IB

IB Fields of Inquiry Explained with Examples: A Text-Based Guide

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Understanding the Role of Fields in the IO

In IB English A: Language and Literature, the Individual Oral (IO) requires students to examine how a global issue is presented in a literary and a non-literary text. To ensure depth and thematic clarity, IB uses five fields of inquiry to guide this exploration.

Each field offers a different lens through which students analyze human experience, power structures, identity, and creativity. Selecting the right field—and matching it with the right texts—is essential for a focused, coherent IO.

Field 1 – Culture, Identity & Community

🔍 Sample Global Issues:

  • Displacement and diaspora
  • Gender identity and roles
  • Cultural assimilation and resistance
  • Intergenerational conflict

📚 Suggested Literary Texts:

  • Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
  • The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

📰 Suggested Non-Literary Texts:

  • Photo essays from National Geographic
  • TED Talks on identity and belonging
  • Documentary segments on immigration

🎯 Analysis Focus:

  • Explore how language, symbolism, and narrative structure represent identity and cultural tension.
  • Link authorial choices to community formation, conflict, or fragmentation.

Field 2 – Beliefs, Values & Education

🔍 Sample Global Issues:

  • Religious extremism
  • Educational inequality
  • Moral conflict in modern society
  • Indoctrination vs independent thinking

📚 Suggested Literary Texts:

  • Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

📰 Suggested Non-Literary Texts:

  • Editorials on school curricula and ideology
  • Religious leader speeches
  • Infographics on education access by region

🎯 Analysis Focus:

  • Examine how texts use tone and imagery to reflect moral codes and systems of belief.
  • Consider how education shapes or challenges societal values.

Field 3 – Politics, Power & Justice

🔍 Sample Global Issues:

  • Freedom of speech
  • Propaganda and manipulation
  • Corruption and institutional failure
  • Racial or gender injustice

📚 Suggested Literary Texts:

  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
  • A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

📰 Suggested Non-Literary Texts:

  • Government propaganda posters
  • Political speeches (e.g., by authoritarian leaders)
  • Protest artwork or social justice campaigns

🎯 Analysis Focus:

  • Analyze power dynamics, authority, and resistance through rhetoric, dialogue, and symbolism.
  • Assess how language enforces or subverts control.

Field 4 – Arts, Creativity & Imagination

🔍 Sample Global Issues:

  • Censorship of art
  • Role of satire in politics
  • Cultural preservation through creativity
  • Representation in media and entertainment

📚 Suggested Literary Texts:

  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel

📰 Suggested Non-Literary Texts:

  • Political cartoons or street art
  • Music videos or performance art
  • Interviews with controversial artists

🎯 Analysis Focus:

  • Explore how form, metaphor, and creative techniques convey complex societal critiques.
  • Connect artistic intent to cultural commentary.

Field 5 – Science, Technology & the Environment

🔍 Sample Global Issues:

  • Climate change
  • Artificial intelligence and ethics
  • Environmental injustice
  • Digital surveillance

📚 Suggested Literary Texts:

  • Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
  • Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • The Road by Cormac McCarthy

📰 Suggested Non-Literary Texts:

  • Climate awareness ads
  • AI ethics opinion articles
  • Infographics on global warming statistics

🎯 Analysis Focus:

  • Examine scientific dilemmas, environmental decay, or ethical boundaries through narrative and visual techniques.
  • Highlight how texts stimulate societal awareness or provoke ethical debate.

Tips for Text Selection Within Each Field

  1. Balance genre and style: Choose one text with strong literary devices and another rich in persuasive or visual techniques.
  2. Ensure intertextual synergy: Look for shared symbols, themes, or perspectives between texts.
  3. Check global relevance: Is the issue you’re analyzing meaningful in multiple parts of the world?

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Field-Based Analysis

  • ❌ Over-generalizing your global issue (e.g., “violence” instead of “media portrayal of police violence”).
  • ❌ Choosing unrelated texts that don’t speak to the same issue through the same lens.
  • ❌ Using the wrong field—forcing an analysis into “Politics & Justice” when it fits “Beliefs & Education” better.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I use the same literary text in a different field?
A: Yes, if it supports a different global issue relevant to that field.

Q2: Can texts explore multiple fields at once?
A: They can, but for the IO, your analysis must clearly focus on one field only.

Q3: What if I’m unsure which field my global issue fits into?
A: Re-express the issue in different ways and consult your teacher or peers for feedback.

Q4: Is it better to choose “popular” texts?
A: No. Choose texts that genuinely support deep, comparative analysis—not just common ones.

Q5: Should I mention the field in my IO?
A: Yes. Introduce your field of inquiry and global issue clearly in your opening statement.

Q6: Can I use poetry or graphic novels?
A: Absolutely. Both can offer powerful language and imagery for field-based analysis.

Conclusion

The IB Fields of Inquiry provide the analytical backbone for your Individual Oral. When used wisely, they transform your presentation from surface-level interpretation into a compelling, focused argument grounded in global relevance. Mastering each field’s scope and aligning your texts accordingly will not only boost your IO grade but also sharpen your skills in critical thinking and comparative analysis.