Unit 7 - Higher Level Essay - ex 7.3+7.5

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Higher Level Essay

Unit 7

Page 302-304

Exercise 7.3-7.5

Central question

How do I write a good line of inquiry and start my research?

Coming period

Over the course of the next few weeks you are going to write an essay for a mark which counts twice AND allows you to make your UoE mark sufficient.

The topic of the essay is yours to choose but must connect to the course. 

This essay must be saved carefully because you might want to send this essay to IB (in year 6) to be graded for your IB exam.

What is an HL Essay? [1/2]

The Higher Level Essay is a 1200-1500 word essay completed internally but externally assessed by an examiner. It is a processed piece of writing that is completed over time and with guidance from the teacher. It is the only opportunity for Higher Level students to write an essay not under exam conditions, and as the title suggests, this is for HL students only.

Students may write about a non-literary text or texts studied as part of their course. Alternatively, students may write about a literary work studied as part of their course. Students may select any texts or works already studied as part of the course, but texts and works used for the internal assessment (individual oral) are not acceptable choices. The IB is clear here. That’s not allowed. Also, students may not use texts intended for Paper 2.

What is an HL Essay? [2/2]

Where students decide to focus on non-literary texts, and consult a number of texts, it is important that these texts are of the same text type, and that the texts are the work of one writer or producer. Also, at least one of the texts must have been studied in class as part of the course. Students may base their essay on texts or works in translation. These should be professional translations. Texts and works in other languages that have not been translated are inappropriate. 

You may choose to use the course concepts to help students narrow down their topic, title, line of inquiry, and thesis. However, the HLE must be the student’s own work and thinking. They cannot be prescribed topics or titles.  

HL Essay in short

• The HLE is a 1200-1500 word formal, academic essay.
• The HLE is a processed essay and will take time to develop.
• The HLE is based on work(s) or text(s) studied in the course.
• Students select their own topic, title, line of inquiry and thesis although you are there to guide and support them.
• Students cannot base their essay on any work or text that was used for the Individual Oral or that will be used for Paper 2.
• It is not a requirement to use or consult secondary sources.

What can I write about in my HLE?

• The kite runner
• Poetry by Wilfred Owen 
• If this is a man 
• The importance of being Earnest 
• Any of the topics and BOWs studied in class: Propaganda posters, speeches, playscripts, feminism, masculinity, war, news articles, Blackadder, Greenday, Banksy

What can I write about in my HLE?

• The kite runner
• Any of the topics studied in class: images and magazine covers, Advertisements, Film and commericials, Political cartoons, street art, news articles, blogs, short stories and novels

Your line of inquiry

A line of inquiry is a question which your essay revolves around. 

Click here for a full explanation

In activity 7.1 and 7.2 you have looked at good and bad lines of inquiry. In 7.3 you can read what the requirements are for a good line of inquiry . Also read the green box on page 303. 

Brainstorm in little groups which text or topic interests you  most. Then try to create a line of inquiry for each student.Double check if it ticks all the 'boxes'. Share in the next slide. 

A good line of inquiry should:

• Preferably revolve around any of the seven concepts: Identity, culture, creativity, communication, transformation, perspective, representation.
  
• Study language use
• Study literary techniques or relevant stylistic devices
• Consider audience
• Consider purpose
• Be based on work studied in class (primary source), although not limited to the texts studied in class. Other texts and producers are allowed and even encouraged.

7.3 What is your line of inquiry? If you do not have one yet, what are you interested in?

Exercise 7.4

Read the question. In a notebook or OneNote file, explore what you already know about your topic, and what you want to find out. 

It is tempting to only think of this without writing it down. However, this is a big essay which takes a long time to write. If you write everything down you are able to go back to this table later on when you need inspiration or when you need to build on previous ideas. Also, writing things down allows you to make connections to what you wrote down seconds before. Therefore, your brainstorm becomes more efficient.

Exercise 7.5

Read the question. In a notebook or OneNote file, explore your sources by answering the questions from assignment 7.5. 

Again, write this down. You need this information later on when you start writing your essay. 

7.5 Take a picture of your table and upload it here.

Research skills

Research skills are much more encompassing than typing in Google and clicking on the first hit you find. You need to manage a legion of other skills to be able to do proper research. Besides searching, you must also be able to monitor information streams, do some critical reading and managing your sources. 

Look at the word web on page 304 to see what skills you will need to do proper research.

Central question

How do I write a good line of inquiry and start my research?