OR, how does the text relate to the identity of the ?
This summary is vague, so let's go in-depth on a couple of these concepts to really show you what you should be doing in the HLE.
Identity is what makes you, YOU. Here are some questions the concern your own personal identity:
Now apply this same logic to characters within your text.
Let's take a look at a concrete example of how we might choose evidence and quotes for a HLE on cultural identity. This example is based on a Vietnamese work in translation “Ru” by author Kim Thúy. For context, “Ru” is an autobiographical fictional account which explores Kim Thúy's move from Vietnam to Canada as an immigrant and her consequent struggles. The structure of her novel is largely lyrical and poetic.
Let's look at a section from her novel that may help us come up with an essay idea based on the concept of Identity. When she returns to Vietnam, she attends a restaurant, however this becomes a major awakening for her in terms of how she views her own personal identity. Kim narrates within her novel:
The first time I carried a briefcase, the first time I went to a restaurant school for young adults in Hanoi, wearing heels and a straight skirt, the waiter for my table didn't understand why I was speaking Vietnamese with him. Page 77, Rú
This is a perfect quote for the Identity concept. Can you see why? Let's think through it together…
Why would the waiter be confused if Kim, a “briefcase”-carrying individual in “heels” and a “straight skirt”, was speaking Vietnamese with him?
What does being “Vietnamese” look like to the waiter? Why does Kim not conform to his expectation? Was it perhaps due to what she was wearing?
Now, if we look at the section which follows this in the novel, we are able to see the impact this had on the character of Kim's sense of identity.
the young waiter reminded me that I couldn't have everything, that I no longer had the right to declare I was Vietnamese because I no longer had their fragility, their uncertainty, their fears. And he was right to remind me. Page 77, Rú
Here, we can clearly see that this character is now questioning her Vietnamese cultural identity. This is just one example that demonstrates the concept of Identity.
Culture seems to be this confusing thing. Does it have to do with religion? Race? Beliefs? What does it mean? Does the monster from Frankenstein fit into a certain culture?
The easiest way to put it is this: Culture is the way someone lives. It is their “way of life.” Think of it as an umbrella term. “Culture” can include so many different things; the list just goes on, for example religion, values, customs, beliefs, cuisine, etc.
Now think, how would I form an essay from this concept?
It seems odd writing an essay about “creativity” because… like… how can anyone definitively say what ‘counts' as being creative–or not? When I say the word creativity , I think of new inventions, or maybe those weird and wacky art installations living inside those ‘modern art' museums. But hey, what's creative to me might not be creative to you!
When formulating a HLE on the concept of creativity we have two main pointers for you. Look for:
Now, for this concept, let's look at how we might select supportive evidence and quotations for a HLE on creativity within the narrative style of author Mary Shelley in “Frankenstein”. The narrative style uses epistolary narration . This is a narrative technique in which a story is told through letters. This was something that I found both interesting and recurring within Frankenstein, which I believe worked to create a personal touch within the novel.
Additionally, Mary Shelley allows different characters to narrate Frankenstein during different volumes. Let's investigate this! I have written out different character profiles of the narrators below:
These 3 characters, each relate a part of the novel Frankenstein. This is an example of a creative authorial choice that allows us, as readers to explore different points of view within the text. This is just one example of a creative aspect of a text which you can analyze for your HLE.
Representation is all about how something is portrayed, conveyed, shown, described, illustrated, depicted . There are many different things that can be ‘represented' within a text, and it doesn't have to be tangible.
For instance, you can look at how a belief, idea or attitude is depicted within a text through different characters or devices.
Again, let's explore a concrete example to make things clear: this time the graphic novel “Persepolis”. We'll consider an HLE on how a text represents the impact of political turmoil on society .
Chapter 10 of “Persepolis” highlights societal changes occurring due to the Iranian Revolution. The panels below list the authorial choices relevant to the negative representation of political change in a society. When looking at the techniques highlighted in the slides below, think about how you feel when you look at the panels below. Can you sense a more positive or negative feeling?
Cool, but what do we do to turn all this into an actual HL essay? Here is a sample response. The introduction might begin like this:
In the captivating graphic novel “Persepolis,” the author Marjane Satrapi explores the social and political impacts of the Iranian revolution. In particular, Satrapi conveys a disapproving viewpoint on political turmoil within the text. Throughout the graphic novel, Satrapi carefully represents how social isolation, hypocrisy and confusion is experienced by a young girl living in Tehran, as a result of political turmoil. Example HLE Introduction
Then, in a body paragraph, on one of the key ideas mentioned above, we could analyze the different literary techniques. For example, Panel 1 is a great representation of the experience of confusion in the midst of political turmoil:
Marji is the younger girl pictured in the panels above. While her parents appear quite concerned by the news on the TV, she appears to not be in full comprehension of the cause for their distress. This is demonstrated by the visual imagery and dialogue, in panel 7, for instance, if you observe the facial expressions by each of the characters. Example of analysis in body paragraph
This is just a short example from one particular text. To help you unpack any text, try look for the following when analyzing chapter to chapter:
If you're having trouble picking your text and line of inquiry, then use this simple 20-minute process to brainstorm potential questions for your HLE:
Choosing a question with good scope is extremely important, and it's one of the biggest challenges in the HLE. Here's why:
So, to help you get the balance just right , here are three examples of HLE questions, specifically for the concept of Identity which we mentioned in the table above (by the way, the example is a made-up novel for illustration purposes).
There are many things that contribute to a 7 in your HLE and your IB English grade overall. But if we had to boil it down to one secret, one essential fact… then it'd have to be this: Get really good at analysis .
Analysis is the key to a 7 in IB English. It doesn't matter if it's Paper 1, Paper 2, HLE, IO… You must learn how to analyze quotes at a deep level, and structure your analysis in a way that flows and delights your teachers and examiners.
Start with the basic foundations of analysis for free inside LitLearn's Learn Analysis course.
Our free and Pro resources have helped IB English students skyrocket their grade in weeks, days and even overnight... Learn Analysis for IB English , the simplest guide to a 7 in IB English.
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Since you're in HL, you'll also be needing Advanced Analysis skills if you want to impress your examiner. We've got all of that covered inside our Pro lessons.
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Also, you'll need to find good quotes for your text. Some good sources where you can find relevant quotes include Goodreads , SparkNotes , LitCharts , and Cliffnotes . Of course, you could just find quotes yourself directly–this will ensure your quotes are unique.
An essential step to getting a high mark on the HL Essay is understanding the rubric! It is SO important that you know what IB English examiners are looking for when grading your essay, as this helps you to shape the content of your essay to match (or even exceed) their expectations.
The IB English HL Essay is graded out of 20 marks . There are 4 criteria, each worth 5 marks.
Use the checklist below to make sure you're not making simple mistakes! Note that this is not the official marking criteria, and I strongly recommend that you reading the official rubric provided by your teacher.
Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding, and interpretation
Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation
Criterion C: Focus, organization, and development
Criterion D: Language
Here's everything we discussed:
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor 💪
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Higher Level Essay
Crash course on HLE basics.
Whether you are an HL Literature student or HL Lang/Lit student, the HLE requires some special attention. The good thing about this assessment is that it’s a processed – rather than on-demand – piece of writing. This means you can take your time, put in the work, and produce something that you love and makes you proud. Our students crush this assessment! Use the same resources they do and enjoy your success.
Writing this assessment doesn’t have to be challenging. In fact, we think it can be fun and rewarding! Let us guide you through the entire writing process, from line of inquiry to the last word of your conclusion. Our students do well on this assessment, and so can you.
Part of our IBDP English A Student Toolkit , this resource includes:
The Line of Inquiry (LOI) and thesis are the cornerstone of the assessment, so don’t proceed until these are under control. Sadly, many students get off to a poor start with this step, and this means they end up writing either a shallow essay or one that doesn’t really satisfy the requirements of the task. These videos should help you unlock the task.
Start with a text you love and work toward developing a literary or linguistic perspective. Watch this video and start your pathway to success.
How To Write the Line of Inquiry
If the first method didn't work for you, please try another approach.
How to Write the Line of Inquiry (part 2)
Turn that LoI into a clear, precise, and insightful thesis statement that will drive the essay.
HLE Sample Thesis Statements and Writing
We feel this is some of our best work. Teachers and students around the world have commented that this HLE series gets the job done and results in some powerful writing that makes students proud. Please take the time and work through the videos sequentially. Work along side with us. Let us guide you to HLE success!
Choose your text and write the LOI.
Student planning doc
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Final instructions before submission
Dave’s complete sample HLE
Sometimes it’s easier to just look at a final product, break it down, and see how other students have approached the HLE. That’s why Dave and Andrew selected some strong papers, highlighted them, and discussed their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve examined tons of these things, so listen carefully. Lots of tips and tricks in these videos to help you pick up some extra points and crack into that mark band you want and deserve. Understand the task. Work hard. Defeat the HLE and allow yourself to beam with pride. Go ahead, you’ve earned it.
You’ve probably noticed that Andrew and Dave love drama. Dialogue, stage directions, props…they’re amazing! Watch our student crush this HLE on Death and the Maiden by Dorfman. What can you steal from this essay in terms of ideas, organization, and overall approach? Document: HLE Student Sample – Drama
Poetry anyone? Andrew and Dave love poetry for the HLE. They are complete “mini works” with a clear beginning, middle, and end. They are rich in techniques. They are complex and have deep meaning. In short, they rock. Just remember that for the HLE, “short texts need friends.” Document: HLE Student Sample – Poetry
Hey, nobody said this thing would be easy. No worries. We’ve got you covered. Perhaps you want to see some more student writing? Check. We’ve got that. Perhaps you want to know some key points to include? Check. We got that too. You’re almost there! Finish these last two videos, add some finishing touches to your work, and submit that baby in with pride and confidence.
So you watched the videos above but are still concerned about “showing deep thinking” on the HLE? It’s ok – we know this is tough. Check out this video to see several samples of how to build big thinking into your writing. Document: Showing Deep Thinking in the HLE
We know, we know. The content is overwhelming and it’s just too much at times. You just want the top ten tips for success? Fine. Here you go. But don’t forget to go back and watch the rest of these videos when you’re feeling more energy. They’re a set. Watch them all and ace the HLE.
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What You Need to Know
The paper is externally assessed, meaning the final grade given is from the IB Examiner, not from your teacher. However, your teacher will give a predicted grade that is sent to the IB [3] .
How to Approach the Essay
The essay requires you to construct a focused, analytical argument, examining the work from a broad literary or linguistic perspective. It also requires you to adhere to the formal framework of an academic essay, using citations and references.
Connection to the Learner Portfolio
The HL essay is based on the exploration you have engaged with in the Learner Portfolio [4] . In the lead-up to the drafting of the essay, you must decide which text to focus on for further investigation, and which topic to write about. In choosing the topic, you can consult the course’s seven central concepts. You can choose any text with the exception of the texts used for the Internal Assessment (the IO) or the Paper 2.
How to choose a text
Don’t wait until the last minute and talk with your teacher about the text you want to use and the focus you are considering. Write your ideas out to make sure your line of inquiry is focused and appropriate for an analytical argument of a paper of this length.
In the case of a collection of short stories, poems, song lyrics or any short literary text, you may choose to use just one literary text from the work. However, It may be necessary to use more than one literary text from the work chosen.
The Language and Literature course only *
In the case of short non-literary texts, it may be necessary to use more than one from the same text type by the same author, for example the same creative advertising agency, cartoonist, photographer or social media user. At least one of these texts must have been studied in class. (If using a text in translation it must be a professional and published translation).
Determining the Topic and the 7 Course Concepts
It’s helpful but not mandatory to start with the seven central concepts of the course in generating or determining a topic for the essay. The questions below are meant as starting points for the focus of the essay, not as complete lines of inquiry which should be more specific to the chosen text (see examples of lines of inquiry below).
Questions may include; How is identity represented in the text? How are the characters in the text representative of a group? How does the text reflect the identity of the writer?
Questions may include; How is an aspect of the text representative of a culture or a particular place? How is a group of people or an institution conveyed? How is the text representative of a cultural perspective?
3-Creativity
Questions may include; How is the text representative of an individual or collective creativity, or lack of creativity? How is the text a reflection of the creativity of the writer?
4-Communication
How is communication or lack of communication conveyed in the text? How does the text itself communicate with the reader? How are aspects of communication illustrated through literary features?
5-Transformation
How is change or development illustrated in the text? How are characters transformed through action, communication or events in the text? What is the relationship between transformation and the goals, values and beliefs conveyed in the text?
6-Perspective
How is a perspective or different perspectives represented in the text? How is a shift in perspective portrayed? How is the writer’s perspective revealed through the text?
7-Representation
How does the text represent a particular theme or message? How are attitudes conveyed? In what way is reality or the world within the text represented?
IB English Language and Literature Guide examples of lines of inquiry
A Final Note on the Learner Portfolio and the HL Essay
The Learner Portfolio is not assessed but schools are required to keep it on file. It is intended to be a platform for reflecting on the texts studied, facilitating development of independent thinking. The reflections may include responses to cultural perspectives and values, inter-relationships and identities as it relates to topics and themes in the texts studied. The reflections may serve as a springboard for the line of inquiry in the HL essay. For example, you may keep a record of themes present, reflections on how particular passages within the texts reflect those themes, or how themes and passages convey one of the 7 central concepts.
[1] Paper 2 is cancelled for the 2022 cohort. No announcement has been made for the 2023 at the time this article was written.
[2] There are 3 IB English courses. The two most common are IB English A: Literature SL/HL, a course focused on literature (Poetry, drama, short stories and novels) and the IB English Language and Literature SL/HL course, focused on literature AND a variety of non-literary (non-fiction) text types.
[3] The examiner’s grade is independent from your teacher’s predicted grade.
[4] An individual collection of student work compiled during the course in which you explore and reflect on the texts throughout the course.
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International Baccalaureate (IB)
Are you taking IB English and need some help with your studying? No need to reread all the books and poems you covered in class! This study guide is for IB English A students (students in IB English A: literature SL/HL, IB English A: language and literature SL/HL, or IB English literature and performance SL ) who are looking for additional guidance on writing their commentaries or essays.
I've compiled this IB English study guide using the best free materials available for this class. Use it to supplement your classwork and help you prepare for exams throughout the school year.
The IB English courses are unique from other IB classes in that they don't have a very rigid curriculum with exact topics to cover. Instead, your class (or most likely your teacher) is given the freedom to choose what works (from a list of prescribed authors and a list of prescribed literature in translation from IBO) to teach. The exams reflect that freedom.
On the exam for all English A courses, you're asked to write essays that incorporate examples from novels, poems, plays, and other texts you've read. You're also asked to interpret a text that you've read for the first time the day of the exam.
The exact number of questions you'll have to answer varies by the course , but the types of questions asked on each all fall into the two categories listed above.
In this guide, I have compiled materials to help teach you how to interpret poetry and how to structure your essay/commentary. I've also provided notes on several books typically taught in IB English SL/HL.
This should be most of the material you need to study for your IB exam and to study for your in-class exams.
Many people struggle the most with the poetry material, and if you're one of those people, we have some resources specifically for making poetry questions easier.
Here is a full explanation of how to interpret poetry for the IB exam with term definitions, descriptions of types of poems, and examples. We also have tons of poetry resources on our blog that range from explaining specific terms all the way to complete, expert analyses of poems you should know.
Here are some resources to get you started:
This is another great resource with poetry terms defined on "flashcards" , and you can test yourself on the site by clicking "play."
If you're not sure how to write your essay, here's a guide to what your essay should look like for the IB English SL/HL papers. This guide gives advice on how you should structure your essay and what you should include in it. It also contains a few sample questions so you can get a better idea of the types of prompts you can expect to see.
Based on the list of prescribed authors and literature from IBO, I picked some of the most popular books to teach and provided links to notes on those works. What's important to remember from these books is key moments, themes, motifs, and symbols, so you can discuss them on your in-class tests and the IB papers.
Hopefully, this guide will be an asset to you throughout the school year for in-class quizzes as well as at the end of the year for the IB exam. Taking practice tests is also important, and you should also look at our other article for access to FREE IB English past papers to help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions asked by the IBO (and I'm sure your teacher will ask similar questions on your quizzes).
Make sure you're reading all of the novels and poetry assigned to you in class, and take detailed notes on them. This will help you remember key themes and plot points so you don't find yourself needing to reread a pile of books right before the exam.
Finally, keep up with the material you learn in class, and don't fall behind. Reading several novels the week before the IB exam won't be much help. You need to have time and let the material sink in over the course of the class, so you're able to remember it easily on the day of the IB exam.
Want some more study materials for IB English? Our guide to IB English past papers has links to every free and official past IB English paper available!
Are you hoping to squeeze in some extra IB classes ? Learn about the IB courses offered online by reading our guide.
Not sure where you want to go to college? Check out our guide to finding your target school. Also, figure out your target SAT score or target ACT score .
As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.
Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!
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What is the IB English HL Essay?
The IB English HL Essay is usually written at the end of the first year of IB English in international schools and constitutes 25% of the IB English grade. For IB HL English Language & Literature, the source for the 1200-1500 word essay will be a non-literary or literary text studied in the course; for HL English Literature, this will be a literary text studied in the course.
As an International Baccalaureate Higher Level English student, one of the most daunting tasks is achieving a level 7 on the essay. However, with the right approach and mindset, it’s definitely achievable. Here are the top tips to help you achieve a level 7 on your IB HL English essay.
In conclusion, achieving a level 7 on your IB HL English essay requires careful planning, effective use of evidence, and a clear and concise writing style. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to success.
Previous post tips to achieve a level 7 on the ib mathematics ia, next post top study tips to succeed in your upcoming igcse exams.
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Please note: The purpose of this information is to elaborate on the nature of the IB assessment task, define and explain the assessment criteria and their implications, share observed challenges in students’ submitted assessment work, and offer strategies and approaches for assessment preparation.
This post is not meant to replace a reading of the IB Language A Subject Guides or the Teacher Support Materials available on MYIB. Those resources should always be a first stop for teachers when checking the requirements of each assessment task and how the task should be facilitated.
Nature of the task.
Criterion a: knowledge, understanding, and interpretation (5 marks), defined terms.
Knowledge of a work is shown by recalling For literary works, this includes details related to plot, characters, conflicts, setting, use of language, etc., and specific details about a work’s genre, era, or style. For non-literary works, this includes details related to the subject of the writing (people, places, context, etc.) and specific details about a work’s text-type, publication medium, place of origin, audience, etc. In both text forms, these details are clearly evident and verifiable. | |
Understanding may be demonstrated through summary, interpretations, inferences, and explanations because they require students to from the work. In this construction, students use their general knowledge and understanding (of people, relationships, cultures, literary principles, text forms, etc.) to process or infer meaning that is communicated , heavily implied, or self-evident. | |
An “interpretation” is an argument about a work’s . Sometimes this “meaning” is thought of as the “author’s purpose” but works might also communicate meaning to a reader unintended by the author. Interpretive arguments identify complex ideas and issues developed by an author and usually pay close attention to details and ambiguities in a work. Because the communication and deconstruction of implicit meanings is a complex process, interpretations tend to appreciate tensions and contradictions in a work as well as the ways in which a work’s culture or the reader’s culture might influence interpretive conclusions. In all cases, interpretations are persuasive arguments that need to be supported with clear references to the work. | |
Implications refer to the ideas the work may be without explicitly stating them or feelings the work may be evoking without explicitly telling the viewer or audience to feel them. | |
Students are expected to make references to the work that may include . Depending on the student’s claim, one may be more appropriate than the others (e.g., claims about language and style often benefit from direct quotes; broader authorial choices can be explained through paraphrase.) |
This activity scaffolds the process of developing an “interpretive statement” in response to a text or work. This is achieved through a sentence completion exercise […]
Continue Reading
In this activity, students use small examples to establish what a concept is (and is not). This inductive strategy works to give depth, ownership, and […]
Critical lenses help students engage with different perspectives with which to approach the reading and interpretation of a work. Each lens contains questions that provoke […]
Journal writing helps students develop important thinking skills. There are the traditional approaches used in the younger years, like imagining a minor character’s point of […]
Textual features are aspects of the work that the reading experience. These include aesthetic features (images, graphs, bold, italics, etc.), organizational features (such as a table of contents, headings, index, etc.), supplemental features (such as a glossary, footnotes, primary source material, captions, etc.), literary features (such as figurative language, analogies, conceits, etc.), and linguistic features (such as rhetoric, sentence structure, ellipses, parentheses, etc.). | |
“Broader” authorial choices are embedded the work and effect the work as a . These might include choices in structure, narrative perspective, genre, style, setting, characters, repeated patterns of imagery or figurative language, motifs, etc. | |
To analyze is to separate and identify the parts of a whole to discover its . The “whole” is the work. One can begin to breakdown the parts of a literary or non-literary work by considering its form, mode, structure, features, and use of language. | |
When students “evaluate”, they are appraising the author or creator’s choices in the context of their interpretations. Students show appreciation for the features that play a significant role in developing interpretive meaning and producing relevant effects by critically examining of choices made within the work. | |
Meaning can refer to the the author or creator consciously or unconsciously conveys to the reader or audience as well as the feelings created for the reader or audience in relation to those ideas. |
This activity gets students to think about the significance of minor details in a work. These details can be used as evidence to form the […]
This activity allows students to process the ways in which details from a work might represent larger abstract ideas. Process Divide students in groups of […]
This protocol invites divergent thinking in a group and works to facilitate a culture where different ideas are viewed as collaborative rather than combative. Preparation […]
This activity helps students visually see and appreciate the ways in which parts make up a whole. One of the challenges many students have is […]
A focused essay sustains its attention on developing the line of inquiry. | |
An essay is organized when claims, details, references, and analysis are purposefully arranged. On an essay level, students carefully consider how to most logically and persuasively develop the line of inquiry based on the points and evidence they have collected in support of their central argument. On a paragraph level, students consider how to arrange their claim, evidence, analysis, and evaluation so that the paragraph’s point is effectively communicated to the reader. | |
On an essay level, paragraphs work together to effectively develop an argument. On a paragraph level, the evidence, analysis, and evaluation are connected entities that effectively develop the paragraph’s claim. | |
To develop an argument is to gradually make the argument clearer and more detailed as claims, references, explanations, and analysis build upon one another in an illustrative manner. | |
Supporting examples can be references, quotes, or excerpted images from a work; but they can also come in the form of a précis , which is helpful when students are analyzing broader authorial choices. | |
Supporting examples are integrated when they are infused with the explanation, analysis, and evaluation that develops the essay’s central argument. This includes: (1) embedding quotes, fragmented quotes, or references into the essay’s sentences, (2) embedding relevant images into the body of the essay, (3) effectively using complex and compound sentence structures so that references to the work are connected to the essay’s analysis and evaluation. |
This activity asks students to individually identify ideas and issues developed in a work and collaboratively connect and develop one another’s ideas. This ultimately helps […]
This activity guides students on how to distill a text into 100-200-word précis or summary. This is a helpful skill for preparing a passage response […]
This protocol helps students consider which ideas, issues, and feelings are playing a significant role in shaping their personal response to a work. Process Give […]
This activity helps students organize information and identify conceptual trends. This activity models a process that students can use when planning their own essays and […]
Who said it? What is the context? and Why is this quote significant? may seem like an archaic exercise in today’s educational landscape, but the […]
Clear language | Language is clear when the selection of words and the arrangement of words effectively articulate meaning. |
Varied language | Language is varied when the student uses different words to acutely communicate knowledge, understanding, and meaning. |
Accuracy | Language is accurate when it uses grammatically correct structures, spelling, and capitalization. |
Register | The “register” refers to the style of the written language. |
This protocol helps students develop revision skills by asking clarifying and critical questions about each other’s interpretive statements or thesis statements. This helps students develop […]
This activity helps students understand the role language plays in communicating specific and complex ideas in a thesis statement. The approach invites active collaboration, and […]
This formative assessment gives students an opportunity to personalize their learning while engaging in collaborative discussion with their peers around their chosen text(s) or work. […]
This protocol helps students generate ideas in response to a work. Process Give students a writing task, asking them to identify one thing they think […]
[1] Language A: Language and Literature Guide, First assessment 2021 , IBO: 2019. pp. 42.
[2] To gain an understanding or confidence in evaluating analysis that is “appropriate for the discipline”, teachers may want to invest some time perusing scholarly articles written on works they teach or are familiar with using a database such as JSTOR or Ebscohost. These titles and articles an also be shared with students as guides and exemplars.
[4] Ibid, pp. 45.
[5] Ibid, p. 42.
[6] Ibid, p. 43.
[7] A list of text types can be found on p. 22 of the Language A: Language and Literature Guide. As mentioned in the guide, the list is not exhaustive.
[8] “Selection of work”. Language A: Language and Literature Guide, First assessment 2021 , IBO: 2019, p. 43.
[11] Language A: Language and Literature Guide, First assessment 2021 , IBO: 2019. p. 44.
[12] Definition: a short statement of the main points.
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Blank screen. Cursor blinks. Clock ticks. Brain freezes.
You stressfully wonder, “How will I ever finish this essay?”
I’ve been there.
Every time you write an essay, you want to catch your readers’ undivided attention from the very first word. The opening hook has to be *perfect* — no compromises.
But, instead of reeling under pressure to come up with this elusively perfect essay hook at the eleventh hour, I’ve found a better way to write great essay hooks.
In this guide, I’ll tell you what it takes to write the most compelling and attention-grabbing hooks. I’ll also break down six awesome types of essay hooks you can experiment with and share examples to inspire your next opening statement.
An essay hook is the opening statement of an essay, written to capture readers' attention and nudge them to learn more about the topic. Also known as a lede or lead, this hook introduces readers to the topic/theme of the essay and piques their curiosity to continue reading.
The hook creates the entire narrative for your essay. It tells readers what to expect from the rest of the essay and creates context around your main argument or thesis statement.
I’ve created this handy list of six different types of essay hooks. You can choose the one that best fits your essay’s context and create a stellar opening statement within minutes.
Lead with evidence and use a powerful fact or statistic as your essay hook. It’s one of the best ways to capture readers’ attention from the start and keep them intrigued throughout your essay.
For example, if you’re writing about the importance of time management for freelancers, you have two options to create your opening sentence:
Generic : “Managing time as a freelancer is no easy feat.”
Impactful : “Nearly 70% of freelancers struggle to effectively divide and manage their time between multiple clients.”
This data point, linked to the original research, sets a strong tone for your essay and draws people in to read more. It communicates
Finding relevant statistics for any topic is one of the hardest parts of the job.
But you don't have to spend hours looking for these data points anymore. Wordtune can do this heavy lifting for you in three easy steps.
Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >
When working on an argumentative essay , I always write with the mindset that nobody has the time to read my thoughts from start to finish. So, I have to get to the point quickly and make a solid argument worth people’s time.
That's when opening with a bold claim works best. Condense all your views on the topic into a few thought-provoking lines that would make readers go, hmmm…
But remember, you can't open with a claim that people already know and accept as fact. It has to be something original and unique to make your readers tick, nudging them to dive deeper into your essay.
For example, if you’re writing about water crisis, you have two options to open your essay:
"In some regions, there is not enough clean water for people to use."
"Imagine a world where every drop of water is a battle, a precious commodity fought over by scores of people and animals alike. This can become a reality as early as 2050."
This bold claim presents a convincing argument about the global water crisis. It also emphasizes the urgency of this argument with a research-backed statistic.
Can’t think of a strong opening sentence for your essay? Wordtune can translate your thoughts into a bold claim and create a compelling essay hook.
Open your Wordtune editor and write a few lines related to your topic. These sentences should have a consensus among your audience. Then, choose the 'Counterargument' option from the list of suggestions.
And you’ll have a bold claim for your essay with no effort at all!
In all my years of writing, I’ve noticed how stories have a unique effect on people. A good story can resonate with a bigger audience, pique their curiosity, and deliver a more personal message.
That's why you can cite a personal anecdote or talk about a publicly known story as a good hook for your essay. This hook allows you to play with words and work in more storytelling .
One of my favorite writing tips applies here: enter the scene as late as possible and leave as early as possible. You have to keep it crisp instead of rambling on and on.
Consider these two examples:
Either of these hooks could work fine if we were just writing a personal essay about a move to a new place. But if we’re specifically writing about the sky, the second example is better. It sticks to the point — the sky and the color of the sky — and doesn’t stray into irrelevant details.
I get it—not all of us are natural storytellers. But you can use AI to your advantage to create a concise and exciting story for your essay.
Wordtune can help you write a short story from scratch or trim down your writing into a quick anecdote. Click on the expand or shorten button to edit your story any way you like.
Humans have a tendency to immediately look for answers every time they come across fascinating questions. Using questions as essay hooks can reel people into your essay and feed their curiosity.
But questions are also fairly overused in essays. You don't want to use a generic question that makes people say, " Not another question ."
Instead, think of questions that approach your topic from a fresh angle. This means honing in on what was especially interesting or surprising from your research—and maybe even brainstorming different questions to find the most fascinating one.
For example, if you’re writing about the psychology behind why we buy, you have two options to open your essay:
“Do you know what factors compel us to buy certain things?”
Plugged in :
“Before buying anything, have you ever taken a moment to pause and think about possible reasons driving you to this purchase?”
The latter is more descriptive and creates a realistic scenario for readers to truly think about the topic of the essay.
A descriptive hook works best when writing an explanatory or opinion-led essay. Descriptive hooks, as the name suggests, illustrate a topic in detail to create context for the essay. It's a good way to build awareness for and educate readers on lesser-known themes.
But a descriptive hook can easily become too plain or unexciting to read. To make it work, you have to write an engaging description using imagery, analogies, and other figures of speech.
Remember to make your hook reader-friendly by avoiding passive voice, mainstream cliches, and lengthy sentences.
Consider this example:
Describing a sunset is too cliche, so cross that one off the list. Describing the sky as it is on a normal day wouldn't be shocking or unexpected, so scratch that one, too.
This example creates something unique by using analogies to describe the color of the sky and painting a beautiful picture.
Writing an exciting hook for a boring topic is more challenging than it looks. But Wordtune makes it a breeze with just two steps:
You can also change the tone of voice to make the text more in tune with your theme.
One of my favorite essay hooks is to open with a persuasive metaphor to contextualize the topic. Metaphors can help you approach the topic from a completely different lens and wow your readers with interesting insight.
Metaphors are also super versatile to make your writing more impactful. You can write a one-line metaphor or create a scenario comparing one thing to another and linking it to your topic.
For example, if you’re writing about the experience of working at a startup, you can open your essay with these two options:
Short & sweet: "Joining a startup is like strapping into a rollercoaster: be ready to witness thrilling highs and sinking drops."
Long & descriptive : “Picture a small sailboat navigating the unpredictable winds and tides in a vast ocean. That’s a startup operating in a massive market. And with the right vision, this journey is filled with risks and rewards.”
Writing good metaphors takes up a lot of creative brain power. You can always use Wordtune to find some extra inspiration if you're out of creative ideas.
Type your opening line in the Wordtune editor and click on the 'Give an analogy' option. You can ask for as many suggestions as you want till you find the best one!
Whether you’re writing a research paper on economics, an argumentative essay for your college composition class, or a personal essay sharing your thoughts on a topic, you need to nail down a few things before you settle on the first line for your essay.
Let me break them down for you.
Before you start writing your essay, you need to know your topic — not just in name, but in-depth. You don't have to become a subject matter expert overnight. But you do need to research the topic inside out
Your research will help you:
Your research insights determine your essay’s structure and guide your choice of hook.
After organizing your research in a neat outline, think to yourself: Did you uncover a shocking fact? A compelling anecdote? An interesting quote? Any of those things could be your hook.
⚡ Take action: After finishing your research, review your notes and think through your essay. Mark or make a list of anything compelling enough to be a good lead.
In academic settings, there are generally three kinds of essays:
The type of essay you’re writing is key to choosing the best hook for your piece.
A serious argumentative essay can start with a shocking statistic or a bold claim. And an expository essay can open with a descriptive hook while a metaphor hook would work best for a narrative essay.
⚡ Take action: Go through your list of potential hooks and cross out anything that doesn't fit the type of essay you're writing, whether it's persuasive , argumentative, or any other type.
A best practice I often share with writers is to think of one reader and keep yourself in their shoes . This exercise can tell you so much about your audience — what kind of tone they like, what matters the most to them, what topics interest them, and so on.
You can use these insights to create a compelling essay hook. Here’s how:
⚡ Take action: Look at your list. Can you write these potential hooks in a tone that suits your subject and audience?
Are you writing a 10-page paper or a three-page reflection? Or is this your senior thesis, pushing over 100 pages?
If you’re writing a shorter paper, you’ll want to keep your hook quick and snappy.
Readers are expecting a quick read, and they don’t want to spend five minutes only going through the introduction.
In contrast, you can approach a longer essay — like a senior thesis or a term paper — with a longer hook. Just make sure your hook relates to and supports the core point of your essay. You don’t want to waste space describing a scene that ultimately has nothing to do with the rest of your piece.
⚡ Take action: If you write out the items on your list, how long will they be? A sentence or paragraph? Perfect. Two to five paragraphs? Unless your essay is on the longer side, you may want to save that information for later in the piece.
Now that you know the basic facts about what you’re writing, let’s look at some approaches you could use to catch those readers — and reel them in.
I’ve read hundreds of essays — enough to recognize lazy writing from the first few words. It’s equally easy for readers to discard your essays as ‘poorly written’ just by reading the first line.
So, I made a list of three types of essay hooks you want to avoid at all costs because these hooks can only disappoint your readers.
Quotes are probably the most overused type of hook in any form of writing. What's even worse is rinsing and repeating the same old quotes from Abraham Lincoln or Nelson Mandela in your essays.
No matter how powerful a quote sounds, you shouldn’t slap it at the opening of your essay. It doesn’t give readers the excitement of reading something original and looks lazy.
For example, if you’re writing an essay on productivity, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work” – Stephen King
Did you know that consuming 100 gms of sugar can slash your productivity levels by over 50% in a day?
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines a hook as "a thing designed to catch people's attention."
If I opened my article with this dictionary definition of a hook, you’d have either dozed off or left this page long back to find something more interesting.
Here's the thing: definitions put people to sleep. Readers don't want to see a formal, jargon-heavy definition of a topic as the very first line of an essay. Your opening statement should have some personality in it to show readers they're in for an exciting read.
For example, if you’re writing about happy hormones, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
Happy hormones are known to boost the happiness levels in your body by creating positive feelings.
Ever wondered why cat videos make you instantly happy, and ice creams give you an extra dose of energy? It's all about how happy hormones control our brain chemistry.
Opening your essay with "Imagine this" used to be an interesting way to put your readers in a scenario and set the context for your essay. But now, it's far too cliched and just another lazy attempt to write an essay hook.
You can create a relatable scenario for users without asking them to imagine or picture it. Use the descriptive hook format with an interesting choice of words to convey the same ideas more creatively.
For example, if you’re writing an essay on preparing for higher studies abroad, here’s what a good and bad lede looks like:
Imagine this: You’ve been applying to multiple universities, writing SOPs, and preparing for exams without guidance. Everything can go south any minute.
College application season is officially here. But with each passing day, you’re under more and more stress to apply to your chosen colleges and tick all the items off your list.
This opening statement can make or break your entire essay. While I’ve broken down my best tips to create the best essay hooks, here’s a surefire way to write compelling openings :
Go through your notes and either outline your essay or write the whole thing. This way, you’ll know the central thread (or throughline) that runs throughout your piece.
Once your essay or outline is complete, go back through and identify a particularly compelling fact, claim, or example that relates to that central thread.
Write up that fact, claim, or example as the hook for your essay using any of the methods we’ve covered. Then revise or write your essay so the hook leads smoothly into the rest of the piece and you don’t repeat that information elsewhere.
Does your hook spark curiosity in you?
Did that fact surprise you in the research stage?
Chances are, your readers will have the same reaction.
And that’s exactly what you want.
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Never underestimate the power of an essay hook . This opening statement is meant to grab the reader’s attention and convince them to keep reading. But how do you write one that’ll pack a punch? In this article, we’ll break this down.
An essay hook is the first thing your audience will read. If it doesn’t hook them right off the bat, they might decide not to keep reading. It’s important that your opening statement is impactful while not being too wordy or presumptuous.
It’s also crucial that it clearly relates to your topic. You don’t want to mislead your readers into thinking your essay is about something it’s not. So, what kind of essay hook should you write? Here are seven ideas to choose from:
Everyone likes a good story. If an interesting story or anecdote relates to your essay topic, the hook is a great place to include it. For example:
The key to a good story hook is keeping it short and sweet. You’re not writing a novel in addition to an essay!
Another great essay hook idea is to lay out a compelling fact or statistic. For example:
There are a few things to keep in mind when doing this. Make sure it’s relevant to your topic, accurate, and something your audience will care about. And, of course, be sure to cite your sources properly.
If you want to get a little more creative with your essay hook, try using a metaphor or simile . A metaphor states that something is something else in a figurative sense, while a simile states that something is like something else.
Metaphors and similes are effective because they provide a visual for your readers, making them think about a concept in a different way. However, be careful not to make them too far-fetched or overly exaggerated.
Asking your audience a question is a great way to hook them. Not only does it make them think, but they’ll also want to keep reading because you will have sparked their curiosity. For example:
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Try to avoid using questions that start with something along the lines of “Have you ever wondered…?” Instead, try to think of a question they may never have wondered about. And be sure not to answer it right away, at least not fully. Use your essay to do that!
Making a bold statement or declaring a strong opinion can immediately catch people’s attention. For example:
Regardless of whether your reader agrees with you, they’ll probably want to keep reading to find out how you will back up your claim. Just make sure your declaration isn’t too controversial, or you might scare readers away!
Laying out a common misconception is another useful way to hook your reader. For example:
If your readers don’t know that a common belief is actually a misconception, they’ll likely be interested in learning more. And if they are already aware, it’s probably a topic they’re interested in, so they’ll want to read more.
You can put your descriptive powers into action with your essay hook. Creating interesting or compelling imagery places your reader into a scene, making the words come alive.
A description can be something beautiful and appealing or emotionally charged and provoking. Either way, descriptive writing is a powerful way to immerse your audience and keep them reading.
When writing an essay, don’t skimp on the essay hook! The opening statement has the potential to convince your audience to hear what you have to say or to let them walk away. We hope our ideas have given you some inspiration.
And once you finish writing your essay, make sure to send it to our editors. We’ll check it for grammar, spelling, word choice, references, and more. Try it out for free today with a 500-word sample !
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Othello (hle).
The following HL Essay aims to answer the line of inquiry:
Read the essay carefully. Apply the HLE assessment criteria and discuss the marks you would award the script before reading the examiner's marks and comments. How different were your marks and comments from the examiner's marks and comments? What improvements would you make to this essay to achieve better results?
What's the role of secondary sources on the HL Essay ? Both the poor and the good essay have secondary sources. Compare the bibliographies of these essays. Clearly, the better essay cites more relevant sources. In other words, make sure that your sources are actually about the primary source and not just about cultural phenomena.
An essay hook is the first one or two sentences of your essay that are used to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into your discussion.
It is called a hook because it “grabs” the reader and doesn’t let them go! It should have something in there that makes the reader feel curious and intrigued, compelling them to continue reading.
Here are a few techniques that you can use to write a good essay hook:
Below, I’ll present some examples of hooks that you could use as inspiration when writing your own essay hook.
These examples might help stimulate your thinking. However, keep in mind that your essay hook needs to be unique to your essay, so use these as inspiration but write your own essay hook that’s perfect for your own essay.
An essay about yourself can be personal, use “I” statements, and include memories or thoughts that are deeply personal to you.
A reflective essay often explores personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts. So, your hooks for reflective essays can usually be more personal, intriguing, and engaging than other types of essays. Here are some examples for inspiration:
Essay hooks for argumentative essays are often the hardest. This type of essay tends to require the most formal type of academic writing, meaning your hook shouldn’t use first person, and should be more based on fact and objectivity, often at the expense of creativity. Here are some examples.
A compare and contrast essay examines two issues, looking at both the similarities and differences between them. A good hook for a compare and contrast essay will immediately signal to the reader the subjects that are being compared and why they’re being compared. Here are sine ideas for hooks for a compare and contrast essay:
See Here for my Guide on Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
Writing an engaging hook for a psychology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in the human mind, behavior, or the specific psychology topic you’re discussing. Here are some stimulating hooks for a psychology essay:
Writing an engaging hook for a sociology essay involves sparking the reader’s interest in social behaviors, cultural phenomena, or the specific sociology topic you’re discussing. Here are ideas for hooks for a sociology essay:
A college essay is a personal statement where you can showcase who you are beyond your grades and resume. It’s your chance to tell your unique story. Here are ten potential hooks for a college essay:
As I wrap up this article, I want to share a few last tips on qualities that a good essay hook should have. Keep these tips in mind when writing your essay hook and using the above essay hook examples:
First, relevance . A good hook should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your essay. The hook should provide a preview of what’s to come without giving too much away.
Second, Intrigue. A great hook should make the reader want to continue reading. It should create a question in the reader’s mind or present a fascinating idea that they want to know more about.
Third, uniqueness. An effective hook should be original and unique. It should stand out from the many other essays that the reader might be going through.
Fourth, clarity. Even though a hook should be captivating and original, it should also be clear and easy to understand. Avoid complex sentences and jargon that might confuse the reader.
Fifth, genre conventions. Too often, my students try to be so creative in their essay hooks that they forget genre conventions . The more formal an essay, the harder it is to write the hook. My general approach is to focus on statistics and facts, and avoid rhetorical questions , with more formal essay hooks.
Keep in mind that you should run your essay hook by your teacher by showing them your first draft before you submit your essay for grading. This will help you to make sure it follows genre conventions and is well-written.
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
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Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay.
The HL essay is an external assessment . External assessments are marked by the IB. Teachers not involved in the marking of external assessments.
The HL essay is a 1200-1500 word essay that counts for 20% of the overall course.
Students must select a body of work OR a work that is the focus on their analysis. Students also need to choose a topic that will be part of the analysis. The Subject Guide suggests students could consult use one of course’s seven central concepts as a topic (pg. 43). The Subject Guide also states that the topic, “should enable a broad literary or linguistic focus for the essay” (pg. 43).
Students cannot use the same work or body of work for more than one assessment in the course. Therefore the work or body of work used for the HL essay CANNOT be the same one used in the Individual Oral. Also, if a student uses a work in the HL essay that work CANNOT be used for Paper 2.
Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.
Extracurriculars.
What’s covered:, developing your hook.
Your essay is one of the best tools available for standing out in a crowded field of college applicants (many with academic portfolios similar to yours) when applying to your dream school. A college essay is your opportunity to show admissions committees the person behind the grades, test scores, and resume. To ensure your college essay receives the full attention of admissions committees, you need to lure them in with a great hook—that is, a compelling opening that makes your audience hungry for more.
You need a strong start to capture the attention of the admission committees. When it comes to college essays, first impressions are everything. In fact, there’s no guarantee that anyone is going to read more than your first sentence if you bore them to tears within a few words, which is why it’s essential to craft an effective and engaging hook.
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for composing an attention-grabbing hook. A well-crafted hook can be anything from an image to an anecdote to an interesting fact while factors like writing style, essay structure, and prompt can all influence what makes for a good hook. That said, memorable hooks share a number of attributes, most notably they draw readers in, connect with the topic you’re writing about, and leave a lasting impression, often in a creative or unexpected way.
For example, let’s construct a hypothetical essay. Let’s say that after some careful consideration, Jane Doe has decided to write her personal essay about her experience running canine obedience classes. She isn’t quite sure how to start her essay, so she’s practicing with some proven essay hooks. If you’re ready to develop your own hook, check out four of our favorite college essay hook strategies and how they work for Jane below!
There are a number of proven strategies that Jane can use to craft a compelling hook. A few tried-and-true hooks include:
People love stories, so it makes sense that telling one is a great way to attract readers. Detailing a relevant anecdote provides context for your essay and can give the reader an idea of what you are up against if you’re overcoming an obstacle or rising to a challenge.
On the day that I told my mother I wanted to start my own canine obedience school, she smiled and muttered something under her breath about the irony of my youthful disobedience and my newfound passion for enforcing rules. What she didn’t know then was that it was not in spite of, but rather because of, my tendency to push the boundaries that I was confident in my ability to succeed.
One fantastic way to get your essay moving and to draw your readers in is to plunge them into the middle of an important scene. Provide readers with descriptive details and dialogue to make them feel like they’re watching a movie from your life and have just tuned in at a critical moment.
I jumped back as the dog lunged for my leg, teeth bared and snarling. “It’s okay, Smokey, it’s okay,” I soothed as I tried to maneuver closer to the post where I had tied his leash. In the back of my head, I heard my brother’s taunts swirling around.
“A dog trainer?” he had scoffed. “What kind of person would hire you as a dog trainer?!”
I pushed the thoughts away and grasped the leash, pulling it tightly to my side as Smokey, surprised by my sudden confidence, fell into stride beside me.
Asking a question at the beginning of your essay can activate your reader’s critical thinking and get them hungry for the answer that you won’t offer until later. Try to come up with a question that’s broad enough that they won’t know the answer right away, but specific enough that it isn’t a generic hook that could work on just any college essay.
How do you respond when you’re faced with a very real physical threat to your safety, yet you literally can’t afford to back down? This is the question I faced on my very first day as a dog trainer.
A metaphor or simile can pull readers in by helping them make connections between seemingly unrelated topics or by encouraging them to think about topics from a different point of view.
Running canine obedience classes is a lot like navigating high school. It’s a dog-eat-dog world with a lot to learn, many personalities to manage, peril around every corner, and everyone anxious to graduate.
Selecting the right hook is a great first step for writing a winning college essay, but the execution is also important.
Sometimes the best way to tackle big projects like writing an attention-grabbing hook or captivating college essay is to think small. Narrow down on a specific incident or even a moment that leads into your topic.
It’s my first time teaching a canine obedience class. I’m surrounded by strangers and the dogs are barking so loud I can’t hear myself think, but I have a gnawing feeling that I’m losing control. I put my fingers to my lips and let out the loudest whistle I’m capable of. Suddenly there was silence.
Adjectives are used to add a description and make your writing clearer and more specific. In other words, they’re the details that make your writing stand out and suck readers in. Jane didn’t simply reward the dog for sitting, she…
It was a battle of wills between me and the eight-month-old Australian Shepherd—defiance was in his sparkling blue eyes, but so was desire for the bit of hot dog hiding in my hand. Reluctantly he sat, earning his treat while I claimed my alpha status.
Use emotion to connect and entice your reader. Emotions make readers feel, pulling them into your essay, and are memorable. You can use them for everything from sharing a fact about yourself to putting the reader in your shoes.
When I was young, I would have been extremely lonely if not for my dog Trevor. I struggled to make friends and Trevor provided companionship, helped me overcome my shyness (he was a great icebreaker), and is responsible for shaping who I am today. When Trevor passed away in high school, I set out to train canine obedience and help dogs become the best versions of themselves—just like what Trevor did for me.
Admissions committees have a lot of essays to read, so the quicker you get to the point and capture their attention, the better.
Mere moments into my dream job, someone had already peed on the floor and another had bitten a person. Welcome to the life of a dog trainer.
Sometimes the hook of your college essay isn’t clear. Rather than getting hung up, start developing your essay and see if it adds clarity as to how to best implement a hook. Some students even find that it’s easiest to write a hook last, after writing the body of the personal statement.
Wondering if you created an effective hook? It’s difficult to evaluate your own writing, especially a line or two you read and reworked numerous times. CollegeVine can help. Through our free Peer Essay Review tool , you can get a free review of your hook, and overall essay, from another student. Then you can pay it forward and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.
If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!
COMMENTS
The HL Essay (HLE) is a 1200-1500 word essay about a text studied in the IB English course. For Lang Lit, the work you choose to analyze can be literary or non-literary, but for IB English Literature the text must be literary. ... The line of inquiry is the core question that you will answer in your essay. A quick example might be: "To what ...
High scoring IB English A (Lang & Lit) HL Essay Internal Assessment examples. See what past students did and make your English A (Lang & Lit) HL Essay IA perfect by learning from examiner commented examples!
Visit us at https://ibenglishguys.com/This is video two of a FIVE-VIDEO SERIES demonstrating the entire HL Essay process from choosing the text to submitting...
Improve your grades immediately with these 8 important IB English HL Essay strategies, tips and examples shared by our expert IB English tutors.
Higher Level Essay Whether you are an HL Literature student or HL Lang/Lit student, the HLE requires some special attention. The good thing about this assessment is that it's a processed - rather than on-demand - piece of writing.
Sample HL Essays. Below are a range of sample essays that are all "good" to "excellent" and would be marked in the 5-7 range. At the end of each essay are holistic comments by criterion that identify the strengths and limitations of the essay against each of the IB Language A HL Essay assessment criteria.
The HL Essay is a 1200-1500 word formal essay and it is based on a literary work studied as part of the course. You cannot use the same work for the IO or the Paper 2 [1] for this essay. In the IB Language and Literature course [2], the essay can also be based on a non-literary or collection of non literary text(s).
How do you study for IB English SL/HL? Read our set of IB English notes and our free study guide for the best resources available.
Here are the top tips to help you achieve a level 7 on your IB HL English essay. Analyze the question carefully: Before diving into writing, read the prompt carefully and identify the key themes and ideas. Make sure you understand what the question is asking for. This will help you to stay focused and on-topic throughout the essay.
The discussion, ideas, and inspiration for the HL Essay will ideally come from the student's Learner Portfolio. Students may expand on an idea, activity, or smaller-scale assessment explored in class as inspiration for selecting a topic and developing a line of inquiry. Students may also explore their own, self-generated lines of inquiry.
Exemplar PDFs. Exemplar Mock HL Essay 1. Demonstrating the Ability & Disruptive Power of Photography Giles Peress Challenges the Underlying Causes of Global Complacency & Ignorance Through the Use of Photographic Journalism. Exemplar Mock HL Essay 2. How Does the Amanda Knox Documentary Highlight the Way in Which the Media Manipulates Legal Cases?
The HL essay offers students an opportunity to develop as independent, critical and creative readers, thinkers and writers by exploring a literary topic over an extended period of time, refining their ideas by means of a process of planning, drafting and re-drafting. The essay requires students to construct a focused, analytical argument ...
Find out how to write an essay hook that gets your reader's attention right away. These five common hooks will help you engage your audiences and get them to read your essay.
An essay hook is the opening statement of your essay that's meant to grab your reader's attention.
High scoring IB English A (Lit) HL Essay Internal Assessment examples. See what past students did and make your English A (Lit) HL Essay IA perfect by learning from examiner commented examples!
The following HL Essay aims to answer the line of inquiry: In what ways does Shakespeare comment on the interdependence of love and jealousy through the portrayal of Iago and Othello in "Othello" ? Read the essay carefully. Apply the HLE assessment criteria and discuss the marks you would award the script before reading the examiner's marks ...
The HL essay offers students an opportunity to develop as independent, critical and creative readers, thinkers and writers by exploring a literary or language topic over an extended period of time, refining their ideas by means of a process of planning, drafting and re-drafting. The essay requires students to construct a focused, analytical ...
An essay hook is the first one or two sentences of your essay that are used to grab the reader's attention and draw them into your discussion. It is called a hook because it "grabs"
Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay. There are a number of different ways to develop an HL essay.
HL essay - outline. Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay. The HL essay is an external assessment. External assessments are marked by the IB. Teachers not involved in the marking of external assessments. The HL essay is a 1200-1500 word essay that counts for 20% of the overall course.
Bookmark. Download. Notes. English A (Lang & Lit) - HL. an example of a hl essay based on the book Persepolis.
To learn how to craft the hook for your college essay and create an opening that leaves your readers wanting more, read on for our top college essay-opening hooks.