Written Task 2 Assignment
IB English Language and Literature HL
Year 1
Due: Monday, June 1st
(Printed and to Turnitin.com)
Formal Requirements for Written Task 2:
You must select a question from the list below and address it in a literary analysis essay of 800-1000
words. This essay must:
 adhere to MLA formatting rules (Font: Times New Roman 12, 1” margins, etc.) but include a cover
page and page numbers that follow a format you will be given later.
 include parenthetical citations for all text support and a Works Cited page.
 be written in the style of a formal essay
 be clearly structured with an introduction, well-developed ideas/arguments in body paragraphs,
and a conclusion.
In addition, you must submit an outline with the following:
 the prescribed question that has been chosen
 the title of the text(s) for analysis
 the part of the course to which the task refers (Part 4)
 three or four key points that explain the particular focus of the task. The November 2013 IB
Subject Report approved of students representing these as bullet points only.
Topics and Questions:
Reader, culture and text
1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers?
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience,
how and why might it differ?
Power and privilege
1. How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
2. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?
Text and genre
1. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular genre, and for
what purpose?
2. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with what effects?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Grading Policy
This task is externally moderated; therefore, you may not receive a typical essay grade on it from an
instructor. The rubric attached at the end will be used to determine the quiz grade you will be awarded
for completing different portions of it on a timely basis. Students who do fail to complete this
assignment will be given an incomplete for the 4th quarter until they submit it.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Some Guidance from IB:
Reader, culture and text
Students are encouraged to consider that a text’s meaning is determined by the reader and by the
cultural context. The interpretation of a text is dependent on various factors, including:
 the reader and producer’s cultural identity or identities
 age
 gender
 social status
 the historical and cultural settings of the text and its production
 aspects of language and translation.
From the November 2013 subject report: “The question ‘How could the text be read and interpreted
differently by two different readers?’ seemed to cause problems for some candidates. The guidance in
the question seems clear but sometimes two texts were offered and often the notion of ‘reader’ was not
well understood. Far too many candidates fell into the trap of discussing two different possible
interpretations of the text rather than two different readers.”
“The question ‘If the text had been written in a different time and place or language or for a different
audience, how and why might it differ?’ did not pose a problem for candidates if they treated it as the
hypothetical proposition that it is. To write about modern adaptations of older plays, for example, as a
fair number of candidates did, is to miss the point. This question proved the trickiest of the six to
interpret. Its present phrasing permits too wide a range of responses, some unhelpful for candidates, so
here it is particularly important for future candidates to seek advice from their teachers.”
Power and privilege
Students are encouraged to consider how and why social groups are represented in texts in particular
ways. In addition, consideration may be given to who is excluded from or marginalized in a text, or whose
views are silenced. Social groups could include:
 women
 adolescents
 senior citizens
 children
 immigrants
 ethnic minorities
 professions.
From the November 2013 subject report: “It was essential here for candidates to define how they
understood ‘a social group’ (not, as was often the case, two or three groups) and to establish, if they
were dealing with one or more characters from a literary work, in what way those characters constituted
a social group or were representative of one. Frequently ‘women’ or ‘the people of a nation’ was the
social group chosen. Obviously the better answers would use contextual factors to identify the particular
group of women or people under discussion. If an individual is taken as representative of a social group,
for example Shylock or Rita, it needs to be explained in what way s/he is representative of a social
group.”
Text and genre
Students are encouraged to consider the genre in which a text is placed. Certain textual features belong
to a particular genre and can be identified by a particular reader or audience. Writers make use of, or
deviate from, particular conventions of genre in order to achieve particular effects. Students may also
explore how texts borrow from other texts, and how texts can be re-imagined or reconstructed.
Examples of conventions of genre include:
 structure
 storyline
 characterization
 stylistic devices
 tone, mood and atmosphere
 register
 visual images and layout.
FAQ (All quoted answers are from IB Course Guide or Teacher Support materials)
Can you help me choose a question and decide which text best fits it?
“The teacher may not interfere with or attempt to direct the student’s choice of text or question.”
May I design my own topic, or address more than one question?
No. These are official topics and questions supplied by the IB organization.
Can I discuss more than one text?
Yes – but only if you mean more than one Poe story. However, think carefully before you decide to do
this. Can you discuss more than one story in depth, and provide sufficient text support, without
exceeding the word limit? That is your judgment call, as you learned in the previous question.
Should I use secondary sources (material from critical essays, etc.)?
Secondary sources may be used for this essay, but most IB teachers agree that, considering the brevity of
this assignment and the necessity for primary source text support, it would be wise for students to use
secondary sources sparingly or avoid them altogether. If you choose to use secondary sources, please
cite them correctly in your text and list them on your Works Cited page.
Can you help me correct my essay before I submit it?
“As part of the learning process, teachers can give advice to students on a first draft of the task. This
advice should be in terms of the way in which the work could be improved, but this first draft must not be
annotated or edited by the teacher. After making general comments on the first draft, teachers should
not provide any further assistance.”
What part of my essay factors into my word count?
“Quotations and references that form a part of the text produced will be included in the word count.
However, references that the student produces to support the task (for example, listing their own
research) will not be included in the word count.” Therefore, your cover page, outline, and Works Cited
page are not included in the word count.
Is there a required number of words for the outline?
No, but the requirements listed in the outline section come directly from the IB guidebook. The subject
report from November warned: “Long essay outlines are to be strongly discouraged.” Be clear, but be
concise, when conveying your key points.
What happens if I don’t meet the word count for the essay, or if I exceed it?
It is unlikely that you will score in the higher grade bands for an essay that is too short. The November
subject report only stated: “Essays that exceeded the word limit, even by one mark, incurred a 2-point
penalty.”
Name: ______________________________________
IB English Language and Literature
Written Task 2
Revision Checklist
Cover page
□
□
□
□
Needs a title that clearly states topic and titles of works
Needs word count (from just the essay; not Works Cited, outline, or cover page)
Needs course/ school/ instructor information
Needs correct candidate number
Outline
□
□
□
□
Needs prescribed question
Needs the title of the text(s) for analysis
Needs the part of the course to which the task refers (Part 4)
Needs three or four key points that explain the particular focus of the task.
Essay
Requirements, Topic, and MLA Format
□ Needs proper page numbers
□ Title(s) and author needed in introduction
□ Needs a better thesis statement (more sophisticated or clearer argument)
□ Parenthetical citations need work
□ Needs a Works Cited page
□ Italicize titles: The Taming of the Shrew or The Crucible
□ Put titles in quotation marks: “William Wilson” etc.
Paragraph/Structure
□ Intro needs more development, sophistication
□ Conclusion needs more development, sophistication
□ Topic sentences need to clarify the main points of the paragraphs
□ Transitions between ideas need work
Support
□ Quotations and corresponding analysis needed
□ Specific textual support needed
□ Context for quotations needed
□ There are inaccuracies in your information (wrong character name, etc.)
Grammar and Mechanics
□ Verb tense must be consistently present
□ Fix fragments and/or run-ons
□ Check author and/or character name spelling
□ Check for spelling errors and/or missing words
Name: ______________________________________
IB English 11
Written Task 2
Rubric for Completion Grade
Points
Awarded
Essay Length
___ Falls within
required range
(40 points)
___ Too long
(0-30 points)*
___ Too short
(0-20 points)
Outline
___ All correct
(30 points)
___ Minor
errors/omissions
(20 points)
___ Significant
errors/omissions
(10 points)
MLA Formatting
(including
parenthetical
citations)
___ All correct
(15 points)
___ Minor
errors/omissions
(10 points)
___ Significant
errors/omissions
(5 points)
Works Cited Page
___ All correct
(15 points)
___ Minor
errors/omissions
(10 points)
___ Significant
errors/omissions
(5 points)
Grade: ______/100
Lateness deduction: ______
Final Grade: ______/100
* Remember that there is a clear penalty (2/20 points lost) for exceeding the word limit when this task is
externally graded by IB.