Why You Need to Make the Global Issue Obvious
Okay, here’s the deal: if the examiner can’t tell what your global issue is by the first 30 seconds, you’ve already made their job harder, and yours worse.
- The IO isn’t just “talk about a theme”; it’s explore a global issue and show how the author represents it.
- If you’re vague, you lose marks. If you’re clear, you sound like you know exactly what you’re doing.
- Making your global issue obvious helps you:
- Stay focused, no random waffle
- Show off real insight, not just surface-level “vibes”
- Make your analysis feel purposeful, not improvised
Step-by-Step: How to Make the Global Issue Clear
Step 1: Say the global issue clearly at the start.
- Don’t dance around it. Say something like:
- “This extract explores the global issue of gender inequality in patriarchal societies.”
Step 2: Keep linking back to it.
- When you analyze a quote or technique, connect it back to the global issue.
Example
“This use of religious imagery highlights the control placed on women, reinforcing the global issue of institutionalized gender oppression.”
Step 3: Use confident linking phrases.
- Use phrases like:
- “This reflects the global issue…”
- “This moment draws attention to…”
- “The writer critiques…”
- These phrases help keep your argument focused and sharp.
Step 4: Evaluate how well the writer explores the issue.
- Don’t just describe what the author does
- Explain why it works or doesn’t work in making the issue powerful or relatable.
Example
“By using irony here, the author forces the audience to confront just how normalised this injustice has become.”
Step 5: Bring it back in the conclusion.
- Finish by showing how the extract’s representation of the global issue matters to the reader, to society, or to the world.
Example
“In the end, the text uses a single character’s struggle to shine a light on the wider impact of gender-based discrimination, making the global issue feel personal and urgent.”
Note
Bottom line: if you don’t clearly and repeatedly show how your analysis connects to the global issue, it won’t stick, and neither will your marks.
