HL Essay

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 What is the HL Essay?:

• The HL Essay is a 1,200 –1,500 word formal essay

• It is externally assessed, weighting 20% of the grade
• The essay should develop a line of inquiry/explore a broad literary or
linguistic focus in connection with
• One of the literary works studied in class
OR
• One of the non-literary bodies of work studied in class
You should demonstrate knowledge of the whole work of your choice.

• Remember: you CANNOT re-use any material analysed in your IO.

• You can use secondary sources but you do not have to.
Choosing topic and work/text
• You are required to “construct a focused, analytical argument
examining the work from a broad literary or linguistic perspective”
(The Language and Literature Guide).

• This means choosing a topic

and
• Narrowing into a particular focus

• You are expected to select text or work independently; however,

you are at the same time encouraged to seek guidance from me
Choosing topic and work/text

It is recommended that you turn to your learner portfolio

to:

1.Find ideas and perspectives that might help you select a topic

• Themes
• TOK-guiding questions for the different units (consult the overview of
each unit)
• Notes from analytical discussions
• Different perspectives
Choosing topic and work/text

2. Consider the seven concepts of the course :

• Identity
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of identity of a
particular character or group of characters in the text, or on the way in which the
text relates to the identity of the writer.
• Culture
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of the culture of a
particular place, institution or group of people, or on the way in which the text itself
relates to a particular culture.
Choosing topic and work/text
• Creativity
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of individual or
collective creativity, or lack of creativity, within the text, or on the way in which the
text represents the creativity of the writer.
• Communication
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of acts of
communication, or failures in communication, in the text, or on the way in which the
text itself represents an act of communication.
• Transformation
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of transformation
or transformative acts in the text, or on the way in which the text itself is a
transformative act either of other texts through intertextual reference to them or of
reality by means of a transformative effect on the reader’s identity, relationships,
goals, values, and beliefs.
Choosing topic and work/text
• Perspective
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the representation of a particular
perspective or perspectives within the text, or on the way in which the text represents
the writer’s perspective.
• Representation
• The student might be interested in an aspect of the way in which the text represents
different themes, attitudes and concepts, or in the extent to which language and
literature can actually represent reality.
Sample line of inquires

• Through which linguistic devices and for what reasons does Nelson Mandela explore
the theme of identity in his inaugural speech?

• To what degree are the communication techniques of Lance Armstrong inadequate in

expressing remorse in his interview with Oprah Winfrey?

• How does the representation of reckless youth in Diesel’s ‘Stupid’ campaign serve the
purpose of selling fashion apparel?

• To what extent does…..novel promote intercultural understanding or divide cultures

and people?

• In what ways and for what reasons does…explore perspective in…?

• How, and to what end, does…highlight identity crisis in…?