Written by Manmohini Tiwari
Know the Game: What Paper 1 Is Really Testing You On
The infamous Paper 1, while widely feared by IB students, can actually be your ticket to being one step closer to a 7! It requires you to analyze unseen non-literary texts, both if you are HL and one of your choice if you are SL. Your goal is to explore how language, structure, and stylistic features create meaning. Easier said than done? Well, the purpose of this blog is to make it easier for you!
Paper 1 truly wants to test how well you are able to dig beneath the surface and initial impressions of the texts. For example, if you point out an obvious purpose of a text, you will gain points, but the true key to Paper 1 is your ability to find the “hidden” figurative meaning. Often texts have a primary or superficial meaning, and the students who achieve a 7 also find the “hidden” purpose. Guess what? You can be one of them too because this course is highly open to interpretation, as long as you justify it with evidence aligned with the guiding question.
Blueprint for Success: A structure for your essay
Before even beginning: Annotate the text and outline your essay. It can be fun, try experimenting with colors or stickers to add to your aesthetic pinterest board, if that helps motivate you!
Introduction: Briefly introduce the text, identify key themes, and identify key authorial choices. Make sure to include a thesis statement that summarises what you will argue in your essay. Try catchy sentences that will invite the examiner to be curious about your essay over the hundreds in the stack! Stand out!
Body Paragraphs: Focus on three to four key techniques, such as diction, tone, imagery, structure, or literary devices. Use PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) for each analysis.
I am going to take a moment to highlight the importance of TOPIC SENTENCES. If you’re not familiar, it is a sentence used to summarise and introduce what your paragraph will discuss for instance:
“The extended metaphor embedded in the text is significant, as it helps break down the barrier between the audience and author, allowing them to relate and understand the text’ message better…”
Conclusion: Summarize your findings and reinforce your argument without repeating points. It is wise to use a quote, reference to a literary thinker, or a well-designed sentence to leave a strong impression at the end of your essay.
“Words That Wow: Elevate Your Analysis with Power Phrases”
Other than structure and understanding the task, below is a list of analytical words and phrases I found quite helpful over the past years as an IB student and a Lanterna Tutor:
- Through the use , “ insert literary device”, the author aims to…
- The deliberate use of “…” serves to communicate to the reader that…
- In the line, “…” it can be observed that the author criticized the notion of … in order to
- The effect on the reader of this “insert authorial choice” ….
Evaluative Verbs and Adverbs: Condemns, Criticizes, Condones, Effectively, Skillfully, Cleverly
Sharpen Your Skills: Why Practice Makes Perfect”
At the end of the day, you could perfect your structure, skills, and essay plans, but the key to ensuring that you have truly learned the skills is to practice. One piece of advice that applies to most IB essay-heavy subjects is to draft outlines. For instance, one week before my final Paper 1 exam, I took 6 texts, gave myself an hour and practiced annotating and drafting essay outlines. This not only helped build my confidence, but helped train my mind to both think quickly and effectively. Using past prompts, finding your own, and generating your own guiding questions are all good practices to keep you focused on your preparation.
Pre-Exam Week Tip: Make a table summarising types of non-literary devices commonly found in types of texts. You can also make a list of common characteristics of each text, so you will save time!
As C. Lewis said, “You can make anything by writing.” So, use writing as your tool and strength to be on track for a 7! Remember Paper 1 is about what’s “underneath the surface of the text”. If you need a boost of support or reassurance, feel free to reach out to Lanterna to connect you with a tutor that is right for you. I wish you the best of luck!
Make sure you read our post on Winning the Battlefield: Your guide to a 7 for History Paper!
