DP2 Paper 2 Exam Reflection
Reflection – essay (complete before you submit the essay)
Student Teacher
Introduction
1. Have you defined the question?
2. Have you named the text and the author?
3. Have you used a connective to link the two texts either in a comparative or contrastive
way?
4. Have you identified either the specific examples or methods that you will explore in the
essay in order to answer the question?
5. Have you identified the significance of the idea or issue being explored and the questions
it might raise for a reader? Is there a sense of the wider purpose?
Main body of the essay
6. Have you made at least three arguments in response to the question for Text A and Text
B?
7. Have you used connectives throughout to link the two texts comparatively or
contrastively?
8. At the start of each paragraph, have you constructed a strong topic sentence that either
presents the argument or the method being explored? (WHAT part of your paragraph)
9. Have you used short, discriminating quotations from the text to support the points you
make? (HOW part of your paragraph)
10. Have you used subject terminology? (WHY part of your paragraph)
11. Have you evaluated how particular methods have been used to convey meaning? (WHY
part of your paragraph and the significance of the methods in conveying meaning)
12. Have you used evaluative adverbs throughout?
13. Have you used connectives to build and develop ideas?
14. Have you spoken about both texts in equal measure?
15. Have you written using an appropriate academic register?
16. Have you used ambitious vocabulary?
Conclusion
17. Have you offered a concise summary of what has been learnt in relation to the question?
18. Have you summarized the methods the writers have employed to present key theme /
idea / argument?
19. Have you commented on the wider significance of this in terms of meaning and
implication?
What did you find was the easiest part of the exam? Box out the process above that you found the easiest.
What did you find the most difficult? Underline the process above that you found the hardest.
Reflection - preparation (complete before you submit the essay)
How much total time did you spend preparing
On a scale of one to 10, how much effort did
for this exam?
you put into preparing for this exam?
I came to class
I re-read the assigned text.
I reviewed my class notes.
I re-wrote my notes.
I made index cards / flash cards.
I highlighted the text.
I looked up information.
I re-read the exemplar essay.
I asked myself: What makes a top level Paper 2
essay?
I completed a planning grid, sequencing and
organizing my ideas.
I closed my notes or turned over my planning grid
and tested how much I could remember.
I explained my essay to my parents or a peer.
I broke down the essay into a series of goals like the
ones above.
I deconstructed the exemplar essay, identifying the
component parts of the essay or assessing it against
the mark-scheme.
I self-quizzed on the quotations on Quizlet.
I mind-mapped an analysis of my quotations without
looking at my notes.
Using the exemplar, I practised writing an
introduction.
Using the exemplar, I practised writing a paragraph
of analysis.
Criterion D: Language
Criterion C:
Focus and
organisation
Criterion B: Analysis and
evaluation
Criterion A: Knowledge,
understanding and
interpretation
Question answered:
9-10 marks
7-8 marks
5-6 marks
3-4 marks
There is perceptive
knowledge and
understanding of the works
and a persuasive
interpretation of their
implications in relation to the
question answered.
There is good
knowledge and
understanding of the
works and a sustained
interpretation of their
implications in relation to
the question answered.
There is satisfactory
knowledge and
understanding of the
works and an
interpretation of their
implications in relation to
the question answered.
There is some
knowledge and
understanding of the
works in relation to
the question
answered.
The essay offers an
insightful interpretation of
the similarities and
differences between the
works used in relation to the
question.
The essay offers a
convincing interpretation
of the similarities and
differences between the
works used in relation to
the question.
The essay demonstrates a
consistently insightful and
convincing analysis of
textual features and / or
broader authorial choices.
There is a very good
evaluation of how such
features and / or choices
contribute to meaning.
The essay demonstrates
an appropriate and at
times insightful analysis
of textual features and /
or broader authorial
choices. There is a
good evaluation of how
such features and / or
choices shape meaning.
There is a good
comparison and contrast
of the author’s choices
in the works selected.
The essay offers a
satisfactory
interpretation of the
similarities and
differences between the
works used in relation
the question.
The essay demonstrate
a generally appropriate
analysis of textual
features and / or broader
authorial choices.
There is a very good
comparison and contrast of
the authors’ choices in the
works selected.
There is an adequate
comparison and contrast
of the authors’ choices
in the works selected.
There is a superficial
attempt to compare
and contrast the
works used in
relation to the
question.
The essay
demonstrates some
appropriate analysis
of textual features
and / or broader
authorial choices,
but is reliant on
description.
There is little
meaningful
comparison and
contrast of the
works used in
relation to the
question.
The essay is
descriptive and /
or demonstrates
little relevant
analysis of textual
features and / or
the broader
authorial choices.
0 marks
The work
does not
reach a
standard
described
by the
descriptors
on the left.
The work
does not
reach a
standard
described
by the
descriptors
on the left.
There is a superficial
comparison and
contrast of the
author’s choices in
the works selected.
5 marks
4 marks
3 marks
2 marks
The essay maintains a clear
and sustained focus on the
task; treatment of the works
is well-balanced. The
development of ideas is
logical and convincing; ideas
are connected in a cogent
manner.
The essay maintains a
mostly clear and
sustained focus on the
task; treatment of the
works is balanced. The
development of ideas is
logical; ideas are
cohesively connected.
The essay maintains a
focus on the task,
despite some lapses;
treatment of the works is
mostly balanced. The
development of ideas is
mostly logical; ideas are
generally connected in a
cohesive manner.
Language is very clear,
effective, carefully chosen
and precise with a high
degree of accuracy in
grammar, vocabulary and
sentence construction;
register and style are
effective and appropriate to
the task.
Language is clear and
carefully chosen, with a
good degree of accuracy
in grammar, vocabulary
and sentence
construction; register
and style are
consistently appropriate
to the task.
Language is clear and
carefully chosen with an
adequate degree of
accuracy in grammar,
vocabulary and
sentence construction
despite some lapses;
register and style are
mostly appropriate to the
task.
The essay only
sometimes focuses
on the ask, and
treatment of the
works may be
unbalanced. There
are some
connections
between ideas, but
these are not always
coherent.
Language is
sometimes clear and
carefully chosen;
grammar,
vocabulary and
sentence
construction are
fairly accurate,
although errors and
inconsistencies are
apparent; the
register and style
are to some extent
appropriate to the
task.
Now that you have seen your exam, how do you feel about your performance?
Reflect upon a. the successes you have had and b. more importantly, the errors
you made.
Can you suggest anything
else your teacher could do
to support you in
preparing for the exam?
1-2 marks
There is little
knowledge and
understanding of
the works in
relation to the
question
answered.
1 mark
0 marks
The essay rarely
focuses on the
task. There are
few connections
between ideas.
The work
does not
reach a
standard
described
by the
descriptors
on the left.
Language is rarely
clear and
appropriate; there
are many errors in
grammar,
vocabulary and
sentence
construction and
little sense of
register and style.
The work
does not
reach a
standard
described
by the
descriptors
on the left.
As a result, name three things you will
do differently in preparation for your
next Paper 2 exam.