IB English A Lit Topic What’s an English Lit Paper 2? Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB English A Lit Topic What’s an English Lit Paper 2? Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

A Breakdown of Paper 2

Paper 2 is a comparative literary essay based on two works you've studied. You choose one of four essay prompts in the exam and write a comparative response using two of your texts.
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes (SL and HL)
Length: ~1000 to 1300 words
Marks: /25 (5 criteria)
You are assessed on:
1. Criterion A (5 marks): Knowledge, understanding, interpretation
2. Criterion B1 (5 marks): Analysis and evaluation of textual features and/or broader authorial choices
3. Criterion B2 (5 marks): Comparative analysis
4. Criterion C (5 marks): Focus and organisation
5. Criterion D (5 marks): Language

What Is the Task?

You’ll be given four open-ended prompts.
They often begin with a philosophical idea (e.g. “We are all prisoners of ourselves”) and then pose a task:

“Literature often explores the tension between personal desires and social expectations.” Compare how this tension is presented in at least two of the works you have studied.

Exam technique

You do not need to respond to the philosophical statement unless it directly asks you to.
Instead, focus on the key terms in the second half of the prompt, this is what you must address.

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

Common terms: Discuss, Evaluate, Compare and contrast, Analyse
These all require you to write a comparative analysis, don’t overthink the command word.

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

The core of the prompt is usually thematic or stylistic.

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Tip

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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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A Breakdown of Paper 2

Paper 2 is a comparative literary essay based on two works you've studied. You choose one of four essay prompts in the exam and write a comparative response using two of your texts.
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes (SL and HL)
Length: ~1000 to 1300 words
Marks: /25 (5 criteria)
You are assessed on:
1. Criterion A (5 marks): Knowledge, understanding, interpretation
2. Criterion B1 (5 marks): Analysis and evaluation of textual features and/or broader authorial choices
3. Criterion B2 (5 marks): Comparative analysis
4. Criterion C (5 marks): Focus and organisation
5. Criterion D (5 marks): Language

What Is the Task?

You’ll be given four open-ended prompts.
They often begin with a philosophical idea (e.g. “We are all prisoners of ourselves”) and then pose a task:

“Literature often explores the tension between personal desires and social expectations.” Compare how this tension is presented in at least two of the works you have studied.

Exam technique

You do not need to respond to the philosophical statement unless it directly asks you to.
Instead, focus on the key terms in the second half of the prompt, this is what you must address.

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

Common terms: Discuss, Evaluate, Compare and contrast, Analyse
These all require you to write a comparative analysis, don’t overthink the command word.

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

The core of the prompt is usually thematic or stylistic.

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 Analysis5 subtopics

Paper 1 Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay (HLE)3 subtopics

IB English A Lit What’s an English Lit Paper 2? Notes

Everything You Need to Know About Analysis5 subtopics

Paper 1 Lit4 subtopics

Paper 2 Lit4 subtopics

Individual Oral (IO)4 subtopics

Higher Level Essay (HLE)3 subtopics

A Breakdown of Paper 2

What Is the Task?

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

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

A Breakdown of Paper 2

What Is the Task?

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

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