English A Language and Literature Guide for Written Task 1

[Mikhael]

Language and Literature Assessments HL: The Written Task

Written Tasks 1 and 2

Students produce at least four written tasks based on material studied in the course.

Students submit two of these tasks for external assessment. (20 marks for each task)

Each task must be 800–1,000 words in length plus a rationale of 200–300 words.

The written tasks form 20% of your grade.

A written task demonstrates the student’s ability to choose an imaginative way of exploring an aspect of the material studied in the course. It must show a critical engagement with an aspect of a text or a topic.

Written Task 1 on Part Four: Literature and Part Two: Language and Mass Communication

Written Task 1 is an opportunity for you to demonstrate understanding and explore issues in language and literature in an imaginative way. “Imaginative” does not necessarily mean creative writing—as with all reading and writing in the Language and Literature course you are expected to demonstrate an intellectual engagement and understanding of the texts studied. The written task offers a more open opportunity to consider different methods for conveying that engagement and understanding. In addition, the written task is a chance to mimic and show your understanding of a form. This may range from a more familiar kind of writing such as an editorial, a blog or a pamphlet to a more creative text such as a pastiche, a poem, or a dramatic script.

First and foremost, the written task 1 is not an essay. Beyond this, you will be looking to find an appropriate text type to use as a model.

Written task 1 must be between 800 and 1000 words only.

Written task 1 must include a rationale. The rationale should be between 200 and 300 words which do not count toward the written task word count. The rationale should explain the nature of the chosen written task including purpose, formal conventions, relationships to aspects of the course and any other pertinent information as to the aims and objectives of the task.

There are four criteria used to assess written task 1:

Rationale: Does the rationale adequately explain your work for the written task and how it is linked to the course topic?

Task and Content: Does the written task convey more substantially developed understanding of the work; is the content appropriate to the task chosen and are the conventions of the text type understood?

Organization and argument: Is the structure and organization coherent and sustained? Has the word count been met (two marks will be deducted from tasks that exceed the word count)?

Language and style: Is the use of language and style effective and appropriate to the task chosen?

As with any assessment task, examiners are looking for a strong understanding of the work or topic and a thoughtful critical engagement. Organized and polished writing is an asset but remember that this is most realized with careful thinking and preparation as well as consciously writing within your own abilities (use your own voice; do not try to sound sophisticated, but be open and honest in your engagement with the text). It is important to consider the most appropriate language for the task chosen (in terms of formality and accessibility), as well as the structure and details as reference points. In regards to the content, remember that the rationale, and by implication the task itself, should make clear the audience and purpose for your written task.

For Pre-IB Writing, you will be writing two Written Tasks, one based on our study of advertising, and the other on Literature. Your choice of a task appropriate to the content will be taken into consideration.

Possible Written task text types for Language and Mass Communication (Part 2):

· An email exchange

· An interview

· A public health brochure

· An opinion column

· A letter to the editor

· A screenplay for a documentary

Possible Written task text types for Literature (Part 4):

· An exchange of letters between characters in a literary work articulating their beliefs about and approach to a central problem in the work.

· A multimodal digital project that traces and highlights complex narrative trajectories.

· An imaginary interview with the author of a literary work regarding its adaptation as a movie.

· A critical review of a performance of a text.

· An editorial letter objecting to critiques of a work and arguing for its artistic or aesthetic merits.

· An additional scene, chapter, or stanza drawing more particular attention to an important aspect of a larger literary work.

· A short story exploring a minor character’s view of the main action of a literary text

· A diary entry in which a character from a work of fiction reveals their true feelings about another character or any aspects of the action of a literary text

· An episode from a literary text rewritten to place the action in another setting

As you will be practicing the written tasks of newspaper articles (hard news and feature) and business letters in your English class, for this class you should select two written tasks other than these. Your Language written task should be based on one or more advertisements and your Literature written task should be based on either Of Mice and Men or The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Alternatively, for the Literature written task, you could select a text you have read for independent reading and, subject to approval by your teacher, base your written task on that.

-- By Elincoln

ISM Language and Literature

Literature Unit

Literature Written Task-Major Assessment

This task is potentially one that could be sent to the IB to be externally moderated. There are plenty of important elements to understand to succeed, but it is crucial to know that the choices you make to show your knowledge and understanding will have a big impact on your grade. You are given a great deal of scope to decide how and what to write. Your rationale will explain these decisions and why they demonstrate understanding of the learning outcomes.

Task

You are to write a written task (800-1000 words) based on a work of literature we studied and provide a rationale (200-300 words). You should also include a cover page with your name, the date, the title of the piece, the text type and the word count for the text type.

Getting Started

1. You first need to decide which literary text your written task will be based on. Keep in mind that if you chose to focus on 1984 in a previous written task (even if it was for mass communication and news and media) you may not focus on 1984 for this one.

2. Next you need to identify the following – target audience, theme, purpose and the text type (again, you cannot choose a text type you have already used on a previous written task).

3. Determine what specific kinds of appeals (logos, pathos, ethos) should be used and how they will achieve your purposes for the written task.

4. Think about the response/reaction you expect from your target audience as a result of your written task and how you need to use language to bring about the desired reaction or response.

5. Your 800-1000 words will either use the literary techniques and language style of the literary work it is based on, or it will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of those techniques, so you should identify these literary techniques and devices ahead of time and set out to imitate or explicate them.

6. Your 200-300 word rationale will explain how your written task fits with the audience, context, purpose, genre (text type), and literary text on which it is based. It will also specifically link your written task to the relevant learning outcomes of the language and literature course (listed at the end of this document).

Suggested Approaches to the Written Task

· An additional episode/scene that takes place before the beginning of a novel/play and provides context for the opening sequence.

· An additional episode/scene that takes place after the end of a novel/play and provides some further sense of outcomes for the characters.

· Additional scene episode to be added within a novel or play.

· A letter from one fictional character to another which reveals a change in the relationship between the two characters.

· Diary of a character.

· Parody of the original text.

· Some text type which would exist in the reality of the play, novel, story, and that is a reflection of the themes and reality of the text.

· A series of poems in imitation and faithful to themes, symbols, forms, structure of the original poet.

· Using off-stage action or implied action as the basis for additional scenes and episodes.

· Rewriting some portion of a play or novel, but altered so as to be faithful to the perspective of one character.

· Other ideas as long as you get teacher approval.

Additional Text Types You Might Consider

Poetic communication

Poetic communication involves simulating, inspiring, moving, shocking, entertaining or capturing the imagination of the audience. It is often characterized by literary features such as imagery, rhyme and narrative structure, and has a finer relationship between form and meaning than many other types of communication. In this context, “poetic” should be understood in its broadest sense and refers to literary features rather than the poetic genre.

autobiography

biography

cartoon

diary

drama

essay

novel

novella

parody

pastiche

poetry

short story

song lyric

series of poems

travel writing

monologue

vignette

Mass communication (be sure you do not choose a type you have used for a written task in your Mass communication unit).

Mass communication involves informing, persuading or entertaining the audience. It is often meant to be quickly understood and may be characterized by brevity, precision or stereotyped language. It is intended to appeal to a wide audience.

advertisement

appeal

brochure//leaflet

editorial

interview

journalistic review

letter to the editor

magazine article

manifesto

news report

opinion column

speech

Professional communication

Professional communication involves presenting, analyzing or conveying factual information for a specific target audience. It is often characterized by formality of register, logic, detail and specific terminology.

guide

letter

letter of application

police statement

medical report

report

set of instructions/guidelines

IB A Language and Literature Assessment Objectives

There are four assessment objectives at SL and at HL for the language A: language and literature course.

1. Knowledge and understanding

- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of texts

- Demonstrate an understanding of the use of language, structure, technique and style

- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the various ways in which the reader constructs meaning and of how context influences this constructed meaning

- Demonstrate an understanding of how different perspectives influence the reading of a text

2. Application and analysis

- Demonstrate an ability to choose a text type appropriate to the purpose required

- Demonstrate an ability to use terminology relevant to the various text types studied

- Demonstrate an ability to analyze the effects of language, structure, technique and style on the reader

- Demonstrate an awareness of the ways in which the production and reception of texts contribute to their meanings

- Demonstrate an ability to substantiate and justify ideas with relevant examples

3. Synthesis and evaluation

- Demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast the formal elements, content and context of texts

- Discuss the different ways in which language and image may be used in a range of texts

- Demonstrate an ability to evaluate conflicting viewpoints within and about a text

- At HL only: Produce a critical response evaluating some aspects of text, context and meaning

4. Selection and use of appropriate presentation and language skills

- Demonstrate an ability to express ideas clearly and with fluency in both written and oral communication

- Demonstrate an ability to use the oral and written forms of the language, in a range of styles, registers and situations

- Demonstrate an ability to discuss and analyze texts in a focused and logical manner

- At HL only: Demonstrate an ability to write a balanced, comparative analysis

The above assessment objectives are from page 9 of the IB Language A: language and literature guide published February 2011

By Butcherr

I just felt like posting since it was somehow deleted from my previous post.

[don't you wish]

Dude

was that a question or were you just making a point

[madelynjeanne11]

This actually just helped me a lot. I needed to find a text type for my WT1