Structuring your talk
- A strong structure helps you stay clear, confident, and on time during the IO.
- Think of it like a mini-essay with a beginning, middle, and end.
1. Introduction (30–40 seconds)
- Identify the stimulus or extract and the relevant theme clearly.
- Give a brief description (not a full narration) to show you understand the context.
- State your focus: what key idea, issue, or perspective you will explore.
- SL visual stimulus:
- “This advertisement, taken from a campaign on sustainable fashion, links to the theme of ‘Sharing the Planet’.
- It shows young people recycling clothes, which raises questions about consumer culture and environmental responsibility.”
- HL extract:
- “This extract from García Márquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold links to the theme of ‘Human Ingenuity’.
- Here, the author explores how tradition and communal silence contribute to tragedy.”
2. Development (2–3 minutes)
- Choose 2–3 key points that you can explain in depth.
- Support each point with details
- SL: specific features in the image
- HL: quotations or literary features.
- Make links to themes, culture, or context to move beyond surface-level description.
- Sample point (SL):
- “The slogan ‘Wear longer, waste less’ reflects how the target culture encourages individual responsibility for sustainability, which contrasts with fast fashion trends.”
- Sample point (HL):
- “The repetition of the phrase ‘they all knew’ emphasizes collective guilt.
- This ties to the theme of ‘Social Organization’, showing how communities enforce silence even at the cost of justice.”
3. Conclusion (30–40 seconds)
- Summarize your main insights briefly.
- Connect your ideas to a wider cultural or global context (e.g., gender, technology, migration, environmental issues).
- Leave the examiner with a clear sense of closure.
- SL:
- “In conclusion, this poster shows not only the issue of recycling but also how consumer habits reflect larger global concerns about sustainability.”
- HL:
- “In conclusion, Márquez’s extract highlights how collective responsibility is often ignored until tragedy strikes, a theme still relevant today in discussions of cultural silence around violence.”
Why this matters
- Examiners reward clarity, structure, and focus.
- A well-structured talk prevents rambling and makes your ideas easier to follow.
- Following this framework also shows you are ready for the discussion phase, since your conclusion naturally opens doors to broader cultural or global links.
Full Sample Talks
Example- SL Sample (visual stimulus)
- Introduction:
- “This photograph of a climate march links to the theme of ‘Sharing the Planet’.
- It shows a group of young people holding placards about renewable energy, which reflects growing youth involvement in global environmental movements.”
- Development:
- “The use of placards with the phrase ‘There is no Planet B’ shows the urgency of climate change. This reflects the target culture’s awareness of sustainability and also the global role of youth-led movements.”
- “The crowd of diverse young people highlights how the issue of climate change unites individuals across cultures. This links to the idea of intercultural responsibility within the theme.”
- “The setting in a city center shows how activism often takes place in public spaces, which demonstrates the role of civic action in influencing governments and corporations.”
- Conclusion:
- “In conclusion, this image highlights not just a specific protest but also the global issue of how younger generations are taking responsibility for the future of the planet, connecting to wider debates on environmental justice.”
- HL Sample (literary extract)
- Introduction:
- “This extract from Ibsen’s A Doll’s House links to the theme of ‘Identities’.
- Nora is confronted by Torvald about her secret, which forces her to confront her role as a wife and mother within a patriarchal society.”
- Development:
- “The use of stage directions, such as Nora’s nervous gestures, reflects her anxiety and lack of power. This ties to the theme of gender roles in society.”
- “Torvald’s dismissive language, including phrases like ‘my little skylark’, highlights the infantilization of women. This connects to broader cultural traditions where women were seen as dependent.”
- “Nora’s gradual refusal to accept her situation demonstrates the development of her individual identity.
- This links to intercultural ideas of women’s emancipation and resonates with global feminist movements.”
- Conclusion:
- “In conclusion, this extract reveals how Ibsen used theatre to critique the power imbalance in marriage and identity.
- It also highlights a theme still relevant today, as many societies continue to confront patriarchal norms.”
Practice Task
Choose one of the following and prepare a 3–4 minute structured talk:
Example question
- SL Task: Look at a photo of a crowded metro train in Tokyo.
- Link it to the theme of “Social Organization”.
- Prepare 2–3 points about what the image suggests about urban life and cultural attitudes to space, order, and routine.
Solution
- Introduction
- “This photograph of a crowded Tokyo metro links to the theme of ‘Social Organization’.
- It shows commuters packed tightly into the train, which reflects aspects of urban living and Japanese cultural attitudes towards routine and order.”
- Development
- “The sheer density of the commuters shows how urban life in Tokyo requires efficient use of space. This reflects the organization of public infrastructure in Japanese society.”
- “The calm, orderly behavior of the passengers, despite the crowding, reflects cultural values of politeness, respect, and group harmony, contrasting with how similar situations might cause conflict elsewhere.”
- “The presence of business attire suggests the importance of work culture and collective identity in Japan, connecting to wider issues of work–life balance in global cities.”
- Conclusion
- “In conclusion, this image shows not only the challenges of urban transport but also how Japanese society values discipline and harmony, raising broader questions about how cities worldwide manage population density and cultural expectations.”
Example question
- HL Task: Take a short extract from Shakespeare’s Othello where Iago manipulates Othello about Desdemona.
- Link it to the theme of “Social Organization”.
- Prepare 2–3 points on how language reveals manipulation, cultural values, and consequences of imbalance in power.
Solution
- Introduction
- “This extract from Shakespeare’s Othello links to the theme of Social Organization.
- Here, Iago manipulates Othello by planting doubts about Desdemona’s fidelity, showing how power relationships and patriarchal assumptions can corrupt justice.”
- Development
- “Iago’s use of insinuations and half-truths demonstrates how language creates power over others. By asking leading questions, he controls Othello’s imagination rather than giving facts.”
- “Othello’s increasing agitation reflects how even a powerful leader can be destabilized by manipulation. This reveals Shakespeare’s interest in how social hierarchies and interpersonal trust can be subverted.”
- “The extract also reflects wider cultural values about gender and reputation. Desdemona’s honor is questioned without evidence, showing how justice is undermined when patriarchal norms dominate social organization.”
- Conclusion
- “In conclusion, this extract shows how Shakespeare critiques the abuse of power and the fragility of justice within systems of social hierarchy.
- The theme of Social Organization is made clear as manipulation and prejudice destabilize trust, an issue that remains relevant in modern societies where misinformation continues to disrupt justice and authority.”
