IB HL English
This is primarily a pre-university course in literature. Literature is concerned with our conceptions, interpretations and experiences of the world. It enables an exploration of one of the more enduring fields of human creativity and artistic ingenuity, and provides opportunities for encouraging independent, original, critical and clear thinking. The discussion of literature is itself an art which requires the clear expression of ideas both orally and in writing.
In view of the international nature of the IBO, Language A1 does not limit the study of literature to the achievements of one culture or the cultures covered by any one language.Students will be expected to demonstrate:
• an ability to engage in independent literary criticism in a manner which reveals a personal response to literature
• an ability to express ideas with clarity, coherence, conciseness, precision and fluency in both written and oral communication
• a command of the language appropriate for the study of literature and a discriminating appreciation of the need for an effective choice of register and style in both written and oral communication
• a sound approach to literature through consideration of the works studied
• a thorough knowledge both of the individual works studied and of the relationships between groups of works studied
• an appreciation of the similarities and differences between literary works from different ages and/or cultures
• an ability to engage in independent textual commentary on both familiar and unfamiliar pieces of writing
• a wide-ranging appreciation of structure, technique and style as employed by authors, and of their effects on the reader
• an ability to structure ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing, in a logical, sustained and persuasive way, and to support them with precise and relevant examples.