HLE Brainstorming

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Lesson objectives 

Homework check and share 

HLE examiner's feedback 

HLE construction and steps to take 

Assess the assessment criteria and read an example essay 

Assess the essay 

Act 1 scene 7 Lady Macbeth's persuasive abilities 

Constructing your line of inquiry 

Develop initially a number of lines of inquiry. These must include the following elements:

Question word 

Author 

Text 

Genre/text type

Literary/Linguistic technique

Insightful idea 

Precise context 

The line of inquiry is the question you will answer in your essay. When you flip it and answer it, that is your thesis statement. 

Constructing your line of inquiry 

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

Now take 15 minutes to construct at least one, possibly more lines of inquiry.

Brainstorming Ideas and Features in the text 

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

This step will help our to break down the line of inquiry. Consider the insightful idea(s). Do this before you search for evidence in the text(s) 

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

Literary or linguistic aspects (conventions realism)	Features/techniques	Insightful idea(struggle identity men and women)
Realistic plot	-plausible story that the audience can relate to - Limited characters	- Allows audience to understand this complex societal issue (struggle for identity) through the simplistic plot line
Believable characters	-People that the audience could encounter in real life -Middle class	- Bank manager, doctor, housewife, widow - Allows the audience to identify with the characters and consider their own role in this identity struggle
Simple dialogue	- pet names & endearments - No soliloquies - No asides - short exchanges	-infantilisation of Nora by Torvald highlights the men and women dynamic - lack of insight into the inner world of the characters means that actions become highlighted - Tarantella - struggle

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

Literary or linguistic aspects (conventions realism)	Features/techniques	Insightful idea(struggle identity men and women)
discussion of prescient social issues (through the use of stereotypes)	borrowing money women - widowed women - marrying for financial protection - Financial restrictions - punishment from society	- Some stereotypical character features clarify this complex issue. - interaction Nora and Krogstad identities - interaction Nora and Torvald identities - interaction Nora and Mrs Linde identities
Criticism of social injustice	- stages an alternative way of being a woman - criticism of women's complicity in society - criticism of men's role in society	- highlights the power dynamics between men and women (all characters) - Focuses on both men and women through the three men and three women - differing identities
Realistic sets	- stove - Christmas tree, doors etc symbolism - Three walls showing a realistic room fully furnished (breaking the fourth wall not in theatre realism)	- Nora is 'trapped' within the 3 walls of her front room. Physically struggling to get out of the front door - The middle class audience recognise or would aspire to this front room - Audience

Finding evidence and outlining 

re of 

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

One you have generated ideas and features, you can move to outlining your body paragraphs. Now you must find textual references that link to the features that you will discuss. It is essential that you plan the structure of your HLE before writing. Jumping into an introduction when you don't know where you are going will result in ending up somewhere you don't want to be. 

Finding evidence and outlining 

re of 

You should have generated a number of topics which will help to answer your field of inquiry. Each main topic is one body paragraph. 

Finding evidence and outlining 

re of 

How does Hendrik Ibsen utilize the conventions of realism within theatre in his play A Doll's House  to convey the struggle for identity for both men and women in Norwegian society in the 1800s?

For this essay, these topics could each be focused on in one body paragraph:

1. realistic plot and believable characters. 

2. Simple dialogue 

3. Use if somewhat stereotypical characters to highlight prescient social issues

4. criticism of social injustice 

5. Realistic sets 

It is essential to bring in evidence for your arguments. 

Understanding assessment 

In your pairs, sort the assessment criteria for the HLE.

Level 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 

Total points available for the HLE 20% of your grade 

Check your answer 

Examiner report 

Every year the IB examiners publishing a report on the work that our candidates submit. This can be an eye-opener to show what the pitfalls are that candidates can fall into. Avoid them! 

Feedback from the examiners crit A 

Feedback from the examiners crit B 

Feedback from the examiners crit B 

Feedback from the examiners crit C 

Feedback from the examiners crit D

Highlighting

Read the HLE and as you read highlight the following aspects of this work: 

1. Literary or Stylistic Features 

2. Textual references (quotes or references)

3. Author/ reader (audience) relationship (effect on reader) 

4. Line of Inquiry/ insightful idea

5. Transitions 

Lesson objectives 

Homework check and share 

HLE examiner's feedback 

Act 1 scene 7 Lady Macbeth's persuasive abilities 

Act 2 scene 1 Banquo, Fleance and Macbeth's thoughts in a soliloquy 

DRAFT UPLOAD HLE IS 13th OCTOBER

HLE draft upload date!

The date for upload of your HLE has been set at 

13th October. 

It is now in MB 

Grade 

Give the essay points out of 20 and justify your answers. 

- What did they do well? 

- What could they have done better?

- Read the examiner's marks and comments

HLE

Read the second example HLE and grade the paper.