IB ENG SL YR 1 - END OF YEAR EXAM - SOME ARRANGEMENTS

The end of year exam will be on Monday 3 June. It is an hour and a half exam and will start at 9.00. The exam will take place in either 1Q8 or 1E1. You will receive an email telling you where you will sit the exam.

The aim of this exam is to help further develop your ability to respond to a specific extract. A preparation for the commentary.

There will be two questions. One on Othello and one on Gatsby. You must answer both questions. There will be equal marks for both questions.

Each question will have an extract from the relevant text and you should use this extract to answer your question. You may refer generally to other parts of the text in your answer.

You should spend about 10 - 15 minutes reading and planning each question before you write the answer.

You should spend between 5 - 10 minutes editing and correcting your answer and spend between 35 - 45 minutes writing your answer.

Your answers should have an introduction, main analytical paragraphs and concluding comment. The majority of marks will be gained in the main analytical paragraphs you write.

A2 ENGLISH LITERATURE - SECTION B - SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS

In case you missed these sample questions here they are. I think question 1 and 3 are the most obvious questions for The Rivals and the Songs.

1 'The urge to control is in all of us: it drives our lives.'
 
In the light of this view, discuss ways in which writers represent the desire for control. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.
 
 
2 'Men embody lust: women exploit lust.'
 
In the light of this view, discuss the uses which writers make of sexuality. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.


3 'Through nature one finds peace.' In the light of this view, consider the uses which writers make of the natural world. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.


4 'Deception is the spice of life.'

In the light of this view, consider ways in which writers explore deception. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.


5 'The wages of sin is death.'

In the light of this view, consider ways in which writers explore the sense of death. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.


6 'Mockery brings wisdom.'

In the light of this view, discuss the uses which writers make use of humour. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.

IB ENG SL YEAR 2 - LIST OF TEXTS AND LINKS TO AMAZON

Here is a complete list of the texts we will be studying next year. You should read all these texts over the summer. It will be an absolutely packed year compared to this year. So it is vital that we start the year ready to go. We will be starting the year with If This is a Man and A Streetcar Named Desire. 

Please make every effort to buy the editions listed below as these are the editions I will be teaching from.

Click here to a link about student reading

If This is a Man - Primo Levi - Works in Translation


Click here for a link to amazon to buy this edition

This edition contains two texts. You only need to read If This is a Man

Selected Poems - Anna Akhmatova - Works in Translation

Click here for a link to amazon to buy this edition

The edition you buy may have a cover of a woman reclining in a chair. That will be fine.

 A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams - Genre

Click here for a link to amazon to buy this edition

 The Love of the Nightingale - Timberlake Wertenbaker - Genre

Click here for a link to amazon to buy this edition

This edition contains a number of plays. You only need to read The Love of the Nightingale

 Translations - Brian Friel - Genre

Click here for a link to amazon to buy this edition

A2 ENGLISH LITERATURE - PRE 1800 DRAMA AND POETRY TIMED ESSAY FEEDBACK

Here is a link to the ocr website where they have examples of essays from the previous set of texts. As part of your revision you should read a selection of this material. Look specifically at the structures of the essays - introductions, main body and conclusions. As well as consider the structure of the paragraphs.

Click here for the link

This is a synoptic question. It's a bit of a soup or a juggling act. A synoptic question is one where you are expected to draw on every element of the entire A level. They are testing your ability to analyse language closely, compare texts, refer to contextual features - from biographical to ideological details as well as respond to theoretical perspectives.

Introductions:

• Must define the key words in the title
• and explain clearly and simply what you mean by the asserting statement and the question that follows
• should contain a summary of the two two texts in relation to the topic in the title
• should make general comparative and or contrasting points
• should comment on contexts - the writers and the society texts were written in
• should comment on genres - drama and poetry -
• be as detailed and specific as you can
• should comment on key dramatic and poetic techniques used by both writers

Main analytical paragraphs must:

• make a key comparative and or contrasting statement - to begin with
• make it clear, simple and concise
• avoid descriptive or lengthy reflective statements
• avoid re-telling the story or plot of the play
• draw on close, detailed, relevant ideas in the text discussed
• comment on dramatic and poetic techniques on the quotations used in your essay
• write fairly short, distinct and detailed pargraphs rther than long and featureless paragraphs

An analytical paragraph must include:

• a main comparative assertion
• short and concise quotations
• identify a range of dramatic / poetic / language features
• the effects on other characters, the audience - both 18th century and contemporary

An analytical essay must include:

• contextual references
• the culture and society the texts were written in
• this may include other voices and theoretical perspectives 

General points

• In Blake love is a driving force bringing together natural, animal, human, cosmic and spiritual existence together as a unified state of being.
• You must actually address the arguments presented in the question. You can agree completely or you can disagree completely. Or you can support the proposition up to a point.
• In Little Girl Lost and Little Girl Found Lyca's parents are transformed. At first their love is strong but limited. It is dominated by fear. However in Little Girl Found the parents have become liberated. Their love has become interwoven with the natural world. In The Blossom, love is presented as open, direct, physical, natural and positive. In The Sick Rose - The Blossom's linked poem - love, is presented as destructive. It is associated with disease and secrecy.
• Use a strong academic and formal register throughout your essay
• Embed comparisons throughout the essay

IB ENG SL YR 1 - ASSESSMENT SUMMARY AND YEAR 2 COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

IB ENGLISH STANDARD YR 2
YEAR 2 COURSES AND TEXTS

Below are two tables outlinning the assessment for year 1 and a summary of the year 2 course, titles of texts for the standard English course.

YEAR 1 ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

IOP – Presentation - 15% of the final English grade

IOC – Commentary - 15% of the final English grade

30% of the final English grade is covered in the first year of the course

YEAR 2 COURSE AND ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

	GENRE – DRAMA	WORKS IN TRANSLATION	GUIDED LITERARY ANALYSIS
Texts	Translations – Brian Friel – Faber Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams The Love of the Nightingale – Timberlake Wertenbaker	If This is a Man – Primo Levi Selected Poems – Ana Akhmatova	Unseen extract of prose or poetry
Assessment	Paper 2 Exam	Coursework	Paper 1 Exam
Assessment details	Answer 1 from 3 questions on DRAMA. Compare and contrast the ways in which at least two texts address a key theme or dramatic technique. 1 and a half hour exam. 25% of the final English grade	·         Interactive oral discussion ·         Reflective statement ·         Supervised writing ·         1500 word essay 25% of the final English grade	Answer 2 questions on one unseen text 1 and a half hour exam 20% of the final grade
Timing	Runs all year to exam in May	Runs to coursework deadline in March	Runs from coursework deadline in March to the exam in May

A2 LL - RECASTING FORMATS

A LEVEL ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
UNIT 3 TEXT PRODUCTION
RECASTING FORMATS GUIDE

Below is a table that includes a complete list of formats from the board. I have tried to be as specific and detailed as possible. However it is difficult being prescriptive about such an exercise.

Over 90% of content must come from the source material.

Less than 10% should be made up material. New information must only be used to adapt the source text to the recast format, purpose, register and task.

FORMAT	KEY FEATURES	AUDIENCE PURPOSE REGISTER
Letter	·         Variety of syntax / grammar – short simple, compound and complex/ declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperative ·         Lexis should link to register ·         Avoid literary features except for making very powerful points. Use rhetoric if persuasive	·         Expect personal /formal register ·         Could be persuasive / informative /entertaining / instructional purpose ·         Could be general / specific group / named audience
Article –	·         Formal – full range of syntax, simple, compound, complex – for broadsheet – simple, compound sentences for tabloid – both dominated by declaratives ·         Lexis appropriate to format tabloid / broadsheet – inclusive lexis ·         May include interview, short quotes from experts	·         Will be generally formal / tabloid / journalese register ·         Will be informative / entertaining / could be persuasive purpose ·         Could be general adult, student, specific audience
Encyclopaedia Entry	·         Define term ·         Dominated by declaratives ·         Expect specific readership e.g. children ·         Lexis inclusive – technical terms explained ·         Grammar / syntax – formal	·         Will be formal register ·         Will be informative / entertaining / instructional purpose ·         Expect  a  general / specific audience
Radio Script	Radio scripts are not transcripts of spontaneous speech. They are highly crafted texts. Therefore I would not expect to find elements of spontaneous speech in them.   There will be a presenter- used to introduce the main topic of the ‘article’ or slot. And may also introduce a second guest speaker.   The simplest structure to me seems to be a presenter acting as a questioner – these should be short open questions and a speaker giving detailed full answers. Most of the content will be incorporated in these answers.   ·         Probably two contrasting speakers - variety ·         Syntax probably dominated by simple declarative / interrogative sentences but not exclusively ·         Lexis will be simple and inclusive – define technical terms used ·         Probably present a thesis and counter argument ·         Will be conceptual – visual references will be minimal but concisely explained	·         Will  be generally formal / tabloid /journalese register ·         Will be informative / entertaining / could be persuasive ·         Expect be general adult, student, specific audience Presenter: Today we continue our series on women in politics. And here in the studio today we have Caroline Spelman a Conservative minister to tell us about her experiences.   Hello Caroline. So how did it feel the first day you took your seat in the Commons?   Caroline Spelman: Hello Judy well it was an incredible first day really….
TV Script	·         Probably two contrasting speakers - variety ·         Syntax probably dominated by simple declaratives / interrogatives ·         Lexis will be simple and inclusive - define technical terms used ·         Probably present a thesis and counter argument ·         Expect mixture of conceptual / visual references ·         Script will include concise visual aural details ·         Maybe used to introduce a topic	·         Will be generally formal register / tabloid /journalese ·         Expect an informative / entertaining /  persuasive purpose ·         Will be general adult, student, specific audience
Editorial	·         Putting forward the attitudes, beliefs of the publication – newspaper / magazine – specific or general ·         Will include an argument and counter argument ·         Will use rhetorical devices ·         Probably a call to action	·         Probably persuasive / opinionated, subjective purpose ·         Probably a general / specific audience ·         Formal / mixed register
Diary	·         Personal writing / extended diary may be journal ·         Probably simple lexis, may contain non standard grammar,	·         Informal register – may use short hand ·         Audience is personal ·         Probably to inform / entertain / advise /instruct / reflection purpose
Speech	·         Direct address ·         Short simple sentences ·         May use imagery ·         Probably a range of rhetorical devices	·         Informative / persuasive / entertaining ·         Specific / general audience ·         Generally formal register
Leaflet	·         Will use headings and sub-headings ·         Probably will use a variety of narratives including case study, statistics, bullet points, Q&A, anecdote ·         Probably use persuasive writing and include a number of rhetorical features	·         Maybe general / specific audience ·         Probably highlight a specific problem or area of concern ·         Formal register used, inclusive writing
Guide	·	·
Report	·         Factual, structured, logical and rational writing ·         Will use headings and subheadings ·         Usually addresses specific problem, offers findings and possible solutions, ·         may call for specific action	·         Formal register