Y5 Paper 2 - practice essay + identifying structure

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Paper 2 -
identifying structure + 

practice essay 

TTO5

The paper 2 essay

• Comparative essay (at least 2 novels read in class)
  
• At least 600 words
• 6 body paragraphs in the IB paper 2 next year, this year 4 body paragraphs (due to the 80 minutes instead of 105 minutes) 
• For the structure, use outline in Classroom
• Mention stylistic features (characterisation, symbols, themes, etc.)
• You will get 4 questions - you need to answer 1 
  

Thesis statement 101

This is a possible way of structuring your thesis statement. Make sure that it is easy for the reader to recognise what devices you will be using to analyse the two texts.

In (Name of Work) and (Name of Work), both (Full Name of First Author) and (Full Name of Second Author) (use, employ, utilize, rely on) (device/strategy/technique x 3) to (show, reveal, emphasize, argue, insist, point out) that (effect/purpose/answer to question).

Examples of good thesis statements

• The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut both show how soldiers struggle to deal with war and its aftermath unsuccessfully. The authors both use a disjointed and non-linear narration (device 1), the theme of pain (device 2), and motifs (device 3) to show readers how soldiers remember, experience and suffer from the horrors of war.
  
  
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen both use stage direction (device 1), music (device 2) and symbolism (device 3) to construct their social commentary and convey their feminist message.

IB paper 2 essay structure

1. Introduction: hook, introduction books, thesis statement
2. BP1: DEVICE 1 / Analysis book 1 
3. BP2: DEVICE 1 / Analysis book 2 (compare & contrast)
4. BP3: DEVICE 2 / Analysis book 1
5. BP4: DEVICE 2 / Analysis book 2 (compare & contrast)
6. BP5: DEVICE 3 / Analysis book 1
7. BP6: DEVICE 3 / Analysis book 2 (compare & contrast)
8. Conclusion: summary points, sweeping statement

BEWARE: IN THE UPCOMING TEST, YOU ONLY WRITE BP1-BP4 (+ introduction & conclusion)

Examples of stylistic features to use

• Themes
• Symbols
• Characterisation
• Motifs (any object, element, subject or idea that is constantly present in the literary work)
  
  

But, you can also think about stylistic features that we have discussed in class:

• Flashback
  
• Foreshadowing
• Mood (feelings evoked in readers) / tone (attitude of a writer towards a subject)
• Juxtaposition
• Narrative viewpoint (first person, second person, third person)
  

Mistakes made in practice essays Y4

• Thesis statement: follow the structure mentioned and do not forget the purpose of the text (last part of the thesis statement). This is the answer to the chosen question. 
• Body paragraphs - topic sentence: In your first sentence, you always mention the chosen device and what it does (topic sentence). This is just like in paper 1.  (theme of fear, etc.)
• Body paragraphs - device: only analyse 1 main device per body paragraph. Do not analyse all of the devices that you mention in your thesis statement.
• Language - titles in cursive: the titles of the books are always in cursive. So, you write The Boys from Brazil and Maus in cursive.
• Language - contractions: you never use contractions (don't, can't, won't).
• Language - pronouns: you never use personal pronouns (I, you, we, she, etc).

Exercise 1: check the full essay given for structure.
(20-25 min)

1. Look at the printed document. Select 3 colors/markers.
   
   
2. First, check the essay structure: Introduction, BP1 (book 1), BP2 (book 2 - compare and contrast), (BP3-BP4-BP5-BP6), and conclusion. What do you notice? Where is the thesis statement? Highlight the devices used.
   
   
3. Secondly, check the essay paragraphs for the  PEACE ACT-structure. Look for. Use different coloured highlighters for this.

Exercise 2: Brainstorm connections
(10-15 min)

1. Look at the printed document. You can see all of the literary works in the corners.
   
   
2. Now, write down connections. What themes are similar? What can we say about the characters and their personalities?
   
   
3. Make sure that you are able to share with class!

Instructions: The Practice Essay

1. Write a practice essay using two novels analysed in class.
2. Use one of the essay questions mentioned in the next slide.
3. The practice essay is a shortened version of the Y5 paper 2 test. This means an introduction, BP1 (analysis book 1 - device 1) and BP2 (analysis book 2 - device 1 - compare and contrast) and a conclusion. Write at least 300 words. 
4. Submit your practice essay in Classroom before the deadline. No essay means no entrance to class (and giving feedback after school).

Practice Essay Questions

1. "We are asleep until we fall in love." To what extent has falling in or out of love changed the destiny or fate of characters in two works that you have studied?
2. A literary work can be celebrated in one time or culture, but banned in another. In two works that you have studied, discuss the ways that these works may be understood or received in different ways.
3. Referring to two works you have studied, discuss the portrayal of a society undergoing change.

Part 2:
your practice essays

The practice essay questions

1. "We are asleep until we fall in love." To what extent has falling in or out of love changed the destiny or fate of characters in two works that you have studied?
2. A literary work can be celebrated in one time or culture, but banned in another. In two works that you have studied, discuss the ways that these works may be understood or received in different ways.
3. Referring to two works you have studied, discuss the portrayal of a society undergoing change.

What question did you choose for your practice essay?

Question 1: falling in love

Question 2: understanding of a literary work

Question 3: a society undergoing change

What is your thesis statement (featuring all 3 devices)?

Exercise 3: Check your neighbour's essay
for structure (20 min)

1. Go to your neighbour's document.
2. Check their document for the PIE structure. Use:

• Yellow: point (topic sentence) (P)
• Blue: information/examples from the text (I)
• Green: analysis and/or explanation (E)

3. Give feedback as a comment.
What elements were you missing? Did they have all of the needed elements? What was done well?

4. After the feedback, start working on finishing your essay!