English Higher
What is special about this course?
This course aims to improve your writing and extend your knowledge of literature in prose, poetry and drama.
You will study a wide variety of non-fiction and fiction texts, developing the key skills of understanding, analysing and evaluating. You will develop these skills both in writing and orally. You will also have the opportunity to produce your own discursive and creative writing.
You will explore texts such as; reference texts, reports and factual articles from journalistic texts, feature articles dealing with different points of view, persuasive texts including advertisements, biography and autobiography, letters and memoirs; formal essays and literary texts from different genres. These will include informative, expressive, imaginative and creative styles and you will study and analyse them for information and meaning.
You will also explore texts from at least two different genres such as: poetry, prose, novels, short stories, autobiography, memoirs, diary, travelogue, essays; drama and mass media.
Writing folio - For this you are required to produce two pieces of writing, one of which is broadly discursive and one of which is broadly creative. You will have the opportunity to redraft your work which will contribute 30% towards the final mark.
Entry requirements
You should have National 5 English A or B, or Int 2 A or B or standard grade 1 or 2 or equivalent.
Assessment
Portfolio of Writing: 30 marks
2 pieces: one Creative and one Discursive. Your folio will be a first draft and finished version for both the discursive and creative essays
Exam 1: Question Paper: 30 marks
Close Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
In the Reading for UAE paper, learners will answer questions designed to test their understanding, analysis, evaluation, summarising, inferencing and comparative skills. The passages will be non-fiction and previously unseen.
Exam 2: Critical Reading: 40 marks.
Scottish Text analysis and Critical Essay on a second text
There will be two sections: a section for analysis of one of the set Scottish text studied in class and a critical essay on a different text from another genre studied in class.
Performance–Spoken Language: pass/fail
Produce detailed and complex spoken language through the demonstration of talking and listening skills.
Equipment
Internet connection and a suitable device with headphones, microphone and camera (minimum spec) is required. Please email us if you have any concerns about connectivity or equipment.
How will I study my course?
- Part Time
- Online
Each week will comprise of scheduled, connected learning time and flexible learning time. You need to commit to both, but you can choose when to complete flexible learning to fit around work, caring and personal commitments. Some flexible learning must be done on a weekly basis.
Connected learning is when you learn together with lecturers, students and others. Connected learning happens at a scheduled time in a practical workshop, an online-classroom, a studio, a specialist classroom, the workplace or in the outdoors.
Flexible learning covers lecturer directed learning and self-directed learning
Lecturer-directed learning is weekly learning activity, for example:
- posting your idea in a discussion forum,
- completing a quiz,
- practising a task, activity or idea
- watching a video or reading,
- discussing and working on a solution with another student,
- researching and gathering information,
- completing an assignment or project-based task.
Self-directed learning is your decision about further study and focus. We encourage you to take ownership of your learning and areas of interest. You can ask us to help you to determine areas for further development.
Your connected learning will take place in an online-classroom. This will include a combination of video conferencing, interactive chat and sharing of presentation slides and other visuals. Online-classrooms provide you with real time interaction, contact and discussion with your lecturer and fellow students. We have ten college centres and there may be an option to study some of the time from your local centre.
How long will my course last?
9 MonthsThe course has 80 hrs of tuition which you are required to attend.
Where can I study my course?
- From anywhere with an internet connection including your local college centre
Please note, UHI West Highland will be changing its name to UHI North, West and Hebrides in August 2023, subject to Scottish Government approval. This will not impact on your choice of course or how and where you will study.
Start date
The course will start in mid August each year.
Fees
£352
Costs include tutored sessions, assessments and certification at the end of the course. Learners will be expected to purchase, or borrow from a library, their own texts.
Funding
A Fee Waiver or funding of up to £200 could be available to help with payment of course fees, depending on your personal circumstances.
This support will be available for people who are 16 or over, living in Scotland and either in low paid work or actively seeking work. To be eligible, you must have income of £22,000 a year or less, or be on certain benefits.
You will also not be undertaking any secondary, further or higher education, SDS funded training or participating on the Community Jobs Scotland programme.
Please contact your local college centre for more information about eligibility, or call us on 01397 874000.
What can I do on completion of my course?
After this course, there are a number of other further and higher education courses you can study. Ask us for more information.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I am currently studying Higher English alongside HNC Contemporary Art Practice. I have really enjoyed doing active writing and reading. I have found authors and poets I really enjoy and probably never would have considered. I was home-schooled, so being able to study in a classroom setting and take part in exams has taken me out of my comfort zone and helped me to grow as a person and learn valuable lessons.
When I first enrolled, I planned to write and illustrate children’s books. I have discovered that my passions lie in my creative abilities. Studying here has given me the time to really think about where and what I want to do after leaving college. I believe that my first reason for joining is still a prominent future, but I might go on to achieve a degree in Art so I can eventually teach art myself.
Niamh Bennett
Apply for Higher English
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI West Highland. Please note, UHI West Highland will be changing its name to UHI North, West and Hebrides in August 2023, subject to Scottish Government approval. This will not impact on your choice of course or how and where you will study. UHI West Highland operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.