IB Language & Literature - Paper 1 STRUCTURE (SL)



INTRODUCTION:
- Hook - general point about the topic presented in chosen text
- Author, text title, text type
- CONTEXT of the text: when and where was it published? How might the issues
presented be related to the time and place of publication?
- AUDIENCE: who is the intended audience? How do you know?
- HAVE a STRONG THESIS that you can PROVE (thesis should include the PURPOSE of
the text and how it is conveyed).
Example THESIS for a PAPER 1 text:

The advertisement created by Greenpeace is trying to persuade its audience to

recycle through its use of image, structure, tone, and figurative language.

BODY:
Body 1: Who is the audience, and how do you know? Specific examples from the text including context - to support how you know. Can link audience to text type, as well.
Rest of Body Paragraphs: Advance your argument. What is this text doing, and how is it
doing it? How has the text been crafted to achieve its purpose (structure, tone, langue use,
devices, images, style, etc.) Separate paragraphs based on devices/features.

TIPS:
- Use several examples from the text in each paragraph
- Each quotation needs to be fully unpacked/explained and link to your topic sentence/thesis
(remember SEE: Statement to set up point, Example from text, Explanation!)
- Know the names of many literary, stylistic, grammatical, and persuasive language terms.
(Ex: Not choice of words or war language or strong sounding words, but connotative
diction and juxtaposition.)
- Be precise with your language and specific in your explanations. (Ex: diction is used to... or
the effect of this on the reader is... instead of this could show)
- Cohesion: have a clear red thread throughout your essay - dont bring in everything you know
just because you know it and spew off a list of terms; your ideas must tie together and link
to the thesis; WHY are you bringing this up? So WHAT? PURPOSE & EFFECT!!
- Topic sentences need to link to the thesis and purpose (advance your argument)
- Use transitional words and phrases to link ideas smoothly

CONCLUSION:
- Is this effective in affecting its target audience? What about other readers interpretations?
- End powerfully -- wrap up your points & highlight the importance of the texts (bringing up
important issues, raising awareness, critique of society/humanity, lessons to be learned...) and/or your

thoughts on the issues and effectiveness of texts

** REMEMBER:
- WHAT is going on (main idea)?
- HOW is this coming across (features)?
- WHY is it written this way (purpose)?
- WHAT is the effect on the reader (so what?)?