About

Course aims

In this course, you will:

Understand different text types across space and time
Improve your reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and presenting skills
Learn a variety of interpretative skills, including understanding, critical evaluation, and analysis
Understand that texts can be understood in a multitude of ways
Understand that texts gets their meaning in social, cultural, and temporal contexts
Understand the relationship and interconnections between language and literature and studies in other disciplines
Develop skills in communication and collaboration, with opportunities for creativity
Become lifelong learners, fostering interest and enjoyment of language and literature.

Syllabus outline

The course has three areas of exploration:

Readers, writers and texts. In this area, you will consider how language creates meanings, emphasizing the choices writers make. In addition, you will understand that contexts of production and reception influence meanings.
Time and space. The emphasis is on things like time, space, culture, society, and politics, where students consider the ways in which such contextual factors influence meanings in texts and works. You will also understand that ideas and concerns potentially transcend time, whilst being contested within and between historical periods, and within and between cultural space.
Intertextuality: connecting texts. The key emphasis is on making comparisons. You will understand that texts and works may have particular qualities, but that they also exist in dialogic conversation with other texts and works.

Conceptual understanding

Concepts help you establish connections across the three areas of exploration. There are seven concepts embedded across this course:

Identity
Culture
Creativity
Communication
Perspective
Transformation
Representation

Selection of literary works: SL

At SL, you must study at least four literary works:

At least one work must be from the PRL (Prescribed Reading List) and written originally in English
At least one work must be from the PRL and in translation (i.e. not originally in English)
Two works may be chosen freely, from the PRL or elsewhere, and may be in translation (i.e. not originally in English)

Selection of literary works: HL

At HL, you must study at least six literary works:

At least two works must be from the PRL and written originally in English
At least two works must be from the PRL and in translation (i.e. not originally in English)
Two works may be chosen freely, from the PRL or elsewhere, and may be in translation (i.e. not originally in English)

Selection of texts: What is a work?

A work is a single literary work. This could be a novel, autobiography, or biography. It could also be two or more novellas, 5-10 short stories, 5-8 essays, 10-15 letters, a long poem of at least 600 lines, or 15-20 shorter poems.

The idea of a single literary work is important. A work must be the writing of the same author. Thus, for example, you may select 15 poems, but these must be taken from the same work, written by the same poet.

The learner portfolio

The learner portfolio is mandatory. However, it will not be assessed, nor will it be moderated. The learner portfolio is a space for you to reflect and to consolidate your learning. The learner portfolio is also intended to support you in preparing for assessment. It is regarded as an essential learning tool.

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