literary analysis essay ib

The systematic course to master IB English analysis

For HL or IB6+ students

• Learn Analysis

Intro to Analysis for IB English

Beginner's guide to analysis in IB English

To get a 7 in IB English Literature or IB English Language and Literature, you must understand not just how to analyse, but how to analyse properly and correctly . It’s so easy to be confused by all the contradictory advice, but it’s not as hard or as confusing as it seems!

In this introductory guide, I explain the easiest, five-step approach to writing strong IB English analysis. In this guide, I go into the intuition behind analysis and the five simple steps that you can take to transform your analysis from an IB grade of 4 to 7. No more headaches. No more confusion. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get into it!

• What exactly is analysis?

Analysis is the act of explaining how and why a writer uses specific language choices .

This is the fundamental task of IB English. If you understand this statement, then you will understand the whole of IB English. Let’s break it down.

“specific language choices” :   We are intensely interested in the specific wording, literary techniques, punctuation, and grammar used by the writer of a given text. All of these aspects fall under language, so we must analyse all of them.

“explaining” : Always seek to explain these language choices rather than just stating the fact. Always go deeper. For example, don’t just say that “The writer uses technique X” and move on. You must go further in analysis, by addressing the two key questions:

• How / in what way is technique X being used?
• Why is technique X being used in this way?

“how” : Is it being used to construct an idea or create an emotional effect, or both at the same time? Is the technique being contrasted or combined with another technique to enhance its effectiveness? How a writer chooses to manipulate and utilise a technique is a unique to every text. There are infinite ways in which a technique can be used, but your job is to just consider and explain a particular usage by a particular writer of a particular text.

“why”:  Why did the writer choose to use this specific word (or technique) instead of all the thousands of other capable options in the English language? Why this particular word? What makes this technique so special and important that the writer couldn’t help but use it?

• Steps of analysis in a diagram

Teachers never teach English with diagrams, but they’re actually extremely useful in understanding how analysis works.

Here is a diagram to summarise what your understanding of analysis should look like at this very moment . Forget what you’ve learned before reading this guide, because everything that I’m teaching you now is the proven blueprint for IB English analysis. I used it to score high marks in IB English Literature, including a 20/20 in Paper 1.

The next step in this guide is to show you how to address these key questions of “how” and the “why”  in your analytical writing. But first, let me introduce the five step formula that I know you’ve been waiting for.

• The Five Step Formula to IB English literary analysis

So you have a quote that you want to analyse. An example might be:

The wind danced to the music of the autumn birds as it wound its way through every branch, every tree, and every leaf in the quiet forest.

To learn the rest, get started with LitLearn’s Learn Analysis course for free

The Power of Literary Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting an Impressive IB Extended Essay

Introduction to Literary Analysis

Literary analysis is an essential part of producing a successful IB Extended Essay. It involves interpreting the text, understanding its implications, and forming a well-rounded opinion on the subject. It also involves looking at the structure, imagery, and motifs within the work to gain a deeper understanding of the author’s intentions.

For those looking to write a successful IB Extended Essay, utilizing literary analysis can be a powerful tool. It allows the writer to delve into the layers of the text and make connections and interpret the text that may not be immediately obvious. It helps the writer form an argument based on their interpretations and requires them to think critically and present their argument in an organized and persuasive manner.

By putting in the time to engage with the literature, a student can develop an essay that is both insightful and effective, allowing them to stand out among their peers and make a good impression on their professor.

The IB Extended Essay is a critical component of the IB Diploma Programme, requiring students to delve deeply into a chosen subject and produce a well-structured, thoroughly researched, and original 4,000-word paper. Given the importance and complexity of this task, the IB Extended Essay Writing Service can provide invaluable support for IB students.

This specialized service offers a range of benefits to help students excel in their extended essays. With a team of experienced writers and subject matter experts, the service can provide guidance on selecting a compelling research question, as well as tips for organizing the essay and conducting thorough research. Students can also receive assistance with citation styles and formatting requirements, ensuring that their work meets the rigorous academic standards expected of an IB Extended Essay.

Moreover, the IB Extended Essay Writing Service can provide personalized feedback and constructive criticism, empowering students to refine their arguments and hone their analytical skills. By working closely with these professional mentors, students can gain a deeper understanding of their chosen subject and improve their overall writing abilities, setting them up for success not only in their extended essay but also in their future academic and professional pursuits.

Definition and Explanation of Literary Analysis

Literary analysis is the thoughtful interpretation of literature. It is an approach that looks closely at the words, characters, themes, and structure of a particular piece of writing. It is commonly used to understand pieces of literature, such as novels and plays, by examining the motivations and actions of their characters.

At its core, literary analysis looks for symbols, metaphors, and motifs within the book or play and connects those literary elements to ideas and experiences in the real world. This type of analysis requires students to think critically and deeply about what they are reading. To do this, students must be able to understand the text as a whole, as well as form opinions on the author’s use of language and craftsmanship.

For example, when reading a novel, students can analyze the characters’ dialogue and actions to decipher the author’s message. In doing so, students create meaning from the text and globalize the author’s ideas. They can look at themes and symbols that the author has used, allowing them to draw conclusions about how these topics are related to each other and to the real world.

Literary analysis is an incredibly important skill for all students, but it is particularly important for those who are looking to succeed in IB Extended Essay assessments. With literary analysis, students can assess works of literature in a way that allows them to better understand and appreciate them. Furthermore, literary analysis can be a great tool for approaching assignments and gaining additional insight into the texts they are studying.

Overview of How Literary Analysis Can Help Students With the IB Extended Essay

Writing a literary analysis essay is a great way to help students master their subject matter. Literary analysis requires an in-depth look into a text, whether it is a play, poem, or novel. It provides an opportunity to uncover hidden layers of meaning and engage with the text in a deeper way.

When it comes to writing a high-quality essay for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Extended Essay, literary analysis can be hugely beneficial. This is because the IB Extended Essay is intended to give students an opportunity to independently explore a research question. Knowing how to approach a text analytically can help students identify the key components of their research question and formulate effective arguments.

Below are several ways that literary analysis may be useful in the formation of an impressive IB Extended Essay:

• Developing critical thinking skills: Reading and analyzing literature requires close attention to detail. Thinking critically about a text can help students gain an in-depth understanding of the story and uncover hidden themes or messages.
• Building an argument: Analyzing literature provides students with the skills they need to craft a well-argued essay. Developing an argument involves examining arguments already made by previous authors and critiquing these claims.
• Creating an original thesis: Through an analysis of a text, students are able to identify potential research questions or create their own. Literary analysis allows students to explore a unique approach to their chosen piece of literature.

Overall, literary analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to enhance the IB Extended Essay. Learning how to properly analyze literature will give students the skills they need to create a well-crafted, thoughtful essay that will impress the IB examiners.

Pre-Writing Steps

Creating a stellar literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay is no easy task. It takes careful preparation and practice to create an essay that stands out from the crowd. Before you begin writing your paper, it’s important to take some pre-writing steps to ensure you have a strong foundation to build on.

Develop Fundamental Understanding of Literature

Before writing a literary analysis essay, it’s important to gain an understanding of the literature. Read both classical and modern pieces, paying attention to character development, symbolism, and plot. This can also include works of art and films. When researching, ask yourself questions like: What is the author trying to say? What themes are present in the work? What is the overall tone? Answering these questions can help you better understand the material, which will make it easier to craft your essay.

Brainstorm Ideas and Analyze Ideas

Once you’ve gained a basic understanding of the literature, use critical thinking to start thinking about ideas for your essay. Brainstorm freely, pushing yourself to come up with new and creative ideas. Don’t limit yourself to what you already know. Once you have some ideas, analyze them to see which ones are most effective and concise. Go back to the literature and see which ideas can be supported by evidence from the text.

Construct an Outline

Outlines are essential when crafting an essay, and creating one for your literary analysis essay is no different. An outline allows you to organize all the ideas and arguments you have, so your essay will have a sense of structure. In your outline, write down the main points you want to discuss, followed by the evidence you plan to use to support those points. This will make it easier to stay on track when you start writing.

With these steps, you can get a head start towards creating an impressive essay. Pre-writing sets the stage for the rest of the essay, so taking this step seriously can help you achieve success.

Developing a Fundamental Understanding of Literature

Doing a successful literary analysis of a work of literature is like taking a journey. Before we step onto the path, it is important to understand the basics of what we are exploring.

In order to craft a well-researched and comprehensive extended essay on a piece of literature, a student must have a good understanding of the context, plot, characters, setting, and themes of the work. It is also important to be aware of the author’s style and the language they are using.

The best way to gain this knowledge is to become an expert on the work you are studying. To do this, you should read and re-read the work multiple times to uncover the many layers of meaning. As you read, it may help to take notes on your thoughts about the book and consider any questions you may have about the material. Additionally, doing some background research on the author and the time period in which the literary work was written can provide valuable insight into the meaning of the story.

By spending a significant amount of time studying the literature, you will eventually develop a fundamental understanding that will allow you to begin crafting your paper with a solid base of knowledge. After all, the more you know about the literature, the easier it will be to delve into complex aspects of the work and make insightful connections.

Writing an IB Extended Essay requires a lot of time and effort, but it’s well worth it. One of the essential steps to ensure your essay is well-crafted is to brainstorm ideas and analyze them.

Before you start writing, you should take some time to come up with good topics and ideas. A great way to start is to look at the literature that you’ve studied and make notes about any key points or themes. Once you’ve jotted down some notes, you can start to develop several possible topic ideas for your essay.

When you’ve got several ideas, you’ll need to analyze each of them to determine which one is the best fit for your essay. This may involve researching the topic further, talking to experts in the field, and even taking a poll among your peers to get their opinions. The importance of analyzing your ideas means you can be sure that you will have a well-structured argument in your essay that is based on valid evidence and research.

Analyzing your ideas is also important as it can help you identify any possible weaknesses or flaws in your topic before you move onto the writing stage. This ensures that you are well informed before you even pick up your pen and begin the drafting process.

Brainstorming ideas and analyzing them may take some time, but it is a crucial step in crafting an impressive IB Extended Essay. It will help you gain a better understanding of your topic and make sure that your essay is well structured, with valid evidence and arguments.

Once you’ve brainstormed and analyzed your ideas, it’s time to construct an outline. It may seem like an extra step in the writing process, but creating an essay outline before getting started can save you a lot of time in the end. An outline is a way of organizing your thoughts in the form of a visual plan. It can help you narrow down your research and focus on the points that will eventually be included in your paper.

Creating an outline is easy! All you need to do is draw a line down the middle of a blank page and start breaking down your ideas into smaller chunks. Begin by listing your major topics in order that they will appear in the paper. Then, write each of these topics in a circle or square and draw a line connecting the circles. On each of these lines, list related subtopics which will fall under that topic.

As you continue to create your outline, make sure it includes all the necessary information about your paper. This includes the introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. If you want to ensure your essay is comprehensive and insightful, include a few sentences explaining why you included each piece of evidence in your argument. This will make it easier to come back and fill in the details later on.

Finally, once your outline is complete, you can use it to quickly scan through each section and determine if there are any holes in your arguments or areas where your research is lacking. This is especially helpful if you’re pressed for time and need to make sure you obtain enough evidence for each point.

When you are ready to write your literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, you have to first craft the paper. This includes understanding your topic and generating an outline of your paper, which will enable you to write an effective paper. Crafting the paper involves separating it into three main parts: Introduction, Thesis and Supporting Arguments, and Conclusion.

In order to craft a successful paper that is on-topic, it is important to be able to introduce your topic with a certain level of clarity. Your introduction should be engaging and act as a hook for your reader. It should include background information about your topic as well as a thesis statement and argument for your literary analysis.

Once your introduction is in place, you can begin writing your body paragraphs. The thesis and supporting arguments should be clearly stated in your body paragraphs. For example, if the topic of your essay is exploring the theme of revenge in William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ then you can use the characters and plot points to support your thesis. Additionally, pay close attention to using direct quotes to support your argument, as this will give a complete picture of your analysis.

Finally, your conclusion will wrap up your essay and act as a summary of your entire analysis. In your conclusion, make sure to reiterate your thesis and provide a summation of your key points. Provide a final thought or argument that ties back to the main topic to give your essay cohesiveness.

Crafting the paper is one of the most important aspects of writing an effective literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay. Follow the structure outlined above to ensure that your essay contains an effective introduction, solid body paragraphs, and a powerful conclusion. Keeping the focus on the main topic, providing examples and evidence to support your arguments, and being consistent throughout the paper will allow you to create a stellar essay.

Introduction

An introduction is the first step to writing a successful literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay. It is the part of your paper that draws readers in and offers an overview of the topic you are going to discuss. The introduction should be concise and engaging, capture the reader’s attention, and provide an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the essay.

When writing your introduction, it is important to define the terms related to literary analysis and explain what it is. Literary analysis is a type of intellectual exercise that focuses on close reading of a text and understanding its meaning in order to interpret and draw conclusions from it. To conduct a literary analysis, it is important to understand the context of the text and identify key elements of the text such as the plot, character development, symbols, themes, and point of view.

Once you have a basic understanding of literary analysis, you should provide a brief overview of how it can help students write a successful IB Extended Essay. A literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay should demonstrate a student’s ability to critically analyze literature, which is a skill that is highly valued in the IB curriculum. It should show the student’s thoughtful analysis of the text and their ability to synthesize the text into meaningful content.

Overall, the introduction should provide the framework for your essay and set the stage for the rest of the essay. It should be engaging, concise, and clearly explain the purpose of the essay.

Thesis and Supporting Arguments

Once you have a clear idea of what you want to say in your essay, it is time to write the thesis. It is important to remember that when writing an essay, the goal is to make sure that your point is clearly expressed and backed up with evidence. A good thesis statement will be the foundation of your entire essay and will guide your arguments.

Your thesis statement should be concise and clear – explain to the reader the main idea of your essay in one sentence. A successful thesis statement should make a single claim that is debatable and provable. It should also be specific enough so that the reader knows what they can expect as they read further into your paper.

After you have crafted your thesis statement, you must provide evidence and support to back up your claims. In a literary analysis, this could be accomplished by using textual examples such as quotes, paraphrased dialogue, or passages from the text. You can also use external sources such as scholarly articles to gather evidence and support your argument. Your goal is to make sure that your reader is convinced that your argument is correct. Make sure to include in-text citations when you are using outside sources.

Last but not least, make sure to have a balanced argument. It is important that you present both sides of an argument and then use your evidence to refute the opposing viewpoint. This will help you create a strong and persuasive paper for your IB Extended Essay.

The conclusion of your literary analysis essay is the most important part, since it allows you to demonstrate how all aspects of your paper are tied together. The conclusion is where you summarize the essay’s main points and draw a logical end to your paper.

When writing your conclusion, you should consider doing the following:

• Restate your thesis in different words.
• Briefly summarize the main points of your essay.
• Provide a call to action or provide a suggestion for further research.

Your conclusion is not just a summary of the essay but also a chance to reinforce your main points and ensure that they have been understood. After you have written and revised your conclusion, it is important to read through it carefully to check for any errors. It is also important to make sure that the conclusion ties in with the rest of the paper. A great conclusion can give a lasting impression on your reader and leave them with a clear understanding of what they just read.

By crafting a good conclusion, your readers will have a clear understanding of the main points of your essay and will be able to reflect on its contents. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to writing an impressive literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay!

Editing and Proofreading

Once you have written your literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, it is important to edit and proofread your work. No matter how great the body of your paper is, without proper editing and proofreading your work may still not be up to par.

Read and Re-read Draft and Make Corrections

The first step to properly editing and proofreading your work is to read and re-read the entire paper. It is important to get an overall sense of the paper and where corrections may need to be made. When reading the paper, consider if there are any errors in grammar, if the logical flow of the paper holds up, and if every sentence serves a needed purpose. Once you have identified potential issues in the paper, go through and make the necessary changes. It is also imperative that you make sure that your points are presented in the most concrete and comprehensible manner possible.

Get Feedback From an Editor or Mentor

Getting feedback from an editor or mentor can be extremely helpful when editing and proofreading your paper. An external perspective can offer insight that you had not seen before, and can help you to recognize any errors that were previously overlooked. Additionally, having someone else read your paper is a great way to get a better understanding of how well your arguments and rebuttals will hold up to a real audience.

Fine Tune Your Work to Ensure High Quality

Once you have made the corrections from feedback and from your own observations, it is time to fine tune your work. Going through your paper one last time can help to polish your paper and make sure that it is up to the quality expected for an IB Extended Essay. Make sure to look for any minute errors that could hurt the quality of your work and make sure the paper is written in an organized and cohesive manner. After this step, you should be ready to submit your masterpiece.

Reading and Re-reading: Making Corrections

When crafting a literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, it is important to go through your work multiple times. This will help you identify and correct any errors that you may have made. The more times you read through your paper, the easier it will be to make corrections.

The first time you read through your paper, focus on the structure and flow of your words. Is there any part of the paper that does not make sense or does not seem to link to the next section? Does the order of the argument make sense? You should also consider whether or not you have achieved the goal of the assignment.

The second time you read through, focus on the grammar, spelling and punctuation. Are there any typos or mistakes in punctuation? Do all sentences make sense and are they correctly structured?

The third time around, read through your paper one more time and look for specific elements such as quotes, references and evidence. Are there any missing quotations or inaccuracies in references? Be sure to consult your sources if necessary to double check them.

Finally, it is important to read through your paper as if you were an external reader. This means reading with an unbiased eye and avoiding any personal bias. Read your paper from start to finish and think about what impression it might leave on someone else.

By reading and re-reading your literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay and making corrections, you can ensure that the end result is of a high quality.

Getting Feedback From an Editor or Mentor

Writing a literary analysis essay for the IB extended essay can be a daunting task. To ensure that your work is up to the mark, it is important to get feedback from an editor or a mentor. It is the best way to make sure that you have included all the necessary elements of your essay and that your paper meets the required standards of quality.

Benefits of Seeking Feedback:

• A mentor or editor can help you identify and eliminate any issue with grammar, spelling, or syntax in your paper.
• They can give you advice on how to structure your argument to make it more convincing.
• They can provide guidance on how to make your literary analysis essay more persuasive and impactful.
• An editor or mentor can help you eliminate any unnecessary information and add anything else you may have overlooked.

Tips for Seeking Feedback:

• Provide your mentor/editor with a clear explanation of what they need to focus on when reviewing your work. Likewise, request feedback on specific aspects that you are having difficulties with.
• Ensure that you communicate clearly and provide the necessary time for your mentor/editor to give you the best feedback.
• Be prepared to take criticism and to make changes based on their comments.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions if something is unclear so that you can understand their feedback as much as possible.

Seeking feedback from an editor or mentor will not only help you write a better literary analysis essay for the IB extended essay but it will also give you the confidence to submit your paper with the assurance that everything is up to the required standards.

We all want our work to be the best that it can be. Generally, this is not achieved in one go, and will require some fine-tuning and adjustments along the way. When writing a literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, it’s important that you pay special attention to the quality of your work and take the time to make sure your final product is as impactful and polished as possible.

When it comes to fine-tuning, there are a few key things you should consider:

• Sentence Structure & Clarity: Check that sentences are clear and concise, free from ambiguous words and phrases.
• Grammatical Errors: Be mindful of any grammar and spelling mistakes. Use a proofreading tool or ask someone to read through your work before submitting it.
• Stick to the Point: Make sure that each sentence is directly related to the thesis and supporting arguments.
• Flow & Cohesion: Check the flow of your essay to ensure that ideas are linked together and flow naturally throughout the essay.

It’s also a good idea to get feedback from an editor or mentor to help you fine-tune your work. They will have a fresh set of eyes, and might be able to help you identify any areas of improvement. Once you have received feedback, you can adjust your essay accordingly, so that the quality of your literary analysis essay is top notch.

Writing a stellar literary analysis essay is an important skill that students must develop in order to do well in their International Baccalaureate Extended Essay. A strong literary analysis essay can be engaging, thoughtful and make a lasting impression on your readers. Here are some tips to make sure you write a great essay that meets the requirements of the IB Extended Essay:

Refrain from Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious problem in any academic setting and the IB Extended Essay is no exception. When writing your literary analysis essay, make sure to use your own original ideas and avoid copying from other sources.

Demonstrate Critical Thinking

When writing a literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, demonstrate critical thinking by connecting themes, characters and symbols in a meaningful way. Show your reader why you think a certain interpretation is valid using evidence and support from the text.

Use Examples to Support Thesis and Nonlinear Thinking

When writing a literary analysis essay, it is important to back up your arguments with concrete examples from the text that support your thesis. Additionally, use nonlinear thinking to evaluate different aspects of a text, such as style, techniques and symbolism.

Proofreading and Double Check Citations

Finally, before submitting your essay, make sure to proofread it for grammar and spelling errors. Additionally, double check that all of your citations are accurate and formatted correctly to the standards of the IB Extended Essay.

By following these tips and demonstrating critical thinking, students can produce a well-crafted literary analysis essay that will impress their peers and the IB panel members. With practice, students will gain the confidence to craft an essay that shows off their knowledge and ability to provide strong analysis and understanding of literature.

Plagiarism is a serious offense and can have severe consequences. It is important that students refrain from plagiarizing when crafting their literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay. Plagiarism is defined as taking someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own without giving credit to the original author.

In order to avoid plagiarism, students need to make sure they cite any sources they use. This includes direct quotes, summaries, and paraphrases. Students should also ensure that they credit any people from whom they received ideas or feedback. For example, if a student consulted with a professor or mentor, they should cite this in the acknowledgement section of their paper.

It is also important for students to be aware of how to properly cite sources. Different disciplines may require slightly different citing methods. For example, humanities papers typically require the use of MLA or Chicago-style citations, while science papers often require the use of APA or CSE style.

Finally, it is essential for students to proofread their essays and double-check that all of the citations and references are accurate. This is a crucial step to help students refrain from plagiarizing, as it ensures that all of the proper credit is given to the original authors of material used in the essay.

Critical thinking is an important part of literary analysis. It involves utilizing logic, understanding the context and creating a reasoned argument. It is a great way for students to prove their understanding and develop deeper insight into their ideas.

When engaging in critical thinking for their IB Extended Essay in literary analysis, students will need to explore different viewpoints and understand all the nuances that come with their subject. This can help them build arguments that have substance and are well thought-out.

To ensure they are demonstrating critical thinking, students should:

• Gather information from reliable sources
• Examine the evidence and build an argument
• Identify similarities and differences between themes/ideas
• Consider implications and consequences
• Think about causes and effects

It is also important for students to remember that critical thinking is based on factual evidence and logical reasoning; it is not just opinion or speculation. When looking at ideas, they should look objectively and draw reasoned conclusions.

Finally, it is essential students use their critical thinking skills when writing their IB Extended Essay in literary analysis. Doing so will ensure the essay is well informed, has good structure and is backed up by credible evidence.

Using Examples to Support Thesis and Nonlinear Thinking

To craft a stellar literary analysis essay for the IB Extended Essay, it is important to use examples in your paper to support your thesis and nonlinear thinking skills. Examples can help you to illustrate your points and make them stronger and more believable. Examples don’t have to be long or complex, just enough to help prove and explain your points.

When selecting an example, it is important to ensure that it has relevance to your argument. The example should also relate back to your thesis statement in some way, so that it is clearly understood why you chose it to explain your point. Otherwise, it is of no use to the reader and your paper.

Also be aware that the examples you choose should be significant enough to impact the flow of your paper. Your paper should still sound logical even when you’ve taken time away from the main argument to explain your example. If you are unable to effectively transition between each example and its respective argument, it’s best to remove the example and look for another one.

Finally, be sure to review and analyze your examples prior to using them in your paper. Aim to use examples that are well-written, vivid, and will help to add a sense of clarity to your points. This will make your overall paper more interesting and engaging, which is sure to impress your readers.

Proofreading and Double Checking Citations

Proofreading your extended essay is essential to ensure it is of a high quality. Careful proofreading will help your essay stand out and make the best impression possible on readers, such as professors and examiners.

The process of proofreading includes reading your essay multiple times, checking for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation. Additionally, you should make sure that your arguments are clear and well structured, that your writing is of a consistent style, and that there are no typos or other issues that may distract from the content.

Proofreading is also a good opportunity to double-check your citations and make sure that they are correct. All sources used in your essay must be cited properly, formatted correctly and checked for accuracy. This is important as incorrect references or formatting could be seen as plagiarism or lack of attention to detail.

Once you have proofread and made any necessary changes to your essay, it is a good idea to have someone else take a look at it as well. Ask a trusted friend or peer to read through your paper and provide feedback, as having a second opinion on your work will often highlight any mistakes or areas that need further improvement.

About Post Author

Layden patrica.

Similar Articles

Fiction as a window into the human experience, between the lines: decoding author intentions and uncovering hidden themes in literature, victoria schwab “a darker shade of magic”.

Dark Shade of Magic” is the first novel in the “Shades of Magic” series, which also includes two already published and translated novels

Jonathan Leetham “Orphan Brooklyn”

Jonathan Lethem is a contemporary American author of psychological detective stories. His prose is distinguished by the author’s recognizable humor

Robin Hobb’s The Shaman’s Way

Robin Hobb pseudonym of American writer Margaret Ogden, author of large-scale fantasy cycles, the most famous of which are “The Rainforest Chronicles”

English Collaborative

IB English A Language and Literature: HL Essay Assessment Considerations

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. 

HL Essay Overview

Nature of the task.

• Students are asked to develop a line of inquiry of their choice in connection with a work or body of work studied in the course.
• In this context, teachers serve as advisors.  The HL essay is an opportunity for students “to develop as independent, critical and creative readers, thinkers and writers” [1] which suggests there should be some degree of autonomy in choosing a work or body of work and determining the line of inquiry.
• The final essay is a focused argument critically examining a broad literary or linguistic perspective in one of the works or bodies of work studied in the course.  The focus of the critical examination should be appropriate for the discipline; while there may be some overlap with other disciplines (e.g., art or film), teachers will need to use their professional judgement to evaluate appropriate boundaries for the line of inquiry [2] .
• The essay should be developed “over an extended period of time” [3] .  Adequate time should be given for students to refine their ideas, plan their arguments, draft, and revise their essays.  Teachers are expected to play an active role guiding and facilitating this process.
• The essay is formal and should adhere to the conventions of an academic essay in its structure and use of citations.  
• In the marking of the assessment task, there is equal quantitative value placed on the ideas presented in the essay (10 marks) and the essay’s organization and use of language (10 marks).  Maximum: 20 marks. [4]
• The final essay produced for submission needs to be 1200-1500 words in length.  Examiners will not read more than 1500 words. [5]

Explanation of the task

• It is important that students develop a line of inquiry that is focused, analytical, and (when relevant) literary before they begin researching and writing.  Students do not need to name literary or textual features in their question; however, the question should lend itself to an analytical investigation of the work that is appropriate for the discipline.
• The seven course concepts (identity, culture, creativity, communication, transformation, perspective, and representation) may serve as a starting point when developing a line of inquiry. [6]
• 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.
• Each student’s line of inquiry should develop from their own work or ideas about the work.  Ideally, the learner portfolio will document this evolution (in some form).

Selection of work

• Students base their essays on one work or body of work studied in the course. Students may choose any work or body of work, except for the works/body of work used for the Individual Oral or the works chosen for the Paper 2 exam. 
• Students should consult with their teachers when selecting a text, work, or body of work to ensure the material is rich enough to support a focused, analytical argument of this length.
• Documentaries and full features films are full, non-literary “works” and are acceptable material on which to base a line of inquiry for the HL Essay.
• Literary bodies of work include collections of short stories, poetry, essays, graphic narratives, etc.
• Non-literary bodies of work may include an advertising campaign, a journalist’s published articles or editorials, a photojournalist’s series of photographs, related public service announcements or campaigns, research and relevant publications by an organization (such as Human Rights Watch), a series of texts or shows by an interviewer, commentator or satirist, a podcast series, an editorial cartoonist’s publications, etc. [7]  
• The texts in the body of work must share authorship.  This means the texts are written or produced by a single author or are written and produced by collaborators that share a single authorship (such as an advertising agency, corporation, non-profit organization, television show, writer and graphic illustrator, etc.) [8]
• Students may base their essay on one text in a body of work (e.g., one short story in a collection), however students need to be careful to sustain a “broad literary [or linguistic] investigation” as opposed to a close reading or commentary.  They are expected to make explicit connections in the essay between the text and the author’s body of work. [9]  
• In most cases, it will be appropriate for a student to reference at least 2-3 texts in an author’s body of work. 
• Students may explore and use any texts from an author studied in class, even if the specific texts were not part of the course study.  This might be appropriate if the student’s specific literary investigation cannot be supported with the specific texts studied but could be supported with other texts by the author. [10]

Determining the topic (and line of inquiry)

• The essay needs to be focused on a broad literary or linguistic investigation that addresses a concept developed in the work or body of work. 
• Students who struggle to identify a suitable concept can use one of the seven course concepts as a starting place to develop their line of inquiry (e.g., What does the work communicate about…? In what ways does the work transform our perspective on…?  To what extent does the work represent…? )
• Students should be encouraged to explore a concept that is significant to them and their reading of the work. 
• Teachers can advise and coach students through the process of selecting a topic and developing a line of inquiry, but teachers are not supposed to assign topics (or works) to students. [11]

What is the HL Essay Assessing?

Criterion a:  knowledge, understanding, and interpretation (5 marks), defined terms.

• Students need a clear, cohesive thesis statement in the introduction of the essay that states the conclusions the student has drawn in response to the line of inquiry.  The “conclusions” are the student’s central argument for the essay. 
• Students need to understand the difference between demonstrating understanding of a work and offering interpretations of the work’s meanings.  An essay must offer interpretations of the work’s implications to score at least a “satisfactory” mark in Criterion A.
• Good to excellent knowledge and understanding comes from knowing the works very well which usually requires multiple readings .  Clear references, explanations, and detailed analysis in support of asserted interpretations are a more effective demonstration of knowledge and understanding than summary.  
• When analyzing texts from a “body of work”, students are expected to make claims and connections to the body of work.  If the focus of the essay is on an individual text (such as a short story or poem), it is important that the analysis be treated as a “broad literary [or linguistic] investigation”.  Teachers will need to evaluate the extent to which this is possible for each individual text.  It may be helpful for teachers and students to consult articles in scholarly journals to see examples of how a broad literary investigation can be approached with a shorter, individual text.

Activities and protocols that develop skills related to knowledge, understanding, and interpretation.

Formulating Interpretive Statements

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

Concept Formation

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

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

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 […]

Criterion B:  Analysis and evaluation (5 marks)

• This criterion asks students to critically analyze, evaluate, and compare how meaning is constructed and communicated in a work or body of work.
• The discussion, analysis, and evaluation of literary or linguistic features must work to develop the line in inquiry and central argument for the essay.  This is a common shortcoming in student essays.
• The interrelationships of authorial choices and their effects may be complex, which requires thoughtful organization in the planning stage of the essay. 
• Assertions that make judgements about a writer’s competency or simply state a preference for an author or style are not literary evaluations.
• An insightful literary analysis usually includes an appreciation of form-specific features.

Activities and protocols that develop skills related to analysis and evaluation

Why might this detail matter?

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 […]

Ladder of Abstraction

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 […]

Appoint a Devil’s Advocate

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 […]

Criterion C:  Focus, organization, and development (5 marks)

• The line of inquiry (which includes the topic) should be clearly stated either as the title or in the introductory paragraph of the essay. 
• The thesis (or argument) for the essay should be clearly communicated in the introductory paragraph. 
• Effective organization helps students maintain focus, achieve cohesion, and develop claims.  This means considering the most effective way to present the argument and its supporting evidence and analysis (chronologically, most persuasive evidence first, by sub-topic, cause and effect relationships, first impressions vs. later reflections, claims and counter claims, etc.).
• Each paragraph should be a point of development that supports the conclusions drawn from the line of inquiry (i.e., the essay’s central argument).  The nature of the argument and the substance of the analysis should determine the number of paragraphs, their length, and their order.  Forcing an argument into a formulaic essay structure can be limiting.
• Purposeful transitions create cohesion and logically take the reader through the essay’s evidence-based claims.
• Essays organized by authorial choices tend to be limiting because they struggle to appreciate the interdependency of features’ effects.
• One citation method should be sustained throughout the essay.

Activities and protocols that develop skills related to organization and development

Generate, Sort, Connect, Elaborate: Concept Mapping IDEAS in a Work

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 […]

Making a Précis

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 […]

Sort Card Activity

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 […]

Significant Quotes

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 […]

Criterion D:  Language (5 marks)

• A wider vocabulary and knowledge of sentence structures gives students more language tools to express abstract and complex thoughts. 
• Correct use of terminology may be considered in awarding marks in this criterion; however, jargon is not the sole focus. 
• When students use vocabulary and sentence structures that are comfortably in their repertoire, they usually express their thinking more clearly.  When students stretch to use words or sentences structures with which they are not familiar, they risk miscommunication.
• An essay does not need to be flawless to earn top marks in this criterion, however the expectation for language to be clear, varied, and accurate is higher in this component.  This is because students have an opportunity to revise their essays.
• Voice is welcomed in all IB assessment tasks: formal writing does not need to be turgid.

Activities and protocols that develop skills related to use of language

Interpretive Statement Wall

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 […]

Evaluating Thesis Statements

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 […]

Discussion Posts and Personalized Learning

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.

Photo by Marcel Friedrich on Unsplash

2 thoughts on “ IB English A Language and Literature: HL Essay Assessment Considerations ”

Thank you for this resource.

You’re welcome! If you see something that should be added, please let us know!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 14, 2023.

Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.

A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis , nor is it just a summary of the plot or a book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.

Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and c ome up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard structure of an academic essay :

• An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
• A main body, divided into paragraphs , that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
• A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Step 1: reading the text and identifying literary devices, step 2: coming up with a thesis, step 3: writing a title and introduction, step 4: writing the body of the essay, step 5: writing a conclusion, other interesting articles.

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.

Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices —textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.

To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you analyze each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.

Language choices

Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?

What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).

Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

• Who is telling the story?
• How are they telling it?

Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?

Consider the narrator’s perspective . Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.

The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa ? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?

Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.

• Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
• Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
• Plays are divided into scenes and acts.

Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.

There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res —in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?

With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.

In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for  dramatic irony , where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.

If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:

Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?

Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:

Thesis statement example

Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.

Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.

Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.

Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein . You could start by asking yourself:

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process , so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyze the text.

Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence —specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.

It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.

To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.

Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.

A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.

If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.

“Fearful symmetry” : The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

The introduction

The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.

A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.

Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!

If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.

Paragraph structure

A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs : the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.

Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your argument.

In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.

Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels “a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching death. With this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from his first appearance.

Topic sentences

To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:

… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.

Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.

This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.

Using textual evidence

A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.

It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.

In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:

The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments. Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.

A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole:

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, August 14). How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/literary-analysis/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, academic paragraph structure | step-by-step guide & examples, how to write a narrative essay | example & tips, what is your plagiarism score.

Learn IB English Analysis

Write and Structure Analysis that impresses your examiner, by using simple formulas that just make sense.

Simply Follow a Systematic Method

Start with Level 1 Techniques

Studying for IB English doesn't have to be complicated. LitLearn's study roadmap teaches IB English Lang & Lit and IB English Literature key concepts in the optimal order, starting from the basics and introducing more advanced concepts as we go. Simply follow the lessons and practice questions to master IB English analysis.

The 3 Laws of Analysis

Learn these 3 unique principles to unlock the most simple formula for analyzing any text.

How to Analyze Diction

The most fundamental technique for all students in IB English Literature and IB English Lang & Lit.

How to Analyze Allusion

A common technique used in all text types, from political cartoons to poems to plays to print ads.

How to Analyze Modality

A crucial technique in persuasive Lang & Lit texts, as well as dialogue in Literature texts.

How to Analyze Voice

Understanding voice, and noticing shifts in voice, is a quick way to impress your examiner.

Stuck at an IB5 or below?

LitLearn's self-paced study guide helps struggling IB English students level up their analysis skills to achieve higher grades in IB English assessment.

Analysis Foundations

Clear any confusion you have about IB English analysis and essay writing. Start here if you're a new or confused IB student.

Level 1 Techniques

Learn the basic literary techniques, complete 5 minute questions, and get feedback on your analysis.

Level 2 Techniques

Learn Level 2 literary + visual techniques, complete 5 minute questions, and get feedback on your analysis.

Level 3 Techniques

Learn Level 3 literary + visual techniques, complete 5 minute questions, and get feedback on your analysis.

Level 4 Techniques

Learn advanced literary + visual techniques, complete 5 minute questions, and get feedback on your analysis.

Short Analysis Tutorials

Overwhelmed by big texts? See first-hand how to analyse short quotes at an IB7 standard. Walk before you run!

For Students Aiming for IB6 and IB7

To score an IB6 or IB7 in IB English (especially at HL), you'll need to know some more subtle, advanced skills.

Analysis Sandwich

Analyzing multiple techniques is important. Learn how to do it elegantly and efficiently to impress your IB English teachers and examiners.

Make Your Analysis Flow

Separate your analytical writing from the everyone else by using the exact principles taught in this lesson.

The Secret to Deep Analysis

Become the James Bond or Beyonce of IB English analysis. Don't sleep on it.

Writer's Style

Most students don’t analyze the writer’s style. Style is one of the things that need to be addressed.

Muffin Example

Learn how to recreate IB7 standard analysis in your assessment and exams with a detailed example.

Rain Example

Hear from past ib english students.

Blake, Kyaw, Harsheen, Max, and Regina trusted LitLearn's Analysis Simplified course to prepare for their IB English assessment.

Success Story: Hillary Andru 🇨🇦

Huge, Immediate Improvement in Just 2 Days

Meet your Instructor!

Jackson Huang, LitLearn founder

Prediction Exams and November 2023 Past Paper Solutions available now!

IB English Literature HL

IB Literature Higher Level is an intensive course and part of the IB diploma program taught over two years. The IB Lit HL curriculum focuses on the study of 13 literary texts from different periods and cultures (Time and Space). Through critical analysis and interpretation, students in the Eng Literature HL develop an in-depth understanding of the connections between texts (Intertextuality) and their role as readers and writers in shaping meaning. (Readers, Writers, and Texts) The IB Lit HL course explores, analyzes, and develops a more nuanced understanding of Literature than the SL course. The Eng Lit Higher Level course is highly demanding. It requires strong analytical skills, very good usage and understanding of language, detailed knowledge and understanding of genre conventions, and literary and stylistic features.

Questionbank

Develop your analytical skills through in-depth study of a variety of texts. No pre-reading required!

Practice Exams

Choose your revision tool! Contains topic quizzes for focused study, Revision Village mock exams covering the whole syllabus, and the revision ladder to precisely target your learning.

IB English Guys

Paper solutions, samples, and analytical skills explanations curated by the IB English guys to pump up your scores.

Past Papers

Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors.

Course Structure and Content

The Higher Level course requires students to study thirteen literary texts. These must be balanced between literary form, period, and place and include a variety of forms.

At the end of the program, all English Literature HL students sit papers 1 and 2. Paper 1 consists of two literary texts for analysis. Each text has a guiding question as an entry point from which to write the response. Lit HL students must complete both written pieces in two hours and 15 minutes. Paper 2 is a comparative essay of two literary works. The paper offers four questions and should be completed in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The third component HL students complete is the Individual Oral, which consists of two parts: a 10-minute oral analysis by the student, where the student presents two extracts (one from a text originally written in English and the other in translation) examining how a global issue is presented both in the selected extracts and the complete works. This part is followed up by a 5-minute conversation about the extracts and the global issue led by the teacher. Finally, English Literature HL students complete a fourth component, the HL essay, which is completed in class and consists of exploring a line of inquiry in connection with a literary work/s by the same author. The work must have been studied in class. The essay must be between 1200-1500 words.

Thank you Revision Village Members

#1 IB Math Resource

Revision Village is ranked the #1 IB Math Resources by IB Students & Teachers.

34% Grade Increase

Revision Village students scored 34% greater than the IB Global Average in their exams (2021).

80% of IB Students

More and more IB students are using Revision Village to prepare for their IB Math Exams.

More IB English Resources

Language & literature sl, language & literature hl, literature sl, literature hl.

Overview: English A Literature SL

Note: first assessment 2021, from the IBO Language A Literature guide .

While many students may have reservations about attempting English A Literature SL, I found it to be an extremely enticing and exciting option to attempt as a part of my IB subjects. It not only fosters a lifelong interest in a wide range of literary texts and develops your analytical and critical thinking skills, but it also teaches you to be appreciative of various perspectives, cultures and texts. If you’re thinking about taking English A Literature SL, I’ve prepared an overview that may help you in making a decision!

Assessment Pattern

1. paper 1: guided literary analysis.

In Paper 1, you need to write one essay , choosing between two literary texts. Paper 1 lasts for 1 hour 15 minutes . The text types can be either prose, poetry, drama or non-fiction text. This paper accounts for 35% of your final grade , and the essay itself is marked out of 20 . Paper 1 is externally marked. 

2. Paper 2: Comparative Essay

Please note that Paper 2 has been cancelled for students taking the May 2021 and 2022 IBDP exams

In Paper 2, you will be given four questions from which you need to attempt one. You will need to compare two works you have studied during your course and write one essay . Most schools study between 4-5 texts during the two years of IB, and you can choose any two that you are comfortable with! The time limit for this paper is 1 hour 45 minutes . The questions in Paper 2 will be general in nature, such that theoretically any of the texts can be used when answering them. 

For example, a sample Paper 2 question is:

This paper accounts for 35% of your grade , and the essay itself is marked out of 30 . Like Paper 1, it is externally marked. Some important things to note include:

• You won’t have access to your texts or any extracts during the exam, so remember to prepare accordingly! 
• According to the Language A: literature guide for exams starting in 2021 , you are not expected to include quotations from the works you have studied, but you need to make detailed references to them.

3. Individual Oral (IOC/IA)

The Individual Oral involves an analysis of a global issue of your choice, that is to be supported by two extracts: one should be a work in translation and the other a work in English. It accounts for 30% of your final grade and is marked out of 40. For your oral, you can prepare your transcript beforehand (YAYY!) 

One very important thing you should keep in mind is that your analysis addresses the global issue you have chosen. The exact prompt given by the IB in the Language A: literature guide for exams starting in 2021 is:

Please keep in mind that you cannot use the text you are studying for Paper 2 for your Oral.

The Learner’s Portfolio

Essentially, the Learner’s Portfolio is a way for you, as a student to record the various assignments you do in class. In our school, we use the learner’s portfolio to record any peer-review work or essays we attempted as part of our coursework. 

This is not assessed by the IB, but it is really helpful to maintain a well-structured portfolio. 

Especially during this pandemic, where some of you may not be able to give your final IB exams, the learner’s portfolio could be used to supplement your predicted grades. 

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CANDIDATES OF MAY 2021 AND MAY 2022: 

Please be mindful of the changes in the assessment pattern for your sessions due to the coronavirus. Paper 2 has been cancelled. Paper 1 accounts for 55% of your grade. Individual Oral accounts for 45% of your overall grade.

You may also like…

• Victoria’s Tips for English A Literature HL
• How to Deal with Academic Setbacks as an IB Student

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply, discover more from iblieve.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete ib extended essay guide: examples, topics, and ideas.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

What's Next?

Trying to figure out what extracurriculars you should do? Learn more about participating in the Science Olympiad , starting a club , doing volunteer work , and joining Student Government .

Studying for the SAT? Check out our expert study guide to the SAT . Taking the SAT in a month or so? Learn how to cram effectively for this important test .

Not sure where you want to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school . Also, determine your target SAT score or target ACT score .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Literary Analysis Essay

Literary Analysis Essay Writing

Last updated on: May 21, 2023

Literary Analysis Essay - Ultimate Guide By Professionals

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Dec 3, 2019

A literary analysis essay specifically examines and evaluates a piece of literature or a literary work. It also understands and explains the links between the small parts to their whole information.

It is important for students to understand the meaning and the true essence of literature to write a literary essay.

One of the most difficult assignments for students is writing a literary analysis essay. It can be hard to come up with an original idea or find enough material to write about. You might think you need years of experience in order to create a good paper, but that's not true.

This blog post will show you how easy it can be when you follow the steps given here.Writing such an essay involves the breakdown of a book into small parts and understanding each part separately. It seems easy, right?

Trust us, it is not as hard as good book reports but it may also not be extremely easy. You will have to take into account different approaches and explain them in relation with the chosen literary work.

It is a common high school and college assignment and you can learn everything in this blog.

Continue reading for some useful tips with an example to write a literary analysis essay that will be on point. You can also explore our detailed article on writing an analytical essay .

On this Page

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay is an important kind of essay that focuses on the detailed analysis of the work of literature.

The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to explain why the author has used a specific theme for his work. Or examine the characters, themes, literary devices , figurative language, and settings in the story.

This type of essay encourages students to think about how the book or the short story has been written. And why the author has created this work.

The method used in the literary analysis essay differs from other types of essays. It primarily focuses on the type of work and literature that is being analyzed.

Mostly, you will be going to break down the work into various parts. In order to develop a better understanding of the idea being discussed, each part will be discussed separately.

The essay should explain the choices of the author and point of view along with your answers and personal analysis.

How To Write A Literary Analysis Essay

So how to start a literary analysis essay? The answer to this question is quite simple.

The following sections are required to write an effective literary analysis essay. By following the guidelines given in the following sections, you will be able to craft a winning literary analysis essay.

Introduction

The aim of the introduction is to establish a context for readers. You have to give a brief on the background of the selected topic.

It should contain the name of the author of the literary work along with its title. The introduction should be effective enough to grab the reader’s attention.

In the body section, you have to retell the story that the writer has narrated. It is a good idea to create a summary as it is one of the important tips of literary analysis.

Other than that, you are required to develop ideas and disclose the observed information related to the issue. The ideal length of the body section is around 1000 words.

To write the body section, your observation should be based on evidence and your own style of writing.

It would be great if the body of your essay is divided into three paragraphs. Make a strong argument with facts related to the thesis statement in all of the paragraphs in the body section.

Start writing each paragraph with a topic sentence and use transition words when moving to the next paragraph.

Summarize the important points of your literary analysis essay in this section. It is important to compose a short and strong conclusion to help you make a final impression of your essay.

Pay attention that this section does not contain any new information. It should provide a sense of completion by restating the main idea with a short description of your arguments. End the conclusion with your supporting details.

You have to explain why the book is important. Also, elaborate on the means that the authors used to convey her/his opinion regarding the issue.

For further understanding, here is a downloadable literary analysis essay outline. This outline will help you structure and format your essay properly and earn an A easily.

DOWNLOADABLE LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY OUTLINE (PDF)

Types of Literary Analysis Essay

• Close reading - This method involves attentive reading and detailed analysis. No need for a lot of knowledge and inspiration to write an essay that shows your creative skills.
• Theoretical - In this type, you will rely on theories related to the selected topic.
• Historical - This type of essay concerns the discipline of history. Sometimes historical analysis is required to explain events in detail.
• Applied - This type involves analysis of a specific issue from a practical perspective.
• Comparative - This type of writing is based on when two or more alternatives are compared

Examples of Literary Analysis Essay

Examples are great to understand any concept, especially if it is related to writing. Below are some great literary analysis essay examples that showcase how this type of essay is written.

A ROSE FOR EMILY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE GREAT GATSBY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

If you do not have experience in writing essays, this will be a very chaotic process for you. In that case, it is very important for you to conduct good research on the topic before writing.

There are two important points that you should keep in mind when writing a literary analysis essay.

First, remember that it is very important to select a topic in which you are interested. Choose something that really inspires you. This will help you to catch the attention of a reader.

The selected topic should reflect the main idea of writing. In addition to that, it should also express your point of view as well.

Another important thing is to draft a good outline for your literary analysis essay. It will help you to define a central point and division of this into parts for further discussion.

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Literary analysis essays are mostly based on artistic works like books, movies, paintings, and other forms of art. However, generally, students choose novels and books to write their literary essays.

Some cool, fresh, and good topics and ideas are listed below:

• Role of the Three Witches in flaming Macbeth’s ambition.
• Analyze the themes of the Play Antigone,
• Discuss Ajax as a tragic hero.
• The Judgement of Paris: Analyze the Reasons and their Consequences.
• Oedipus Rex: A Doomed Son or a Conqueror?
• Describe the Oedipus complex and Electra complex in relation to their respective myths.
• Betrayal is a common theme of Shakespearean tragedies. Discuss
• Identify and analyze the traits of history in T.S Eliot’s ‘Gerontion’.
• Analyze the theme of identity crisis in The Great Gatsby.
• Analyze the writing style of Emily Dickinson.

If you are still in doubt then there is nothing bad in getting professional writers’ help.

We at 5StarEssays.com can help you get a custom paper as per your specified requirements with our do essay for me service.

Our essay writers will help you write outstanding literary essays or any other type of essay. Such as compare and contrast essays, descriptive essays, rhetorical essays. We cover all of these.

So don’t waste your time browsing the internet and place your order now to get your well-written custom paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a literary analysis essay include.

A good literary analysis essay must include a proper and in-depth explanation of your ideas. They must be backed with examples and evidence from the text. Textual evidence includes summaries, paraphrased text, original work details, and direct quotes.

What are the 4 components of literary analysis?

Here are the 4 essential parts of a literary analysis essay;

No literary work is explained properly without discussing and explaining these 4 things.

How do you start a literary analysis essay?

Start your literary analysis essay with the name of the work and the title. Hook your readers by introducing the main ideas that you will discuss in your essay and engage them from the start.

How do you do a literary analysis?

In a literary analysis essay, you study the text closely, understand and interpret its meanings. And try to find out the reasons behind why the author has used certain symbols, themes, and objects in the work.

Why is literary analysis important?

It encourages the students to think beyond their existing knowledge, experiences, and belief and build empathy. This helps in improving the writing skills also.

What is the fundamental characteristic of a literary analysis essay?

Interpretation is the fundamental and important feature of a literary analysis essay. The essay is based on how well the writer explains and interprets the work.

Law, Finance Essay

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• Interesting Literary Analysis Essay Topics for Students

• Write a Perfect Literary Analysis Essay Outline

People Also Read

• research paper example
• opinion essay
• 1000 word essay
• autobiography writing
• hook examples

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

IBDP English A Literature

Website by Mark Beverley & David White

Updated 8 April 2024

InThinking Subject Sites

Subscription websites for IB teachers & their classes

Find out more

• www.thinkib.net
• IBDP Biology
• IBDP Business Management
• IBDP Chemistry
• IBDP Economics
• IBDP English A: Language & Literature
• IBDP English B
• IBDP Environmental Systems & Societies
• IBDP French B
• IBDP Geography
• IBDP German A: Language & Literature
• IBDP History
• IBDP Maths: Analysis & Approaches
• IBDP Maths: Applications & Interpretation
• IBDP Physics
• IBDP Psychology
• IBDP Spanish A
• IBDP Spanish Ab Initio
• IBDP Spanish B
• IBDP Visual Arts
• IBMYP English Language & Literature
• IBMYP Resources
• IBMYP Spanish Language Acquisition
• IBCareer-related Programme
• IBSchool Leadership

Disclaimer : InThinking subject sites are neither endorsed by nor connected with the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

InThinking Subject Sites for IB Teachers and their Classes

Supporting ib educators.

• Comprehensive help & advice on teaching the IB diploma.
• Written by experts with vast subject knowledge.
• Innovative ideas on ATL & pedagogy.
• Detailed guidance on all aspects of assessment.

Developing great materials

• More than 14 million words across 24 sites.
• Masses of ready-to-go resources for the classroom.
• Dynamic links to current affairs & real world issues.
• Updates every week 52 weeks a year.

Integrating student access

• Give your students direct access to relevant site pages.
• Single student login for all of your school’s subscriptions.
• Create reading, writing, discussion, and quiz tasks.
• Monitor student progress & collate in online gradebook.

Meeting schools' needs

• Global reach with more than 200,000 users worldwide.
• Use our materials to create compelling unit plans.
• Save time & effort which you can reinvest elsewhere.
• Consistently good feedback from subscribers.

For information about pricing, click here

Download brochure

See what users are saying about our Subject Sites:

Find out more about our Student Access feature:

• Paper 1 sample response #1
• Paper 1: sample responses
• Responses to poetry

The following example guided literary analysis is written in response to the poem "The Bat" by Ruth Pitter and a guiding question focused on how the poet portrays the development of the speaker"s attitude towards the creature. This is a good response and a useful exemplar to use as its strengths are clear and will seem attainable for many students; at the same time, it presents some good opportunities to discuss how...

To access the entire contents of this site, you need to log in or subscribe to it.

Alternatively, you can request a one month free trial .

Extended essay

The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

One component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, the extended essay is mandatory for all students.

Read about the extended essay  in greater detail.

You can also read about how the IB sets deadlines for the extended essay , find examples of extended essay titles from previous DP students and learn about the world studies extended essay .

Learn more about the extended essay in a DP workshop for teachers . 

DP subject briefs

Find out about what each subject offers within the Diploma Programme (DP).

Our DP subject briefs—for both standard and higher level—contain information about core requirements, aims and assessment.

• Explore the DP subject briefs

We use cookies on this site. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.   Read more about cookies