Paper One Tips for IB Literature AND Language and Literature
We get it. You’re busy and didn’t have time to watch all the Paper One videos, and you’re
looking for a quick and easy document to give you some points. No worries, Dave and
Andrew are here! We’ve examined thousands upon thousands of papers, and we’d like to
share some of our favorite tips for students. Keep these in mind while you are preparing
and writing your Paper One. Understanding and internalizing these ideas will surely make
a difference in your performance!
10 Tips for the Paper One
1. Read and annotate carefully.
○ Remember, this is a reading test first. Take your time, use the margins to
write down big ideas, and pay attention to authorial choices. Students who
read and annotate carefully will almost always score better than those who
do not.
2. Focus on the question.
○ Don’t ignore that guiding question; it’s there for a reason! Read that
question carefully and identify “keywords” that should appear in your thesis
statement and topic sentences. You may want to use synonyms for these
keywords from time to time to prevent redundancy in your paper.
3. Make an outline or plan.
○ This is critical! Take a few extra minutes and create a rudimentary outline to
guide your writing. This isn’t the time to be detailed and thorough, but
capturing paragraph topics and briefly outlining your paper BEFORE writing
will keep you focused and on track during your race to the finish.
4. Understand and articulate the message of the text.
○ Summary alert! Do not summarize what the author has said. Instead,
consider the main message of the text, the purpose, and the implications.
Look for nuances and details and explore the main claim the author is trying
to make.
5. Discuss the author’s choices. (Know your technical terms!)
○ This is NOT the time to skimp on authorial choices! Dave and Andrew have
provided several handouts on a range of topics. Know those terms, be able
to identify them in a range of text types, and be sure to explain how authors
use those choices to shape meaning.
6. Connect author’s choices directly to the effect on the reader and/or message of
the text.
○ Remember that all texts have a precise target audience and have been
intentionally crafted and created to convey a precise message to that
audience. So, when writing, discuss the impact of authorial choices on the
reader or audience.
7. Explore implications and subtleties.
○ Go beyond the obvious! Consider what most students will identify in the
text and the “common” arguments writers are likely to make. Once you have
those, keep on thinking! Learn how to read “between the lines” and identify
nuances. What is the author indirectly suggesting or implying (but not overtly
saying) in the text?
8. Write clear focused paragraphs with topic sentences that use wording of the GQ
and aim for more than a 5 paragraph response if you can.
○ The 5-paragraph essay has a time and place, but it is unlikely to get students
into the higher mark bands. For those elusive high scores, quantity counts.
Write as many focused body paragraphs as you can that explore a range of
rich ideas linked to the Guiding Question.
9. Maintain academic language and register, be precise, but don’t be afraid to be
yourself and have some voice.
○ Yes, this is textual analysis, but it doesn't have to be boring and devoid of
voice. Pay attention to your word choice, and showcase your best academic
language. However, be human. Try starting with a (short) engaging hook,
pepper some voice in the body paragraphs, and insert some personality in
the conclusion. It just might make your paper stand out!
10. Breathe and Relax.
○ Hey, we know you’re nervous. However, it’s important to breathe, relax, and
stay centered. Research has shown time and time again that students do
not perform well when they are highly anxious. So, use a calming routine
that works for you prior to the exam. Maintain perspective during the
assessment. This isn’t life or death. You’ve got this!
Be sure to check out the companion video to this
document: Paper One - Top 10 Tips For Success. This will
enable you to further understand key concepts and
develop the critical skills necessary that lead to success in
IB English.