SAMPLE ESSAYS Paper 2. “Not rounding off, but opening out.” Comment upon the way the writers of the novel and short story deal with the ending in relation

SAMPLE ESSAYS

Paper 2

“Not rounding off, but opening out.” Comment upon the way the writers of the novel and short story deal with the ending in relation to the whole. In your answer you should refer to two or three novels or short stories you have studied.

Marking Notes

Satisfactory to good

give some consideration to what constitutes an ending

make some analysis of the types of endings and make some judgments about their nature

relate endings to elements such as plot or character or theme

Very good to excellent

give a more detailed analysis of different types of endings

demonstrate an understanding of what endings can do

discuss in detail how endings relate to the whole of the work

Distribute sample essay.

• Individually, read and mark using the rubric

• As a group, discuss:• Strengths• Weaknesses• Rubric score

Sample Essay

Score

Examiner: 21Moderator: 21

• Some candidates well prepared for this question, prepared to analyse, cite detail , and make evals

• some unfortunate answers: plot summary, those who failed to distinguish life from literature

• “Rounding off ” and “opening out” were only explored in a l imited number of answers

Subject Area Report

"Fact versus fantasy; this is a clash that can have comic or tragic results." Bearing this statement in mind explore the results of using realism and fantasy in any two or three works you have studied.

Marking Notes


identify the elements of fact and fiction show an awareness of how these are

combined discuss the treatment of the tragic or comic

effects created


offer a working definition of "realism" explore in detail how the relationship

between fact (realism) and fantasy is presented

give a detailed analysis of the results in terms of the tragic and/or comic, or other effects

Flip to the back of the previous essay.



Sample Essay

Score

Examiner: 21Moderator: 21

• number of terms in the question was surely problematic • examiners likely to reward candidates

handling most of them• results of the clash of fact and

fantasy only rarely addressed

Subject Area Report

“Even in the darkest and most pessimistic of novels or short stories, there is light.” To what extent is this true with respect to works by at least two authors and how has “light”, or the lack of it, been presented?

Marking Notes

Adequate to good

take some kind of stance on what the quotation means should be some lenience in accepting a range of

interpretationsidentify the nature of the darkness/light discuss to some extent how these elements

are presented

Good to excellent

have a more sophisticated view of light/darkness

analyse in greater depth how these elements are presented




Sample Essay

Score

A: 4B: 2C: 3D: 4E: 5

• weaker answers retell story and attach labels of darkness or l ight at particular points

• some answers limited by the choice of texts

• good answers • based themselves on a clear definition of

what was meant by ‘light’ and ‘dark’ in this context

• explored the fictional techniques which contribute to the creation of the mood of a narrative

Subject Area Report

“The characters of a novel can only be individualized if they are set in a background of particularized time and place.” How important is the setting of a particular time and/or place to the development of the characters? Refer in detail to at least two novels or short stories.

Marking Notes


identify instances in selected works in which the role in character development of a particularised setting in time and/or place can be seen

consider the impact of setting on character development in the selected texts; (or, alternatively, demonstrate the independence of character development and specificity of setting)

offer a judgment as to how important the use of a particularised setting is to the development of individualised character(s)


examine more fully the ways in which setting affects character development in particular instances (and/or the ways in which the two may be seen as independent of one another)

analyse in detail the techniques employed to convey the impact of setting on character

make a reasoned argument as to the relative importance of specific setting in the creation of individualised character(s) in the works concerned




Sample Essay

No official score

• “kaleidoscopic” or “individualized” give the answer a refreshing angle

• background and biography tended sometimes to take over the answer, while character receded

Subject Area Report

Final handout

If there is time, read and discuss these in class. Otherwise, read for homework. IB Examinations: Paper 2 / The “So what?” Question Literary Analysis: What the Professors Forget to Say

Documents

SAMPLE ESSAYS Paper 2. “Not rounding off, but opening out.” Comment upon the way the writers of the novel and short story deal with the ending in relation