English Language and Literature

Group One Language A

What do we learn in English A Language and Literature?

English A Language and Literature is a subject meant for native/fluent speakers of English. In this subject we focus on analysing how language is used and to what effect and on reading and analysing literature. The literature we read in class is connected to non-literary texts we read. For example, if we discuss propaganda posters and propaganda techniques in class, the book we read will also be connected to this theme.

How do we learn?

Throughout the course we learn through lectures from the teacher, group work and individual assignments. The IB expects you to read classic works, for example by Shakespeare, works by modern writers and articles and web pages on relevant topics.

The subject is divided into 3 ‘areas of exploration’. These are ‘lenses’ through which we look at the topics we discuss in class.

• 1) Readers, writers, texts: What choices do writers make when writing a text and why? How are readers influenced by the texts they read?

• 2) Time and space: How does the context in which you live influence your understanding of a text?

• 3) Intertextuality: What connections exist between texts?

How are we assessed in this subject?

In preparation for the final exams the teachers assess our practice assignments, exams and presentations. These don’t count for final IB assessment yet but help the teachers to know how well we are doing and for them to give us a predicted grade just before the exam.

The final exam consists of both oral and written work. The work is assessed both externally (which means your work is sent to the IB and assessed by an IB examiner) and internally (which means your work is assessed by your teacher).

Internal assessments →

• Individual Oral - a 15 minute oral exam in which you talk about a global issue that is discussed in a literary and non-literary text that you bring to the exam yourself. (weight: 30% for standard level (SL) students, 20% for higher level (HL))

External assessments

• Paper 1 - an analysis of two (previously unseen) texts (weight: 35%)

• Paper 2 - an essay comparing two books we read in class. The essay should be a response to 1 of the 4 essay questions given on the exam. (weight: 35% for SL and 25% for HL)

• Higher level essay - a 1200-1500 essay about a topic that you choose yourself. It has to be connected to one of the texts/books we discussed in class (Just for HL. Weight: 20%)

What is the workload in this subject?

HL students have a total of 240 instructional hours in the subject, whilst SL has a total of 150 hours. The workload is quite manageable if you organise it well, however that goes for all the IB subjects.