Written Assignment

Weighting: 20%This consists of a creative writing task of 500–600 words linked to one or two literary texts read in class and a 150–250 word rationale. It must be written during the final year of the course and is externally assessed. It must be the independent work of the student, under the teacher’s guidance.

Requirements: rationaleStudents must write a 150–250 word rationale introducing the assignment that must include:• a brief introduction to the literary text(s)• an explanation of how the task is linked to the literary text(s)• the student’s intended aim(s)• explanation of how the student intends to achieve his or her aim(s)—choice of text types, audience, register, style and so on.

Requirements: task• a creative piece of writing that will be based on

‘Animal Farm’ or ‘Lord of the Flies’. • task must be 500–600 words in length• Students should effectively use a range of

language appropriate to the chosen text type and aim(s) stated in the rationale.

Formal Guidelines

• Must be your own work• Agree your choice of

assignment with me first• You can produce a first

draft, about which I can give you verbal feedback only

Text types: Speech

Will include…

a semi-formal to formal register, perhaps with flashes of informality

speech rhetoric e.g. rhetorical questions, repetition, flashes of humour

an address to the audience and keep contact with them throughout (e.g. use of “we” and “you” etc.)

catching the audience’s attention at the beginning, and leave a clear impression at the end

Text types: News report

Will include…

• a headline, and possibly sub-headline• a semi-formal to formal register - i.e.

simple, clear and direct• factual information methodically, usually

from main facts to subordinate details• short paragraphs , for clear and accessible

reading• use of quotes

Will include…

• an informal register• Use of first person narration• heading with a date or day• reflection on the part of the writer,

e.g. self-questioning

CO: to assessment an example of the written assignment using the IB assessment criteria

Today we are going to grade a written assignment using the official assignment criteria.

You will be working in pairs.

First, read the rationale to see if it includes these things…

• a brief introduction to the literary text(s)• an explanation of how the task is linked to the literary text(s)• the student’s intended aim(s)• explanation of how the student intends to achieve his or her aim(s)—choice of text types, audience, register, style and so on.

CO: to assessment an example of the written assignment using the IB assessment criteria

Weak assignments…

• Didn’t relate the task to the rationale• Didn’t relate the task to the literary work• Didn’t clearly state aims in the rationale• Didn’t explain how the text type would inform the

taskAlso…• new endings or new chapters were generally not

successful

Strong assignments…

-specified which part of the literary work was included in the assignment-commented on how text type, audience, register and style help to achieve aims

Final tips…

• focus your task on a specific aspect/part of the literary work to demonstrate understanding of the literary work

• Make sure your task is strongly linked to the literary work

• In the task, DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO in the rationale

• Use language appropriate the your text type• Don’t copy a lot from the literary text