PHS IB English HL

International Baccalaureate English (Language A1, HL) at Provo High School is a two-year program emphasizing the analysis of literature. Junior IB students take AP English and develop strong rhetorical awareness, critical writing skills and literature analysis skills with poetry, British and American novels, and drama. A1 Part 4 works are studied in the eleventh grade, A1 Parts 1, 2, and 3 emphasizing American, British, Irish, African and Middle Eastern literature are studied in twelfth grade in IB English.

Grade 11-----The class focuses on world literature. In this course the students learn to write and speak about literature by addressing prompts, focusing on the resources of language used by writers such as diction, imagery, style, point of view (and other elements of style) from the texts they study. An AP level unit of rhetorical study allows students to observe and then write strategically. Class is typically a seminar setting where the teachers and students discuss and defend literary interpretations for the cannon of literature. Students critically read and write analytical papers.

Grade 12----

Building on the skills from the Junior year, students continue the critical analysis of American, British, and world literature. Rhetorical strategies, literary criticism, and writing strategies are again stressed. Additionally, works studied in the junior year are reviewed when relevant to new literature. Students read about the human condition in various milieus widening students’ world views and depth of feeling. Advanced writing skills and literary analysis are emphasized.

Assessment:

Preparation for all assessment begins at the beginning of eleventh grade as students learn to read closely and critically. Students write analytical papers focusing on theme and style. In twelfth grade (IB English), students continue critical reading and analytical writing and much class time is devoted to discussion and debate of not only what the author is saying but the strategies he/she employs. Time is set aside to prepare student to write comparative studies, commentaries, arguments, and essays dealing with specific genres. Students practice in both classes for the oral commentary and the oral presentation.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

Eleventh graders give their Individual Oral Presentations and will be assessed according to IB criteria. Students practice with assessment criteria by delivering oral presentations and scoring their peers prior to the graded Oral Presentation.

The second internal assessment, the Individual Oral Commentary, occurs in the 12^th grade IB English course. The IB classrooms emphasis criticism with commentary tested in the Oral Commentary. During the official Oral Commentaries given at Provo High School, students will prepare in one room and be assessed in another.

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS

During the first week of the 12^th grade IB English course, students learn the grading criteria for the written assignments – Paper 1 and Paper 2. For Paper 1, students compare two works from Part 1. Paper 2 requires a similar comparative study, creative assignment, or detailed study of works not covered in Paper 1.

Two other external assessments take place. The first is a Written Commentary on a piece of poetry or prose. The second is an essay on the genre studied in Part 3 (novels). Students learn the criteria for both of these written assignment at the beginning of the third quarter of 12^th grade IB English.

The IB assessments include specific generative assignments to develop student skills for IB Assessment. Based on class work, teachers calculate term grades four times a year for Provo School District and the State of Utah. The graded assignments and the activities of the IB curriculum surpass state curriculum standards.

Resources:

Standards:

http://www.ibo.org

Helpful Websites:

Provo High School

An “IB World School”

1125 N. University Ave.

Provo, UT 84604

Phone: 801-373-6550

Fax: 801-374-4880

IB Coordinator:: Lori Rich

LoriR@provo.edu