This list should not be seen as prescriptive or exhaustive. Any reading - if it is carried out thoughtfully and attentively – is valuable for an English student and the most important thing is to read literature that interests and excites you. Below are some suggestions of works of criticism and theory – as well as studies of context - that will help extend and enrich your learning at A Level.

The English Faculty Blog

https://jcgenglishblog.wordpress.com/ 

Works of general interest 

• Terry Eagleton, How to Read Literature

• Terry Eagleton, How to Read a Poem

• Jonathan Culler, Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction

• Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle, Literature, Criticism and Theory

• Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle, This Thing Called Literature

Wider reading for all aspects of ‘love through the ages’:

• Stephen Siddall and Mary Ward (ed.), The Truth About Love Julia Geddes and Helen Ince (ed.), Love Through the Ages

Wider reading for all aspects of ‘modern times’:

• Steve Padley, Key Concepts in Contemporary Literature

• Caroline Merz, Post-War Literature: 1945 to the Present Day

Wider reading for all aspects of Gothic literature (NEA)

• Nick Groom, The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction

• Sue Chaplin, Gothic Literature

A useful website

• The website of the Norton Anthology of English Literature contains a wealth of textual extracts, contextual information and introductory critical material on the historical sweep of English literature.

• Camus – L’Etranger

• Prévert – Paroles

• Pagnol – Marius 

• Molière – L’Avare

• Robb - The Discovery of France 

The EDEXCEL A Level  Website

Further Reading

Studying geography should bring the world alive. Geography is about making connections. Students are encouraged to read a quality newspaper, follow key decision makers and organisations on Social Media. Geography is about looking up and being aware about what is happening now and what might happen in the future – both good and bad. It is also about studying what makes human and physical systems work well… and what makes them break down.

Geographical Association (all age groups)

https://www.geography.org.uk/download/ga_p16readinglist.pdf

http://www.geography.org.uk/resources/studentinformation/

http://www.geography.org.uk/resources/videocasts/

From School of Geography, University of Oxford

General Introduction to Geography

• Dodds, K. (2007) Geopolitics: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

• Cloke, P., Crang, M. and Goodwin, M. (2013) Introducing Human Geographies, 3rd Edition. London, Routledge.

• Goudie, A. and Viles, H. (2010) Landscapes and Geomorphology: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

• Rogers, A., Castree, N. and Kitchin, R. (2013) A Dictionary of Human Geography. Oxford, OUP.

• Koser, K. (2007) International Migration: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

• Maslin, M. (2008) Global Warming: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

• Matthews, J. and Herbert, D. (2008) Geography: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

• Redfern, M. (2003) The Earth: A very short introduction. Oxford, OUP.

Physical Geography

• Gregory, K.J. (2010) The Earth’s Land Surface: Landforms and processes in geomorphology . Sage, London.

• Thomas, D.S.G. (ed.) (2010) Arid Zone Geomorphology: Process, form and change in drylands, 3rd edition. Wiley-Blackwell, London.

• Barry, R.G. and Chorley, R.J. (2012) Atmosphere, Weather and Climate, 7th Edition. London, Routledge..

• Townsend, C.R., Begon, M. and Harper, J.L. (2008) Essentials of Ecology, 3rd Edition. Malden, MA, Blackwell.

• Lomolino, M.V., Riddle, B.R., Whittaker, R.J. and Brown, J.H. (2010) Biogeography, 4th edition. Sunderland, MA, Sinauer Associates.

Human Geography

• Clifford, N., Holloway, S., Rice, S. and Valentine, G. (eds.) (2009) Key Concepts in Geography, 2nd Edition. London: Sage.

• Coe, N., Kelly, P. and Yeung, H. (2013) Economic Geography: A contemporary introduction, 2nd Edition. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell.

• Anderson, J. (2009) Understanding Cultural Geography: Places and traces. London, Routledge.

• Flint, C. (ed.) (2005) The Geography of War and Peace. New York, OUP

• Sciascia – Il giorno della Civetta

• Pavese – La Luna e i Falò

• Dante – La Divina Commedia – any part thereof

• Ginsburg – A History of Contemporary Italy

• Ginzburg – Le Voci della Sera

• Flora Rheta Schreiber - Sybil - ISBN-13: 978-0446550123

• Oliver Wolf Sacks - The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat -ISBN-13: 978-0330523622

• Virginia Axline - Dibs in search of Self - ISBN-13: 978-0140134599

• Jo and Alice Kingsley - Alice in the Looking Glass - ISBN-13: 978-0749926908

• Margaret Donaldson - Children’s Minds - ISBN-13: 978-0006861225

• Lauren Slater - Opening Skinner’s Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century - ISBN-13: 978-0747568605

• Dr Geoff Rolls - Classic Case studies in Psychology - ISBN-13: 978-1444104899

• B.F. Skinner - Beyond Freedom and Dignity - ISBN-13: 978-0872206274

• Sigmund Freud - The Interpretation of Dreams - ISBN-13: 978-0465019779

• Anthony Storr - Freud – A Very Short Introduction - ISBN-13: 978-0192854551

• Russ Ryner - Genie: A Scientific Tragedy - ISBN-13: 978-0060924652

• Stanley Milgram - Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View - ISBN-13: 978-1905177325

• Philosophy: The Classics by Nigel Warburton

• A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton

• Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn

• Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics by Simon Blackburn

• What Do We Really Know?: The Big Questions in Philosophy by Simon Blackburn

• Political Philosophy by Adam Swift

• What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets by Michael Sandel

• Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael Sandel

• Embroidery Magazine- A high quality publication packed with inspirational articles and ideas for everyone from seasoned embroiderers to keen hobbyists with a passion for textile art and fabric.

• Selvedge Magazine- Selvedge spans the arc of fine textiles, with regular features on interiors, travel, fashion and shopping.

• Art Fiber Now- Fiber Art Now is a quarterly print magazine and boasts a thriving and vibrant network of artists, collectors, enthusiasts and experts. Its aim is to inspire and connect the modern-day fiber arts and textiles community.

• Crafts Magazine- The magazine has the clear aim of reaching a wide audience in order to increase and diversify the range of people interested in contemporary craft, which means it’s always full of varied and interesting articles.

• Surface Design Journal- The Surface Design Journal is aimed at an international market and the content of the magazine focuses on contemporary textile and fiber art with coverage of conceptualisation, process and materials required for various techniques and forms.

• World of Interiors- Interior design magazine

• Vogue Magazine

• Embellished New Vintage – Eye-catching, sophisticated, and visually engaging, Embellished contrasts vintage objects with cutting-edge contemporary fashion and textiles.

• Hand Stitch Perspectives by Jane McKeating and Alice Kettle- encompasses written and illustrated contributions, exploring hand stitch practice as a means of underpinning cultural, economic and social change.

• Diana Springall: A Brave Eye by June Hill- A Brave Eye offers a fascinating insight into the life, work and impact of Diana Springall, one of the UK’s most respected embroiderers and a tireless advocate of the craft itself.

• Art Textiles of the World-Textile Art and Craft from around the world, featuring renowned textile artists.

• Alexander McQueen-Victoria and Albert Museum•

• Use the feedback you received on a piece of work and improve it

• Annotate your work to realise your best intentions

• The more you practice your skills the better the outcome will be

• Practice makes progress !!

• Create a few mock ups of your final designs and outcomes.

• Use the GCSE assessment grid to self-assess your work and discuss you action plan and improvements with your teacher.