Practice IOCs for John Donne

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Focus Points : The House of the Spirits

Focus Points
House of the Spirits

1. Importance of various secondary characters: Barrabas, Tránsito Soto, Férula, Nana, Mora sisters.
2. Evolution of Estéban Trueba (remember Rosa, Three Marias, etc.).
3. Excesses of daily life—dreams, engagement party, ants, Nivea’s death, ways to make Clara speak, etc.
4. Politics—Nivea, Clara, Blanca, Pedro Tercero García, Estéban Trueba, twins.
5. Clara’s attitudinal changes—towards mother, towards daughter, politics, marriage, tenants.


There is more than one narrator in this book. Can you identify the different narrators? Each narrator has a distinct style and personality. How consistent is this personality with the character as described in the book?

 Look for facts that indicate where (in what country) and when (in what time period) the action occurs.

 Think about the affective relationships amongst the characters, the sex roles they play, their social position within the family, their economic reality and their geographic and historical situation.

 Is there a sense of humor in this novel?

Examine the different descriptions of men and women in this novel. There is a constant preoccupation with understanding the human universe in terms of sexual relationships. What solutions are proposed to the dilemmas faced by the characters?

Think about Esteban Trueba as a character: his origins, his infancy and childhood, the way in which his fortune is created, his temperament, his conduct in the Tres Marias (administrative and sexual) and afterwards his political activity. As a person, does he constitute a recognizable historical type?

Notes on Works

Resources:

I plan to start putting up resources on various works that many schools follow as part of the IB curriculum.

Some of these are direct online resources that have really helped me chalk out my lesson plans. Teachers, please comment with links to any more resources....

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World Literature Assignment

Sample World Lit Assignment One


I have enclosed a sample world literature essay.
You could write to me at englishaone@gmail.com for more information.


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Paper 1 - Sample Unseen Commentary with answer key

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This document is aimed at giving students a better understanding of how to write their examination commentaries. 

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Paper 2 - Study Questions

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Yes, on popular demand, I have created some questions for you. Please do think through each question. 

Email me in case of any doubts at: englishaone@gmail.com

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Approaches to Unseen Commentary

Study Skills - Paper 1 - Approaches to Unseen Commentary- 

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Paper 1 - Unseen Commentary

Students of the IBDP must be already aware of the details of this paper and its weightage in the overall assessment. If you are unsure, make sure to read the "SUBJECT GUIDE".

In this segment, students are expected to write at least 4-5 A4 sides of commentary/analysis on an unseen ‘extract’, with a choice of poem or prose. Standard Level, unlike Higher Level students, are given a set of ‘guiding questions’ to help the student structure the commentary. 

I have started creating customized lessons in the form of *.pdf s that are free and accessible for viewing and downloading.

Hope they are useful.

Cheers! 

Paper 1 - Unseen Commentary

Paper 1 - Unseen Commentary

Students of the IBDP must be already aware of the details of this paper and its weightage in the overall assessment. If you are unsure, make sure to read the "SUBJECT GUIDE".

In this segment, students are expected to write at least 4-5 A4 sides of commentary/analysis on an unseen 'extract' , with a choice of poem or prose. Standard Level, unlike Higher Level students,  are given a set of ‘guiding questions’ to help the student structure the commentary. 

I have started creating customized lessons in the form of *.pdf s that are free and accessible for  viewing and downloading.

Hope they are useful.

Cheers! 

Literary Criticism

What is Literary Criticism?

Literary criticism is the evaluation, analysis, description, or interpretation of any literary work. It is usually in the form of a critical essay, but in-depth book reviews, or books that critique literary work/s can sometimes be considered literary criticism. Criticism may examine a particular literary work, or may look at an author's writings as a whole.

Related Vocabulary:

CRITICISM - noun

A serious examination and judgment of something;
 "constructive criticism is always appreciated"

a written evaluation of a work of literature 

Students following the IB curriculum are encouraged to use ‘literary criticism’ to express their understanding of the work/s they have studied. 

CRITIC - noun

a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and 
interpretation of works of art, anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something

As a student, you become a ‘critic’ when you engage in the process of writing essays to explain your understanding of what you have gathered from a particular work or the comparison of works.

CRITICIZE - verb

find fault with; express criticism of; point out flaws 

"The paper criticized the new movie"

"Those who criticize others often are not perfect, either"

The above word cannot be used for positive commentary of a work or many works. Criticizing has a negative connotation. For example let’s examine:  ‘My essay criticises the character of Rosalind’ It literally means that your essay intends to criticize or find fault with Rosalind’s character. Replace ‘ criticize’ with words         like ‘critique’, ‘analyse’, ‘examine’. 

CRITIQUE – noun/transitive verb

 Essay in which another piece of work is criticised, reviewed, etc; To review something

My essay critiques the character of Rosalind.



Use your words carefully, especially when you refer to any literary term or concept.

Book Suggestion

Get it now!! 

Source: Amazon

DP English Student Workbook: A Framework for Literary Analysis in IB Language A1

The DP English Student Workbook presents a range of student centered activities designed to simplify literary analysis for high-school students. All activities presented are directly based on the objectives and assessment criteria from the IB Diploma Programme Language A1 English course. 

The DP English Student Workbook:· systematically introduces the language of literary analysis· focuses on the student's role in the building of connections between parts of texts· presents a mix of substantive conversation and focused writing · introduces a range of extracts for commentary· allows original ideas to be generated in a scaffolded framework 

The DP English Student Workbook is designed to help students collect and organize their ideas about texts for the full two year period of the DP Language A1 course. The skills targeted in this Workbook will enable students to analyze, in a critical manner, familiar and unfamiliar texts well after they leave our schools and it is in this spirit of Lifelong Learning that the activities have been presented.

A Foreword: Be the master of Time Management!

Yes, that’s the key to cracking any IB English syllabus. I have heard of many students complaining that they are already wrestling out Lab reports, blahhs and blees... but, remember, it’s meant to be that way – challenging ! You’ve just got to crack it!

The best practice that can be followed not only in the study of this subject (for it applies to all) is to relax, collect yourself and tell yourself , “Dude, you’ve got to do it!”

Make that long-due study time-table now! You are an adult! Act like one! Include your leisure time in this table. It will tell you how much of your time you are wasting or have wasted during the day.

Be reasonable. Harsh deadlines are utopian, far-fetched and won’t earn efficiency.

If you can, work out time-tables and get your friends to comment on it. Sit and make one together, if possible. Follow it. You wouldn’t want your friend getting away with extra points because they were more organized!

The IB repeatedly mentions that you students are no longer mere students. You are moving on to much more detailed study that will in turn make you independent researchers, thinkers and subsequently mature adolescents to take on the world soon.

So take up the challenge. Share your study schedules here & lets all comment on them. Work closely with your teachers and ask them the best way in which you can work out an effective schedule for yourself.

Good Luck!

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