A-Level Literature: Introduction to Critical Theory SOW

A 5 week scheme of work, fully resourced with both medium and short term plans, that works as an induction unit at the start of Year 12.

This unit uses ‘Dracula’ as a base text which students are asked to read over the summer in advance of starting the A-Level. This induction unit then introduces students to 4 different critical perspectives (Feminism, Marxism, Post-Colonialism, Canon Theory) from AQA’s Critical Anthology and teaches students how to explore a text from this literary perspective. The unit culminates in an assessment where students write a magazine article (in the style of e-magazine) exploring a critical reading of the text in more depth.

The unit has been written as an introduction to the AQA B English Literature specification but could easily be used as it is for any specification where the teaching of critical theory is relevant.