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For this IA, you are required to write a 1,200 –1,500 word formal essay which develops a particular line of inquiry of your own choice in connection with a non-literary text, a collection of non-literary texts by the same author or a literary text or work studied during the course. The essay is a broad literary investigation. It will be necessary to use research in order to boraden your knowledge and understanding.
What is a line of Inquiry?
A line of inquiry is a research question. For the HL essay, your focus should be aligned with 1-2 of the course concepts..
Steps: 1 Determine your text (cannot be the same as IO) and line of inquiry. Click here for question stems that are based on the concepts.
Step 2: Re-read text; go over annotations. Take notes on relevant sections that are applicable to your line of inquiry.
Step 2: Research: Go to Gale Resources in Context or Google Scholar and search for scholarly articles that are relevant to your question. Do not use summary sites (Spark Notes, Cliff Notes...) Take notes on your research cards.
Step 3: Compose your draft. Start off with an introduction that contains a thesis statement (answers your line of inquiry) and submit for teacher approval
Step 5: Draft the rest of your essay
Step 6: Re-read, revise and edit. Submit. Your teacher will only provide feedback once.
Video: Forming Your line of inquiry
Video: Writing your Introduction
Video: Writing your body Paragraphs
Body Paragraphs: Using awesome language
INTRODUCTION (Soapstone)
You may begin the essay with your inquiry question. Use context/background information of the time period that you are writing about. Briefly discuss the author, the historical/cultural/academic context of the text, or the impact of the text. You may use the SOAPStone strategy.
The introduction to your essay should be at least a page long.
The last sentence should answers your inquiry question with your thesis statement
BODY PARAGRAPHS (use the PEALS method)
Every body paragraph should start with a topic sentence (with a main point/idea) that connects with your thesis.
Each body paragraph should be 200-300 words long and contain at least 1 quote (either from your text or a secondary source) . Cite using MLA
Analyze the significance of the quote
Sometimes, a quote can be used in connection with another quote, in order to build toward a discussion of how the quotes reveal a literary feature.
Your writing should reflect your style and individual voice.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Don't introduce new evidence or make new arguments in your conclusion.
Reflect on what your exploration of the prompt has revealed and the validity of your overall points
Restate your thesis with different phrasing.
Your restated thesis should be the last sentence in your conclusion.
FINAL TIPS
FINAL TIPS
Read your writing a few times and revise. Use Grammarly to check for errors. Run the ORIGINALITY Report through Google Classroom
Titles of text need to be in quotation marks or italicized.
Avoid repetition. Use thesauraus.com; don't use the same words over and over.
Don't say "the reader" and don't use the second or first person. (YOU or I)
Don't use "it" "this" "thing" "something" Be specific. Vague/Ambigupous words are unacceptable in an honors class
Do not use contractions.
Vary your punctuation and sentence style. Your sentences should be balanced: not too short. Not too long
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