English Exam Prep Notes

These are notes and lists that you should prepare for IB English Language-Literature SL Paper 2.

1. Identify literary devices (make lists and comparisons from all texts)

2. Make note of:
   • Purpose
   • Audience (historical context)
   • Tone
   • Point of view
   • Time Period Written

3. Have to cover:
   • Critical analysis of themes and comparisons between both texts
   • Main ideas two texts cover
   • Best quotes and examples for each
   • Are themes hidden or implicit
   • Compare themes of both texts, how are they discussed, conveyed
   • Blocking, rising action, lighting, stage directions, etc. – dramatic devices

4. Point of view:
   • Is writer narrator, Relationship to reader
   • Distance of dialogue and conversations from readers (superior, distant, intimate, do they stir us)
   • First, third, omniscient – how much can we trust them (effect)

5. Tone:
   • Good specific terms to describe
   • Mention all tone shifts (make notes)

6. Diction: Adjectives, superlatives

7. Intro:
   • Brief
   • Fix a perfect introduction (tweak key words from question)
   • State two pieces of works (genres – play or…)
   • Address playwrights or authors
   • State difference and similarity to texts which will be thesis with respect to question
   • State what you will analyze – context, diction, tone, mood, etc.

8. Body
   • Compare and contrast two texts
   o Analyze text a and then text b and then compare
   o Analyze text a for an idea/theme and then text b and compare (ex. Syntax in text a and then syntax in text b)
   • How each author used devices and find similarities and differences
   • PEEL (Have to!!)
   • Point Evidence Examine/Explain Link
   • How to introduce quotes in text
   o Point from text a
   o Quote from text a
   o Compare with quote from text b
   • Fix transition words already (Make an acronym for it)
   • Fix pattern for essay
   • Prepare vocabulary
   • LINK BACK TO QUESTION EACH PARA/IDEA

9. Conclusion
   • Fix a perfect conclusion (tweak key words from question)
   • Add in element of originality
   • Bring points you used in body
   • Is text effective?
   • Is one more effective? If yes why?
   • Message of each text
   • Was it effectively communicated to the audience