The IB Application for current Sophomores is now open! Please complete your application before March 1st.
The IB World Literature course is a rigorous two-year college program designed for students who are independently motivated towards intense literary analysis and cultural understanding. Challenging readings, compositions, and discussions will form the crux of our time together and major assessments will consist of oral presentations and extended formal literary analysis essays. Some assessments will be graded internally (by your instructor) and others will be graded externally (by the IBO). These specifications are mandated by the IBO and will be discussed at length throughout the course. Your instructor is a supporter of student learning, not a transmitter of knowledge. This means that in order to succeed academically, independent thinking, personal motivation and goal-setting, commitment to the workload, organization, curiosity about the world, and an innate desire to learn are absolutely necessary. Furthermore, to promote the success of all students, the class will function as a community of learners. This means that we will listen to and learn from each other and therefore all actions and behaviors must be focused on the best academic interests of the group.
Active and thoughtful participation in class discussions is required for success in the course. Participation in discussions will be assessed in a variety of ways, but please understand that in order to make a high score and get the most use out of this course, you must be an active member of the group.
While the ultimate goal of this course is preparation to pass each of the IBO required assessments and to receive an IB Diploma at the end of the two years, please know that if you actively engage yourself in the coursework, you will have taken a giant step towards college preparation while also growing in your understanding of how to be a positive citizen of the world.
Please note that many of the texts that we will read contain mature language, ideas, and scenarios. It is necessary that students enrolled in IB courses are able to approach such mature content with an open, inquiring, respectful mind. Please be assured that all texts have been chosen because of the importance of their art, not as a means of creating controversy.
Your IB Score for this course will be determined by both internal and external assessments.
External Assessments are those that are sent to the International Baccalaureate Organization to be scored by a disinterested reader.
Paper 1: Literary Commentary (20%)
Students have 2 hours and 45 minutes to compose a written literary commentary of their choice of either a prose or poetry passage provided by the IBO. The passages will be unfamiliar. Corresponds to Part 3 of the World Literature Course (May of Year 2).
Paper 2: Essay (25%)
Students have 2 hours and 45 minutes to compose a literary analysis essay in response to one of three provided prompts. They must use at least two of the four novels studied in Part Three to form the basis for their response. This paper is essentially a comparative study. Corresponds to Part 3 of the World Literature Course (May of Year 2).
Written Assignment (25%)
Formal extended essay (1,200-1,500) analyzing one of the works studied in Part One. This is completed outside of class starting in January of the junior year with submission in March of the senior year. Corresponds to Part 1 of the World Literature Course (March of Year 2).
Internal assessments are those that are scored by the student's instructors and mediated by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Individual Oral Commentary and Discussion (15%)
Formal oral commentary on poetry studied in Part Two with subsequent questions followed by a discussion based on one of the other Part Two works (20 minutes total). Corresponds to Part 2 of the World Literature Course (January/February of Year 2).
Individual Oral Presentation (15%)
Research presentation based on works studied in Part Four of the World Literature Course (May of Year 1).