IB English A Language and Literature, though often perceived to be an “easy” subject, is in fact one of the most challenging subjects to get top grades in. This article will explore key things that you can analyse in Paper 1.
As a Group 1 Subject, this course combines the study of both non-literary and literary texts. This can mean that in class, you will be studying a large range of text types from poetry to propaganda as well as novels and speeches. It is designed so students can explore different text forms, as well as their literary relevance. This is constructed through deep analysis of language, structure, visual features, textual elements, themes and much more.
Here is a link to the Language & Literature Syllabus from the IB Website, which will inform you what the course includes and how it is assessed. Assessment is formed from Paper 1, Paper 2, an Individual Oral and a Higher Level Essay if you take HL.
Understanding Analysis
But how do we analyse text types in this subject? Across the world, there are many methods on how teachers may advise you to construct your Paper 1 analysis. Yet, most importantly, examiners want to read your creative analytical voice and what you as a reader notice. Analysis can be difficult to score well in, as top marks require you to explore beyond surface level features and work out the writer’s intentions.
What is Paper 1 of English A: Language & Literature?
Paper 1 is an unseen textual analysis exam in which you will be given 2 non-literary texts. The 2 text types you will be given could include things like: advertisements, opinion pieces, travel articles or even political speeches. For SL, you will only have to answer 1 of the questions and for HL you have to answer both. Each response will be marked out of 20. For both SL and HL, it is worth 35% of your total grade.
Paper 1 Expectations
Your task in your exam is to analyse how language, structure, style and other textual features are used to convey meaning, context and purpose.
What should analysis explore?
- Language features which include things like metaphors, similes, and imagery.
- Tone and what atmosphere it creates. Is it jubilant/sombre/sarcastic/critical? What impact does this have on the reader?
- Audience and purpose in the sense of who the writer intentionally wrote for and how their choices reflect and impact this. Is it directed to the younger generation or people in a specific area? What is the impact on the audience and why has the writer done that?
- Context which can be social, political, etc. and the impact of the writer’s writing intentions and environment. How are their beliefs often infused into their writing? For example, why did this writer set this text type in this time period and what is the impact today?
- Structure and layout which means how the text type is constructed by the writer and to what extent this has an impact on the reader/audience. You can examine whether the text has a cyclical or a linear structure. Why was this text type organised in this way and for what reason?
- Visual elements which can be explicitly examined in some text types, such as font, images, etc. and analyse why and how the writer has used them to add to their purpose.
I encourage you to look up different language and structure conventions and make a big mind map. Then add the definitions of terms you don’t already know, and place it somewhere you look at regularly. This will encourage active recall of terms so you know things you can analyse in your exams.
What does a strong response include?
- A clear thesis that explains what the text provided is and what you think its purpose and message is. This should include the key points you plan to discuss in your essay.
- It should have a logical structure which includes an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Organise your analysis into sections so that it is coherent and concise but also convincing to your examiner.
- You need to actually analyse the texts and evaluate lots of different aspects regarding the writer’s intentions. You don’t need to describe it, you have to critically respond to the writer’s choices. This means not just looking at what they are, but why they are used.
- Make relevant references to different features in the texts, whether it is quotes or visual features. This ensures the examiner knows which aspect you are analysing, making it more specific and less generalised. This is what will help you to go into more depth.
- Go beyond just surface level. This is incredibly important if you want top grades in this paper. Perhaps at how what has been done could reflect society, politics, beliefs or how aspects are used as symbols. Link this to how it impacts the reader or audience. Make those contextual links as it won’t just demonstrate your skill but also that you have made an effort to understand the hidden messages that might be inside the text.
- Use appropriate terminology in your analysis and name-drop different techniques. It is also worth learning some more higher level techniques to analyse, which will make your essay stand out. This could include things like anadiplosis, allusions or synecdoche.
Final Top Tips for Paper 1
It is important that you practise with a variety of different text types, especially the ones you find harder to analyse. You can do this using past papers to familiarise yourself with the format and specific timings. I would recommend that you time yourself and practise writing full exam commentaries and responses under timed conditions. To enrich your responses, read widely in lots of different areas and already begin to analyse different elements alongside learning a variety of textual analysis vocabulary and know where to apply it.
Hopefully this has effectively analysed and explained ways to level up your Paper 1 Language and Literature analysis.
Good luck in your exams!