HLE introduction

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

Today's objectives 

Understand the HLE within the examination 

Consider and rank Lines of Inquiry 

Produce and engage with several lines of inquiry 

Understand and note the restrictions and opportunities of this exam component 

Examination components 

HLE	20%	Externally assessed	Final version 6th October Edited version 9th November 2026
IO	20%	Internally assessed - externally moderated	15th - 19th February 2027
Paper 1	35%	Externally assessed	26th April 2027
Paper 2	25%	Externally assessed	27th April 2027

Quotes for today. True or false? 

"The HL Essay is about finding a theme." 

"The HL Essay is like an Extended Essay." 

"The best HL Essays have complicated vocabulary." 

"A broad topic gives you more to write about." 

"The essay is fundamentally about authorial choices." 

The HL Essay is about finding a theme

The HL Essay is like an Extended Essay.

The best HL Essays have complicated vocabulary.

A broad topic gives you more to write about.

The essay is fundamentally about authorial choices.

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.

HLE - Vote Line of Inquiry (LOI)

A. The theme of power in Macbeth 

B. How does Shakespeare use imagery of disease to expose the corrupting effects of political ambition in Macbeth? 

C. Gender in The Handmaid's Tale 

D. How does Atwood use narrative unreliability to challenge assumptions about female agency? 

Which LOI could earn the highest marks?

A: The theme of power in Macbeth

B: How does Shakespeare use imagery of disease to expose the corrupting effects of political ambition in Macbeth?

C: Gender in The Handmaid's Tale

D:How does Atwood use narrative unreliability to challenge assumptions about female agency?

Discuss & feedback 

Work with your neighbour to the left

B and D could be the most successful. Why? Explain.

Assessment criterion 

Have a look at the assessment criteria.&nbsp;<div>Can you see in the assessment criteria why these LOIs could be the most successful?&nbsp;</div>

Consider 

Write down a theme 

Theme

Consider 

Give me an authorial choice 

Authorial choice

Choose 

pick two suggestions on the board

Combine them to make a 

rudimentary LOI 

Rudimentary LOI

Discuss 

1. Considering the LOIs produced by students in previous years, take notes on the successful and less successful aspects of these LOIs. 

2. Which ones are too narrow or too broad? Which could be explored in a maximum of 1,500 words? 

3. Now make a ranking of your top 10. 

Higher Level Essay

•  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.  

Menu of literary texts & BOWs studied in Lang Lit DP1

The White Tiger Aravind Adiga	A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen	BOW Advertising Army recruitment Dove	BOW photographic journalism Philip Jones Griffiths
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien	1984 by George Orwell (read, but not analysed)	BOW Political /social commentary cartoons Liza Donnelly Kal Kallaugher	BOW Infographics Fact.ly India

Menu of literary texts studied in Lit DP1 

Carol Ann Duffy selected poems	A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen	The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
The Garden Party and other stories Katherine Mansfield	The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald	If this is a Man Primo Levi (read, but not analysed)

Menu of literary texts studied in Lit DP2

The Visit Friedrich Durrenmatt	Othello William Shakespeare
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien	A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess

Menu of literary texts & BOWs studied in Lang Lit DP2

Wislaw Szymborska Selected poetry	BOW Letters	BOW Blogs
Othello William Shakespeare	BOW Magazine articles

HLE formula challenge 

How does ...

use ...

to explore/represent/

challenge etc ...

in order to ...

Use the model structure to produce a LOI

Take some time to produce two possible LOIs. 

1) A safe choice 

2) A more risky or original choice 

1) Post your ideas (at least two)<div>2) Heart the most interesting idea you have read</div><div>3)Comment on an idea that needs narrowing down. Give suggestions.&nbsp;</div><div>4) Identify an idea that you think is particularly risky or original. Give feedback.&nbsp;<br><div><br><div><br></div></div></div>

https://padlet.com/r_nusser2/higher-level-essay-lois-generated-qn64m73chuh0xk9q

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 ! 

Consider these ideas and restrictions 

• What is a text from the course that you have enjoyed (or even loved)? 
  
• LL: Which literary and non-literary text (Lang Lit students) will you hold back for the individual Oral (February)? 
  
• Lit: 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? Both Lit and LL students. 
  

Important dates - non-negotiable 

1. Proposal form hand in on 4th September in MB  
2. Final version Tuesday 6th October upload to Managebac. This is the only work that you will get written feedback on. 
   
3. 9th November edited version uploaded to Managebac. HLE checked for plagiarism (also externally) 

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 Final Version due in? 
4. When is your Edited Version 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. 
• Final Version due in on 6th October, Edited Version due in on 9th November
• 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. 
  

HOMEWORK 

Prepare three LOIs to submit to your teacher for consideration.

Use the Padlet for inspiration. 

4th September submit your proposal form on MB dropbox. 

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. 
  

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.&nbsp;

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.

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 9th November on managebac before 9:00 am