HLE introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Simar,  Anton,  Alessandro,

Vera, Eliza, Juul 

Eva, Tilly, Annefleur

Guusje, Viola

Cia, Lisa, Dasha

Symon, Oya, Mert

Nishtha, Keesje, Janna

Mijntje, Sofia, Marlene

Elias, Ilia, Ashwika

Ayla, Sonny, Liv

 Constance, Mila, Kristof,

Board

Teacher's desk

Door 

          Higher Level Essay

Ms Nusser-Triggs 

Bring an exercise book to class tomorrow 

Bring Candide (Lit) 

Bring 1984 (Lang Lit) 

Examination components 

HLE	20%	Externally assessed	Draft 10th October 17th November 2025
IO	20%	Internally assessed - externally moderated	9th - 13th February 2026
Paper 1	35%	Externally assessed	May 2026
Paper 2	25%	Externally assessed	May 2026

Seating plan Lang Lit DP2 

Board 

Door

Window 

Higher Level Essay

The Higher Level Essay is a 1200-1500 word essay completed internally but externally assessed by an IB examiner. It is a processed piece of writing that is completed over time and with guidance from the teacher. It is the only opportunity for Higher Level students to write an essay not under exam conditions, and as the title suggests, this is for HL Lit or Lang Lit students only.

Higher Level Essay

•  This essay is 20% of your overall grade. You will choose the topic on which you want to write in relation to any of the works you have studied and go through a planning and drafting process.   
• This assessment component is an opportunity for you to explore a topic taught in DP1 in which you have an interest
  
• It allows you to develop understanding of the planning, drafting and re-drafting stages in consultation with your  teacher. These are skills needed for future academic study and your Extended Essay. 

 

Higher Level Essay

You may write about a non-literary text (for Lang Lit students) or texts studied as part of this course. Alternatively, you may write about a literary work studied as part of this course. You may select any texts or works already studied as part of the course, but texts and works used for the internal assessment (individual oral) or paper 2 are out of bounds.  

Higher Level Essay - Lang Lit

If you decide to focus on non-literary texts, and consult a number of texts, it is important that these texts are of the same text type, and that the texts are the work of one writer or producer. Also, at least one of the texts must have been studied in class as part of the course. You may base your essay on texts or works in translation. These should be professional translations. 

No double dipping ! 

Higher Level Essay quiz

1. How long, in number of words, is the HL essay? 
2. What text type is a this component? 

1. What topic do you base your HLE on? 
2. What is double dipping? 
3. When is your draft due in? 
4. When is your final HLE due in? 
5. Should you use secondary sources? 

Higher Level Essay recap

• The HLE is a 1200-1500 word formal, academic essay.
  
• The HLE is a processed essay and will take time to develop.
  
• The HLE is based on a literary or non-literary texts(s) studied in the course.
  
• You select their own topic, title, line of inquiry and thesis although your teacher is there to guide and support you. 
• You cannot base your essay on any work or text that was used for the Individual Oral or that will be used for Paper 2.
  
• It is not a requirement to use or consult secondary sources, but you may. 
  

Important dates - non-negotiable 

1. Proposal form available in Managebac 8th September. Upload your proposal form before the lesson on Monday 15th September.
2. First draft Friday 10th October upload to Managebac. This is the only work that you will get written feedback on; therefore, it should be as close as possible to your final essay. 
   
3. 17th November final version uploaded to Managebac. HLE checked for plagiarism (also externally) 

Orientation 

1. Make use of your exercise book(s) for English. Start by going back through your exercise book and explore potential topics, asking your teacher for advice.
2. Spend time thinking carefully about the topic
3. Pay careful attention to the process of planning, drafting and re-drafting. Make sure you plan carefully and in detail. The more time you spend on the planning stages, the more likely it is that you will produce a successful piece of work.

 

  

A good line of inquiry should...

• Preferably revolve around any of the seven concepts: 
  
• Identity, culture, creativity, communication, perspective, transformation, representation. 
• Study central topics/themes/ideas/global issues from your text
  
• Study literary techniques or relevant stylistic devices
  
• Consider audience
  
• Consider purpose
  
• Be based on work(s) studied in class (primary source), although not limited to the texts studied in class. 
  

Menu of literary texts & BOWs studied in Lang Lit DP1

Wislawa Szymborska Selected Poems	A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen	BOW Advertising Army recruitment	BOW photographic journalism Philip Jones Griffiths
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien	1984 by George Orwell	BOW Political /social commentary cartoons Liza Donnelly Kal Kallaugher	BOW Maureen Dowd Opinion Column

Menu of literary texts studied in Lit DP1 

Wislawa Szymborska Selected Poems	A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen	A Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
The Garden Party and other stories Katherine Mansfield	The Visit Dürrenmatt	If this is a Man Primo Levi

Menu of literary texts studied in Lit DP2

Candide Voltaire	Macbeth or Othello William Shakespeare
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien	The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald	A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess

Menu of literary texts & BOWs studied in Lang Lit DP2

The White Tiger Aravind Adiga,	BOW Infographics
Macbeth or Othello William Shakespeare	BOW Magazine articles

Step 1 choose your text. Discuss in your group

• What is a text from the course that you have enjoyed (or even loved)? 
  
• Which literary and non-literary text (Lang Lit students) will you hold back for the individual Oral (February)? 
  
• Which two literary works (one in translation) will you hold back for the individual Oral (February)? 
• Which three literary texts will you hold back for paper 2 comparative essay? 
  

Step 2 brainstorm two areas 

Ideas, topics and Global issues	in my chosen text
Technical/Literary aspects	in my chosen text

In order to construct a strong line of inquiry, you will need both techniques and/or literary aspects and a significant idea or topic or theme. 

Share your initial choice of text(s), possible ideas/topics and technical or literary techniques.

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, line(s) of inquiry.

Post your initial line of inquiry

Introduction HLE 

1. A creative hook that introduces the topic

2. Definition of terms (preferably with sources)

3. Context and historical background

4. The line of inquiry with the literary aspect and an insightful idea.

Conclusion  HLE 

1. Restatement of the thesis or argument. 

2. Synthesis of the paper without rehashing the main ideas. AVOID summarizing main ideas.

3. Extension beyond the texts to a wider context. Answer the question, “So What?” End with a flourish!

Formatting - hand in 17th November on managebac before 9:00 am