Information about IB English B written assignment

1. Written Assignment
Weighting: 20%
This consists of a creative writing
task of 500–600 words linked to one
or two literary texts read in class and a
150–250 word rationale. It must be
written during the final year of the
course and is externally assessed. It
must be the independent work of the
student, under the teacher’s guidance.

2. Requirements: rationale
Students must write a 150–250 word rationale introducing the
assignment that must include:
• a brief introduction to the literary text(s)
• an explanation of how the task is linked to the literary text(s)
• the student’s intended aim(s)
• explanation of how the student intends to achieve his or her
aim(s)—choice of text types, audience, register, style and so on.

3. Requirements: task
• a creative piece of writing that will be based on ‘Animal Farm’ or
‘Lord of the Flies’.
• task must be 500–600 words in length
• Students should effectively use a range of language
appropriate to the chosen text type and aim(s) stated in the
rationale.

4. Formal Guidelines
• Must be your own work
• Agree your choice of assignment
with me first
• You can produce a first draft,
about which I can give you verbal
feedback only

5. Text types: Speech
Will include…
 a semi-formal to formal register, perhaps with
flashes of informality
 speech rhetoric e.g. rhetorical questions,
repetition, flashes of humour
 an address to the audience and keep contact
with them throughout (e.g. use of “we” and
“you” etc.)
 catching the audience’s attention at the
beginning, and leave a clear impression at the
end

6. Text types: News report
Will include…
• a headline, and possibly sub-headline
• a semi-formal to formal register - i.e. simple, clear and
direct
• factual information methodically, usually from main
facts to subordinate details
• short paragraphs , for clear and accessible reading
• use of quotes

7. Will include…
• an informal register
• Use of first person narration
• heading with a date or day
• reflection on the part of the writer, e.g. self-
questioning

8. CO: to assessment an example of the written assignment using
the IB assessment criteria
Today we are going to grade a written assignment
using the official assignment criteria.
You will be working in pairs.

9. First, read the rationale to see if it includes these things…
• a brief introduction to the literary text(s)
• an explanation of how the task is linked to the literary text(s)
• the student’s intended aim(s)
• explanation of how the student intends to achieve his or her
aim(s)—choice of text types, audience, register, style and so on.
CO: to assessment an example of the written assignment using
the IB assessment criteria

10. Weak assignments…
• Didn’t relate the task to the rationale
• Didn’t relate the task to the literary work
• Didn’t clearly state aims in the rationale
• Didn’t explain how the text type would inform the
task
Also…
• new endings or new chapters were generally not
successful

11. Strong assignments…
-specified which part of the literary work was
included in the assignment
-commented on how text type, audience, register
and style help to achieve aims

12. Final tips…
• focus your task on a specific aspect/part of the
literary work to demonstrate understanding of the
literary work
• Make sure your task is strongly linked to the
literary work
• In the task, DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO
DO in the rationale
• Use language appropriate the your text type
• Don’t copy a lot from the literary text