Comments on: A levels dumbing down? Surely not. http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222 The ramblings of a book-lover who created her dream job... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:02:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anon http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-17304 Anon Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:06:04 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-17304 Newspaper's always miss out facts to exxagurate things, you should realise. For the coursework we have to compare and contrast a section of both Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland, with the theme fantasy, and how the author has used linguistic features. I believe this is harder than comparing, for example Dickens, as they are modern texts with less obvious linguistic features. We have to talk about how the author deals with fantasy, not about the plots themselves. And - another thing which the newspapers have convieniently ignored - Chaucer and Shakespeare are studied in the same A-level. Newspaper’s always miss out facts to exxagurate things, you should realise.
For the coursework we have to compare and contrast a section of both Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland, with the theme fantasy, and how the author has used linguistic features.
I believe this is harder than comparing, for example Dickens, as they are modern texts with less obvious linguistic features. We have to talk about how the author deals with fantasy, not about the plots themselves.
And – another thing which the newspapers have convieniently ignored – Chaucer and Shakespeare are studied in the same A-level.

]]> By: Helen N http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-12423 Helen N Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:48:05 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-12423 You are all missing the point somewhat. If you were discussing a text that would be studied for AS Literature then fair enough. However, Harry Potter is being used as part of a comparative Language/ Literature unit where students use linguistic and literary analysis skills to identify how children's literature has changed over time. Therefore harking back to a time when everyone studied Chaucer is somewhat irrelevant. The Lang/ Lit A Level has only existed for a few years. IT ISN'T LITERATURE A LEVEL! It allows students to study a wide range of texts including Shakespeare and gives them scope to produce their own original texts. You are all missing the point somewhat. If you were discussing a text that would be studied for AS Literature then fair enough. However, Harry Potter is being used as part of a comparative Language/ Literature unit where students use linguistic and literary analysis skills to identify how children’s literature has changed over time. Therefore harking back to a time when everyone studied Chaucer is somewhat irrelevant. The Lang/ Lit A Level has only existed for a few years. IT ISN’T LITERATURE A LEVEL! It allows students to study a wide range of texts including Shakespeare and gives them scope to produce their own original texts.

]]> By: Catriona http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-11220 Catriona Thu, 01 May 2008 07:16:31 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-11220 If HP had to be compared with Lord of the Rings then perhaps? At least you are better off than we are - here they study film posters and comic books and a few other such examples of outstanding literature at Matriculation level (rather like A level). If HP had to be compared with Lord of the Rings then perhaps?
At least you are better off than we are – here they study film posters and comic books and a few other such examples of outstanding literature at Matriculation level (rather like A level).

]]> By: Danny Rhodes http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-11115 Danny Rhodes Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:07:37 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-11115 Okay everybody, calm down, calm down... It's only on English Lit & Lang (as Vanessa points out), is only on one unit and it has to be compared to/with Alice in Wonderland (which makes sense) and there are a number of other options to chose from. I suppose there was a time when Alice in Wonderland would have been considered unworthy... Having said all of this, I think I'll stick to teaching English Lit... I'm all for the creative aspect of this Unit by the way(there is something similar on Lit A). It will encourage Creative Writing in older students which can only be a good thing. Okay everybody, calm down, calm down…

It’s only on English Lit & Lang (as Vanessa points out), is only on one unit and it has to be compared to/with Alice in Wonderland (which makes sense) and there are a number of other options to chose from. I suppose there was a time when Alice in Wonderland would have been considered unworthy…

Having said all of this, I think I’ll stick to teaching English Lit…

I’m all for the creative aspect of this Unit by the way(there is something similar on Lit A). It will encourage Creative Writing in older students which can only be a good thing.

]]> By: Catherine http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-11110 Catherine Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:56:32 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-11110 We did Chaucer too! The trouble is if you only do about 10 books for A level Eng Lit, and that is your pre-degree grounding, and then one is taken up by one of the Harry Potters you are losing 10% of your close reading of 'classics' prior to being hit with a degree level curriculum. I did (in 1991) 2 Chaucer, 2 Shakespeare, 2 books of poetry (1 modern, 1 not), 2 novels (likewise) and 2 plays, as well as the dreaded 'unseen' paper. This is a good starting point. HP, however enjoyable, is not. In fact I think that in order to write sensibly about Potter you probably need to be a post-grad: the easier the read, the harder it is to make truly original points. I am all for MAs in Children's Literature, but not HP for A level study. We did Chaucer too! The trouble is if you only do about 10 books for A level Eng Lit, and that is your pre-degree grounding, and then one is taken up by one of the Harry Potters you are losing 10% of your close reading of ‘classics’ prior to being hit with a degree level curriculum. I did (in 1991) 2 Chaucer, 2 Shakespeare, 2 books of poetry (1 modern, 1 not), 2 novels (likewise) and 2 plays, as well as the dreaded ‘unseen’ paper. This is a good starting point. HP, however enjoyable, is not. In fact I think that in order to write sensibly about Potter you probably need to be a post-grad: the easier the read, the harder it is to make truly original points. I am all for MAs in Children’s Literature, but not HP for A level study.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-11105 Barbara Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:35:06 +0000 http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/blog/?p=222#comment-11105 I've come to the conclusion that my English A-Level, gained a very long time ago, would be the equivalent of some English degrees today. We did Chaucer in the original Middle English. How can that compare on an intellectual level with what you describe as HP fanfic? I’ve come to the conclusion that my English A-Level, gained a very long time ago, would be the equivalent of some English degrees today. We did Chaucer in the original Middle English. How can that compare on an intellectual level with what you describe as HP fanfic?

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