IB English A Lang & Lit SL Extended Essay Example

The student communicates a clear topic and sustained line of inquiry about Andrea Sachs’ changing identity and ambition.

The student's essay uses a chronological close reading that is easy to follow and generally keeps the discussion anchored in the novel.

The student selects relevant moments from the text and uses them to build a recognizable method for the investigation.

The student defines key ideas early, which helps the reader understand the direction of their argument.

The essay sometimes broadens into social commentary and workplace context in ways that pull attention away from the literary question.

Some sections would be stronger if the method relied more consistently on close reading of the novel’s language and structure rather than on general contextual discussion.

The research question is workable, but the phrasing allows the essay to drift between textual analysis and real-world comparison.

The student shows good knowledge of Andrea’s character arc and tracks her changing priorities across the novel with confidence.

The student uses several concrete moments from the text effectively, including the interview, the clothing transformation, the phone motif, and the ending.

The student's use of literary terminology is generally accurate and supports their interpretation rather than sitting separately from it.

The student demonstrates awareness of how recurring objects and scenes help shape meaning in the novel.

Some contextual or secondary sources are not closely tied to the novel and do not always strengthen the discussion.

A few symbolic claims are stated more confidently than the textual evidence fully supports.

Some terms are used in a way that could be more precise, especially where contrast, irony, and satire overlap.