English Literature: IB

IB English Literature involves the study of literary texts – looking at characters, themes, writer’s language and structure, and the context of the times the texts were produced. You will have the opportunity to study plays, novels, poetry and non-fiction.

What texts will I read?

• ‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker
• ‘Metamorphosis ‘ by Franz Kafka
• ‘The Visit’ by Friedrich Durrenmatt
• The poetry of Carol Ann Duffy
• The speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.
• And many more!

Is there a mix of coursework and exams?

Coursework is worth 30% of the IB. You will deliver a 15 minute oral presentation to your teachers, comparing how two texts present a specific global issue, such as poverty, capitalism or family dynamics. You will also sit two written exams: Paper 1 is a written analysis of a poem or prose passage and Paper 2 is an essay analysing an aspect of two plays that you would have studied in class.

Assessment

Students study 10 texts, the exams are 1hr 30m and the oral exam is 10 mins.

In order to be successful at this subject, you must:

• Be prepared to do wider reading
• Enjoy discussing plot, characters and themes of texts and be able to analyse language, structure and form • Provide alternative readings and make perceptive comments
• Be prepared to write extended essays and deliver oral presentations

Summer Transition Work

English Literature Transition - The World's Wife