IB English A Lang & Lit Topic Preparing Your Outline Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB English A Lang & Lit Topic Preparing Your Outline Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Why Preparing an Outline Really Matters: Step-by-Step

Let’s be real: your Individual Oral is like walking a tightrope: 10 minutes, two texts, one big idea. Without a well-structured outline, you’re winging it. And that’s risky.
A strong outline does **two key things**:
1. Keeps your argument sharp: you won’t forget what you planned to say.
2. Keeps your delivery smooth: you sound clear, natural, and in control.
It’s not about scripting every word. It’s about building a rock-solid structure you can speak from confidently.

Step 1: Choose a Strong Global Issue

Make sure your global issue is **clear, specific**, and arguable across both texts.
Check whether the issue appears clearly in both texts and whether the analysis can focus on how it is represented, not just on its presence.

Example

How societal inequality shapes identity and opportunity.
The dehumanising effects of war and violence.
How capitalist systems compromise morality and compassion.

Tip

Write the global issue at the top of the outline.
The examiner should never have to guess what it is.

Step 2: Set Up Your Labels

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Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Why Preparing an Outline Really Matters: Step-by-Step

Let’s be real: your Individual Oral is like walking a tightrope: 10 minutes, two texts, one big idea. Without a well-structured outline, you’re winging it. And that’s risky.
A strong outline does **two key things**:
1. Keeps your argument sharp: you won’t forget what you planned to say.
2. Keeps your delivery smooth: you sound clear, natural, and in control.
It’s not about scripting every word. It’s about building a rock-solid structure you can speak from confidently.

Step 1: Choose a Strong Global Issue

Make sure your global issue is **clear, specific**, and arguable across both texts.
Check whether the issue appears clearly in both texts and whether the analysis can focus on how it is represented, not just on its presence.

Example

How societal inequality shapes identity and opportunity.
The dehumanising effects of war and violence.
How capitalist systems compromise morality and compassion.

Tip

Write the global issue at the top of the outline.
The examiner should never have to guess what it is.

Step 2: Set Up Your Labels

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis6 subtopics

Paper 1 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay3 subtopics

Text Types13 subtopics

Literary Forms4 subtopics

IB English A Lang & Lit Preparing Your Outline Notes

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis6 subtopics

Paper 1 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lang & Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay3 subtopics

Text Types13 subtopics

Literary Forms4 subtopics

Why Preparing an Outline Really Matters: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Choose a Strong Global Issue

Step 2: Set Up Your Labels

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Why Preparing an Outline Really Matters: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Choose a Strong Global Issue

Step 2: Set Up Your Labels

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account