A-Level English Literature NEA Guide (AQA Exam Board)
The Non-Examination Assessment (NEA) for AQA A-Level English Literature is a crucial part of the course, worth 20% of your final grade. It allows you to independently explore texts of your choosing and develop your own interpretations and arguments. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you write a successful NEA.
1. Understand the Requirements
Length: 2500 words, excluding quotations and bibliography.
Texts: You need to compare two literary texts, one of which must have been written before 1900. You can choose from any genre (poetry, prose, drama) but they must not be set texts from your A-Level course.
Focus: Your NEA should involve a comparative study, focusing on either similar themes, characters, or contexts across the two texts.
AO Weightings:
AO1: Coherent written expression (10 marks)
AO2: Analysis of form, structure, and language (10 marks)
AO3: Understanding the context (10 marks)
AO4: Connections between texts (10 marks)
AO5: Debate and alternative interpretations (10 marks)
2. Choosing Your Texts
Pick texts you enjoy and find engaging. Passion will shine through in your writing.
Ensure that at least one text is pre-1900 and both offer enough depth for comparative analysis.
Consider themes that interest you, like gender, power, tragedy, or morality.
Speak to your teacher about your choices to ensure they meet the AQA guidelines.
3. Formulating Your Question
Your question should encourage comparison and analysis.
Aim for a balanced question, allowing you to address both texts equally.
Example questions:
“How do [Author 1] and [Author 2] present the theme of isolation in [Text 1] and [Text 2]?”
“To what extent do the protagonists in [Text 1] and [Text 2] challenge societal expectations of their time?”
4. Conducting Research
Context: Investigate the historical, cultural, and literary context of your chosen texts. This will help you fulfil AO3.
Criticism: Read academic criticism to explore various interpretations. Keep track of the sources for your bibliography and engage with them for AO5.
Language and Form: Analyse how the author’s choices of form, structure, and language shape the meaning of the texts. Pay attention to symbolism, tone, and narrative perspective for AO2.
5. Planning Your Essay
Introduction:
Introduce your two texts and your question.
Briefly outline your argument or thesis statement.
Main Body:
Organise your essay into thematic paragraphs. Each paragraph should discuss both texts.
Provide textual evidence (quotes), analyse how these support your argument, and link them back to your thesis.
Remember to discuss the context and its influence (AO3), and engage with different interpretations (AO5).
Conclusion:
Summarise your key points and reassert how you’ve answered the question.
Avoid introducing new information in your conclusion.
6. Writing Tips
Clarity and Coherence (AO1): Write clearly and concisely. Your argument should flow logically.
Close Analysis (AO2): Don’t just describe what happens in the texts—analyze how the authors create meaning through language, structure, and form.
Contextual Understanding (AO3): Relate your analysis to the texts’ social, historical, and cultural backgrounds.
Connections Between Texts (AO4): Make sure you are constantly comparing your texts. Don’t analyze one completely before moving on to the other.
Critical Debate (AO5): Engage with critical perspectives—cite literary critics and present alternative interpretations.
7. Drafting and Redrafting
First Draft: Focus on getting your ideas down. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage.
Feedback: Share your draft with your teacher for feedback. They can’t mark your work, but they can give you advice on whether you’re meeting the AOs.
Redraft: Refine your argument, improve clarity, and ensure you’ve met the assessment objectives.
8. Referencing
Use a consistent referencing style (e.g., MLA, Harvard). Ensure every quote, idea, or piece of criticism from another source is properly cited.
Include a bibliography listing all the texts and criticism you’ve used in your research.
9. Final Checks
Word Count: Ensure your essay is within the 2500-word limit.
Proofreading: Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.
Formatting: Follow the submission guidelines (typed, double-spaced, etc.).
Plagiarism: Your NEA must be your own work. Use plagiarism-checking tools if possible.
10. Submission
Submit your NEA by the deadline set by your teacher or school. Late submissions may not be accepted.
Sample NEA Plan
Question: How do authors in [Text 1] and [Text 2] explore the consequences of isolation on their protagonists?
Introduction:
Introduce both texts and your comparative question.
State your thesis on how isolation is presented.
Main Body:
Paragraph 1: Discuss isolation as a theme in [Text 1], link it to the context of the author’s time.
Paragraph 2: Compare how [Text 2] presents a similar theme but with a different perspective.
Paragraph 3: Analyse the language and structure used to depict isolation in both texts.
Paragraph 4: Explore critical interpretations of isolation in both works.
Conclusion: Reaffirm how isolation impacts both protagonists and what this reveals about the societies they inhabit.
Final Thoughts
The NEA is your opportunity to showcase your skills in independent research, critical thinking, and comparative analysis. It allows you to explore texts you’re passionate about in depth and craft a well-supported, original argument. Use this guide to stay organised, meet the AOs, and produce a piece of writing you’re proud of.