Mastering IB English Language and Literature Paper 1
A complete guide to excelling in the unseen analysis exam including:
- Understanding Paper 1
- The key to success using a structured approach
- Marking rubric
- Key Strategies for High Marks
- Exemplar answer (20/20) with annotations
1. Understanding Paper 1
Note
Assessment Breakdown
Paper 1 is a guided textual analysis of unseen non-literary texts. You are required to analyze one (SL) or two (HL) unseen texts from different text types, such as:
- Novels: Extended fictional works that explore complex characters and plots.
- Short Stories: Brief narratives that often focus on a single character or event.
- Poems: Texts employing verse and rhythm to express emotions, ideas, or stories.
- Plays: Scripts for theatrical performance, focusing on dialogue and action.
- Advertisements: Promotional materials aiming to persuade an audience to purchase or engage with a product or service.
- Infographics: Visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly.
- News Articles: Informative reporting on recent events, typically found in newspapers and online platforms.
- Editorials: Opinion pieces within newspapers or magazines that represent the views of the editor or publisher.
- Essays: Short literary compositions on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
- Reviews: Evaluations of works or products, such as books, films, or restaurants, often including personal opinion and critical analysis.
- Blogs: Regularly updated websites or web pages, typically run by an individual or small group, that are written in an informal or conversational style.
- Journals: Records of daily events, personal reflections, or scientific findings, which may be personal or for publication.
- Memoirs: A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources, often focusing on personal experiences.
- Letters: Written messages from one person to another regarding personal matters or official affairs.
- Speeches: Texts prepared for oral delivery
Key Details
| Assessment Component | SL (Standard Level) | HL (Higher Level) |
|---|---|---|
| Time Allocation | 1 hour 15 minutes (1.25 hours) | 2 hours 15 minutes (2.25 hours) |
| Number of Texts Analyzed | 1 | 2 |
| Weighting of Final Grade | 35% | 35% |
Note
The goal is to analyze how meaning is constructed through textual and visual features and demonstrate your ability to interpret and evaluate texts critically.
Suggested Time Allocation
| Component | SL (75 mins) | HL (135 mins) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading & Annotating | 10 mins | 20 mins total (10 mins per text) |
| Planning | 10 mins | 20 mins total (10 mins per text) |
| Introduction | 5 mins | 10 mins total (5 mins per text) |
| Body Paragraphs | 36 mins (12×3) | 72 mins total (12×3 per text) |
| Conclusion | 4 mins | 8 mins total (4 mins per text) |
| Review & Editing | 10 mins | 5 mins (for both essays) |
2. The Key to Success: A Structured Approach
Step 1: Read and Annotate the Text Carefully
Read the text(s) twice
- First read: Get the overall meaning.
- Second read: Focus on techniques, tone, and structure.
Annotate strategically
- Identify the audience and purpose.
- Highlight key language features (diction, syntax, figurative language, persuasive techniques).
- Identify tone and mood (serious, sarcastic, nostalgic, critical, etc.).
- Look for structure and form (headlines, paragraphs, stanza breaks, white space).
Step 2: Develop a Strong Thesis Statement
Your thesis should summarize the main idea of the text and how it is conveyed.
Example
- Sample Question: How does the speaker use language and rhetorical techniques to persuade their audience in the speech?
- Thesis Statement: In this speech, (Text Type) the speaker effectively employs emotive language to evoke strong feelings, repetition to reinforce key messages, and rhetorical questions to engage the audience (Main Techniques) in order to persuade listeners, inspire action, and emphasize the urgency of their cause. (Main Idea & Purpose)
Step 3: Use a Clear Essay Structure
1. Introduction (5-7 minutes)
The introduction should set up your argument and provide a roadmap for your essay.
What to Include:
- Text Type & Context – Identify the text type (e.g., article, speech, advertisement). If relevant, mention any clear context.
- Author’s Purpose & Audience – Explain who the text is aimed at and its intended effect.
- Thesis Statement – Clearly state how the author uses language and structure to create meaning.
- Roadmap – Briefly outline the key techniques/themes you will analyze.
Example
Introduction for a Speech:
- Text Type & Context: Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech, delivered in Chicago after his historic election as the first African American president of the United States, is a powerful example of political rhetoric designed to inspire unity and hope.
- Author’s Purpose & Audience: Addressing a nation grappling with economic uncertainty and social division, Obama speaks directly to both his supporters and the wider American public, aiming to reinforce his message of change and collective progress.
- Thesis Statement: Through the use of inclusive language, rhetorical devices such as anaphora and repetition, and emotionally charged anecdotes, Obama fosters a sense of shared responsibility and optimism.
- Roadmap: This essay will analyze how Obama’s speech uses these techniques to establish credibility, evoke emotion, and reinforce his vision for the future.
2: Body Paragraphs (50-60 minutes per essay)
Each body paragraph should analyze a key aspect of the text using the PEEL structure:
- P (Point) – State your main idea (e.g., "The use of repetition reinforces the speaker’s message.")
- E (Evidence) – Provide a direct quote or example from the text.
- E (Explanation) – Explain the effect of the technique on the audience.
- L (Link) – Connect the analysis back to the thesis and transition to the next point.
Example
PEEL Paragraph:
- P (Point): The use of repetition reinforces the speaker’s message by emphasizing key ideas and making them more memorable for the audience.
- E (Evidence): In the speech, the speaker repeatedly states, "We must act now."
- E (Explanation): This repetition creates a sense of urgency, compelling the audience to recognize the immediacy of the issue. By reinforcing the need for action, the speaker ensures that their call to action resonates more strongly with listeners.
- L (Link): This use of repetition aligns with the speaker’s overall goal of persuasion by ensuring their message is both impactful and memorable. Additionally, alongside repetition, the speaker also employs rhetorical questions to directly engage the audience, further strengthening their argument.
Choosing a Structure for Your Body Paragraphs
You can structure your essay in two effective ways:
1. Thematic Approach (Recommended for Most Texts)
- Organizes paragraphs by themes or key ideas rather than individual techniques.
- Allows for a deeper and more interconnected analysis.
Example
- Paragraph 1: Persuasive techniques (direct address, rhetorical questions)
- Paragraph 2: Emotive language and tone
- Paragraph 3: Structural choices (short paragraphs, repetition)
- Best for: Political speeches, opinion pieces, advertisements
2. Section-by-Section Approach (Best for Chronological Texts)
- Analyzes the text in the order it unfolds, focusing on its structure and progression.
- Works well for news articles, short stories, poems, and sequential texts.
Example
- Paragraph 1: Analysis of the introduction (hook, opening argument)
- Paragraph 2: Analysis of the main body (persuasive techniques, evidence)
- Paragraph 3: Analysis of the conclusion (final appeal, tone shift)
- Best for: Newspaper articles, narratives, blog posts
Step 3: Conclusion (5-10 minutes)
The conclusion should reinforce your main points and leave a final impression on the reader.
What to Include:
- Restate the thesis – Summarize how the author uses language to achieve their purpose.
- Summarize key findings – Briefly mention the main techniques explored.
- Final Insight – End with a thought-provoking statement about the effectiveness of the text.
Common Mistake
- Summarizing Instead of Analyzing – Focus on the "how" and "why", not just what happens in the text
- Listing Techniques Without Explanation – Always explain the effect of a technique, don’t just identify it
- Ignoring the Audience and Purpose – Every text is written for a reason—analyze its intended impact
- Weak Thesis Statement – Your introduction should make your argument clear and specific
- Disorganized Structure – Choose either Thematic or Section-by-Section, and stick to it!
Tip
Rules of Thumb
- Each answer should be 800-1100 words
- Writing concisely reflects better on you than writing long (“the author does this to” vs. “the author does this in order to”)
- Always be thinking of the author’s purpose.
- What is their primary and secondary goal?
- Who is their primary and (maybe) secondary audience?
- How do the techniques they use help them achieve this?
- Paper 1 is a lot more grounded “in real life” than you think.
Literary Devices Guide
“7s” Vocabulary List
Note
You do not need to know all of these, just pick a few that resonate and roll with them. However, make sure the ones you pick are varied and cover most of your bases.
Tones
| Positive | Neutral | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Optimistic | Factual | Angry |
| Joyful | Informative | Cynical |
| Confident | Objective | Sarcastic |
| Hopeful | Detached | Pessimistic |
| Enthusiastic | Impartial | Disdainful |
| Grateful | Formal | Critical |
| Admiring | Serious | Apathetic |
| Humorous | Concise | Melancholic |
| Playful | Unemotional | Mournful |
Writing Style
| Articulate | Idiomatic | Verbose |
|---|---|---|
| Chatty | Informal | Tongue-in-cheek |
| Circuitous | Journalistic | Vague |
| Conversational | Literary | Sententious |
| Eloquent | Parenthetical | Poetic |
| Empathetically | Ponderous | Picturesque |
| Flowery | Punchy | Grandiose |
| Formally | Rambling | Epigrammatic |
| Gossipy | Slangy | Economical |
Literary Devices
| Definition | Example | Device |
|---|---|---|
| A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. | "The world's a stage." | Metaphor |
| A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." | "Her smile was as bright as the sun." | Simile |
| Giving human traits to non-human entities. | "The wind whispered through the trees." | Personification |
| Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. | "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." | Hyperbole |
| The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. | "She sells seashells by the seashore." | Alliteration |
| A word that phonetically mimics or resembles the sound of the thing it describes. | "The bees buzzed in the garden." | Onomatopoeia |
| A figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. | "Deafening silence." | Oxymoron |
| A contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. | "A fire station burns down." | Irony |
| The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. | A dove is a symbol of peace. | Symbolism |
| A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. | "Animal Farm" by George Orwell is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. | Allegory |
| The repetition of the sound of a vowel in non-rhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible. | "Men sell wedding bells." | Assonance |
| The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. | "Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better." | Anaphora |
| A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. | "Passed away" instead of "died." | Euphemism |
Structure
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chronological | Presents events in the order they occurred |
| Epistolary | Composed of letters or diary entries written by characters |
| Stream of Consciousness | Presents a continuous flow of the characters thoughts, feelings, and perceptions |
| Nonlinear | Isn’t chronological and may use flashbacks or other techniques to jump around in time |
Visuals
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Color | Use of color can convey mood, highlight important information, or categorize content. E.g., Red for urgency. |
| Position | The placement of elements on a page can dictate the order in which the viewer's eye will see them. E.g., Top-left to bottom-right in Western cultures. |
| Visual Style | The overall aesthetic or look of the text, which can include the choice of fonts, imagery, and layout. E.g.Modernist style with minimalist design. |
| Contrast | The difference in luminance or color that makes an object distinguishable. E.g., Black text on a white background for readability. |
| Alignment | The arrangement of text and graphics in a straight line or along a margin which creates order and tidiness. E.g., Left-aligned text blocks. |
| Proximity | Grouping related items together to show they are connected. E.g., Captions placed close to images. |
| White Space | The space between elements in a composition; also known as negative space. It can be used to prevent clutter and focus attention. E.g., Ample margins around text. |
| Texture | The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface. It can be used to add depth and dimension. E.g., A grainy background behind smooth text. |
| Hierarchy | An arrangement of elements in a way that implies importance. E.g., Title, subtitle, and body text in descending order of size. |
3. Marking Rubric
In both SL and HL, students can earn up to 20 points per essay. However, HL students write two essays, making their total score out of 40 points. The essays are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Criterion A: Understanding and Interpretation (5 points)
What it assesses:
- Your ability to understand and interpret the text in depth.
- Whether you recognize themes, audience, purpose, structure, and stylistic features.
- How well you support your points with textual evidence.
Exam technique
How to get full marks (5/5):
- Identify the text type, purpose, and target audience
- Include a clear thesis statement summarizing how the text achieves its purpose
- Demonstrate an excellent understanding of themes, structure, font, images, and stylistic devices
- Provide insightful and well-developed analysis that goes beyond surface-level interpretation
- Use textual evidence naturally, embedding quotations seamlessly in your argument.
Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation (5 points)
What it assesses:
- Your ability to analyze and evaluate the text’s techniques.
- How well you break down the text’s structure, style, and literary devices.
