LEVEL: Available at Standard or Higher Level
LENGTH: Two-year course (DP1 & DP2)
RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND: A grade of B or higher in Year 10 English
Students develop their proficiency, fluency and linguistic range, and in particular to acquire the vocabulary appropriate to the analysis of texts. They will also deepen their understanding of a wide variety of concepts explored through literary and non-literary texts in order to interpret, analyse, evaluate and then communicate this understanding in clear, organised and developed products.
Students will study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media and will examine literary forms and textual types along with secondary readings. They will investigate the nature of language itself and the ways in which it shapes and is influenced by identity and culture.
Standard level students are required to study four literary works and a number of non-literary texts that is equivalent in teaching and learning time, whereas higher level students are required to study six literary works and a number of non-literary texts that is equivalent in teaching and learning time.
Students are assessed through a combination of formal examination and oral and written coursework. Results allocated are grades 1 to 7 according to the subject’s grade descriptors as described in the IB outline.
Assessment
| SL | HL |
Internal Assessment | |
| Individual Oral 15 minutes This component consists of an individual oral which is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course. Supported by an extract from one non-literary body of work and one from a literary work, students will offer a prepared response of 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions by the teacher, to the following prompt: Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of one of the works and one of the bodies of work that you have studied. (40 marks) 30% | Individual Oral 15 minutes This component consists of an individual oral which is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course. Supported by an extract from one non-literary body of work and one from a literary work, students will offer a prepared response of 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions by the teacher, to the following prompt: Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of one of the works and one of the bodies of work that you have studied. (40 marks) 20% |
External Assessment | |
| Paper 1: Guided textual analysis Exam | 1 hour 15 minutes The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students choose one passage and write an analysis of it. (20 marks) 35% | Paper 1: Guided textual analysis Exam | 2 hours 15 minutes The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students write an analysis of each of the passages. (40 marks) 35% |
| Paper 2: Comparative Essay Exam | 1 hour 45 minutes The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question students write a comparative essay based on two literary works studied in the course. (30 marks) 35% | Paper 2: Comparative essay Exam | 1 hour 45 minutes The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question students write a comparative essay based on two literary works studied in the course. (30 marks) 25% |
| HL essay Students submit an essay on one non-literary body of work, or a literary work studied during the course. The essay must be 1,200-1,500 words in length. (20 marks) 20% |