Leaving Certificate

English

An Introduction

Two year
Course

Mrs. Shannon 1
 THE EXAM

The Leaving Certificate English exam consists

of two papers
Both papers are worth 200 marks.

Paper 1 is primarily concerned with Language.

Paper 2 is primarily concerned with Literature.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LANGUAGE
WE WILL BE STUDYING?
1. The language of Narration
2. The language of Aesthetics
3. The language of Argument
4. The language of Persuasion
5. The language of Information
 PAPER ONE
COMPREHENDING (Total of 100 Marks)

3 texts will appear in the exam

You must answer one question A + and one question B

Not on the same text

PAPER ONE
COMPREHENDING (Total of 100 Marks)
Question A: Comprehension (50 Marks)
 Why are they written – Purpose
 Who are they aimed at – Audience
 What are they about – Content
 How are they presented – Their Style
This is the
We aim to: textbook we will
 Understanding texts at a literal level be using for Paper
 Understanding meanings behind texts One.
 Interpreting and evaluating texts
 Questioning texts
 Identifying their genre
 COMPREHENDING (PART B)
Question B – Letter (formal/Informal), Speech,
Article, Report etc.

Register

Purpose

Audience

Tone
WHAT TO EXPECT!
COMPOSING (100 Marks)
 Practice writing a variety of compositions under the
following headings/language categories: information,
persuasion, argument, narration and aesthetic use of
language
 Developing strategies in the areas of drafting, editing
and proof-reading
 PAPER TWO

1. Single Text – (60 Marks)

2. Comparative Study (70 Marks)
3. Prescribed Poetry (50 Marks)
4. Unseen Poetry (20 Marks)
 PAPER TWO
Single Text – (60 Marks)
The Playboy of the Western World by
J.M Synge

You are expected to have an in depth knowledge

of this text/quotations to support your work.

Study each text using the following headings:

Theme, plot, characters and relationships,
social setting, language, imagery,
atmosphere.
 Comparative Study – (70 Marks)
We will be comparing and contrasting two/three texts:

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan

Eclipsed by Patricia Burke Brogan
Brooklyn directed by John Crowley
 Comparative Study – (70 Marks)
Theme – the main ideas of the novel & how these
influence the events of the story

Social Setting – examine the context of the novel

Hero/Heroine/Villain - A hero is someone with whom the

reader can relate. He or she must be central to the
plot and we must be interested in their behaviour as
the text progresses.
POETRY
UNSEEN POEM (20 MARKS)
 Practice reading a variety of poems using the headings
below:
 Overall meaning of the poem, your personal response to
it, striking words, phrases, images, rhythm, patterns
and contrasts

 I will be giving you a poetry booklet to aid your

development of the unseen poem.
 PRESCRIBED POETRY
Study a total of 20 poems under the following headings:
Theme, tone/mood, language, imagery, metaphors, genres

The list of poets and poems are on the English Blog and
also on the handout provided.