English literature or English language (A level)

[Immenseman]

I see what language students do then I compare it to what I do... ah well I don't mind because I have a genuine passion for literature. We've already read 4 novels and a collection of Wordsworth poems whilst producing two pieces of coursework whilst they have read one book and haven't handed in one piece of coursework yet.

[Hecktix]

why the hell are they reading a book on a language course, you don't study set texts.

[Immenseman]

They're definitely reading a book albeit maybe an extract? I was talking to a friend about it in the common room just the other day.

[Hecktix]

Our language course comprises of:

- Identifying similarities between texts (grouping texts)
- An investigation into the relationship between Language & Gender
- An investigation into the relationship between Language & power
- 2 pieces of coursework comprising of two written pieces alongside written commentaries.

All but the top one are really interesting.

[Immenseman]

Yeah I did consider doing language, both sounded like decent courses. I thought I'd just choose whichever I did best at GCSE level but I got an A in both language and literature at GCSE which didn't help.

[Hecktix]

When I moved I decided to choose Language because I didn't like the texts we were given last year at Literature, although I got a good grade it stopped me from enjoying the course as much. Well I liked 2 of the 4

I wish i'd taken both englishs this year though, cause they read really good texts at colege.

[Barmi]

and neither is more 'respected' as they are practically the same course,

Unfortunately (or not – whichever way you look at it) that's not the case. Some universities treat them as equal, but there are also a number of institutions (particularly those with more competitive places) which attach 'limited' suitability to English Language, and 'primary' suitability to English Literature.

If they were practically the same course, they wouldn't survive separately – or the Lang & Lit combined course would be more popular. As it goes, Literature tends to be the more favourable option for universities, probably because it's directly relevant the university course, whereas Language... well, isn't necessarily.

[le harry]

I was going to use "A Clockwork Orange" for my close analytical piece but I heard Brave New World was a better novel, so I went with that one. I love dystopian novels :8

That's my next read.