How to do well in IB English B HL Orals

1. HL Oral:
‘make use’
A guide to Criterion B1
& to doing good presentations

2. you do something actively – you don’t just respond passively or lazily
you do something with or to the raw material
you do something constructively - you organise the material, for a purpose or 'use'
If you 'make use' of something, you do something:

3. "observations and opinions“ …
 take an 'angle' on the extract
- i.e. develop a point of view which involve interpretations and explanations.
… which should be "supported" by "reference to the extract"
… such 'reference’ means both
 direct, specific quotation
 summary of details of the message of the extract.
‘What should I talk about?’

4. Read-through
... step-by-step interpretation, following the sequence of the text
... regular reference to meaning of text, with some detailed quotation
** Note that this approach is the most reliable in terms of achieving high marks under Criterion B1.
Single thesis
... 1 key aspect, developed in detail
... based on detailed interpretation of selected quotes
... may extrapolate to an overall theme of the work
Complex thesis
... 2 or more key aspects, related
... based on imaginatively selected quotes
… extended to overall themes of the work
Approaches – try these…

5. Approaches – avoid these…
Simple summary
... Vague overall generalisations about the extract
Arbitrary aspects
... Random bits and pieces of the extract OR the work as a whole

6. Precise quotes
– interpreted and contextualized
Simple quotes
– mentioned + generalisations
References
– to phrases, sections, events in extract (which may be more, or less, precise)
Support

7. Precise quotes
– interpreted and contextualized
Simple quotes
– mentioned + generalisations
References
– to phrases, sections, events in extract (which may be more, or less, precise)
Support
But be careful with…
Generalisations about the extract
- (without clear & specific references)
Generalisations about the literary work as a whole
- (without clear, useful links to the extract itself)

8. evident structure – “say what the structure is”
... a stated plan or 'map’
… clear, direct explanation of the overall argument
(e.g. #1 proposed thesis > #2 detailed reasoning > #3 thesis revisited/concluded)
effective articulation – “make sure that one idea leads to the next”
... use of cohesive devices
… step-by-step logic which link stages of the argument together
consistent coherence – “don’t wander off the point”
... the main thread of the argument is clear throughout
… without digression or irrelevance
Structure