Compare/contrast at least two texts in relation to a selected essay question (A Doll's

House, Things Fall Apart)

Formulate an argument in response to the essay question and show the development
of ideas across the essay. 
Demonstrate your understanding of how language and context shape your reading of
each of the texts.

 25% of your final mark

 2 hours
 In response to one of six questions, students write an essay based on at least
two of the literary texts studied in part 3
 Essay must answer only one question

Paper 2 Rubric:   Rubric - Lang Lit HL Paper 2.docx

You will be marked on five criterion

 -Crit A: Knowledge and understanding (of the texts and their contexts)

 -Crit B: Response to the question (have you answered the essay prompt?)
 -Crit C: Understanding the use of effects of stylistic features
 -Crit D: Organization and development
 -Crit E: Language

Criterion A - Knowledge and understanding - 5 marks

The essay demonstrates an understanding of the works and knowledge of the contexts in
which they were written. The student shows how context affects interpretations of the texts.

Criterion B - Response to the question - 5 marks

A Paper 2 essay should focus on the question chosen. The implications of the exam
question need to be explored in depth, and the student's response must be relevant to it.

Criterion C - Understanding of the use and effects of stylistic features - 5 marks

In the Paper 2 exam, a connection needs to be made between the author's use of stylistic
features and the effect of them on his or her audience. As Paper 2 questions invite students
to explore how meaning is shaped by context, answers will have to explain why authors
choose for a certain genre, narrative technique or structure.

Criterion D - Organization and development - 5 marks

The essay must develop an answer to the question coherently and effectively. Topic
sentences should guide the ideas of paragraphs. Illustrations should be integrated well and
explanations should shed light on the subject matter.

Criterion E - Language - 5 marks

The language of the Paper 2 exam should be effective and accurate. The choice of
vocabulary and use of grammar should be consistent and appropriate.

Steps:
In preparation for this paper, you need to have constructed a detailed concept map that
outlines the relationships between concepts, features of the novels, aspects of the novels
and quotes.

1. Know your exam strategy – how much time will you allocate to each step of the
process?
2. Select an essay question to which you feel you can develop a well-reasoned
argument AND demonstrate your understanding of language and context
3. Deconstruct the question
-What is the question asking?  Identify the key words.
-Are there terms that will require specific clarification and definition in relation to
the texts?
-What is the position that you will take in response to the question?
4. Plan your response. 
-What is/are the main aspect(s) of context that you will cover?
-What are the main ideas that you will cover in each paragraph?
-Which quotations will you use in each paragraph?
-Which language features or literary devices will you discuss?
5. Remember that your response is comparative – how will you discuss both texts in a
balanced way and demonstrate your knowledge of the relationships between them.
6. Write your response.  While you write, keep referring back to the key words of the
essay question to ensure that you argument is relevant and focused. 
7. Proofread and edit your response.

Tips For Paper 2

From am IB English: Language and Literature 'InThinking' website
(http://www.thinkib.net/englishalanglit/page/2884/tips)

1. Remember that the Paper 2 exam is asking you to do three things. In fact,
these correspond to the first three criteria. Try looking at good samples and
with three different colors of highlighter pens, highlights examples of each of
these three. 
A) Be knowledgeable on the text and the context. 
B) Do not forget to answer the question. 
C) Remember to comment on the author's use of language, style and
structure.
2. Remember that there are 6 questions on the exam. Not all questions will
lend themselves to the works you have read. What's more, some questions
 are more criteria-focused than others. For example, a question such as,
'Explain why your literary works are timeless', will lend itself well to
criterion A, where you must comment on the context in which works were
written and received.
3. Do research on the time period when the work was written and the
authors that you have studied for Part 3 works. Find 3-5 points from
his/her life that may be relevant to the work you read. Be knowledgeable of
3-5 social events or societal changes that are relevant to the works you read.
4. Have you shown how well you read the novels? Try to write a little bit
about these three things in the essay in order to score well on Criterion C:
A) Setting - How is it important to understanding the context? 
B) Plot - Was there a twist, a climax, a conflict that was of particular
importance?
C) Narrative technique - Who is telling the story? Why did the author choose
to tell it this way?