DP 1 LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE MIDTERM EXAM REVIEW

THE BIG 5At the heart of the English Language and Literature course is textual analysis – you also know it as close reading. In order to prepare for Paper 1 and the individual oral commentary, you will want to learn how to analyze various texts. THE “BIG 5” presents five lenses through which you can look at texts.

Since not all texts are the same in nature, you will find some lenses more useful than others when analyzing different texts. Since analyzing texts is a skill, the more you practice, the better you will become, and the more you will see.

There are several questions that you can ask of any text. Here are five major questions that apply to almost all types of texts:

Who does the text target? Why did the author produce the text?Audience/ Purpose What is literally ‘happening’ in the text? What is it about? What are the main ideas of the text? What is the central theme?WHat is the context?

Content/ Theme

What is the writer’s tone? What diction is used to create this tone? How does the text make you and/or the target audience feel?

Tone/ Mood How does the author use language to convey a message? What kinds of linguistic tools does he/she employ? What makes the piece unique?

Stylistic Devices(word choice and

imagery) How is the text organized, literally (i.e. layout/formatting)? What kinds of structural elements of a particular text type do you see?

Structure/Layout

Text Types to Familiarize AdvertisementsAppealsAutobiographiesBiographiesBlogsBrochuresCartoonsDiariesEditorialsEssaysFeature articlesFilmsInstruction manualsInterviewsLettersManifestosMemoirsNews reportsNovelsOpinion columnsParodiesPhotographsPostersPress releasesReportsReviewsScreen playsShort storiesSong lyricsSpeechesTabloid articlesTravel writingTweetsWebsites

THE PAPER 1 FORMATThe Paper 1 Textual Analysis in SL Language and Literature is a challenging task that will take a lot of practice to master. Here, we have broken the process down into steps to ensure your success.

PRE-WRITING STEPS

STEP #1: ANNOTATE Read the piece several times until you know what it is about quite well. As mentioned in class (3 steps to annotation), mark up the pages, labeling the literary devices

and what stands out for you as the reader. Make a note of the text’s Big 5. Your text should be covered in writing, underlining and colors!

STEP #2: DEVELOP THESIS AND FOCUS

Make detailed notes about the main ideas you will focus on, and what evidence (direct quotations or paraphrasing) from the text will be used to support these points.

You will still have a thesis for a textual analysis that will be your main point of analysis. BUT, your thesis will usually BE IN THE FORM OF A THEME STATEMENT or a PURPOSE STATEMENT. IF YOU CHOOSE ONE OF THESE to be your THESIS STATEMENT, you do NOT need to include that paragraph/lens in your essay.

Think of a thesis based on your rough notes and the main theme or idea that is presented in the piece.

WRITING STEPS

STEP #3: Write your introduction

The introduction should be brief – no more than 150 words. State what the text is, author, publication, date, and its genre (article, poem, etc).

(CONTEXT) Briefly describe what the text is about (CONTENT) State what the main point of the text is (theme) – this will be your thesis. Then state

what you will be analyzing throughout your commentary- YOUR FOCUS. For instance "This will be analyzed through the content and purpose, point of view, tone, diction, imagery, and syntax of the text." THESIS AND FOCUS CAN BE COMBINED!

STEP #4: BODY PARAGRAPHS Write the body of your textual analysis. You should have at least 4 or 5 body paragraphs.

Remember to focus of not only the literary and figurative devices used, but why the author uses them – for what purpose? This is the main goal of the textual analysis.

Each body paragraph should include evidence. A good way to ensure that each paragraph is complete is to follow the format of Point – Evidence (quotation) - Explanation (PEE)

STEP #5: Write your conclusion.

You need to end with a short conclusion where you re-state thesis/focus. Include commentary on whether text was effective? Was it effectively conveyed to you, the audience?

POST WRITING STEPS

STEP #6: EDIT, EDIT, EDIT. Leave yourself enough time to read over your paper, check for errors and clarity.

KNOW YOUR TEXT TYPES!

PRACTICE TEXT TYPE: SPEECH

-Please comment on the audience and purpose of this text.

-Identify the diction and how it creates a certain tone on the reader.

Emma Watson: “Gender equality is your issue too.”

Date: 20 September 2014

Excerpt Speech by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson at a special event for the HeForShe campaign, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 20 September 2014

Today we are launching a campaign called “HeForShe.”I am reaching out to you because I need your help. We want to end gender inequality—and to do that we need everyone to be involved.

This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN: we want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality. And we don’t just want to talk about it, but make sure it is tangible.

I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.For the record, feminism by definition is: “The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.” I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents—but the boys were not. When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly.” When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings. I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.

Why is the word such an uncomfortable one? I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights. No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality.

These rights I consider to be human rights but I am one of the lucky ones. My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’t love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn’t assume I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influencers were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists who are changing the world today. And we need

more of those. And if you still hate the word—it is not the word that is important but the idea and the ambition behind it. Because not all women have been afforded the same rights that I have.

Men—I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s. I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less “macho”—in fact in the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20-49 years of age; eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong… It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideals. We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen to speak up, to be the "he" for "she". And to ask yourself if not me, who? If not now, when?Thank you.

SAMPLE PRACTICE TEXT #2: INFOGRAPHICGuiding Questions:

-Comment on the structure/layout of the text and how it enhances the purpose.

-Who is the text directed to, comment on audience.

Taken from: Social Lab, “LiveandSocial” Instagram post. 2015.

PAPER 1 ESSAY WRITING TIPS

The introduction is the key to a strong essay Include a thesis statement which informs the examiner what you intend to do

and why. The ‘why’ is a justification of your focus and it indicates evidence of knowledge and analysis (criterion A)

State clearly and specifically the text-type ad purpose of each text Make clear and consistent use of PEE (Point, Example, Explanation) Begin

each paragraph with a topic sentence Keep your language clear, formal and specific; this will enable you to write

more effective explanations will in turn enable the examiner to credit you under criteria A, B and D Ensure there is a logical progression of ideas by planning the overall shape of your essay

Consider the use of clear transitions between paragraphs/ideas, Consider the use of clear transitions between paragraphs/ideas, For Criterion C, focus equally on BOTH texts and do not write two separate

analyses which are loosely linked by an introduction and conclusion Ensure your conclusion relates back to your introduction. It should be

convincing; it should be an entire paragraph rather than a few summarizing sentences.