IB English A Lang & Lit Blog Questionbank

How does the blogger use language to construct a relationship with the reader and communicate her argument?

How and to what effect does the writer construct the housing shortage as a political rather than a practical problem?

How and to what effect does the writer use language to argue for seasonal eating while also constructing an identity for herself as a particular kind of food writer?

In what ways does the blog post use language to construct an idea of authentic travel while questioning what authenticity means?

The following blog post is taken from thequietlife.co.uk, a personal wellbeing blog written by Clara Whitmore, a writer based in Edinburgh who writes about slow living and mental health.

¹ wellness industry: the commercial sector selling products and services aimed at improving physical and mental health, including apps, supplements, coaching, and lifestyle content.

² optimise: to make something as efficient or effective as possible; in technology and productivity culture, to systematically improve a process to achieve maximum output.

³ habit tracker: a tool, often a digital app or paper chart, used to record whether daily habits or goals have been completed.

⁴ slow living: a cultural movement that emphasises doing things at a deliberate, unhurried pace rather than maximising productivity.

⁵ productivity culture: a set of values and practices centred on the idea that time should be used as efficiently as possible and personal output continually improved.

The following blog post is taken from thecivicpost.co.uk, an independent political commentary website covering British public life.

¹ NIMBYism: from the phrase "Not In My Back Yard," referring to opposition by existing residents to new development or change near their homes.

² planning system: the legal and administrative framework in England that regulates land use and the approval of new buildings and developments.

³ social housing: housing provided at below-market rents by the government or housing associations, primarily for people on lower incomes.

⁴ land value tax: a form of taxation on the value of land itself (as distinct from any buildings on it), intended to discourage land hoarding and encourage development.

⁵ National Housing Federation: a membership body representing housing associations across England, which campaigns for affordable housing policy.

The following blog post is taken from rootedkitchen.co.uk, a food blog written by Priya Nair, a food writer based in Bristol who writes about seasonal British produce and the politics of food.

¹ Vale of Evesham: a fertile valley in Worcestershire, England, historically significant for fruit and vegetable production, particularly asparagus.

² seasonal eating: the practice of eating foods only or primarily during the time of year in which they are naturally harvested in the local region.

³ sprue: the thin, immature shoots of an asparagus plant, harvested early in the season and considered a delicacy.

⁴ braised: a cooking method in which food is first browned in fat and then slowly cooked in a small amount of liquid in a covered pot.

⁵ Saint George's Day: the feast day of Saint George, patron saint of England, observed on 23 April; traditionally marks the start of the British asparagus season.

The following blog post is taken from farfromsorted.co.uk, a solo travel blog written by Jamie Osei, who documents budget and independent travel experiences around the world.

¹ medina: the old, walled part of a North African city, often containing historic mosques, markets, and residential areas; in Marrakech it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

² derb: a narrow alleyway within a North African medina, often leading to a residential quarter.

³ tout: a person who approaches tourists to solicit business or guide them, often for payment.

⁴ riad: a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard, many of which have been converted into hotels or restaurants.

⁵ NIMBYism: from the phrase "Not In My Back Yard," referring to opposition by local residents to development or change in their immediate area; used here metaphorically to describe the attitude of travel writing that positions itself as more authentic than others.