The ABC to making the right choices for the IB English Literature HL essay

At first sight, getting started on the IB DP English Literature HL essay might seem overwhelming. However, this apparently complex task becomes more approachable once you have broken it down into manageable bits. Successful IB DP essays cannot be written overnight. In other words, proper planning and organization are key to the gradual building of a solid piece that will satisfy both you and your IB examiner. Today, we will focus on the first steps, namely the choice of text and the framing of a suitable topic for your IB essay.

Because there are so many texts that you could choose to write about and so many lines of enquiry that you could follow,  it is always necessary to make decisions that will lead you to feel comfortable with the chosen text while making sure you are complying with the IB DP exam requirements.

Consequently, it is advisable to consider the following before you finally settle for a text:

• Go over the prescribed reading list for the corresponding session. You will certainly find a text or author that you have particularly enjoyed along your life-long experience as a reader. Do you think this author or text will allow for the development of a focused, analytical argument for the IB? Notice you are expected to produce a formal essay of 1200-1500 words, so there should be plenty to say about the text or author of your choice.

• Once you have decided on a text or author, it is time to narrow down the scope to an aspect of the text or author that particularly interests you. If you have decided on an author, it is also time to select a single text by them, or to a number of texts if you would like to work on poems, short stories or other types of shorter texts. Different individuals have different interests; that is why you should discuss every step of the process with your IB English teachers but the decision is finally yours.

• In order to finally frame the topic of your essay, it is a good idea to consult the list and description of the seven concepts suggested in the IB DP Language A: Literature Guide (identity, culture, creativity, communication, transformation, perspective and representation) and think of the perspective from which you would like to approach the text, perhaps by applying a certain literary theory or examining a well-known critic’s approach to the chosen text.

• Next, think of the wording of your IB English essay title. This may take the form of either a question or a statement, but in both cases it should be clear enough and provide all the information about your intended aim. This will help you remain focused along the process of reading. Do not use fancy titles as they might be misleading both for you and the IB examiner, who might not know what to look out for in your work.

Here are some examples of suitable titles. They are intended only as guidelines; of course the list is not exhaustive and you might create a much better title yourself:

It is finally reading time!!! While you read, annotate the text profusely, not feeling guilty about highlighting, underlining, circling and making notes on the margins when you find a section you might like to refer to in your essay later on. This will give you easy access to those sections while you are writing.

On my following post we’ll be looking into the writing process itself to satisfy the IB requirements, but it is now time for you to sit back – on a comfortable armchair perhaps – and both explore and enjoy your text as you read along.