International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature (English A: Lang & Lit) Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature (English A: Lang & Lit) deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is the duration of Paper 1 at SL and HL?

   SL: 1 hour 15 minutes; HL: 2 hours 15 minutes.

2. What accompanies each Paper 1 text to direct the analysis?

   A guiding question that focuses the student's analysis on a particular technical or formal aspect of the text.

3. What is 'Paper 2' in IB English A: Language and Literature?

   The Comparative Essay: an externally-assessed exam where students compare and contrast two literary works studied, in response to one of four general questions.

4. How many questions are offered on Paper 2 and how many must be answered?

   Four general questions are offered; students choose and answer ONE, comparing two of the literary works they have studied.

5. What is the duration of Paper 2 for both SL and HL?

   1 hour 45 minutes (the same for SL and HL).

6. On Paper 2, may students use the same works they used for the Individual Oral or HL Essay?

   No—works used for the IO and HL Essay cannot be reused for Paper 2; each assessment must use different works to avoid overlap.

7. What is the 'Individual Oral' (IO) in Lang & Lit?

   An internally-assessed oral in which the student explores a global issue through ONE literary work and ONE non-literary body of work they have studied.

8. State the exact prompt/format of the Individual Oral.

   "Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of one of the literary works and one of the non-literary texts you have studied."

9. How long is the Individual Oral, including its components?

   15 minutes total: 10 minutes of student presentation followed by up to 5 minutes of teacher questions.

10. What is a 'global issue' as required for the Individual Oral?

    A topic of wide/transnational significance, explored in a specific way through the texts. It must have wide scope, be transnational, and have everyday/local relevance.

11. What are the five suggested 'fields of inquiry' for choosing a global issue in the IO?

    1) Culture, identity and community; 2) Beliefs, values and education; 3) Politics, power and justice; 4) Art, creativity and the imagination; 5) Science, technology and the environment.

12. What may the student bring to the Individual Oral?

    Two extracts—one from the literary work and one from the non-literary body of work—each no more than 40 lines, plus brief outline/bullet-point notes (max 10 points).

13. What is the 'HL Essay' and who must complete it?

    A formal, externally-assessed written essay of 1,200–1,500 words, required only for Higher Level students, exploring a line of inquiry about one literary or one non-literary text studied.

14. What is the word count limit for the HL Essay?

    1,200 to 1,500 words.

15. On what may the HL Essay be based—literary or non-literary text?

    Either ONE literary work OR ONE non-literary body of work studied in the course; the student develops a focused line of inquiry of their own choosing.

16. List the assessment components and weightings for SL Lang & Lit.

    Paper 1 (Guided Analysis) 35%, Paper 2 (Comparative Essay) 35%, Individual Oral 30%.

17. List the assessment components and weightings for HL Lang & Lit.

    Paper 1 25%, Paper 2 25%, Individual Oral 20%, HL Essay 20%.

18. Which Lang & Lit assessments are externally assessed and which is internally assessed?

    Externally assessed: Paper 1, Paper 2, and the HL Essay. Internally assessed (by the teacher, moderated by IB): the Individual Oral.

19. What is a 'guiding question' meant to do in Paper 1, and must students restrict themselves to it?

    It directs attention to a key technical/stylistic feature to anchor analysis; students should address it but may also discuss other relevant features—they are not strictly limited to it.

20. What does the analytical term 'tone' refer to in textual analysis?

    The writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, syntax, and style (e.g. ironic, somber, celebratory).

21. Distinguish 'denotation' from 'connotation' in analyzing language.

    Denotation is the literal, dictionary meaning of a word; connotation is the associated emotional, cultural, or implied meanings it carries.

22. What is the difference between 'comparison' and 'contrast' required in a Paper 2 essay?

    Comparison identifies similarities between the two works; contrast identifies differences. A strong Paper 2 integrates both, not treating works in isolation.

23. What is meant by the 'form' of a non-literary text (text type conventions)?

    The conventions and features specific to a text type—e.g. an advertisement's slogan and imagery, a speech's rhetoric and address, an infographic's layout—that shape its purpose and audience effect.

24. Why is 'audience and purpose' a core consideration for non-literary texts?

    Non-literary texts are crafted to achieve specific purposes (persuade, inform, entertain) for particular audiences, and their language/form choices are best understood in relation to that intended effect.

What this deck covers

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature (English A: Lang & Lit) flashcards FAQ