Peter Symonds College Prospectus 2014
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- A2 Level
- Communication and Culture
- AS Level
- Computing
- Career Possibilities
Classical CivilisationOCRThe course comprises of a study of two units at AS, one Roman and one Greek, and a further two units at A2. AS LevelThe units we currently offer are: Homer’s Odyssey and Society – This is a study of one of western civilisation’s earliest epics. It tells of the return of Odysseus from the war at Troy and how his encounters with monsters and malevolent gods brought about the deaths of all his companions. Then, once back home, he is forced to deal with the dozens of suitors who, thinking he has died, have evil designs on his attractive wife. It is a story of revenge and retribution, heroism and courage and a dash of cunning. Roman Society and Thought – This is a study of Roman Society and its values around the first century AD. Your study would be based on works in translation of four authors from the period – Horace, the poet who first encouraged us to ‘seize the day’ (“carpe diem”); Petronius, the ‘arbiter’ of taste who described a particularly vulgar dinner party; Pliny, establishment lawyer, voracious writer of letters and the Emperor’s ‘go to’ guy when faced with a problem province; and Juvenal, a man whose angry rants against the problems of his day included something to offend all tastes.
This comprises a whistle-stop tour of the major sculpture, buildings and painted pottery of Ancient Greece, together with an examination of the sanctuaries at Delphi, Olympia and the Acropolis at Athens. Virgil and the World of the Hero This covers two of the greatest epics of western literature – Homer’s Iliad, the story of how one man’s anger all but brought the Greek army to its knees at Troy; and Virgil’s Aeneid, one of the greatest adventure stories ever told and probably the earliest example of extended political propaganda. Standard entry requirements including at least Grade C in one essay-based subject. You do not need to have studied Classical Civilisation before and as all of the literature is studied in translation, no previous knowledge of Latin or Greek is necessary.
AQAThe course examines a wide range of topics focusing on how and why human beings communicate and the impact this has in informing and developing cultural identities. You will examine how we communicate with ourselves, our friends, parents and those in authority and how rules of communication change depending upon cultural identity, our understanding and perception of these rules and our wish to ‘fit in’. You will need to have an interest in people and the world around you plus a willingness to develop your own communication skills. AS LevelThe AS course provides a thorough examination of personal communication. Here the focus will be on developing ideas of self-image and self-esteem and how this leads us to develop self-presentation, and also exploring the effectiveness of our communication and our sense of self. This links closely with group identity, how we change ourselves to fit into various groups in society, how we manipulate group situations and its significance in shaping our identity. Identity is a key word throughout the course and links very closely with an examination of the nature of culture. What is it that defines us, not just as an individual but as a member of a particular cultural group? We will examine the difference between high and popular culture, exploring the value of a variety of cultural texts, from Shakespeare to X Factor, Michelangelo to Banksy and Graffiti art. The course examines the nature of the texts that we are surrounded by in everyday life and teaches students the tools to be able to deconstruct these texts, examining both their nature and their purpose and the different ways in which they can be read. The course culminates in a personal look at ‘Me and My Culture’. A2 LevelThis explores further the topic areas covered at AS, developing the theories to include debate and detailed analysis on two cultural sites with a key emphasis on social and cultural rituals. These sites include spaces, places and fictions. You will study dominant and alternative approaches to the understanding of communication and culture. This will be further developed through an investigation of debates concerning capitalism, globalisation and consumerism in relation to cultural products and practices. Standard entry requirements. ComputingAQAComputation is at the heart of the quest to unravel the secrets of life, to understand more about the human brain, the natural sciences and economic systems. In the era of the iPad and other technologies, is coding or programming a computer something which we can leave to a few specialists? Not so, say those who want to see schools and colleges teach computer programming to every child. This is a message to which the Government appears to be sympathetic. AS LevelUnit 1: Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise This unit looks at the processes of computation, algorithm design and the stages of problem solving. The unit is assessed through a two hour practical and theory exam. Unit 2: Computer Components; The Stored Program Concept and The Internet The typical hardware components of a computer system are studied in this unit along with the applications used. There is also an introduction to the Internet through its structure and the protocols used to provide its various services. The unit is assessed through a one hour written examination. A2 LevelThe A2 builds significantly on the content of the AS. The main focus in the second year is on programming and problem solving which is carried out through a major project. Communications and Networking is also a major component of the A2. Assessment will be over two units, one examination and one piece of coursework. Unit 3: Problem Solving, Programming, Operating Systems, Databases and Networking During this unit you will be focussing on the methods of tackling complex problems using comparison methods and standard algorithms. You will also build on the theory from the AS year developing further your knowledge of number systems, networking, databases and more advanced programming concepts. Unit 4: The Practical Project The project provides an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the systems development life-cycle. You will produce a relatively complex program to a real-user problem and include appropriate documentation. Career PossibilitiesThe course provides an excellent foundation for a Computing related course. Students have moved on to degree courses in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Games Design and Software Engineering. Computing personnel are required in many industries, such as Botany, Space and Aeronautics, National Defence, Sports Equipment, Computer Games, Transport, Modern Media and Medical Research. Standard entry requirements. Directory: prospectus prospectus -> State school prospectus -> Prospectus ms/MPhil/llm shari’ah/Phd programmes Download 229.69 Kb. Share with your friends:
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