IB English: Individual Oral - From Start to Finish - Video 1 of 5

Summary

In this first video of a five-part series, Andrew and Dave guide viewers through the process of selecting texts and narrowing down a global issue for an IB English Internal Oral (IO). They explore various texts, such as 'Death in the Maiden' and the Nike 'Dream Crazier' campaign, discussing themes like gender inequality and power. The teachers demonstrate the ladder of abstraction method to refine a global issue, ultimately arriving at a clear statement about how language and perceptions of women need to be redefined for empowerment. The video sets the stage for further exploration of text analysis and issue development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video series will cover the entire process of creating a successful IB English Individual Oral (IO), from brainstorming to the final product.
• 😀 The goal is to help students understand the metacognitive process behind creating an IO, including the steps taken and the thought processes involved.
• 😀 The first video introduces the concept of selecting texts and explores the connections between different works in the sample menu.
• 😀 Teachers are encouraged to think critically about the texts they present to students and how they can connect them to key global issues and concepts.
• 😀 One example of pairing texts includes 'God of Small Things' and 'Women at Point 0', exploring themes of female rebellion against societal norms.
• 😀 Another pair considered is 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'The Things They Carried', both of which discuss the experience of soldiers and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• 😀 Global issues don't always have to focus on problems; positive topics, such as nature and climate change, can also be explored.
• 😀 Paul, a student in the video, selected two contrasting texts: 'Death in the Maiden' (a play about abuse and trauma) and the Nike 'Dream Crazier' campaign (focused on empowering women).
• 😀 The process of narrowing down to a specific global issue is demonstrated using the 'ladder of abstraction', where the initial inquiry broadens and then narrows down through questioning.
• 😀 Paul's global issue statement revolves around the perception that women are seen as emotional or crazy and how this language needs to be redefined to empower women and challenge traditional stereotypes.

Q & A

What is the main objective of this five-part video series?

The main objective is to guide students through the entire process of preparing for an IB English Individual Oral (IO), from selecting texts to developing a global issue, providing insight into the metacognitive steps involved in crafting a successful IO.

How do Andrew and Dave help students in selecting their texts for the IO?

They present a 'menu' of texts for students to choose from, encouraging them to consider global issues, IB concepts, and areas of exploration while making connections between the selected texts.

What role does the 'menu of texts' play in the IO process?

The 'menu of texts' serves as a starting point for students to analyze and connect various texts, allowing them to identify possible global issues and themes that will guide their IO focus.

What kinds of texts are discussed in the video as potential choices for the IO?

The texts discussed include literature, such as *God of Small Things*, *Women at Point 0*, and *The Things They Carried*, as well as non-literary works like the Nike Dream Crazier campaign, offering a mix of media and genres.

How do Andrew and Dave use the texts in the 'menu' to connect global issues?

They connect global issues by identifying themes such as gender inequality, trauma, mental illness, and empowerment within the selected texts, illustrating how these concepts can be explored across different media.

What is the 'ladder of abstraction,' and how is it used in the process of defining a global issue?

The 'ladder of abstraction' is a method where students start with a broad line of inquiry (such as 'power') and gradually narrow it down to a more specific global issue, using a series of questions to refine and focus their topic.

Why is it important to narrow down a broad global issue like 'power' into something more specific?

Narrowing a broad issue like 'power' helps students focus their analysis on a specific aspect of the topic, ensuring that their global issue is both manageable and directly relevant to the chosen texts.

What is the global issue that Paul ultimately develops in this video, and how does it relate to the texts?

Paul's global issue is the perception that women are emotional or 'crazy' and how this demeaning language requires women to redefine traditional female stereotypes and seek empowerment. This issue connects to the texts *Death and the Maiden* and the Nike Dream Crazier campaign, both of which address gender inequality and stereotypes.

How do the texts *Death and the Maiden* and the Nike Dream Crazier campaign relate to the issue of gender inequality?

Both texts explore gender inequality by highlighting how women are marginalized or stereotyped. *Death and the Maiden* presents a character who is traumatized and labeled as 'crazy,' while the Nike campaign challenges the stereotype of women being emotional or irrational, offering a more empowering perspective.

Why is the concept of language, specifically the word 'crazy,' important in the global issue Paul develops?

The word 'crazy' is significant because it has been used historically to undermine and marginalize women. Paul’s global issue centers on how redefining this term and shifting its meaning can empower women and challenge traditional stereotypes.