If you’re thinking of attempting to write English Literature A Level coursework, you’ll need to know how to structure your essay. AO3 asks you to explore the context in which a literary text was written, while AO4 asks you to evaluate how that context affected the meaning of the text. The structure of your essay will depend on which of these three objectives you choose to focus on.

AO5: Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations

Students must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the contexts in which literary texts are written, from the social and historical to the genre and reception context. Students should explore connections between literary texts and their contexts, and look for similarities and differences across different literary works. They should make explicit reference to key features or aspects of a text and the different interpretations they offer. They must also understand how texts are structured and shaped.

While reading, identify key concepts and ideas that may be relevant to the text. Include examples and references to relevant readings. For example, a student might look at the role of feminism in Tess of the d’Urbervilles, or Marxism in Hard Times. If students cannot identify with a specific critic’s interpretation, they may want to refer to a reader, such as another student.

AO3: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written

As literary texts are often written in or received within a particular context, it is important to explore the meanings associated with these contexts. In order to develop your knowledge, examine two or more literary texts, looking for similarities and differences, and structuring your essay to make your comparisons clear. Also, examine the literary texts through multiple perspectives and consider the various interpretations that have been offered by critics.

To demonstrate your knowledge of the contexts in which literary texts are produced, you will need to read a variety of books by different writers and compare them to a relevant text. For instance, if you read the novel “The Orphanage,” you will need to know the contexts of the novel and how they influenced the writing of that particular text.

AO4: Evaluate the impact of the text on its audience

To get the most out of your essay, it’s important to know what the AOs are for each part of the text. AO3 requires you to evaluate context and features, while AO4 asks you to examine connections across texts. AO5 requires you to demonstrate creativity and expertise in communication. The marks for each part of the paper will be scaled based on the weighting of each AO. The scaled marks for each component will be combined to calculate your final mark. Your scaled marks will then be used to set the grade boundaries for your essay.

AO4: Evaluate the impact of a text on its audience. In English literature a level coursework, the AO4 – Evaluate the impact of a text on its audience – asks you to identify the audience and context of the text. Whether that audience is a reader or the author, the context will affect how a writer approaches the text.

AO5: Evaluate the impact of the text on its context

The most common mistake students make is failing to consider the context of a text in AO5. In order to score highly in AO5, students must know the main features of the text and its contexts. There are three main contexts for a text: the author’s context, the time period the text was written in, and the readers’ context.

The first assessment objective requires students to analyse the text’s context. To achieve this, they must make an analysis of the literary structures and connect them to other texts. However, the second assignment must involve a discussion of different interpretations and the context of the text. The assessment material should allow students to use various tools to develop their interpretations. Students should also take note that the AO5 questions have two different types of questions.

AO5: Analyse the context of a text in English literature a level coursework. Students should be able to determine a text’s purpose and significance in context. If the writer intended to convey a message to the reader, he or she must consider the context in which the work was produced. The context is important as it informs the reader’s understanding of the work.