The Grade 11 English Home Language (English HL) CAPS syllabus for South Africa follows the annual teaching plan across Terms 1-4. The programme is organised around listening and speaking, reading and viewing (including literature), writing and presenting, and language structures and conventions integrated into all skills. Use the term outline below with Grade 11 English HL past papers for exam preparation.
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: Task 1: Oral (15 marks) listening for comprehension. Task 2: Writing (25 marks) transactional writing. Task 3: Oral (15 marks) unprepared speech. Task 4: Test 1 (35 marks) language in context (comprehension, summary, language structures and conventions).
Introduction of learners to class and features and conventions of oral texts (public speaking techniques, structure and preparation process), including planning, researching, organising, practising and presenting. Baseline test with peer assessment and discussion. Unprepared speech and prepared speech activities are included.
Introduction to genres and key features of texts and parts of a book, including literary genres. Listening and reading for comprehension using strategies in CAPS (see 3.2). Literature study includes poetry and novel/folklore, with vocabulary development and language use.
Transactional texts such as formal letters (request, complaint, congratulations), curriculum vitae and covering letter, agenda and minutes of meeting, formal or informal report, magazine article, email, dialogue and interview. Essay types are introduced and discussed (discursive, reflective and other essay types as shown), with a strong focus on process writing: planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) integrated into the work, including register, style and voice, word choice, sentence construction, paragraph writing, punctuation and spelling.
Introduction of learners to class and features and conventions of oral texts (public speaking techniques, structure and preparation process), including planning, researching, organising, practising and presenting. Baseline test with peer assessment and discussion. Unprepared speech and prepared speech activities are included.
Introduction to genres and key features of texts and parts of a book, including literary genres. Listening and reading for comprehension using strategies in CAPS (see 3.2). Literature study includes poetry and novel/folklore, with vocabulary development and language use.
Transactional texts such as formal letters (request, complaint, congratulations), curriculum vitae and covering letter, agenda and minutes of meeting, formal or informal report, magazine article, email, dialogue and interview. Essay types are introduced and discussed (discursive, reflective and other essay types as shown), with a strong focus on process writing: planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) integrated into the work, including register, style and voice, word choice, sentence construction, paragraph writing, punctuation and spelling.
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: Task 5: Writing (50 marks) reflective/discursive/argumentative (visual stimuli). Task 6: Oral (10 marks) unprepared reading aloud/prepared speech. Task 7: Mid-year examinations (150 marks): Paper 1 language in context (70) and Paper 2 literature (80).
Review of Term 1 content/skills and oral text features and conventions. Unprepared reading aloud and/or prepared speech activities, plus mediation and review.
Summary writing and interpretation of visual texts (for example adverts, cartoons and pictures). Literature study continues with poetry and novel/folklore, including an unseen poem and poetry essay (seen poem) as indicated.
Discuss the features of transactional texts and essay types (narrative, descriptive, argumentative; discursive, reflective and visual stimuli; mediation). Write transactional texts and essays using process writing: planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document), integrated with writing tasks and language in context preparation.
Review of Term 1 content/skills and oral text features and conventions. Unprepared reading aloud and/or prepared speech activities, plus mediation and review.
Summary writing and interpretation of visual texts (for example adverts, cartoons and pictures). Literature study continues with poetry and novel/folklore, including an unseen poem and poetry essay (seen poem) as indicated.
Discuss the features of transactional texts and essay types (narrative, descriptive, argumentative; discursive, reflective and visual stimuli; mediation). Write transactional texts and essays using process writing: planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document), integrated with writing tasks and language in context preparation.
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: Task 8: Literature (35 marks) assignment/project. Task 9: Oral (10 marks) unprepared reading aloud/prepared speech.
Meetings and meeting procedures (conversation) and prepared speech, including planning, researching, organising, practising and presenting, as well as mediation and review.
Literature study includes literary essay work with poetry and novel. Review and remediation activities cover the work completed in Term 3, including literature assignment/project feedback.
Transactional texts (formal letters, CV and cover letter, agenda and minutes, reports, magazine article, email, dialogue and interview) and project/assignment work including research techniques and writing poetry and literature essays. Process writing remains central (planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting).
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) alongside summary writing, reading for comprehension and interpretation of visual texts as shown.
Meetings and meeting procedures (conversation) and prepared speech, including planning, researching, organising, practising and presenting, as well as mediation and review.
Literature study includes literary essay work with poetry and novel. Review and remediation activities cover the work completed in Term 3, including literature assignment/project feedback.
Transactional texts (formal letters, CV and cover letter, agenda and minutes, reports, magazine article, email, dialogue and interview) and project/assignment work including research techniques and writing poetry and literature essays. Process writing remains central (planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting).
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) alongside summary writing, reading for comprehension and interpretation of visual texts as shown.
Weeks 1-10
Assessment: Task 10: End-of-year examinations (300 marks): Paper 1 language in context (70), Paper 2 literature (80), Paper 3 writing (100), Paper 4 orals (50).
Activities include introducing a speaker and vote of thanks, debates/panel discussions, and informal discussions/conversation. Revision and examination preparation are included.
Exam relevance: Paper 2 literature includes seen poems, an unseen poem, contextual questions (novel) and a literary essay (novel) with marks as listed in the ATP.
Reading for comprehension and interpretation of visual texts. Literature study includes poetry and novel/folklore. Revision activities prepare for Paper 1 and Paper 2 requirements as listed.
Exam relevance: Paper 3 writing includes an essay (50) and transactional writing (2 x 25) as listed in the ATP.
Essay writing and transactional texts continue with process writing (planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting), plus revision and examination preparation.
Exam relevance: Paper 1 language in context includes comprehension, summary, advertisement, cartoon and prose with marks as listed in the ATP.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) integrated into the revision and examination preparation.
Activities include introducing a speaker and vote of thanks, debates/panel discussions, and informal discussions/conversation. Revision and examination preparation are included.
Exam relevance: Paper 2 literature includes seen poems, an unseen poem, contextual questions (novel) and a literary essay (novel) with marks as listed in the ATP.
Reading for comprehension and interpretation of visual texts. Literature study includes poetry and novel/folklore. Revision activities prepare for Paper 1 and Paper 2 requirements as listed.
Exam relevance: Paper 3 writing includes an essay (50) and transactional writing (2 x 25) as listed in the ATP.
Essay writing and transactional texts continue with process writing (planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and presenting), plus revision and examination preparation.
Exam relevance: Paper 1 language in context includes comprehension, summary, advertisement, cartoon and prose with marks as listed in the ATP.
Language structures and conventions in context (refer to pages 93-94 of the CAPS document) integrated into the revision and examination preparation.
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