WJEC AS Literature: LT1 Section A
Teaching Poetry Texts for the Examination (LT1 Section A): Carol Ann Duffy and Sheenagh Pugh
Andrea Lewis, October 25th 2009
For the comparative and wider reading requirements of the new A level specifications, the WJEC have introduced the idea of ‘CORE’ and ‘PARTNER’ texts, a concept which is developed throughout both AS and A2.
Teachers of literature are used to teaching comparison and connections between texts but this is something slightly different as the texts are not given equal weight. To quote the exam board’s advice on delivering the specification:
The WJEC specification provides opportunities for students to read texts both for detailed study and for wider reading. The texts selected for detailed study are referred to as ‘core’ texts and the texts selected for wider reading are referred to as ‘partner’ texts. The partner text illuminates the core text study and helps inform students’ understanding of the core text by facilitating links or contrasts such as genre, time, theme, period, structure, style.
Clearly, the key word is ‘illuminates’ but the concept behind it is perhaps quite demanding for both teacher and student. The ideal situation is for students to read the ‘partner’ text on their own and bring their ideas and comments into class for discussion when...
