LCA English & Communications

Year 1 (September to January). Develops communication skills in personal and social situations through reading, writing and oral practice. Introduces the Reflective Journal and the Communication Portfolio that run across the whole course, and uses a single class-chosen anchor text (novel, short story collection or graphic novel) as a critical-literacy focal point. By the end of the module students have banked five Key Assignments and produced their first body of evidence in the portfolio.

1. Identity
2. 1 Welcome to English & Comms: Set Up Your Communication Portfolio & Pick the Anchor Text Sample lesson
3. 2 Who Am I, Who Are We?: Identity Warm-Up & Reflective Journal Launch (KA1)
4. 3 Comprehending Everyday Texts: Reading for Information
5. 4 Writing for Audience and Purpose: One Message, Two Readers
6. 5 Identity Out Loud: Spoken Self-Introduction
7. Relationships
8. 6 Comprehension Strategies for Communication
9. 7 Reading Character: Identity and Relationship in Texts
10. 8 The Reflective Journal as a Tool
11. 9 Walking Debate or Written Stance: Identity and Relationship
12. Journeys: Setting Out
13. 10 Meet the Anchor Text: Cover Analysis
14. 11 Front Cover Design Workshop, Part 1 (KA2 prep: Novel)
15. 12 Front Cover Design Workshop, Part 2 (KA2: Short Story + Graphic Novel)
16. 13 Examining Openings: How a Text Sets Off
17. 14 Setting and Plot Structure
18. Journeys: Meeting New Characters
19. 15 Identifying Characters and Their Motivations
20. 16 Differences Between Characters: Compare and Contrast
21. 17 Writing Dialogue, Part 1 (KA3 prep)
22. 18 Writing Dialogue, Part 2 + Role Play (KA3: pair/group)
23. 19 Optional Drama Extension: From Page to Performance
24. Journeys: Finding Our Way
25. 20 Mechanics of Communication: Why It Matters
26. 21 Mapping Plot and Resolution
27. 22 Building Suspense: How Writers Hold the Reader
28. 23 Drafting and Editing Workshop, Part 1 (KA4 prep)
29. 24 Drafting and Editing Workshop, Part 2 (KA4: proof + edit)
30. 25 Editing Tools: AI as Drafter, Critic, Explainer
31. Destinations
32. 26 Reflecting on the Reading Process
33. 27 Forming and Defending an Opinion of the Text
34. 28 Presenting an Opinion: Spoken and Written
35. 29 Reflective Journal: Anchor Text Reflection (KA5)
36. 30 Module 1 Recap & Bridge to Module 2

Year 1 (February to May). Extends junior cycle digital communication skills into the senior cycle, with strong workplace and Work Experience ties. Students audit their own digital identity, build research and source-evaluation skills, contribute to a class digital safety charter, research a global communication platform, and update the Reflective Journal in light of Work Experience. Banks four Key Assignments.

1. Digital Identity
2. 31 Welcome to Module 2: Communication and the Digital World
3. 32 Personal Digital Identity: What's Already Out There About You
4. 33 Workplace Digital Identity: Employer and Employee Responsibilities
5. 34 Spotting Bias in Digital Texts
6. 35 AI-Generated Content and the Bias Question
7. 36 Research Foundations: Picking a Subject and Framing a Question
8. 37 The Website Analysis Template: Six Criteria
9. 38 Online Research Workshop, Part 1 (KA1 prep)
10. 39 Online Research Workshop, Part 2 (KA1: banking)
11. 40 Unit 1 Recap: Becoming a Critical Reader of the Internet
12. Digital Safety
13. 41 Guarding Your Information Online
14. 42 Managing Your Social Network Identity
15. 43 Recognising Cyberbullying
16. 44 Strategies to Address Cyberbullying
17. 45 Digital Safety Charter Workshop, Part 1 (KA2 prep: brainstorm)
18. 46 Digital Safety Charter Workshop, Part 2 (KA2: jigsaw + drafting)
19. 47 Digital Safety Charter Workshop, Part 3 (KA2: finalising + contribution)
20. 48 Digital Safety Charter Final Production (KA2: banking)
21. 49 Consumer Awareness Online, Part 1: Spotting Legitimate vs Scam
22. 50 Consumer Awareness Online, Part 2: Rights and Reporting
23. Digital Citizenship and Global Communication
24. 51 What Is Digital Citizenship?
25. 52 Personal and Ethical Responsibilities of a Digital Citizen
26. 53 Global Communication Platforms: An Overview
27. 54 Picking Your Platform and Framing Your Inquiry (KA3 prep)
28. 55 Research the Platform, Part 1 (KA3: history, structure, audience)
29. 56 Research the Platform, Part 2 (KA3: impact, ethics, current debate)
30. 57 Presentation Prep (KA3: designing the deliverable)
31. 58 Present Your Findings (KA3: banking)
32. 59 Multi-Modal Text Analysis
33. 60 Module 2 Reflective Journal Update + Bridge to Module 3 (KA4: banking)

Year 2 (September to January). Develops communication and analytical skills around media texts: media forms and audiences, audio/visual/print media, advertising, and film studies. Unit 4 reconnects deliberately to the Module 1 anchor text via the film of (or thematically linked to) it. Banks four Key Assignments including a real-life-scenario advertisement and a film/text comparison.

1. Introduction to Media
2. 61 Welcome to Module 3: Communication in Media + Reading Journey Setup
3. 62 Examining Different Types of Media Forms
4. 63 Evaluating the Appropriate Audience for Each Form
5. 64 Bias and Balance in Media Texts
6. 65 M3 KA1: Reflective Journal Update, Reading Journey (banking)
7. Audio, Visual and Print Media
8. 66 Audio Media: Radio, Podcasts, and the Power of the Voice
9. 67 Visual Media: Television, Film, Video Games, Streaming
10. 68 Print Media: Newspapers, Magazines, Brochures, Posters, Billboards
11. 69 The Comparison Rubric: Topic, Purpose, Audience
12. 70 Impact of Design: Colour, Imagery, Sound Effects, Typography
13. 71 Picking Your Event + Introduction to Coverage Analysis (KA2 prep)
14. 72 Coverage Analysis Workshop, Part 1 (KA2: Channel 1)
15. 73 Coverage Analysis Workshop, Part 2 (KA2: Channels 2 + 3)
16. 74 KA2 Banking: Compare and Contrast Presentation
17. Media and Advertising
18. 75 Advertising Techniques: An Introduction
19. 76 Critical Analysis: What Is the Ad Selling, Really?
20. 77 Ethics in Advertising: When the Promise Crosses the Line
21. 78 Identifying a Real-Life Scenario for Advertisement (KA3 prep)
22. 79 Advertisement Design Workshop, Part 1 (KA3: planning)
23. 80 Advertisement Design Workshop, Part 2 (KA3: drafting)
24. 81 Advertisement Design Workshop, Part 3 (KA3: refining)
25. 82 KA3 Banking: Final Advertisement + Real-World Placement
26. Film Studies
27. 83 Film Genres: An Overview
28. 84 Linking to Module 1: Storytelling Across Page and Screen
29. 85 Film Vocabulary: The Language of the Camera
30. 86 How Techniques Are Used For Effect in Different Genres
31. 87 Character Voice Creation: Writing as a Film Character
32. 88 Film and Text Comparison Workshop, Part 1 (KA4 prep)
33. 89 KA4 Banking: Comparison Display or Presentation
34. 90 Module 3 Recap + Bridge to Module 4

Year 2 (February to May). The home stretch. Develops the student's own creative voice through critical engagement with song, poetry and drama, the composition of a personal-meaning piece, engagement with a real staged performance, and the two-year reflective journal update that anchors the oral examination and the Personal Reflection Task. Banks four Key Assignments. Every lesson doubles as oral-exam preparation.

1. Song
2. 91 Welcome to Module 4: Express Yourself
3. 92 Song Techniques, Part 1: Rhythm, Beat, Repetition, Sound Effects
4. 93 Song Techniques, Part 2: Alliteration, Assonance, Internal Rhyme, Imagery, Symbolism
5. 94 Applying Critical Vocabulary: Themes and Emotions in Songs
6. 95 Critiquing Songs: Beyond "I Like It"
7. 96 Comparing Song and Poetry
8. 97 KA1 Prep: Picking Your Theme and Your Three Pieces
9. 98 KA1 Banking: Theme Comparison and Named Contribution
10. Poetry
11. 99 Poetic Terminology, Part 1: Theme, Mood, Atmosphere
12. 100 Poetic Terminology, Part 2: Imagery, Symbolism, Figurative Language
13. 101 A Structured Approach to Poetry Analysis
14. 102 Personal Response to a Poem
15. 103 Comparing and Contrasting Poems
16. 104 From Spoken Word to the Page: Building Blocks of Composition
17. 105 KA2 Prep: Picking Your Topic of Personal Meaning + Choosing Your Form
18. 106 Composition Workshop, Part 1 (KA2: drafting)
19. 107 Composition Workshop, Part 2 (KA2: revising and sharpening)
20. 108 KA2 Banking: Polished Personal Composition
21. Drama
22. 109 Drama Vocabulary, Part 1: Theme, Plot, Characterisation, Setting, Dialogue
23. 110 Drama Vocabulary, Part 2: Gestures, Costumes, Props, Scenery, Makeup, Special Effects
24. 111 Studying Drama: Text and Extracts
25. 112 Stage vs Film: Drama Across Media
26. 113 Creating a Brief Performance
27. 114 Engaging with a Staged Performance: KA3 Framework + Viewing
28. 115 KA3 Banking: Performance Review or Report
29. Reflection
30. 116 Reflecting on Skills Learnt Over the LCA Course
31. 117 Strengths and Areas for Development
32. 118 How I Learn Now: A Metacognitive Review
33. 119 KA4 Banking: Two-Year Reflective Journal Update
34. 120 Oral Exam Practice + Course Farewell