General Directions and Requirements of the
External Assessment: The HL Essay
The HL Essay in this portion of your IB course includes a written paper that will
be sent to an IB examiner to be assessed. The paper counts for 20% of your 2-year
IB grade (NOT your Guerin Catholic grade this trimester)
Here are the requirements of the paper:
1) That you choose ONE of the literary works that you've studied this trimester or
last trimester.
2) That the work you choose cannot later be used for your Individual Oral or for
Paper 2. You must consider which works you would like to save for these later
assessments.
2) That you write a 1200-1500-word essay on a particular line of inquiry in
connection with that literary work.
3) That 100% of your thoughts and ideas are original. You may include outside
sources, but the assignment is NOT a compilation of literary criticism. It is YOUR
work.
4) That you include a works cited of the text you've chosen (your examiner will
need to know which version/edition/translation of the text you've read) as well as
any other sources you have utilized.
It is NOT acceptable to quote or borrow ANYTHING outside of the
text without citing it.
Your works cited should simply by typed at the end of your essay. You do not
need to create a separate document.
Additional Directions:
1) Type your essay in TIMES NEW ROMAN, 12 pt., DOUBLE-SPACED.
2) Set your margins to ONE INCH.
3) No MLA heading. Your header may contain a page number, but your name
cannot appear anywhere in the essay itself.
4) Create a separate title page using the template your teacher provides. You
must have an interesting title.
5) Type your word count at the end. Your word count may not exceed 1500 words
by even a single word.
6) Use MLA format for citations and your works cited. (Quoting the text itself
requires a citation, naturally!)
7) Bring a printed copy to class on the due date. It is your responsibility to secure
a printed draft.
8) Do not staple your paper together. Use a paper clip to secure your title page to
your pages.
9) Submit an electronic copy to the Turnitin dropbox. If your paper is not in the
dropbox, it will NOT be sent to the examiner. If ANY plagiarism is found—which
includes crafty paraphrasing—your paper will NOT be sent to IB and you will be
removed from IB English.
Determining the Topic:
The chosen topic should be a broad literary focus. Seven central concepts of the
course may be a helpful starting point in generating or determining a topic for the
essay:
Identity: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of identity of a
particular character or group of characters in the work, or on the way in which
the work itself relates to the identity of the writer.
Culture: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of the culture
of a particular place, institution, or group of people, or on the way in which the
work itself relates to a particular culture.
Creativity: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of individual
or collective creativity, or lack of creativity, within the work or on the way in
which the work itself represents the creativity of the writer.
Communication: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of
acts of communication, or failures in communication, in the work or on the way in
which the work itself represents an act of communication.
Transformation: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of
transformation or transformative acts in the work, or in the way in which the
work itself is a transformative act either of the other works (through intertextual
reference to them) or of reality (by means of a transformative effect on the
reader’s identity, relationships, goals, values, and beliefs)
Perspective: You may be interested in an aspect of the representation of a
particular perspective or perspectives within the work, or on the way in which the
work itself represents the writer’s perspective.
Representation: You may be interested in an aspect of the way in which the
work itself represents different themes, attitudes, and concepts, or in the extent
to which literature can actually represent reality.
There are 4 assessment criteria (for a total of 20 marks) that the IB
examiner will use to score your HL Essay:
Criterion A: Knowledge, Understanding, and Interpretation (0-5)
Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation (0-5)
Criterion C: Focus, Organization, & Development (0-5)
Criterion D: Language (0-5)
Rubric for the Higher Level Essay
Criterion A: Knowledge, Understanding & Interpretation
How well does the candidate demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
the work or text chosen?
To what extent does the candidate make use of knowledge and
understanding of the work or text to draw conclusions in relation to the
chosen topic?
How well are ideas supported by references to the work or text in relation
to the chosen topic?
Mar Level Descriptor
ks
0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 There is little knowledge and understanding of the work or text shown through the essay
in relation to the topic chosen.
References to the work or text are infrequent or are rarely appropriate in relation to the
chosen topic.
2 There is some knowledge and understanding of the work or text shown through the
essay in relation to the topic chosen.
References to the work or text are at times appropriate in relation to the chosen topic.
3 There is satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the work or text shown through
the essay and an interpretation of its implications in relation to the topic chosen.
References to the work or text are generally relevant and mostly support the candidate’s
ideas in relation to the chosen topic.
4 There is good knowledge and understanding of the work or text shown through the essay
and a sustained interpretation of its implications in relation to the topic chosen.
References to the work or text are relevant and support the candidate’s ideas in relation
to the chosen topic.
5 There is excellent knowledge and understanding of the work or text shown through the
essay and a persuasive interpretation of its implications in relation to the topic chosen.
References to the work or text are well chosen and effectively support the candidate’s
ideas in relation to the chosen topic.
Criterion B: Analysis & Evaluation
To what extent does the candidate analyze and evaluate how the choices of
language, technique and style as well as broader authorial choices shape
meaning in relation to the chosen topic?
Mar Level Descriptor
ks
0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 The essay is descriptive and demonstrates little relevant analysis of textual features and
the author’s broader choices in relation to the chosen topic.
2 The essay demonstrates some appropriate analysis of textual features and the author’s
broader choices in relation to the chosen topic but is reliant upon description.
3 The essay demonstrates a generally appropriate analysis and evaluation of textual
features and the author’s broader choices in relation to the chosen topic.
4 The essay demonstrates an appropriate and at times insightful analysis and evaluation of
textual features and the author’s broader choices in relation to the chosen topic.
5 The essay demonstrates a consistently insightful and convincing analysis and evaluation
of textual features and the author’s broader choices in relation to the chosen topic.
Criterion C: Focus, Organization & Development
How well organized, focused, and developed is the presentation of ideas in
the essay?
How well are examples integrated into the essay?
Mar Level Descriptor
ks
0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 Little organization is present. No discernible line of inquiry is apparent in the essay.
Supporting examples are not integrated into the structure of the sentences and
paragraphs.
2 Some organization is present. There is little development of a line of inquiry in the essay.
Supporting examples are rarely integrated into the structure of the sentences and
paragraphs.
3 The essay is adequately organized in a generally cohesive manner. There is some
development of the line of inquiry in the essay. Supporting examples are sometimes
integrated into the structure of the sentences and paragraphs.
4 The essay is well organized and mostly cohesive. The line of inquiry is adequately
developed. Supporting examples are mostly well integrated into the structure of the
sentences and paragraphs.
5 The essay is effectively organized and cohesive. The line of inquiry is well developed.
Supporting examples are well integrated into the structure of the sentences and
paragraphs.
Criterion D: Language
How clear, varied, and accurate is the language?
How appropriate is the choice or register and style? (Register refers, in this
context, to the candidate’s use of elements such as vocabulary, tone,
sentence structure, and terminology appropriate to the HL essay)
Mar Level Descriptor
ks
0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 Language is rarely clear and appropriate; there are many errors in grammar, vocabulary,
and sentence construction and little sense of register and style.
2 Language is sometimes clear and carefully chosen; grammar, vocabulary, and sentence
construction are fairly accurate although errors and inconsistencies are apparent; the
register and style are to some extent appropriate to the task.
3 Language is clear and carefully chosen with an adequate degree of accuracy in grammar,
vocabulary, and sentence construction despite some lapses; the register and style are
mostly appropriate to the task.
4 Language is clear and carefully chosen with a good degree of accuracy in grammar,
vocabulary, and sentence construction despite some lapses; the register and style are
consistently appropriate to the task.
5 Language is very clear, effective, carefully chosen, and precise with a high degree of
accuracy in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence construction despite some lapses; the
register and style are effective and appropriate to the task.
