OR, how does the text relate to the identity of the ?
This summary is vague, so let's go in-depth on a couple of these concepts to really show you what you should be doing in the HLE.
Identity is what makes you, YOU. Here are some questions the concern your own personal identity:
Now apply this same logic to characters within your text.
Let's take a look at a concrete example of how we might choose evidence and quotes for a HLE on cultural identity. This example is based on a Vietnamese work in translation “Ru” by author Kim Thúy. For context, “Ru” is an autobiographical fictional account which explores Kim Thúy's move from Vietnam to Canada as an immigrant and her consequent struggles. The structure of her novel is largely lyrical and poetic.
Let's look at a section from her novel that may help us come up with an essay idea based on the concept of Identity. When she returns to Vietnam, she attends a restaurant, however this becomes a major awakening for her in terms of how she views her own personal identity. Kim narrates within her novel:
The first time I carried a briefcase, the first time I went to a restaurant school for young adults in Hanoi, wearing heels and a straight skirt, the waiter for my table didn't understand why I was speaking Vietnamese with him. Page 77, Rú
This is a perfect quote for the Identity concept. Can you see why? Let's think through it together…
Why would the waiter be confused if Kim, a “briefcase”-carrying individual in “heels” and a “straight skirt”, was speaking Vietnamese with him?
What does being “Vietnamese” look like to the waiter? Why does Kim not conform to his expectation? Was it perhaps due to what she was wearing?
Now, if we look at the section which follows this in the novel, we are able to see the impact this had on the character of Kim's sense of identity.
the young waiter reminded me that I couldn't have everything, that I no longer had the right to declare I was Vietnamese because I no longer had their fragility, their uncertainty, their fears. And he was right to remind me. Page 77, Rú
Here, we can clearly see that this character is now questioning her Vietnamese cultural identity. This is just one example that demonstrates the concept of Identity.
Culture seems to be this confusing thing. Does it have to do with religion? Race? Beliefs? What does it mean? Does the monster from Frankenstein fit into a certain culture?
The easiest way to put it is this: Culture is the way someone lives. It is their “way of life.” Think of it as an umbrella term. “Culture” can include so many different things; the list just goes on, for example religion, values, customs, beliefs, cuisine, etc.
Now think, how would I form an essay from this concept?
It seems odd writing an essay about “creativity” because… like… how can anyone definitively say what ‘counts' as being creative–or not? When I say the word creativity , I think of new inventions, or maybe those weird and wacky art installations living inside those ‘modern art' museums. But hey, what's creative to me might not be creative to you!
When formulating a HLE on the concept of creativity we have two main pointers for you. Look for:
Now, for this concept, let's look at how we might select supportive evidence and quotations for a HLE on creativity within the narrative style of author Mary Shelley in “Frankenstein”. The narrative style uses epistolary narration . This is a narrative technique in which a story is told through letters. This was something that I found both interesting and recurring within Frankenstein, which I believe worked to create a personal touch within the novel.
Additionally, Mary Shelley allows different characters to narrate Frankenstein during different volumes. Let's investigate this! I have written out different character profiles of the narrators below:
These 3 characters, each relate a part of the novel Frankenstein. This is an example of a creative authorial choice that allows us, as readers to explore different points of view within the text. This is just one example of a creative aspect of a text which you can analyze for your HLE.
Representation is all about how something is portrayed, conveyed, shown, described, illustrated, depicted . There are many different things that can be ‘represented' within a text, and it doesn't have to be tangible.
For instance, you can look at how a belief, idea or attitude is depicted within a text through different characters or devices.
Again, let's explore a concrete example to make things clear: this time the graphic novel “Persepolis”. We'll consider an HLE on how a text represents the impact of political turmoil on society .
Chapter 10 of “Persepolis” highlights societal changes occurring due to the Iranian Revolution. The panels below list the authorial choices relevant to the negative representation of political change in a society. When looking at the techniques highlighted in the slides below, think about how you feel when you look at the panels below. Can you sense a more positive or negative feeling?
Cool, but what do we do to turn all this into an actual HL essay? Here is a sample response. The introduction might begin like this:
In the captivating graphic novel “Persepolis,” the author Marjane Satrapi explores the social and political impacts of the Iranian revolution. In particular, Satrapi conveys a disapproving viewpoint on political turmoil within the text. Throughout the graphic novel, Satrapi carefully represents how social isolation, hypocrisy and confusion is experienced by a young girl living in Tehran, as a result of political turmoil. Example HLE Introduction
Then, in a body paragraph, on one of the key ideas mentioned above, we could analyze the different literary techniques. For example, Panel 1 is a great representation of the experience of confusion in the midst of political turmoil:
Marji is the younger girl pictured in the panels above. While her parents appear quite concerned by the news on the TV, she appears to not be in full comprehension of the cause for their distress. This is demonstrated by the visual imagery and dialogue, in panel 7, for instance, if you observe the facial expressions by each of the characters. Example of analysis in body paragraph
This is just a short example from one particular text. To help you unpack any text, try look for the following when analyzing chapter to chapter:
If you're having trouble picking your text and line of inquiry, then use this simple 20-minute process to brainstorm potential questions for your HLE:
Choosing a question with good scope is extremely important, and it's one of the biggest challenges in the HLE. Here's why:
So, to help you get the balance just right , here are three examples of HLE questions, specifically for the concept of Identity which we mentioned in the table above (by the way, the example is a made-up novel for illustration purposes).
There are many things that contribute to a 7 in your HLE and your IB English grade overall. But if we had to boil it down to one secret, one essential fact… then it'd have to be this: Get really good at analysis .
Analysis is the key to a 7 in IB English. It doesn't matter if it's Paper 1, Paper 2, HLE, IO… You must learn how to analyze quotes at a deep level, and structure your analysis in a way that flows and delights your teachers and examiners.
Start with the basic foundations of analysis for free inside LitLearn's Learn Analysis course.
Our free and Pro resources have helped IB English students skyrocket their grade in weeks, days and even overnight... Learn Analysis for IB English , the simplest guide to a 7 in IB English.
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Also, you'll need to find good quotes for your text. Some good sources where you can find relevant quotes include Goodreads , SparkNotes , LitCharts , and Cliffnotes . Of course, you could just find quotes yourself directly–this will ensure your quotes are unique.
An essential step to getting a high mark on the HL Essay is understanding the rubric! It is SO important that you know what IB English examiners are looking for when grading your essay, as this helps you to shape the content of your essay to match (or even exceed) their expectations.
The IB English HL Essay is graded out of 20 marks . There are 4 criteria, each worth 5 marks.
Use the checklist below to make sure you're not making simple mistakes! Note that this is not the official marking criteria, and I strongly recommend that you reading the official rubric provided by your teacher.
Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding, and interpretation
Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation
Criterion C: Focus, organization, and development
Criterion D: Language
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What is the IB English HL Essay?
The IB English HL Essay is usually written at the end of the first year of IB English in international schools and constitutes 25% of the IB English grade. For IB HL English Language & Literature, the source for the 1200-1500 word essay will be a non-literary or literary text studied in the course; for HL English Literature, this will be a literary text studied in the course.
As an International Baccalaureate Higher Level English student, one of the most daunting tasks is achieving a level 7 on the essay. However, with the right approach and mindset, it’s definitely achievable. Here are the top tips to help you achieve a level 7 on your IB HL English essay.
In conclusion, achieving a level 7 on your IB HL English essay requires careful planning, effective use of evidence, and a clear and concise writing style. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to success.
Previous post tips to achieve a level 7 on the ib mathematics ia, next post top study tips to succeed in your upcoming igcse exams.
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The English HL essay is undoubtedly the flagship assessment of Higher-Level English. At its core, the HL essay depends on the same analytical skills as any other piece of English assessment. However, the HL essay sets itself apart by requiring a more specific and conceptual line of inquiry, and overall greater depth of analysis. With these requirements, the HL essay is often the single most daunting assessment in the HL English calendar. So, to help you on your HL essay journey, this blog will detail some useful tips and considerations to get you heading on the right track.
The line of inquiry is the central question around which the entire HL essay rests. A good line of inquiry will set you up for a terrific analysis, while a bad line of inquiry will leave your essay stuck and directionless. But what actually makes a good line of inquiry?
The trick is to allow the line of inquiry to focus your analysis. Take this hypothetical line of inquiry: “ How and why does J.R.R. Tolkien use the race of Men as a philosophical discussion of agency and its relationship with mortality in books within the Lord of the Rings? ”.
Starting with the imperatives “how” and “why”, this line of inquiry immediately constrains your analysis to keep you focused on technique (the how) and purpose (the why). This protects you from straying off track; so long as you keep talking about the hows and the whys, you guarantee yourself those marks that are for focus and relevancy.
This line of inquiry further keeps on task by explicitly stating the feature of your text that speaks to some real literary concept. In this case, we can see that the student using this line of inquiry is arguing that the race of Men is a tool that Tolkien has used to talk about agency and morality. Agency and morality are the literary concepts, the race of Men is the feature. By connecting them in the line of inquiry, you make it significantly easier to keep making that connection all the way throughout the entire HL essay. Not only this, but by connecting in-text features with a concept, it becomes significantly easier to produce the kinds of insightful arguments that push you into the top band of Criterion A.
The line of inquiry makes or breaks your HL essay (no pressure). That said, the HL essay is an ongoing journey. It is both common and perfectly okay to change or even completely scrap a line of inquiry partway through the drafting process.
The analysis in the HL essay itself takes a very similar shape to analyses elsewhere in English assessments: technique, implications, authorial purpose, text type, audience positioning, evaluation, link to paragraph thesis, and so on. These avenues of analysis are the backbone of English in general and so it should come as no surprise that they are the backbone of the HL essay as well.
Where the HL essay can diverge from the other assessments is the points that you are arguing within the body paragraphs. Body paragraphs in the paper 1, for example, often cover how individual categories (say, visual techniques) contribute to the overall meaning of the text. The HL essay body paragraphs are considerably more related to the concept that you are arguing.
Taking the Lord of the Rings example above, you could have one paragraph about the race of Men and how Tolkien portrays their culture as a means of questioning the futility of having agency in light of definitive mortality. Then, you could have a second paragraph about how the race of Men is made distinct against other races in the Lord of the Rings as a tool of evaluating the role of mortality in driving personal choice, and so on for further paragraphs.
As you can see, rather than targeting specific groups of techniques, the HL essay paragraphs first address the conceptual discussions created within the text, and then the techniques are brought in to explain how these discussions emerge and what commentary the author is trying to make.
There is no definitive go-to structure for the HL Essay. So long as there is an introduction and a conclusion framing a series of body paragraphs that each contain a thesis point, analysis, evidence and connections to the line of inquiry, then you are fulfilling the requirements of formal essay structure mandated by Criterion C.
Similarly, there is no required number of body paragraphs. Given the word count, 3-4 paragraphs is a good number to ensure that you are creating detailed points without repeating ideas. But, you are free to add more or less paragraphs and there are sometimes situations or texts where that may be necessary.
Criterion C and D are somewhat more check-boxy than A and B. How you fulfil Criterions A and B can be more variable depending on your text, as individual text types have defining features that lend themselves to potentially different directions of analysis. A short story, for example, would contain dialogue and so an analysis of speech and language takes on a completely different form than it would in a poem. But Criterion C and D are relatively consistent.
As long as you have a cohesive and formal essay structure as said above, combined with clear, analytical, and explicit vocabulary and tone, Criterion C and D are as good as guaranteed to you. Key things to consider when ensuring that these criteria are fulfilled include your tone (academic and unemotive), punctuation, and sentence variety (mixture of simple, compound, and complex sentences).
The HL essay is a task aimed to allow students to demonstrate the extent of their literary skills that they have learnt over their time in the diploma program. It can be daunting, and absolutely must be difficult in order to provoke insightful analysis, but it is just as possible to get a 7 on it as on any other assessment in any other subject. My final recommendation? Draft, redraft, redraft, and redraft again. Even if you’re just rewriting the same ideas every time, constant revision and review builds a crucial familiarity with the concepts and theses that you are arguing.
Good luck on your HL essay journey!
Key Concept in Economics IA
Avoid These Overused TOK Essay Examples
Deconstructing a 10/10 TOK Essay from Introduction to Conclusion
English Collaborative
These resources are ready to hand to students. They offer a description of the assignment and take students through a step by step process to complete a draft of their HL Essay.
Language and literature course, a note about the resources.
Step 5 of the resources asks students to write their inquiry question on a shared Google document that all students have editing rights to. The Google doc uses a “Red, Yellow, Green” tracking system so that students know when their inquiry question has been approved as “Green” or “good to go”. The transparent nature of the document not only holds students accountable for their submission, it also allows other students to learn from their peer’s approaches to developing and writing inquiry questions. The transparent nature of the document also ensures variety as the specific topics and inquiry questions are on a “first come, first approved” (traceable through the revision history of the document). While students may feel a bit self conscious about the transparent nature of the document, they ultimately appreciate the insights gained from the experience and appreciate the development of the line of inquiry as an iterative process. Once students are “Green-lit”, those inquiry questions can serve as models and examples for other students. A sample tracking document, with sample HL Essay lines of inquiry, is provided below. Additionally, there is a Word template of the tracking document that can be uploaded to Google Docs; it should easily convert.
Sample hl essays.
Below are a range of sample essays that are all “good” to “excellent” and would be marked in the 5-7 range. At the end of each essay are holistic comments by criterion that identify the strengths and limitations of the essay against each of the IB Language A HL Essay assessment criteria.
The HL Essays below have been externally marked by the IBO on the HL Essay Rubric; final marks are provided in leui of holistic comments.
Marks A:5 B:5 C:5 D:5
Marks A:4 B:4 C:4 D:4
IB English A Literature: HL Essay Assessment Considerations
IB English A Language and Literature: HL Essay Assessment Considerations
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Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay.
There are a number of different ways to develop an HL essay. Consider the following outline; it isn’t 100% comprehensive but it covers the key elements.
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What’s covered:, ib hl vs sl: what’s the difference, how do hl papers/exams work, how are the ib english sl papers/exams scored, how does the ib english hl exam affect my college chances.
IBDP, which stands for The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme , is a common high school diploma alternative to the AP system, a system very popular here in the U.S. The IB system is much more internationally accepted, and considered a lot more rigorous in academics and exams.
The exams can be a hard spot for IB for many students, and one of its flagship subjects, English Literature, is considered difficult and its exam is no different. Hopefully this guide can break down the exam into some digestible information and make it easier for you to approach the examination.
All IB classes/courses have two versions, higher level (HL) and standard level (SL) . The most prevalent difference between these two versions is mostly the amount of coursework expected, as well as some key differences to what’s being provided to the student as learning material.
Language A is separated by not only the difficulty of exams but, there are different kinds and options for reading material for the class. Reading material matters here because the exams are based on reading material.
HL papers for the Literature exam are divided into two components:
This paper is a bit more difficult for most students because the questions are based on unseen excerpts as opposed to the reading materials you’ve read during the two year curriculum. These unseen texts are hard to prepare for, but based on the type of student you are, you might find this more approachable as they’re concise and require more reading between the lines. For these texts it’s important to get to the motive and theme of the text as soon as possible, as opposed to understanding the actual context. Skim reading and breaking down sections into groups based on common themes is a common hack for this paper.
Ideally you’d want to have a general plan before you step into paper 1. The plan should detail your approach to reading the exam and its texts. Breaking the texts down to the following subcategories would be useful for literature analysis:
By breaking the text down like this, you can identify the purpose of the excerpt and hence answer any question that involves the analysis of the literature pretty easily, because your plan has already been executed as you were skimming or reading.
This plan should make paper 1 much more manageable, but some practice goes a long way. Make sure to use previous examinations and specimen papers to your advantage and practice older questions to perfect your skills.
Paper 2 can be considered a little easier given that you’re aware of the texts that will be used for the examination, and you can choose which questions you wish to solve out of the provided options. These options make it even easier to implement the plan as described previously! Paper 2 is only as difficult as you come underprepared so study those texts and provide literature!
The texts refer to readings that have been assigned from a board at IBO, and these selections are sent to schools all over the world. The way the paper is designed, no matter which option you choose to read for a text, there will be an exam question that pertains to your selection. There will also be numerous generalized questions that can refer to many texts and be pretty-opened.
There’s ample time to create answers that are more concrete and proofed compared to responses in paper 1, therefore the grading expectations for this paper are less lenient than paper 1. Understanding your provided reading material is key to excelling in this paper, so making sure to come in prepared is the key difference of passing and failing this paper.
Both papers are scored out of 20 points, and are based off a rubric/criterion chart that can be used to pick a score based on performance.
The criteria can be clearly seen in the diagram above, with level 1 being the weakest performance in each criteria, up to 5 being the strongest.
You should study the criteria thoroughly because it shows you what the grader is looking for in a good, well-written essay/response.
The scores out of 20 are then used along with your performance in internal assessments to determine a grade out of 7 for the class . The table below, called a grade boundary table, is used by graders to determine this score out of 7.
To calculate your grade, you would take the total score on both papers (which is out of 40) and your internal assessment grades, a total isn’t as clear here as it’s based on what your teachers would decide. Divide your earned points by the number of available points to score, and multiply the decimal by a 100.
Given that paper 2 is completely dependent on how well you’re prepared by understanding your literature options, read earlier and get a head start. The sooner you understand your text, the earlier you can analyze prior to the exam. By getting this over with, when the exam rolls around you’re already done with the prep work required to solve the prompts and questions.
By reading earlier you may also notice the text you chose isn’t quite suited for you, or you simply don’t enjoy reading it. The extra time from starting it earlier, gives you a chance to swap our selections if required.
A more general, but equally as important tip! Managing stress during exam season can be difficult, but a couple healthy practices can make it easy! Start by telling yourself exams are not as important as schools make them out to be! They are not going to decide our future, and certainly have less impact on your chances of college admission than you’d think! Understanding this can remove a lot of stress off you, which funnily enough might make you even perform better due to feeling less inclined to exceed those expectations that were previously placed on you!
In short they do not! Scores don’t mean much when it comes to college admissions, but showing the will to be in a hard class like English Literature HL is more important. Colleges are inclined to favor students with a set of more difficult classes as opposed to high scores and other metrics.
A nifty tool, CollegeVine’s admissions calculator , takes all factors that do matter in college admissions, ranging from extracurriculars, GPA, and standardized test scores, along with a lot more, and provides you with your unique chances of getting into a college/university of your choosing.
Don’t fear the HLE! Let us guide you through the entire process. We’ll leverage five complete HLE samples and show you how it’s done. Start with the Line of inquiry and end with 1500 words you can celebrate!
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Here you will find examples of real student HL Essays. Take a read and, using the marking criteria, grade them. You can compare your marks with those of the examiner.
The Characterization of Luis Alberto Molina through the use of Films, Dialogue and Stream of Consciousness in Manuel Puig’s Kiss of the Spider Woman
Luis Alberto Molina, commonly referred to as Molina, is arguably the most fascinating and captivating character in the prose novel Kiss of the Spider Woman, written by the Argentine author Manuel Puig. The novel, first published in its original Spanish in 1976, revolves primarily around the relationship between two convicts in a Buenos Aires prison, presumably during the military dictatorship of the late 1970s: Molina, a homosexual cross-dresser imprisoned for sexual perversion, and Valentin, imprisoned and tortured for being a member of a Marxist resistance group. Puig employs several narrative techniques to reveal the intrinsic nature of Molina’s character while confined in a cell with an initially hostile companion. Firstly, Molina frequently submerges the reader into the realm of film, as he narrates several romantic films throughout the novel, the most significant being the 1942 film Cat People and one described as Nazi Propaganda. The films express Molina’s longing for escapism and his mannerism. Secondly, the author’s use of unmarked, outer dialogue establishes Molina’s self-identity. Furthermore, the dialogue portrays Molina in relation to Valentin, as the two develop a strong bond throughout the novel, to the point where they share complete intimacy and engage in sexual activities. Lastly, Puig’s use of stream of consciousness writing provides vital insight into Molina’s internal conflicts and reveals his true identity as a spy.
The author employs films narrated by Molina as a medium through which his character is introduced to the reader and developed throughout the novel. In order to combat boredom and help pass the time, Molina vividly narrates the plots of several movies, often embellished with romance. As the films are presented through Molina’s eyes, they give vital insight into his perception of the world around him. The novel begins with Molina describing the appearance of the main protagonist of the film Cat People: Irena, a Romanian immigrant who fears she will turn into a panther if a man kisses her. In the film, she falls in love with a charming architect, who takes on a protective role and attempts to take away her fears. Molina goes into great detail, stating that “[her] face, [is] more oval than roundish, […]” (1) and that her hair is “ […] cut in bangs […], and is down to the shoulders, […], with little curls at the end too, almost like a permanent wave.”(1). This vivid description portrays Molina as a man who admires feminine features. Throughout the narration, Molina pays special attention to fashion, decorations in homes, and romance, highlighting his obsession with escaping into fantasy worlds. This message is further reiterated when Valentin “break[s] the illusion” by criticizing Molina’s narration, to which he responds that he would rather have “the panther woman’s boyfriend to keep [him] company instead of [Valentin].” (17). Additionally, the film is riddled with symbols of femininity and masculinity, which Molina sympathizes with. When asked by Valentin who he relates to in the film, he reveals that he identifies with Irena, as “[…] She’s the heroine,[…] Always with the heroine.” (25). This shows Molina’s desire to be the hero of his own life story. This foreshadows the ending of the novel, where Molina dies in an attempt to deliver information to Valentin’s resistance movement. Furthermore, Molina strongly connects with the pipe-smoking architect, due to him being “ […] the gentle type, and understanding.” (17). This subtly hints towards Molina’s submissiveness, as he desires a partner that protects him like the architect protects Irene. The second film follows the story of a French woman who falls in love with a Nazi officer and is forced to spy on him for the French resistance. While Valentin is quick to point out that the film is portraying the nazis as the saviors of Europe and calls it “Nazi junk”, Molina decides to ignore him, stating that “The film [is] divine, and for me, that’s all that’s what counts.” (78). Molinas unwillingness to see past the superficial glamour of the film and recognize that it intends to vilify the french resistance furthers the notion of Molina’s disconnect from a hostile society and his need to escape into fictional, romantic scenarios. Additionally, the themes of espionage and betrayal in the second film foreshadow the revelation that Molina is a spy for the prison warden, and has been promised early release if he extracts information on Valentin’s resistance movement. Consequently, the films are key to decipher Molina’s personality as they display a disconnect from reality and give insight into his feminine nature.
Traditionally, novels are told by a narrator who exists either inside (internal) or outside (external) the story’s universe. What sets the novel apart from others is the fact that the author omits an external narrator entirely, using outer dialogue between the two characters to reveal Molina’s character. This narrative device effectively places the reader into the head of Molina and provides information about his self-identity. Furthermore, the change in dialogue from one character to another is indicated solely by a dash, forcing the reader to, at times, deduce who is speaking solely by their diction. When Valentin brings up Molina’s tendency of escapism and mocks his femininity, Molina retaliates, exclaiming that “You’re all alike, always coming to me with the same business.” (19), expressing his anger towards the society that rejects him. Molina continues by saying that “If a woman’s the best there is, […] I want to be one.” (19). This powerful phrase is the first glimpse the reader gets of Molina’s identity, as it becomes clear he doesn’t consider himself a stereotypical, masculine man. Once Valentin opens up to Molina about his relationship with his girlfriend, Molina reciprocates, revealing he is in love with a heterosexual waiter named Gabriel. Molina perceives Gabriel as a “real man” due to him being “elegant, […] soft and masculine.” (61). When asked about his definition of masculinity, he responds by stating “[…] it’s knowing what you want, where you’re going.” (61). The reader automatically recognizes that Molina doesn’t fit his own definition of masculinity, as he pursues the impossible goal of living with Gabriel, despite him being married. Furthermore, when talking about himself in the third person, Molina calls himself a “woman”, stating that “[…] when it comes to him, I can’t talk about myself like a man, because I don’t feel like one.” (60). This reveals Molina’s self-identity as a stereotypical female and accordingly, his attraction to a “real man”.Therefore, the author’s choice to employ outer dialogue between the prisoners is effective in refining Molina’s character as the device forces the reader to see things from his perspective, simultaneously allowing for a great deal of personal interpretation due to the first-hand narration.
A third narrative technique that Puig employs to great effect is stream of consciousness writing. The device, meant to give the reader an insight into Molina’s disturbed state of mind, is used extensively throughout chapter 5 (96-112), where Molina privately pictures the plot of a third movie while Valentin studies politics. In the stream of consciousness writing, several of Molina’s thoughts help the reader understand his internal conflicts. Firstly, Molina’s resentment towards the society that loathes him is once again shown when he thinks: “[…] it feels so bad when someone gives you a black look, […] or when they refuse to look at you all together.” (105). This is strongly contrasted by feelings of guilt, which is expressed when he thinks of his sickly mother, whom he fears will die of a broken heart due to having a son “steeped in vice” (105). In the next few sentences, the reader gets a glimpse into an emotion once thought impossible by the sensitive, gentle character: rage. When Molina reflects on the judge that was determined to bring on him “[…] the full weight of what the law permitted […]” (106) and his mother’s horrified reaction, he becomes furious:“[…] if he dared to say one stupid word about her, I would kill the son of a bitch […]” (106). Towards the end of the passage, Molina thinks about the promise the warden gave him of a reduced sentence, giving the reader the first clue that he is a spy. The stream of consciousness section is therefore vital in the portrayal of Molina’s character as the reader interprets his potential for violence as the ultimate expression of affection towards his mother, as well as emotions such as resentment, rage and guilt.
In conclusion, the narrative techniques mentioned above combine synergistically to give Molina his charismatic, romantic, and conflicting character. The films ‘told’ by Molina are central to the construction of his identity as they reveal his disconnect from reality and his feminine personality. The author’s use of outer dialogue adds to Molina’s characterization as his communication with Valentin reveals his self-identity. Finally, Puig’s use of stream of consciousness writing displays conflicting emotions that plague Molina. The construction of Molina’s character is vital as he is central to the plot of the novel and challenges the readers perception on homosexuality, gender expression and identity.
Puig, Manuel, and Thomas Colchie. Kiss of the Spider Woman. Vintage International, 1991.
Bibliography
Cat People. Directed by J. Tourneur, RKO Pictures, 1942.
Examiner's Marks
The motif of death and the interconnection between the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and the novel Crossing the Mangrove
Word Count: 1500
Bibliography:
How much of HL Essay - Student Samples have you understood?
Which of the following best describes your feedback?
Presentation.
4 of the 34 marks for the Extended Essay are for Criterion D: Presentation. The IB does not provide a checklist to remind you to include page numbers, captions and correct citations. Instead Criterion D asks:
The first bullet point is arguably the most difficult and is inextricably related to Criterion C: Critical thinking. However, there is no reason why you should lose marks for the second two bullet points on layout. Here is a checklist that you can use to determine if your essay is ready to submit:
Have you checked your word count (under 4000 words, after you have excluded words which are not counted towards the word count)?
Have you numbered tables and figures/illustrations, i.e. Fig.1, Table 1?
Does each table, figure or illustration have a caption or label?
For tables, illustrations and figures that are not based on your own work, have you included citations or full references?
Are tables, illustrations and figures mentioned in the text, using a numbered reference?
Do all in-text citations refer to a source in the bibliography or works cited section?
Is your list of works cited / references / bibliography in alphabetical order?
In your bibliography / works cited, are your sources formatted according to the requirements of your style guide (APA, Chicago, MLA)?
Are your pages numbered?
Does your table of contents include section headings and page numbers?
Are quotations clearly indicated by quotation marks or indented blocks?
Are appendices titled, referenced in the text and listed in the table of context?
Have you used a readable, conventional font? Have you double spaced your lines and used standard margins?
Does your title page include both your title and research question ? (Note: do not include your name, candidate number or school name or number on the title pages)
Do your introduction and conclusion answer the research question ? Does the answer to your research question follow logically from your arguments, evidence and findings?
Does the structure of your essay lend itself well to your topic, question and research?
How well does your essay structure lend itself to your argument? See the subject-specific interpretations of the assessment criteria in the EE Guide on the Programme Resource Centre under MyIB. There you can find advice on how to use headings and structures that are appropriate for your subject.
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hi, i'm currently writing both of my hl essays (english language and literature and hl essay for literature in another language) and in the syllabus it's stated that essay should be 'a focused, analytical argument, examining the work from a broad literary perspective'.
does that mean that the vital part of the new syllabus for both lang&lit and lit is the for and against argument/discussion of the line of inquiry? or is it enough to only analyse with examples the perspective/your own opinion of the line of inquiry
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What You Need to Know. The HL Essay is a 1200-1500 word formal essay and it is based on a literary work studied as part of the course. You cannot use the same work for the IO or the Paper 2 [1] for this essay. In the IB Language and Literature course [2], the essay can also be based on a non-literary or collection of non literary text(s).
The HL Essay (HLE) is a 1200-1500 word essay about a text studied in the IB English course. For Lang Lit, the work you choose to analyze can be literary or non-literary, but for IB English Literature the text must be literary. The HLE will make up 25% of your final IB English HL grade, and it is graded externally.
Your HL essay requirements are: 1200-1500 formal essay (a HL essay title page with: subject: English A Literature (Group 1), The Little Prince (Translated Free Choice), LOI: _____, Session: May 2021/22, Word count: 1200-1500, page numbers, 1 to double spacing, in-text citations in APA, MLA-8, or any other format, Works cited page or whatever ...
The HL essay offers students an opportunity to develop as independent, critical and creative readers, thinkers and writers by exploring a literary topic over an extended period of time, refining their ideas by means of a process of planning, drafting and re-drafting. The essay requires students to construct a focused, analytical argument ...
8 Tips for Earning a Level 7 on the IB English HL Essay (with Examples) Top 8 Tips for Earning a Level 7 on the IB English HL Essay. 2. Decide on your Topic by Brainstorming Wider Themes. 3. Consolidate your Line of Argument in a Thesis Statement. 4.
Here are the top tips to help you achieve a level 7 on your IB HL English essay. Analyze the question carefully: Before diving into writing, read the prompt carefully and identify the key themes and ideas. Make sure you understand what the question is asking for. This will help you to stay focused and on-topic throughout the essay.
IB English: Higher Level Essay - VIDEO #2 - How to Arrive at a Line of Inquiry. If the first method didn't work for you, please try another approach. How to Write the Line of Inquiry (part 2) IB English: HL Essay Thesis Statements. Turn that LoI into a clear, precise, and insightful thesis statement that will drive the essay.
The HL essay is based on the exploration the student has carried out in the learner portfolio. During this exploration process, the student will have investigated a number of works and texts from a variety of different perspectives. In the lead-up to the drafting of the essay, the student must decide which text, texts or work to focus on for ...
The English HL essay is undoubtedly the flagship assessment of Higher-Level English. At its core, the HL essay depends on the same analytical skills as any other piece of English assessment. However, the HL essay sets itself apart by requiring a more specific and conceptual line of inquiry, and overall greater depth of analysis. With these requirements, the HL essay is often the single most ...
Notes. Students need a clear, cohesive thesis statement in the introduction of the essay that states the conclusions the student has drawn in response to the line of inquiry. The "conclusions" are the student's central argument for the essay. Students need to understand the difference between demonstrating understanding of a work and offering interpretations of the work's meanings.
Sample HL Essays. Below are a range of sample essays that are all "good" to "excellent" and would be marked in the 5-7 range. At the end of each essay are holistic comments by criterion that identify the strengths and limitations of the essay against each of the IB Language A HL Essay assessment criteria. Woman at Point Zero HL Essay.
Before submitting your final essay make absolutely sure that all of your sources are cited properly. Submit your final draft to your teacher / IB according to the instructions you have been given. Each school has a slightly different process. Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay. There are a ...
HL papers for the Literature exam are divided into two components: Paper 1 is a 2 hour and 15 minute long essay-based examination that requires you to analyze unseen texts. Paper 2 is a 2 hour and 15 minute long examination that will require you to answer questions based on the required texts for the course, and questions can be picked based on ...
Let us guide you through the entire process. We'll leverage five complete HLE samples and show you how it's done. Start with the Line of inquiry and end with 1500 words you can celebrate! The HLE Planning Guide includes: 100-page course book. 5 sample papers across genres. Line of inquiry guidance. Step-by-step approach to building the HLE.
We need sample HL essays in the following languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, German, Japanese and Turkish covering 16 different topics! Show off your writing and set an example for future IB students. Submit a proposal by 30 June 2018 (extended from May) to write an original 1,200-1,500-word essay on a topic you choose within ...
I do HL Literature, and we just submitted our first HL essays, so I think I might be able to help! The whole idea of the HL essay is an independent investigation into an area of one of the works you've read as part of the course. For example, if the author's use of unconventional language fascinated you, you could structure your whole essay ...
HL Essay. HL Essay - Student Samples. 60'. Here you will find examples of real student HL Essays. Take a read and, using the marking criteria, grade them. You can compare your marks with those of the examiner. Student Samples. Student #1. The Characterization of Luis Alberto Molina through the use of Films, Dialogue and Stream of Consciousness ...
im not sure if there's a fixed format for the title page but our teacher advised us that the title page should consist of: English Lit A: HLE. A title for your essay (summary of the theme you're analysing, eg: "Gender Hierarchies in American Suburbia) The actual "research question": The Word Count: 1. Reply.
What do I need to know about titles to write a good title? This video looks at two aspects of academic titles. You might think that the title is the last thi...
Descriptor. 1. The essay shows little analysis and evaluation of how the author uses stylistic and structural features to construct meaning on the topic. 2. The essay shows some analysis and evaluation of how the author uses stylistic and structural features to construct meaning on the topic. 3.
4 of the 34 marks for the Extended Essay are for Criterion D: Presentation. The IB does not provide a checklist to remind you to include page numbers, captions and correct citations. Instead Criterion D asks: To what extent does the structure of the essay lend itself to the topic, subject and argument? To what extent is the layout correct?
The biggest advice I could give you is to look at examples, not sure what work you are writing about but examples always help. Make sure to read your essays out loud as you write them. Take a break from writing and read them out loud. Clarity in writing is always the key to a great essay. Do not try over complicate your analysis.
In the HL essay you should have evidence that highlights a perspective that's stated in the line of enquiry. 2. Reply. capjtalism. OP • 3 yr. ago. i think my teacher said to include the against argument because "to what extent" inquiry can be open to interpretation sometimes but what you said makes so much more sense, thank u!! 2. Reply. the ...