IB Course Structure & Annotation tips papers 1 & 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Paper 1: non-literary texts

2 hours and 15 minutes

Paper 1 includes two unseen non-literary texts or text extracts. Each text (one page) is accompanied by one guiding question that directs students to consider a formal or stylistic aspect of the text. 

At SL students analyse one of two unseen texts. 

HL students respond to both texts and questions in separate guided textual analyses. 

Paper 1 counts for 35% of the final grade at both SL and HL. It is assessed externally.

Paper 1 is out of 20 marks for SL and 40 marks for HL. 

Paper 2: 1 hour and 45 minutes

The Paper 2 exam consists of four essay questions, of which you will answer one by comparing two of your literary texts. Students will need to use two of the literary works not used in other assessments in the course for this exam.    

At SL, Paper 2 grade counts for 35% of the final grade.

  At HL, Paper 2 grade counts for 25% of the final grade.

Learner Portfolio

Keep handwritten notes on all texts in class.

We work on face-to-face communication in class.

One copy for yourself (to transfer to next year).

One copy just for this year: Teams Notebook.

After every lesson, put in your notes at home.

We can share PEEL answers and insights.

Sample Questions Paper 2

1. Referring to two of the works you have studied, discuss both how and why the text invites the reader to identify with situations, characters and/or ideas.

2. Often the appeal for the reader of a literary work is the atmosphere a writer creates (for example, peaceful, menacing or ironic). Discuss some of the ways atmospheres are conveyed and to what effect in two of the works you have studied.

3. Writers often choose words, phrases and names of characters and places not only for their literal meaning, but for further meanings that they may suggest to the reader. With reference to two of the works you have studied, discuss how such words and their associations contribute to your understanding and appreciation of the works.

 

Sample Questions Paper 2

4. How is “home” depicted in two of the works you have studied and what is its significance?

5. How do two of the works you have studied portray the struggle to be understood?

6. Some literary texts, although set in a particular place or time, convey ideas that are universal. In what ways is this true in two of the works you have studied?

7. Discuss how two works you have studied present concepts of good and bad, not as absolute notions, but as a matter of individual perception.

8. Referring to two works you have studied, discuss how the author has created a convincing “world”. 

English A: Language and Literature Course 

Standard Level (SL): 4 literary works

Higher Level (HL): 6 literary works 

literary work = 1 novel, 2 novellas, 5-10 short stories, 5-8 essays, 10-15 letters, 600-line poem, 15-20 poems (same author).

7 Concepts (Philpot introduction)

Identity           Communication

Representation          Culture

Perspective          Creativity

Transformation

Global Issues

Femininity, Masculinity, Gender, Beauty, Racism, Colonialism, Immigration, War, Protests etc

Areas of Exploration

Readers, writers and texts

Time and Space

Intertextuality: connecting texts

These areas are lenses or approaches to reading.

Areas of Exploration: Readers, Writers & Texts

How and why do people study language and literature?

What are the different ways in which people are affected by texts?

How can the 'meaning of a text be constructed, negotiated, expressed and interpreted by readers and writers?

How does the use of language vary among dfferent types of text?

How do the style and structure of a text affect its meaning?

How can texts present challenges and offer insights?

Areas of Exploration: Time & Space

How can cultural contexts influence how texts are written and received?

How do readers approach texts from different times and different cultures from their own?

How can texts offer insights into other cultures?

How can the meaning of a text and its impact change over time?

How do texts engage with local and global issues?

How can language represent social differences and identities?

Areas of Exploration: Intertextuality: connecting texts

How do texts follow or move away from the conventions associated with different types of text?

How do the coventions of different types of text develop over time?

What can diverse tets have in common?

How useful is it to describe a work as 'classic'?

How can different texts offer different perspectives on a topic or theme?

How can comparing and interpreting texts transform readers?

Texts & Works

Text Features: novels, plays, poems, graphic novels, lyrics, advertisements, cartoons, photographs, letters, websites etc.

Assessment

Assessment Criterion A-B-C-D

Criterion A: knowledge, understanding and interpretation

Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation

Criterion C: Focus and Organisation

Criterion D: Language

Criterion A - Understanding and interpretation (of the text) - 5 marks

The analysis of the text should show an understanding of the text's purpose, the target audience, and its context (when appropriate) in relation to the question being asked. One's analysis of the text needs to be supported by relevant examples from the text.

Paper 2:  It is also essential that the interpretation in this essay focuses on the similarities and differences between the two literary works in relation to the question being answered. 

Criterion B - Analysis and evaluation (of the text) - 5 marks

The analysis of the text must show how a writer's stylistic (linguistic and literary features) choices shape meaning. An insightful analysis comments on effects of these features on its target audience in relation to the purpose(s) of the text. A focus on the guiding question (a technical or formal aspect of the text) is important here. 

Criterion B - Paper 2

In the Paper 2 comparative exam, a connection needs to be made between two works --> Evaluating stylistic choices by a comparing and contrasting between the two works in relationship to these choices.  

Criterion C - Paper 2

The comparative essay must develop an answer to the question coherently and effectively while also being well-balanced. Topic sentences should guide the ideas of paragraphs. Illustrations should be integrated well and explanations should shed light on the subject matter.

Criterion C - Focus and organisation (of the guided textual analysis) - 5 marks

The analysis must contain coherent arguments that are well-developed. The analysis must be organised effectively.

Criterion D - Language - 5 marks

The language of the analysis must be clear, varied and accurate. The register of the analysis must be consistent and appropriate, meaning it contains formal sentence structure, good choice of words and effective terminology.

Guiding Questions Exams Paper 1

2022 X-mas Blog - How do text and image work together to characterise the writer's lifestyle?

Tourism Australia (Advertisement) - How are text and image used in this advertisement to promote domestic tourism?

Climate change: Explore how the writer develops their argument about the seriousness of climate change.

Travel blog: Examine how the narrative voice is used in this text to create a sense of immediacy whilst also attempting to involve the reader.

Guiding Questions Paper 1

2021 Buzzfeed News - Yoruba Twins: How is the narrative structure used to explore ideas about identity?

Comic from jakelikesonions.com: How do text and image work together to convey the comic's message?

Tandoori food: Discuss how different features are used on this webpage to create an impression of Indian culture.

UK infographic: Comment on how the interplay of text and images is used to appeal to multiple audiences.

First Dog on the Moon comic: Discuss how visual features are used in this text to underline a serious message.

"Ode to Cauliflower" online article: How and to what effect are diction and imagery used in this text?

Humor That Works Infographic: Discuss how different features are used in this infographic to achieve the author's purpose

The Hindu opinion column: How and to what effect is tone used to express the author's opinion in this column?

to argue

to explain 

to evaluate 

to instruct 

to inform 

to analyse 

 

to entertain

to describe

 to recount

to persuade 

Some standard purposes for text. Write them down. They can be combined, but one you may consider the main purpose. 

Use Teams Assignments

Tests: handwritten Papers 1 + 2 IB

At home: keep your own Learner Portfolio in a Word file for all content, concepts, devices, language, assignments, feedback and reflections for T6

Use of Chat GPT

Any work that is not your own (and is not properly referenced) will be considered plagiarism, which will have consequences. This includes copying from other writers, sources, AI, Chat GPT etc.

Annotate your text using all our suggestions. 

Analysing non-literary texts 

Try to identify the effects the author wishes to have, and then look at how language is used to achieve these effects. 

1) identification of a language feature, using appropriate terminology. 

2) one or more examples, in the form of quotations from the text. 

3) comment on the effects achieved or intended, or on the reasons for the language feature being present. 

purpose - text type (genre) - audience 

Literary and stylistic devices also can apply to non-fiction text + the areas on the following slides.

Diction 

Brand names, slogans & catchphrases, connotation and denotation, positive & negative diction (connotations), comparatives, superlatives, colloquial, conversational,  puns, wordplay, jargon, non-standard spelling, simple, complex, polysyllabic, monosyllabic, formal, informal, journalese, emotive, dramatic, sensational, bias, synonyms, antonyms, dialect, register, idiolect, sociolect, semantic field, 

Grammar/syntax 

simple, complex sentences, compound sentences,  short sentences, ellipsis (elliptical sentences), point-of-view( 1st, 2nd, 3rd), imperatives, declarative sentences (statements), interrogatives (questions), inclusive and exclusive pronouns, linking and connectives (simple and sophisticated), inverted sentences/foregrounding, passive & active sentences, sentence structure/word order (SVO), listing, polysyndeton, asyndeton, punctuation 

(discourse) structure & content

hook, signature line (advertising), form of another genre/text type, narrator, narrative voice (perspective),  stereotypes, opening paragraphs (introduction), paragraphs (short, longer, detailed), closing paragraphs (conclusion), cohesion, anaphoric reference (referring back to previously mentioned information using pronouns), cataphoric reference (referring forward in the text - the following items ...), subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS), non-linear, linear

graphology / visual elements

layout, formatting, bold, italics, upper-case, lower-case, underlining, font, serif, sans-serif,  columns, headings, subheadings, boxed text, speech bubbles, bullet points, illustrations, images, photographs, cartoons, diagrams, (relationship between the visuals and the text), colour, dense text, punctuation