :

Premier : 80%+

Higher : 65% - 79%

Standard : 50% - 64%

Lower : 40% - 49%

Ungraded : 39% and below.

Core Literary Texts

Fiction : Lee : To Kill a Mockingbird (Hilary Term).

Drama : Shakespeare : Twelfth Night (Michaelmas Term).

Modern drama : A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (Trinity Term).

Extended Essay

A major extended essay on one of the topics listed below is to be completed by Tuesday 22nd November in the Michaelmas Term (a section of your end-of-term report will comment on it). This is expected to show evidence of wide reading and independent thought, and is to be properly presented according to the guidelines you will get separately. An element of comparison - between authors or texts - is essential. It should be about 2,500 to 3,000 words long. In each case you must consult with your teacher before starting. You will shortly receive a detailed help-list of suggested reading. You will be given some classes on the information skills of researching and presenting the essay after you have selected your topic.

Topics : you should deal with one of the following or similar themes in the literary works of more than one writer, in at least three books (your teacher may agree on another theme)-

love
violence
war
nature/outdoors
the past
memory
history
childhood
autobiography
family
conflict
relationships

Work portfolio

Ten pieces of work from the year, which may be responses to the literature course, creative work and compositions, are to be presented for assessment, having been re-written and improved where necessary. Each piece should be not shorter than two hand-written sides of A4 paper. There is to be a mixture of modes of writing in the Portfolio : your teacher will advise you. You will naturally wish to choose the best pieces of your work during the year. Additionally you may include your theatre review, and a review of the House Speeches (or the speech itself). This portfolio will be handed to your teacher in the Trinity Term at the end of the course on Saturday 26th May, but the pieces themselves should be re-written throughout the year ; half should be completed by the end of the Hilary Term.

Modules

Short modules on a variety of literary and linguistic topics: each pupil is taught at some point in the year by each teacher, including Old English/Geoffrey Chaucer (JMG), W.B. Yeats (LC), Creative Writing (EJ), Images in Poetry (KS).

Additional elements

i) Theatre : Theatre visits are planned in each term. You may be required to review one or more of these, and include the review in your Work Portfolio.

ii) House Speeches : Sunday 2nd October. Representatives of each House will deliver their speeches to the school in the BSR. All other members of the form will produce a written report on the evening for their Work Portfolio. These speeches are co-ordinated by Mr Canning, and everyone assists the speakers in their preparation. Note : all day pupils and day boarders must attend.

iii) Composition titles will regularly be given in writing essays and stories, including creative work. In the Hilary Term a special list of titles will be given, for work especially for the Work Portfolio.

iv) TY Academic Prize (Trinity Term, Thursday 3rd May) : this prize covers all subjects. You can choose any element of the English course, or outside it, that interests you and make a special written presentation to Mr McCarthy, who will select the finalists. Ask your teacher for the full details.

Presentation evening

After the completion of the course in the Trinity Term, on Tuesday 29th May, there will be a presentation evening in the BSR at which results certificates will be handed out, awards will be given for outstanding results and pieces of work, and there will be readings of work and a display of extended essays. Parents of IV formers will be invited to come to this.

JMG, LC, EJ, KS

September 2011