IB STANDARD ENGLISH
PAPER 1 UNPREPARED
COMMENTARY
EXAM CHECK LIST
EXAM TIMETABLE /
ESSAY STRUCTURE
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ACTIVITY
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ACTION
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3
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Skim read texts
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Decide which passage to write on. Read the opening and or
closing paragraph / stanza. Read the guide questions. Which genre appeals to
you?
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2
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Read guide questions
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Once you’ve decided on the text read the guide questions
carefully. Go over them more than once. They will help you focus on the
relevant features of the text
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15
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First reading
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Read text and annotate
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identify plot and structure of extract
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identify narrative voice*
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Identify key themes or ideas
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Notice the settings**
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Identify main characters
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What do you notice about the writing style***
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5
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Second reading
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Close reading. Identify key quotations that illustrate the
points you have identified in the first reading. Select carefully what
quotations to use. Use quotations that you can write three or four different
comments on the quotation.
Identify patterns in the text. Consider the relationships
between different features of the text, for example the relationship between
action and words spoken, character and setting, theme and narrator.
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5
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Plan
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Draw up a list of 8-15 bullet points – just a word or
phrase, these are the core of a paragraph or paragraphs. Decide what the most
important feature of the text is. For example the main character, a key theme
or idea, Number the bullet points. Number the most important point first.
That will be your first paragraph and so on.
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50
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Write
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Write the introduction first. Your essay summarised.
Present an argument about the text – an underpinning observation. State plot.
List your key points – no quotations. List the key literary features that are
used in the text.
Then begin with your main point. You’ll feel confident
about writing about this. And go on writing the second main point and third
and so on. Cross the points out in your plan as you write. Avoid writing your
commentary in chronological order.
You don’t have to think what to write you have done that
work. Concentrate on expression of ideas. Write clear and simple and
straightforward points. If a new idea comes to you while writing – add it to
your plan and write it as a footnote at the end of the essay. Don’t disturb
the flow. Keep writing.
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5-10
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Reread and edit
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Read essay over. Check plan. Have you included all main
points? Check for spelling, expression, punctuation. Write up footnotes.
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* Is the narrative voice 1st
or 3rd person narrator. If third person restricted or all knowing,
all seeing.
** Setting includes physical
environment; interior, exterior, light, dark, morning, evening,
city, country
***See glossary of some key
literary terms
STRUCTURE OF
PARAGRAPH
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1
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Main point
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State simple main point of paragraph
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2
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Introduce quote or put quote
in context
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Elaborate on the main point by going into detail. And or
put the quotation in context – where in the passage, what
has happened
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3
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Quotation
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Select a short quotation, a word or a phrase that you casn
write a lot about.
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4
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General comment
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Link quotation to the main point of the paragraph
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5
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Literary comment
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Identify the literary feature used in the quotation
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6
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Effect comment
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What is the effect of this
technique on the generalised reader
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7
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Attitude comment
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Attitudes expressed through character or narrator
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8
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Connotations / Denotations
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Define key words in the
quotation. Comment on relevant associations to the word
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