IB Writing

1
IB Writing

• How to approach and analyze an essay prompt

2
What We Expect

• Write to the prompt
• Define your terms (truth, reality, etc)
• Strong thesis/logical structure
• Specific support from the reading (concrete
  detail)
• Limit your focus to allow a thorough examination

3
Tomorrows Essay

• Compare/Contrast of your summer reading
• Find interesting points of comparison and examine
  both works in each body paragraph (do NOT write 1
  paragraph about Lord of the Flies and 1 paragraph
  about The Five People You Meet in Heaven)

4
Defining the Task

• There are 5 basic types of essay claims
• Resemblance
• Causal
• Evaluation
• Definition
• Proposal

5
Resemblance Claim

• X is or is not like Y
• Find major similarities between works and
  describe them.
• Without considering new, obvious differences,
  study the subtle differences between the
  similarities
• Inductively analyze the differences
• Explain what these differences make to the
  overall meaning of the work
• Both works use fear to develop their respective
  protagonists in order to establish each authors
  view of violence.

6
Causal Claim

• X Causes/Does Not Cause Y
• Something causes something else
• Something is the cause of the something else
• Causal Claims predict results
• A holy war philosophy inevitably leads to horror

7
Causal Claim

• When students study films such as Film A and
  Film B, they gain a better understanding of
  relationships and love.

8
Evaluation Claims

• X is/is not a good Y
• Evaluation judges
• Establish a criteria or basis
• The musical score of the movie is ineffective in
  foreshadowing the characters impending doom and
  fails to create the necessary tension for the
  viewing audience.

9
Definition Claim

• X is/is not Y
• Something is or means something else.

10
Definition Claim

• Deductive
• Start with a given concept
• Argue how details from primary source fit the
  concept
• Define terms and explain how aspect(s) of the
  term fit(s) your definition

11
Definition Claim

• Throughout the story, the protagonistss
  attitude toward his family and friends is clearly
  Machiavellian and changes only after his mothers
  death.
• You must first define Machiavellian before you
  can prove how the character first is, and then is
  not Machiavellian.

12
Proposal Claims

• We should/should not do X
• Argue whether something should or should not be
  implemented.

13
Proposal Claim

• Students should study both Film A and Film B in
  order to learn about complex love relationships.
• If should is changed to will, it becomes
  cause/effect.
• Causal claims are essential parts of proposals
• Spotlight the effects of taking or not taking a
  specific action, rather than focusing on how one
  leads to the other (causal).

14
Proposal Claims

• Students should study films such as Film A and
  Film B because students need to learn about
  complex love relationships, not sentimental
  ones.
• An evaluation statement is bolted onto the
  proposal.
• Defend the assumption that complex relationships
  are more important than sentimental ones.