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

A Breakdown of Paper 2

1. 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.
2. Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes (SL and HL)
3. Length: ~1000 to 1300 words
4. Marks: /25 (5 criteria)
5. 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?

1. You’ll be given four open-ended prompts.
2. 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.

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

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

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

1. The core of the prompt is usually thematic or stylistic.
   1. e.g. imprisonment, identity, use of irony, impact of setting
2. Rephrase it in your own words to clarify your focus.

Step 3: Morph Your Texts or the Prompt

1. Not every text will directly reference the key concept.
2. Your job is to adapt your interpretation:
   1. e.g. Nostalgia = emotional imprisonment.
   2. e.g. “Interesting characters” → define interest as “psychological complexity” or “moral ambiguity”.

Step 4: Brainstorm Overlapping Points

1. Choose points that apply to both texts.
2. Look for overlapping ideas, themes, or techniques to build clear comparisons and contrasts.

How Many Texts Should You Prepare?

Although you only write about two texts in Paper 2, you should prepare three texts in advance.

Why prepare three texts?

1. You won’t know the prompt beforehand.
2. Each prompt favours different pairings depending on theme or literary technique.
3. Having three texts allows for strategic flexibility.

Choose texts that offer:

1. Thematic range (e.g., power, gender, memory, identity)
2. Diverse genres or cultural perspectives
3. Strong literary technique usage (structure, tone, irony, symbolism)

Strategically Selecting Comparative Points Across Two Texts

1. Avoid the formulaic method (low marks):
   1. Don’t just write two unrelated ideas for Text A and two for Text B
   2. Avoid “block paragraphs” that analyse each text in isolation
   3. Surface-level comparisons tacked on at the end lack analytical depth
   4. Outcome: Limited evaluation and weak cross-textual insight
2. Aim for purposeful alignment (top marks):
   1. Identify shared thematic threads or contrasting treatments of the same issue
   2. Choose points that allow for subtle comparison and focused divergence
   3. Consider how each author’s intent, context, and technique shapes their response to the prompt
   4. Select ideas that are broad enough for connection but specific enough for deep analysis
3. Effective comparison means:
   1. Each paragraph should revolve around a single comparative insight
   2. Texts are examined in conversation, not in isolation

Final Preparation Tips

1. Use short, integrated quotes: avoid large block quotations
2. Memorise key quotes that can be adapted to multiple prompts
3. Write practice essays under timed conditions to develop fluency
4. Plan before writing, structure is essential
5. Compare and contrast throughout, avoid treating texts in isolation
6. Constantly link analysis back to the guiding question