IB English Paper 2 - Details and Tips

Summary

In this informative video, Andrew and Dave, the IB English guys, delve into the intricacies of Paper 2, offering a comprehensive guide to mastering this comparative essay component of the IB English exam. They cover the basic requirements, express their affection for Paper 2 due to its focus on intertextuality and literature's power to deepen human understanding, and introduce 'The Fabulous Four' strategy for breaking down questions. They also provide actionable steps for success, including crafting a strong thesis and planning effectively. The video concludes with a detailed analysis of sample questions, highlighting the importance of understanding key terms and authorial choices to critically engage with texts and societal critiques.

Takeaways

• 📃 The IB English Paper 2 is a comparative essay requiring students to discuss two literary works in response to one of four general questions.
• 🗞️ Students have 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the essay, with it accounting for 35% of the score for SL students and 25% for HL students.
• 📚 Texts used for the Higher Level Essay or Individual Oral cannot be used for Paper 2.
• 📖 A key aspect of Paper 2 is intertextuality, comparing and finding commonalities and differences between texts.
• 📝 Students have control over their success in Paper 2 by preparing and understanding their chosen texts thoroughly.
• 📱 Literature in Paper 2 is valued for its ability to deepen understanding of the human condition and foster empathy.
• 📌 The 'Fabulous Four' strategy includes answering the question directly, understanding themes and details, knowing the style and language, and comparing and contrasting the texts.
• 💬 Planning is crucial for a successful Paper 2 essay, including outlining the question, identifying keywords, crafting a comparative thesis, and planning body paragraphs.
• 📝 Authorial choices and literary craft are essential to discuss in response to the essay question, focusing on how these elements convey themes or criticisms.
• 👁️ A good response involves a systematic approach, including defining key terms, integrating thematic knowledge, and considering the significance of the texts in a broader context.

Q & A

What is the format and duration of Paper 2 in the IB English exam?

Paper 2 is a comparative essay that lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students.

How many literary works must be compared in the IB English Paper 2?

Students must apply the given questions to two literary works.

Can texts used for the Higher Level Essay or Individual Oral be used again in Paper 2?

No, students cannot use texts in Paper 2 that they have already used for the Higher Level Essay or Individual Oral.

Why do the IB English Guys love Paper 2?

They love Paper 2 because it focuses on intertextuality, allows control over the texts being studied, and centers around literature which fosters a deeper understanding of the human condition and empathy.

What are the 'Fabulous Four' strategies mentioned for succeeding in Paper 2?

The Fabulous Four includes answering the question directly, understanding the themes and details of the works, knowing the style and language of the texts, and effectively comparing and contrasting the texts.

Why is planning important for writing Paper 2, according to the IB English Guys?

Planning is crucial as it helps organize thoughts, ensures a clear argument through a thesis statement, and outlines the body paragraphs, leading to a more focused and coherent essay.

How should students approach defining key terms in the essay question for Paper 2?

Students should interpret and define key terms in the introduction to show they've understood the question in relation to their chosen works.

What does the IB English Guys suggest about the use of comparative language in Paper 2?

They suggest integrating comparative thesis statements, topic sentences, and using comparative language throughout the essay to maintain a comparative perspective.

What emphasis do the IB English Guys place on authorial choices in Paper 2?

They stress the importance of focusing on authorial choices and craft as a key component of the analysis, especially in response to the essay question.

How do the IB English Guys suggest students interpret the 'significance' of elements in the literary works for Paper 2?

They suggest linking back to the thematic knowledge and considering what the works convey about the human condition or societal critiques, emphasizing the broader implications of the texts.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to IB English Paper 2 Strategy

Andrew and Dave, self-dubbed the IB English guys, introduce their guide to tackling the IB English Paper 2, emphasizing its return and their enthusiasm for it. They outline the session to cover the paper's requirements, the reasons they cherish Paper 2, introduce a strategy dubbed the 'fabulous four' for breaking down questions effectively, and offer tangible steps for crafting a strong thesis and preparing for writing. They detail Paper 2's format as a comparative essay requiring analysis of two literary works within an hour and 45 minutes, mentioning specific considerations for SL and HL students, including the prohibition on reusing texts from other assessments. Their affection for Paper 2 stems from its focus on intertextuality, the control it offers over the exam narrative through thorough preparation, and its literary-centric nature that fosters a deeper understanding of human conditions and empathy through literature.

05:01

🔍 Breaking Down the Paper 2 Essay Plan

In the second part, Andrew and Dave elaborate on the steps to plan and execute a successful Paper 2 essay. They advise starting with writing out the question for clarity, then identifying and defining key terms. A major emphasis is on crafting a comparative thesis statement and a structured outline, including topic sentences that guide the essay's body paragraphs. They stress the importance of reviewing the plan to ensure clear, distinct topics are covered in each paragraph, underscoring that while plans are not graded, they significantly contribute to a coherent and focused response. The duo then proposes to analyze two sample questions, demonstrating how to dissect them to understand their requirements fully, focusing on literary craft, thematic understanding, and societal criticism. This discussion underlines the importance of a detailed, comparative analysis, grounded in the texts' portrayal of characters and themes to critique society, preparing viewers for a follow-up video featuring a model essay.

Keywords

💡Comparative Essay

A comparative essay, as described in the video, is a written task where students are required to analyze and compare two literary works. This type of essay is central to the IB English Paper 2, requiring students to engage with texts on a deep level, identify thematic and stylistic connections, and articulate these in a structured argument. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the requirements of this essay format, highlighting its role in assessing students' analytical and comparative skills.

💡Intertextuality

Intertextuality refers to the relationship between texts and how they influence, reference, or echo each other. In the video, it's highlighted as a key concept for Paper 2, where students are expected to draw connections between two literary works. This approach underscores the depth of understanding required to see beyond the surface of texts, exploring themes, motifs, and narrative structures that link different works and how these connections can illuminate broader human experiences and societal issues.

💡Fabulous Four

The 'Fabulous Four' is introduced as a strategy to tackle the comparative essay, comprising four key skills: answering the question directly, understanding themes and details of literary works, comprehending the style and language of the texts, and effectively comparing and contrasting the works. This concept serves as a structured approach to essay writing in Paper 2, guiding students through the process of developing a coherent and insightful analysis that meets the exam's criteria.

💡Authorial Choices

Authorial choices refer to the deliberate decisions made by authors regarding aspects such as character development, narrative style, and thematic focus. In the context of the video, understanding these choices is crucial for analyzing the texts in Paper 2. It involves examining how authors use literary devices and techniques to convey their messages, thereby enabling students to critically engage with the works and articulate their significance in relation to the essay question.

💡Literary Craft

Literary craft pertains to the techniques and skills authors employ in creating their works, including narrative structure, language use, and thematic exploration. The video emphasizes the importance of focusing on literary craft in responding to Paper 2's comparative essay prompts. It suggests that a deep understanding of how authors craft their texts is essential for analyzing and comparing literary works effectively, particularly in how these crafts contribute to the overarching themes and messages of the texts.

💡Comparative Thesis Statement

A comparative thesis statement is a critical element in the structure of a comparative essay, offering a clear stance on the similarities and/or differences between the two texts being analyzed. The video outlines the importance of crafting a thesis that not only responds to the essay question but also sets the stage for a comparative analysis. This thesis serves as the foundation of the essay, guiding the development of arguments and the organization of evidence in support of those arguments.

💡Planning

Planning is described as a preparatory step for writing the comparative essay, involving outlining the essay's structure, thesis statement, and main arguments. The video highlights planning as essential for organizing thoughts, ensuring a focused response to the essay question, and avoiding rambling or disjointed arguments. Effective planning is portrayed as a way to systematically approach the essay, enhancing the clarity and coherence of the analysis.

💡Literary Themes

Literary themes are the underlying messages or central ideas explored in literary works. The video underscores the significance of identifying and understanding these themes as part of the 'Fabulous Four' strategy for Paper 2. Grasping the themes allows students to connect the texts to broader human experiences and societal issues, demonstrating a deep comprehension of the works and their relevance to the essay question.

💡Question Analysis

Question analysis involves breaking down the essay prompt to understand its requirements, key terms, and the focus of the comparative analysis. The video stresses the importance of this skill in ensuring that the response directly addresses the prompt, highlighting the need to define and interpret key words and concepts. This analytical approach helps students to tailor their essays to the specific demands of the question, thereby enhancing the relevance and precision of their analysis.

💡Human Condition

The human condition is a theme that encompasses the experiences, emotions, and existential questions that define human life. In the video, literature's role in exploring the human condition is celebrated, emphasizing how comparative analysis in Paper 2 can deepen understanding of humanity, foster empathy, and encourage reflection on societal values. The discussion of literature in relation to the human condition illustrates the educational and philosophical value of studying literary works.

Highlights

Introduction of the IB English Paper 2 discussion by Andrew and Dave, the IB English guys.

Explanation of Paper 2 as a comparative essay requiring analysis of two literary works.

Highlight on the duration and weightage of Paper 2 for SL and HL students.

Discussion on the significance of intertextuality in Paper 2.

The concept of control and preparation in approaching Paper 2.

The importance of literature in understanding the human condition and fostering empathy.

Introduction of the 'Fabulous Four' strategy for breaking down questions.

Emphasis on answering the specific question asked in Paper 2.

The importance of understanding themes and details of the literary works.

Focus on knowing and understanding the style and language of the texts.

The necessity of comparing and contrasting the texts in Paper 2.

Steps for planning and crafting a comparative thesis statement.

Discussion on the importance of planning and outlining the essay.

Analysis of sample questions to demonstrate how to approach Paper 2 questions.

Conclusion and teaser for the next video on analyzing a sample paper.

Transcripts

hi i'm andrew and i'm dave and we're the

ib english guys today we're going to

talk about the paper 2. it's back mr

giles and we love it folks our preview

for today is as follows first we're

going to go over the requirements and

basic attributes of the paper 2. we're

then going to talk about why we love

paper too uh we'll introduce to you the

fabulous four which is a great strategy

you can apply to break down questions

and get on your pathway to success and

lastly we will give you some really

tangible steps for success that you can

apply when you're crafting your thesis

and getting ready to write perfect so

let's start with just what is the paper

too what is required first of all the

paper two is a comparative essay you're

going to be given four questions of a

general nature and if you are going to

apply those questions to two literary

works so this is a literary task for all

all courses and it's an hour and 45

minutes for both sl and hl and it's also

it's uh 35 for the sl students and 25

for the hl students of course you can't

use a text that you've already used for

the higher level essay or individual

oral so keep that in mind when you're

approaching questions mr giles why do we

love the paper 2 so much and we do love

it the first thing is that it's all

about intertextuality and this is one of

our areas of exploration this is about

taking two texts that are going to have

a lot of really interesting differences

but also finding some commonalities and

talking about these two things and

comparing them yeah another thing we

like is we believe the paper two is in

our control why would i say that mr

giles it's in under our control yeah

we know that the questions are somewhat

unknown but we have we have these texts

in front of us we can study them we can

research them and we want to walk in

with that expert knowledge so that we

can answer the question yeah lastly

folks

we love the paper too because it centers

around literature we really believe that

literature fosters a deeper

understanding of the human condition it

fosters empathy and it's a chance for

you to take knowledge from these works

and really look at it in a real world

context and answer some really tough

questions about what these texts mean to

us and how we can become better humans

in society yeah well said we like you i

love paper too we're readers and we like

to respond to literature so now we're

going to give you the fab four and i

just want to say thanks to caroline

hazel one of our colleagues she's given

us some really good information on paper

two and again it's really useful so we

want to share some of the it's just

these skills with you the first skill i

want to highlight the first member of

the fabulous four is answering the

question

your goal your job in the paper two is

to respond in detail to that specific

question so if you want to have a

backbone of the paper too it's the

question please do not start with

backbones and this component okay not

necessary okay the second element of the

fab four is knowing and understanding

the themes and details of your literary

works uh you've studied these in great

detail with your teacher with your peers

and you want to think about what are

those big global main ideas global

understandings that you can attach to

these one of these four questions and

show that you've deeply understood the

work in a nuanced and thematic way i

might tell you brought in the question

there too the third member of the

fabulous four

is

knowing and understanding the style and

language of the text this is about

authorial choices this sometimes is a

pitfall of many paper two writers

because they get caught up in the text

and they have to remember to talk about

the author's choices in response to the

question yeah folks we're always talking

about authorial craft in the entire

course regardless of the aspect the

component stay on the authorial choices

and crap the last element of the fab

four mr giles is we have to compare and

contrast go yeah i mean again it's a

comparative paper so we need to point

out similarities and differences of

these two texts quite frequently we want

to have

a comparative thesis statement we want

to try to have comparative topic

sentences we also want to integrate

subtle differences and similarities in

our writing so again we're keeping that

comparative hat

on the whole time mr giles it sounds

like this might be time for a worksheet

of sentence stems and comparative

language what do you think sounds like

you got some work to do sounds like you

need to make that so let's talk about

the steps we want to follow when we're

doing our planning the first step is

just to write out the question when you

write out the question you're able to

really focus in on some of those details

and it also will be at the top of your

paper of your planning very important

yeah and once you've done that folks

step two is to look at that question and

identify any key words and the question

words that the ib is asking it's very

important that you interpret and define

these words in your paper to show that

you've understood the question in

relation to your works yeah so now this

third step is where we start to do that

heavy lifting and now we have to think

about crafting a good comparative thesis

statement that answers the question this

is going to take a little bit of time

but you write that out because this is

going to be your argument that's going

to guide your paper yeah once you've got

that thesis pretty much where you want

it we believe it's really crucial for

you to write a rudimentary outline uh

think about those body paragraphs think

about the focus and the direction of

your paper if you have some time and you

want to consider it you might even want

to write a few of the topic sentences

out and really get that paper under

control before you dig into that and

start writing the introduction yeah and

the last step is just to review your

your whole plan and just think about how

does this whole plan answer that

question and do i do i have distinct

topics in my body paragraphs do i have

do i understand my plan

you're not graded on your plan though

andrew what so why don't you miss church

you're not graded on your plan but as an

examiner i know you feel the same way i

really appreciate it when i see that

plan it shows me that the student has

taken 10 or 15 minutes and really been

thoughtful and really approached the

question in a systematic way typically

responses without outlines mr giles i

found are rambling and out of control

yeah that is so true because the more

you have a plan the more you just like

with annotating with the paper one the

more you've got that plan the more

you'll have to say what do you say we

dive into two sample questions and break

them down and get moving here i like

that let's do that so we're going to

look at two questions just kind of do a

little bit of the discussion about what

we see the question asking us so read

the first question

the first question reads how is home

depicted in two of the works you have

studied and what is its significance mr

giles dig into that question and let's

talk about some of the key words and

approaches okay so we're thinking about

again the home is in parentheses i think

that's really interesting so we're

thinking about how that is depicted so

we're thinking about this the

significance of being home so i'm going

to start to think about my own

associations with home so i think about

home as a place of safety of comfort and

security maybe that could be reflected

well mr josh sounds like you had a good

home life maybe for me home reminds me

of trauma suffering and pain you know so

define that word through the lens of

your paper and make sure you put that in

the introduction so the examiner knows

how you are approaching those key words

yeah home can also be a physical place

of course but home could also be a state

of mind

that is where you're getting kind of

philosophical about it so we're trying

to think about how can we approach that

also pay attention to the word how mr

giles to me that implies i really need

to zero in on literary craft which is

one of our main ideas that we need to

focus on when reviewing further for the

test the paper two question very or

almost always will have a how or or or

some by what means they're gonna ask you

to zero in on enough about their real

choices last thing is the word

significance of course meaning the so

what that's where you wanna tap into

your thematic knowledge and thinking

about the meaning of your works in

relation to the message for the world

today i think it's a very it's a pretty

straightforward question yeah but i like

it let's look at one more mr jaws what

do you say sounds good you want to read

this one out i'll read this one authors

use the portrayal of characters who are

somewhat trapped as a means to criticize

society discuss the extent to which this

is true all right the very first thing

that jumps at me mr giles is this is a

to what extent question could you talk a

little bit about how to answer such a

question discuss the extent to which you

think this is true this again is

something we'd probably want to

integrate into our thesis statement to

to really think about how much uh are

these characters indeed trapped and how

so we want to think about that yeah i'm

glad you focus on the word trapped

that's a word i would definitely define

in the introduction of my paper so the

examiner and me for that matter have a

clear idea of where i want to take this

paper in relationship to that word

lastly are we focusing on symbols are we

focusing on motifs what are we focusing

on in this question

we are zeroing in on the characters and

thinking about the portrayal of the

characters what's the word portrayal

mean the way that author has presented

those characters the way they have put

them out into the story and linking them

to ideas through their literary craft

last phrase is criticize society

go for it giles i think you know i would

be writing about this inherently

automatically but specifically being

asked for that what does the student

need to do here yeah they really need to

think about that that when people are

trapped obviously that's not a good

thing right so we want to think about

how that's being portrayed and then how

that represents something about society

this is a really good time to link back

into time and space think about what

that text meant for that particular

context in which it was written you can

go with intertextuality in the

comparative aspect but don't forget

about that time and space which is

another area of exploration of our

course really nice good good mr jaws

what do you say we conclude our video to

for today we hope that we've given you

some approaches to succeed on the paper

too we've told you what it's about now

come back for that next video on why why

should they come back for the next video

mr giles cause we're gonna

we're gonna light up an amazing paper

that we think does an excellent job it

has the fabulous four embedded in it and

i think just looking at a good sample

piece of writing will help you yeah

we're gonna take that second question

trapped and we're gonna explode that in

a response so thanks for joining we hope

this gets you off and running on the

paper too come back for us in a couple

days and we'll show you that complete

paper thanks for watching everyone and

take care