ENGLISH LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE
Course Duration
2 Years
Examination Board
IB
Entry Criteria
Grade 6 in English Language or English Literature GCSE; Grade 4 in Maths GCSE; and at least 3 other qualifications at grade 4 or above.
Overview
The IB Diploma Programme Language & Literature English course explores how language shapes identity, culture, and communication. Students analyse diverse literary and non-literary texts, fostering critical thinking and appreciation for stylistic nuances. Emphasising textual analysis, global issues, and personal responses, the course develops skills in writing, research, and oral communication for academic excellence. Students will study a range of texts (both fiction and non fiction) from around the world; from great works such as The Great Gatsby to important and powerful trailblazers such as 12 Years a Slave.
Subject Content
Students will study six literary works from across the globe including The Great Gatsby, The Crucible, Twelve Years a Slave, Antigone and more. Alongside this, students will transform how they define a ‘text’: they will learn to analyse and interpret the world around them. From artworks and articles to billboards and marketing campaigns, students will inquire and explore authorial intent and impact through the ages. Skills they will develop across the course:
Critical Thinking
- Analyse texts to understand deeper meanings, themes, and implications.
- Evaluate perspectives, biases, and rhetorical strategies.
Textual Analysis
- Identify and interpret literary and stylistic features.
- Examine the relationship between text, audience, and purpose.
Comparative Analysis
- Explore connections and contrasts between texts, themes, and global issues.
Writing Skills
- Craft clear, coherent, and well-structured essays.
- Adapt style and tone for analytical, persuasive, or reflective purposes.
Oral Communication
- Present ideas effectively and confidently in spoken form.
- Engage in discussions, articulating personal and critical insights.
Research and Synthesis
- Investigate global issues through interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Integrate diverse sources to form well-rounded arguments.
Cultural and Global Awareness
- Explore how language reflects identity, culture, and societal issues.
- Develop an understanding of global contexts and intercultural perspectives.
Creative Thinking
- Experiment with original interpretations and responses to texts.
- Compose creative pieces inspired by studied works
How will I be assessed?
Individual Oral (IO)
Weight: 20%
Students analyse how a global issue is explored in one literary and one non-literary text.
Delivered as a recorded spoken presentation (10 minutes).
Paper 1: Guided Textual Analysis
Weight: 35%
Unseen non-literary text or texts are analysed.
Focus on structure, style, and context in a comparative or standalone essay format.
Paper 2: Comparative Essay (HL Only)
Weight: 25% (HL only)
Comparative analysis of two literary works studied in class, exploring a specific prompt.
Higher Level (HL) Essay
Weight: 20%
A 1,200-1,500 word essay on a topic of choice related to a studied work or text.
Internal Assessments
Ongoing formative assessments in writing, reading, and speaking skills.
Emphasises preparation for summative assessments.
Career opportunities and Future study
English Literature & Language offers students a chance to learn invaluable skills, including proofreading & editing, language usage, creativity and analytical thinking. These skills can be put to use in further education, studying a range of subjects, including journalism, teaching, marketing, business, law and the arts.
This, therefore, opens doors to numerous career opportunities in fields such as:
- Journalism
- Publishing
- Editor
- Author
- Politics
- Law
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Research Officer
- Activism
- Social Work