Paper 2 – practice question: “a convincing ‘world'”

Before analyzing the text make sure to review your paper 2 resources. Paper 2 questions are very broad and can be adapted to a large number of works in a number of different ways.

1. Identify the keys words in the question.
2. Think about the works you can write about for paper 2 (i.e. ones you have not used for your IA oral or HL essay). How well do the key words in the question fit two of your works?
3. What are the different ways in which you can approach the key words between the two works and even within the two works?
4. How can you make sure you sufficiently address the requirements of criteria A and B if you choose this question and the two works you have chosen?
5. On an actual Paper 2 you will of course need to quickly evaluate all of the questions on the exam and decide which one to answer.

From an IB specimen paper:

“Referring to two works you have studied, discuss how the author has created a convincing “world”.”

• What are different ways in which an author can create a “world”?
• What different worlds exist in your works and what makes them convincing?
• “Convincing” could be interpreted to mean something realistic but even the most unrealistic of worlds can be completely convincing in different ways.
• This is a fairly simple question which makes it easier to unpack. The markers expect the same depth and breadth of analysis though, regardless of how simple or complex a question is.
• What textual features and / or broader authorial choices are used to develop a convincing world?

A quick practice for paper 2 can involved more than brainstorming the above points. You could also do some or all of the following:

• Write an organized set of notes that helps you answer the paper 2 for each of the two works.
• Organize the notes into a rough essay outline.
• Write a thesis statement that directly answers the exam question.
• Write a short introduction. The introduction should clearly outline the two works, your basic approach to the question, a bit of relevant information about each work, and close with your thesis statement.