P2 samples
17/25 Persepolis and Barefoot Gen
Read the following Paper 2 essay question and the student's response to it, which was written in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Apply the assessment criteria and discuss the marks that you would award the essay before reading the examiner's marks and comments. How different were your marks and comments from the examiner's marks and comments? What improvements could be made to this student's oral, in order to achieve better results?
Essay question: In works of literature, characters often undergo or resist change. Discuss how, and with what effect, the works of at least two writers you have studied depict change and/or resistance.
Student Response
Paper 2 SL/HL assessment criteria
Examiner's comments and marks
Mr Philpot's new-and-improved response
Assessment
Perhaps the success of this essay can be attributed to the fact that the student compares two works of the same text type. Barefoot Gen and Persepolis are both graphic novels. This allows the student to more easily compare and contrast some of the authorial choices. What's more, the works deal with similar themes, which works in the candidate's favour. Make sure that the success of your Paper 2 starts already with good choices of works.