Paper Two – Section B – The Personal Response
150-200 words
You can choose any text type that you have studied.
You are asked to write a reasoned argument in which you respond to a written
stimulus using any text type of your choice.
The response must be
LOGICAL
REASONED
COHERENT
TIPS
You must form a clear idea of how you wish to respond – PLAN
You must support your ideas with EVIDENCE
Three different approaches for tackling personal response
1. The one-sided approach
Either support or attack the main idea in the stimulus text.
Give reasons for each point you make
Do not include the other side of the argument
Write a strong conclusion about what should be done
2. The balanced by undecided approach
There is no single answer to a problem.
Give both sides of the argument
State that both sides have equally valid arguments
Alternatively, show how both sides have weak arguments.
Give reasons for supporting or criticizing each point of view
Conclude by saying that the different sides should recognize that each has valid points
and they need further discussion.
3. The analytical approach
Evaluate the argument/s in the stimulus text.
Put your argument/s in order of strength.
You can start with the weakest and finish with the strongest or the other way
round.
Explain why some points in your analysis are stronger than others
Which arguments are better supported by examples?
Conclude by stating which ideas you would support and which you would not
Source: Oxford IB Diploma Programme English B Textbook OUP
Structured Notes
The one-sided approach
Main Idea in the stimulus
Points
Conclusion
Examples/Explanations/Link back
to Thesis
Structured Notes
The balanced by undecided approach
Stimulus
Arguments for
Arguments against
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Argument
Reasons for supporting or criticizing
Conclusion
Each side should recognize each has valid points and need further discussion
Structured Notes
The analytical approach
Stimulus
Evaluate argument in stimulus
strongest first
Supporting details – explanation,
example
Argument
Supporting details – explanation,
example, link to argument
Argument
Supporting details – explanation,
Example, link to argument
Argument
Supporting details – explanation
Example, link to argument
Conclusion
Which ideas do you support and which you would not
Structured Notes – example The internet debate
The analytical approach
Stimulus
The internet is it changing the way we think?
Some of the most vociferous critics of the internet are benefitting most from
this wonderful, liberating organic extension of the human mind
Evaluate argument in stimulus
Supporting details – explanation,
strongest first
example – link to argument
The underestimate the capacity of the
human mind – brain to capture and
capitalize on new ways of storing and
transmitting information
Personal anecdote
Argument
Supporting details – explanation,
example – Link to argument
Our brains are adept at putting
unused neurons and virgin synaptic
connections to other uses
Argument
Internet is no threat to our minds
1. basic genetic make-up remains
unchanged – write and read;
logic; science
2. Human brains can learn from
experience – no genetic change
Supporting details – explanation,
Example
Liberating extension of our minds –
like books
Conclusion
Which ideas do you support and which you would not
Acknowledge that technological advances can be put to bad use
Firmly believes in the freedom of the internet
Language features
Blog
1.
Identify some examples of informal language you would associate
with spoken text
2.
Identify a paragraph in which the writer uses more sophisticated
language. Explain his choices
Structured Notes – Example of Blog
The one-sided approach
Main Idea in the stimulus
The internet is definitely affecting the way I think for the worse
Points
Reasons/examples/explanations/link
Internet means we can never
escape from ourselves
Depressing to be able to log onto to
the internet from anywhere in the world
Log-on; scan of the news; exchange of
Internet use follows a pattern of
information; answering queries
efficiency
He wastes a lot of time on the
internet
The internet can provide inaccurate
information
How can you verify a source?
He looks up irrelevant information on
sites unrelated to his work
Result – feels lonely, suffers from
insomnia, suffers headaches, antisocial
He cites access to trashy magazines
and abusive tweets
Conclusion/Recommendation
We need to have self-control and self-discipline