IB STANDARD ENGLISH
PAPER 1 UNPREPARED
COMMENTARY
EXAM CHECK LIST
EXAM TIMETABLE /
ESSAY STRUCTURE
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 AND structure your essay. They will prescribe to you the
approach you must take in your answer.
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15
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First reading
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Read text and annotate
· identify
plot and structure of extract
· identify
narrative voice*
· Identify
key themes or ideas linked to the guide questions
· Notice
the settings**
· Identify
main characters
· 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 in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd person? If third
person restricted or all knowing, all seeing. There may be references to an
imagined audience -2nd person. This is a direct address to an
audience.
** Setting includes
physical environment; interior, exterior, light, dark, morning, evening, city,
country, weather, furniture, physical / geographical features
***See glossary of
some key literary terms
STRUCTURE OF
PARAGRAPH
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 can 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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