IB English A Lit HL Extended Essay Example

The student communicates a clear comparative topic from the outset and keeps the essay anchored to the relationship between language, humour, and social masks.

The student's research question is specific enough to sustain a focused literary investigation and remains connected to the discussion throughout.

The student uses a relevant mix of primary and secondary material, and they show an effort to build a conceptual framework rather than listing sources.

The method is present but not always explicit, so the reader is left to infer how the scholarship is being used in the argument.

The wording of the inquiry is broader than the analysis that follows, especially where the essay narrows into humour and verbal performance.

Some framing claims are too general, which makes the line of investigation feel less precise than it could be.

The student demonstrates secure understanding of both literary works and their central identity conflicts.

The student's references to textual detail are generally relevant and show that they are using the texts analytically rather than just summarizing them.

The student handles a range of literary terminology with mostly accurate intent, and many terms are tied to interpretive claims.

Some contextual claims are too broad or reductive, which weakens the precision of the student's knowledge.

At times, terminology is applied a little mechanically or with less precision than the passage deserves.

Secondary material is sometimes mentioned more than fully integrated, so the depth of the student's understanding is not always fully visible.