Class Information

IB Language A Literature HL II

     This yearlong class involves detailed and comparative studies of prose, non-prose, poetry, and drama.  Upon completion of studying four works in translation (two having been taught in HL I) each student will prepare and deliver his/her Individual Oral Commentary by selecting two passages, one from a work in translation and another from a work studied in HL I or HL II, to identify a prominent global issue. The IOC is moderated by IB as an internal assessment.
     IB Language A Literature HL II students should anticipate reading closely, annotating each text, memorizing myriad pieces of evidence, and refining critical thinking, speaking, listening, and writing skills to earn the IB Diploma. This is a rigorous college-level class where deadlines matter, as do directions.
     We begin the year with a deep dive into the summer reading texts, The Stranger by Albert Camus (978-0679720201)  and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (978-1400078776), which are annotated and due the first day of class. See directions for annotating under "Summer Reading." 
     The other texts being studied in 2020-2021 include the following:
  • Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (978-0374531386)
  • Opened Ground by Seamus Heaney (978-0374526788)  
  • A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (978-0141194561)
  • Fences by August Wilson (978-0452264014)
  • Arcadia by Tom Stoppard (978-0802126993)
Please purchase these specific editions as noted by ISBNs; we will be discussing the books and need to be on the same page.
​     Instruction for crafting oral commentary will include analytical writing, Paideia discussions, podcast creation, blog creation/maintenance, etc. Assessments at the conclusion of each text are framed around IB Paper One or Paper Two Rubrics. Paper One for HL is comprised of two analyses of two different unseen works. Paper Two is a comparative analysis of two works studied in HL. Both Paper One and Paper Two are completed during IB testing in May 2021. 

Literature & Film


​In this elective, students study films ranging from classics to present-day award-winning movies, striving to analyze the plot and the methods by which the director establishes mood and meaning.  A keen exploration of lighting, sound, dialogue, etc., leads students to refine their critical thinking skills, as they are encouraged to learn how to read in the dark during their study of film. 
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Students, for the most up-to-date information about assignments and deadlines, please find syllabi and other pertinent class information on Canvas.
Cheers,
Mrs. Osburn