Eduspiration

Overview

IB English A: Language and Literature is a two-year course on the study of language and literature in four parts:

·      Part 1 focuses on Language in Cultural Context, which entails the analysis of how audience and purpose affect the structure and content of texts, the impact of language changes, and how language and meaning are shaped by culture and context.

·      Part 2 on Language and Mass Communications focuses on an examination of different forms of communication within the media, awareness of the potential for educational, political or ideological influence of the media, and understanding of the ways mass media use language and image to inform, persuade or entertain.

·      Part 3 on Literature—Texts and Context examines the importance and influence of context when studying any work, specifically the changing historical, cultural and social contexts in which particular texts are written and received, how the formal elements of the text, genre and structure can not only be seen to influence meaning but can also be influenced by context, and the attitudes and values expressed by literary texts and their impact on readers.  Part 3 provides the opportunity to prepare for paper 2, an assessment that incorporates the part 3 texts and constitutes a large part of the overall mark for the course.

·      Part 4, Literature—Critical Studies, explores literary works in detail, analyzes elements such as theme and the ethical stance or moral values of literary texts, and makes appropriate use of literary terms.

Expectations and Goals

1.     To explore a range of texts from different periods, styles and genres

2.     To develop engagement in close, detailed analysis of individual texts and make relevant connections

3.     To develop the powers of expression, both in oral and written communication

4.     To recognize the importance of the contexts in which texts are written and received

5.     To encourage, through the study of texts, an appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures, and how these perspectives construct meaning

6.     To appreciate the formal, stylistic and aesthetic qualities of texts

7.     To promote an enjoyment of, and lifelong interest in, language and literature.

8.     To develop an understanding of how language, culture and context determine the ways in which meaning is constructed in texts

9.     To think critically about the different interactions between text, audience and purpose.

10.  To promote inquiry, knowledge, thinking, communication, principles, open-mindedness, caring, risk-taking, balance, and reflection.

Major Assessments

In all, there will be at least seven formal assessments over the course of the two years, but you will only need to submit five.  These assessments include two papers (paper 1 on two unseen texts and paper 2 on a choice of questions based on the literature studied in Part 3), four writing assignments (two of which must be submitted to reflect a creative text with a rationale and an essay with an outline), and an oral assessment on Part 4.

Year 1 will be devoted to Parts 1 and 3 and at least two of the writing assignments, while year 2 will cover Parts 2 and 3, the remaining writing assignments, the oral assessment, and papers 1 and 2.