Knowing What to Use and Where Notes

Knowing What To Use And Where

1. Choosing the right quotes and techniques for your IB English Paper 2 essay matters enormously because they’re the engine behind your analysis.
2. Quotes = Evidence.
   1. You wouldn’t go to court without proof, right? Same here.
   2. Your argument only holds weight if it’s backed up with precise, well-chosen textual evidence. A vague summary won’t convince an examiner.
3. Techniques = How Meaning is Made.
   1. Good writers don’t just say things, they construct meaning.
   2. Spotting the technique (e.g. metaphor, staging, narrative voice) shows you understand how the author crafted their message, not just what it is.
4. In your IB English Paper 2 essay, you’ll compare two texts. To write a strong, organised, and insightful response, you need to:
   1. Choose the right type of quote for each paragraph
   2. Use a range of techniques
   3. Make your essay build in depth as it goes, starting simple and moving to more complex ideas

Step 1: Understand the Types of Techniques

1. Surface techniques (start with these)

1. These are easy to spot and help you begin your argument clearly.
2. Examples: dialogue, tone, word choice (diction), soliloquy, direct speech

2. Suggestive techniques (use in the middle)

1. These have deeper meaning and help you explore symbolism or themes.
2. Examples: symbols, imagery, contrast, repetition, foreshadowing

3. Structural or complex techniques (use toward the end)

1. These affect how the whole text works and show deeper insight.
2. Examples: irony, pacing, structure, cyclical plot, framing, genre

Step 2: Match Technique Type to Essay Paragraphs

Step 3: Choose Quotes That Fit Each Paragraph

1. Example texts: Hamlet and Death of a Salesman
2. Main Point: Both Hamlet and Willy mentally fall apart under pressure from society and themselves.

Paragraph 1: Start Clear (Surface Techniques)

1. Hamlet: “To be, or not to be...”
   1. A soliloquy showing Hamlet’s emotional state and internal conflict
2. Salesman: “I’m vital in New England!”
   1. Willy's desperate tone and word choice show how he clings to false success
3. Use these quotes to clearly introduce the characters’ breakdowns.

Paragraph 2: Go Deeper (Suggestive Techniques)

1. Hamlet: The ghost of Hamlet’s father = symbol of truth, guilt, and revenge
2. Salesman: Willy planting seeds = symbol of his failure and fading hopes
3. These symbols add deeper meaning and help you talk about themes like legacy, guilt, and identity.

Paragraph 3: Finish Strong (Structural/Complex Techniques)

1. Hamlet: Delay and dramatic irony show Hamlet’s downfall, the audience knows it’s coming
2. Salesman: Repetition in structure and pacing shows how Willy is stuck in a cycle that leads to his tragic end
3. These techniques let you talk about the whole shape of the play and what the writers are trying to say.

Step 4: Use This Planning Table

Step 5: Check Your Plan

1. Am I using a mix of techniques?
2. Do my ideas build in depth from start to finish?
3. Have I chosen quotes that actually help me make my point?
4. Do I compare the texts directly, not just talk about them separately?

Final Tip

1. Don’t just identify the technique, explain its effect and significance
2. Move beyond description.
   1. Your job is to show how form creates meaning and how meaning ties back to the writer’s purpose.
   2. That’s the difference between a solid essay and an exceptional one.