IB English A Lang & Lit Choosing Your Text Notes

Choosing Your HLE Text With No Regrets

1. Writing the Higher Level Essay can feel demanding.
2. It becomes much more manageable when the right text is chosen from the start.

Step 1: Pick a text you actually care about

1. Don't choose a text just because you think it’ll be easier to write on. That strategy almost always backfires.
2. Choose a text you actually found compelling, or at least memorable.

Step 2: Think theme-first

1. Start with a theme that genuinely intrigues you, something you’ve debated in class or thought about outside school.
2. Then, look for the text that handles it in the most layered, analytical way.
3. Popular themes students explore:
   1. The construction of identity
   2. The effects of power and control
   3. The conflict between individual and society
   4. The representation of trauma or memory
   5. Gender roles and rebellion

Step 3: Look for depth, not just vibes

1. Some texts are engaging on the surface but lack the complexity needed for 1,200 to 1,500 words of sustained analysis.
2. You want technique-rich writing with layers: symbolism, imagery, structure, irony, intertextuality, etc.

Step 4: Make sure you’ve got backup

1. Be practical. Prioritise texts supported by notes, class discussion, or reliable commentary.
2. Even better if it’s a text your teacher is comfortable guiding you through.
3. Strong support makes the essay process more manageable and the analysis more precise.

Step 5: There's also the non-lit option

1. Your text doesn’t have to be literary. You can choose a non-literary body of work too, like a collection of political cartoons, speeches, or ads, as long as they come from the same creator and were studied in class. (And at least one must be from the course.)
2. Popular non-literary HLE options:
   1. Killing Us Softly by Jean Kilbourne
   2. Barack Obama’s speeches
   3. TED Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
   4. Political cartoons by Zapiro