Grade 11 Language and Literature (English)
Course Description
Two Year Plan:
 Year One – Semester One and Two
Part One - Language in cultural Context
Part Four – Literature Critical Study (Texts: a selection of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe (HL/SL), ‘1984’
by George Orwell (HL/SL) and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen (HL only)
 Year Two – Semester One and Two
Part Two – Language and mass communication
Part Three - Literature - texts and contexts (Texts: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee (HL/SL),
‘Antigone’ by Sophocles (HL/SL) and ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller (HL only)
Grade 11 Course Description
Unit 1 (SL/HL)
Unit title
Duration
Learning
Outcomes
IB Inquirer
TOK link
Part 4: Literature – critical study (this is the first of two/three (SL/HL) units to be
completed for Part 4)
Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories - ‘The Tell Tale Heart’, ‘The Cask of Amontillado’, ‘The
Pit and the Pendulum’, ‘The Masque of the Red Death’, ‘The Fall of the House of
Usher’
6 weeks
- Explore literary works in detail
- Analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance or moral values of
literary texts
- Understand and make appropriate use of literary terms
Knowledgeable
Thinker
Communicator
Reflective
When does a text become defined as literature? Language and literature are never
simply transparent, they also encode values and beliefs.
Description of the unit
This unit is the first for Year 1 of the DP, therefore introductory links will be made to other parts of the
course, in particular Part 1 and 2 (Paper One and the FOA) and Part 3 (Paper Two). It also serves as an
introduction to the IOC (Individual Oral Commentary) which will be completed at the end of the 20142015 school year.
Close reading is considered to be a core skill in the understanding and interpretation of literature. By
looking closely at the detail of literary texts, students develop awareness of the rich complexities and the
intricacies of their construction. In this unit students will read five short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and
analyse them, focusing on gothic conventions and literary devices. Students will be given opportunities
to present their analysis following the format of an IOC, this will enable them to get formative feedback.
Students will also build on their analytical essay writing skills.
Key Knowledge and Skills addressed
Students will explore the literary works in detail; analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance
or moral values of literary texts and understand and make appropriate use of literary terms.
Students will also develop and practice the requisite presentational skills to tackle the IOC and Paper
One which are key components of the course.
Main Summative and/or Internal Assessment
Individual Oral Commentary (IA) – to be completed in May 2015.
Poe Oral Commentary- to be completed at the end of the unit
Unit 2 (SL/HL)
Unit title
Duration
Learning
Outcomes
IB Inquirer
TOK link
Part 1: Language in cultural context.
Topics within the unit: Language history and evolution, Language and gender,
Language and the individual, Language and power, Rhetoric
10 weeks
Analyse how audience and purpose affect the structure and content of texts
Analyse the impact of language changes
Demonstrate an awareness of how language and meaning are shaped by culture and
context
Knowledgeable
Thinker
Risk Taker
Communicator
Specific cultural and reading practices play a central role in the way we generate the
meaning of a text and as these practices change over time or from place to place,
meaning also changes.
Description of the unit
This unit is the first language unit and it begins with an introduction to the history of the English
language. Over the course of the unit students will reflect on not only English but their mother tongue
and the impact this has one their use of language. Students will also reflect on how language is used in
different cultures and by different genders. There will be numerous opportunities for students to
analyse literary and non-literary texts and write either comparative (HL) or textual (SL) analysis essays.
Students will also complete mini-FOAs and the first WT1 assessment opportunity will occur, therefore
time is allocated to introduce this assessment and the numerous text types available.
Key Knowledge and Skills addressed
Students will explore the literary devices used in non-literary texts. Paper One will be introduced and
students will build on their comparative (HL) or textual (SL) analysis writing skills.
Students will also develop and practice the requisite presentational skills to tackle the Further Oral
Activity (FOA) and the Written Task 1 both of which are required for internal and external assessment.
Main Summative and/or Internal Assessment
FOA (HL/SL) (IA)
Written Task 1 (SL/HL)(externally assessed)
Paper One (SL – textual analysis, HL – comparative textual analysis)
Semester Two
Unit 3 (HL ONLY)
Unit title
Duration
Learning
Outcomes
IB Inquirer
TOK link
Part 4: Literature – critical study
‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen
5 weeks
Explore literary works in detail
Analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance or moral values of literary
texts
Understand and make appropriate use of literary terms
Knowledgeable
Thinker
Risk Taker
When does a text become defined as literature? Language and literature are never
simply transparent, they also encode values and beliefs.
Description of the unit
This unit is a continuation of Part 4 (begun at the start of the year). Students will continue to develop
their close readings skills, using the text ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen, by doing this they will
develop an awareness of the rich complexities and the intricacies of their construction.
In this unit students will identify and analyse literary devices used in the novel, ensuring that they can
discuss the effect of these on the reader. Students will be given assessment opportunities to present
their analysis following the format of an IOC, this will enable them to get formative feedback. They will
also write an analytical essay on an aspect of the text (WT2).
Key Knowledge and Skills addressed
Students will explore the literary works in detail; analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance
or moral values of literary texts and understand and make appropriate use of literary terms.
Students will also develop and practice the requisite presentational skills to tackle the Internal Oral
Commentary (IOC) and the Written Task 2 both of which are required for internal and external
assessment.
Main Summative and/or Internal Assessment
Individual Oral Commentary (IA) – to be completed May 2015
Written Task 2 (externally assessed)
Unit 4 (SL/HL)
Unit title
Duration
Learning
Outcomes
IB Inquirer
Part 4: Literature – critical study
‘1984’ by George Orwell and IOC assessment
10 weeks
Explore literary works in detail
Analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance or moral values of literary
texts
Understand and make appropriate use of literary terms
Knowledgeable
Thinker
Risk Taker
TOK link
Communicator
When does a text become defined as literature? Language and literature are never
simply transparent, hey also encode values and beliefs.
Description of the unit
This unit is the final unit for Part 4 (begun at the start of the year) of the course. Students will continue
to develop their close reading skills, using the text ‘1984’. By doing this they will develop an awareness
of the rich complexities and the intricacies of their construction.
In this unit students will identify and analyse literary devices used in the novel, ensuring that they can
discuss the effect of these on the reader. Students will be given assessment opportunities to present
their analysis following the format of an IOC, this will enable them to get formative feedback.
At the end of this unit SL students will be given a WT1 opportunity and they will chose one of the two
texts to create their piece. HL students will be given a WT2 opportunity and they will chose one of the
three texts to create their piece.
The IOC will also be conducted at the completion of the unit, therefore revision of the two/three texts
and IOC practice will be included.
Key Knowledge and Skills addressed
Students will explore the literary works in detail; analyse elements such as theme and the ethical stance
or moral values of literary texts and understand and make appropriate use of literary terms.
Students will also develop and practice the requisite presentational skills to tackle the Internal Oral
Commentary (IOC) and the Written Task 2 both of which are required for internal and external
assessment. These are key components of the course.
Main Summative and/or Internal Assessment
Individual Oral Commentary (IA)
Written Task 1 (SL) or Written Task 2 (HL) (externally assessed)
Paper One (SL - textual analysis, HL – comparative textual analysis)