IBDP English A – Individual Oral (IO)

IBDP Individual Oral (IO)

The First 10 Minutes

In today’s Individual Oral, I will explore the global issue of how social media impacts personal identity through two distinct texts: a passage from George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” and the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers” from Englishmelon.com. Orwell’s text presents a world where identity is manipulated and controlled by an authoritarian regime, while the article provides a critical examination of how social media influences perceptions of success and identity in the context of the Olympic Games. Both texts reflect the broader theme of external forces shaping individual self-perception and self-worth.

Orwell’s “1984” vividly illustrates the theme of identity loss through its portrayal of a dystopian society under the omnipresent control of the Party. In the selected passage, Orwell describes the intrusive surveillance apparatus of the Party, particularly the telescreens, which are “capable of both seeing and hearing everything.” Orwell’s use of dark, oppressive imagery creates an atmosphere where privacy is virtually nonexistent. The telescreens, positioned in every public and private space, symbolize the Party’s invasive reach. The passage underscores how this constant surveillance erodes personal identity, as Winston Smith, the protagonist, finds his every thought and action monitored. The Party’s control over truth and historical records further exacerbates this loss of self, as Winston’s understanding of reality is constantly manipulated. Orwell writes, “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” This statement highlights the extent of the Party’s power to reshape and control individual identity by controlling the perception of reality itself.

In contrast, the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers” offers a contemporary perspective on how social media impacts personal identity by examining the portrayal of Olympic athletes. The article discusses how social media amplifies the binary narrative of winners versus losers. For example, it notes that “social media platforms are flooded with celebratory posts about gold medalists, while silver and bronze winners, and those who did not win, often face a barrage of criticism and disappointment.” This portrayal of success and failure is amplified by the media’s focus on extreme outcomes, which influences how athletes and the general public perceive success and personal worth.

The article delves into specific examples, such as the contrasting reactions to athletes who win medals versus those who do not meet expectations. It highlights how gold medalists are celebrated with extensive media coverage and public adulation, while athletes who fall short of expectations may face harsh scrutiny. The article points out that “the relentless scrutiny and public judgment faced by Olympic athletes on social media can lead to severe impacts on their mental health and self-perception.” This commentary reveals how social media’s focus on binary success and failure can distort individuals’ understanding of their own achievements and worth.

The article also discusses the broader impact of this portrayal on the public’s perception of success. It argues that social media’s emphasis on extreme success and failure creates unrealistic standards, where individuals measure their own lives against the idealized successes or perceived failures of athletes. The visual elements of the article, such as images of athletes in moments of triumph or defeat, illustrate how these portrayals can shape public perceptions of identity. The article argues that “the glorification of winners and the vilification of losers perpetuate a skewed understanding of personal achievement, leading to a distorted sense of self-worth among both athletes and the general public.”

Both Orwell’s “1984” and the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers” use distinct methods to explore the theme of identity. Orwell’s use of dystopian imagery and oppressive tone in “1984” emphasizes how authoritarian control can erode personal identity. The telescreens and the manipulation of reality illustrate how an external force can dismantle individuality. On the other hand, the article’s modern critique of social media’s portrayal of Olympic success reveals how digital platforms can distort perceptions of self-worth and success. By analyzing these texts, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how different external forces—whether through totalitarian control or social media platforms—can significantly impact personal identity and self-perception. This juxtaposition offers valuable insights into the complexities of identity in varying contexts, highlighting the profound influence of external factors on how individuals understand and evaluate their own sense of self.

The Last 5 Minutes

Teacher-Student Conversation for the IBDP Individual Oral (5 minutes)

Teacher: Thank you for that thorough exploration of the global issue of social media’s impact on personal identity through Orwell’s “1984” and the article from Englishmelon.com. Let’s delve a bit deeper into your analysis. To start, could you explain how Orwell’s portrayal of the Party’s control in “1984” specifically impacts Winston Smith’s identity?

Student: Absolutely. In “1984,” the Party’s control is pervasive and insidious. The telescreens symbolize this control, constantly surveilling citizens and leaving them no room for privacy or personal thought. For Winston, this surveillance means he cannot trust his own thoughts or memories, leading to a fragmented sense of self. The Party’s manipulation of truth and reality makes it impossible for him to form a stable identity. This control culminates in the Party’s ultimate command to reject the evidence of one’s eyes and ears, which erodes Winston’s individuality and autonomy.

Teacher: That’s a strong interpretation. How does this erosion of identity in a dystopian context compare with the contemporary issue of social media’s influence on identity, as discussed in the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers”?

Student: The erosion of identity in Orwell’s dystopian world is more overt and forceful, as it’s driven by an authoritarian regime. In contrast, the impact of social media on identity, as discussed in the article, is more subtle but equally pervasive. Social media creates a binary perception of success and failure, particularly evident in how Olympic athletes are portrayed. Gold medalists are celebrated, while those who win silver or bronze, or don’t win at all, are often subjected to criticism and disappointment. This dichotomy affects athletes’ self-perception and mental health, as they internalize these extreme standards of success and failure. Both contexts show how external forces—whether political or digital—can shape and distort individual identities.

Teacher: Excellent comparison. Now, let’s consider the use of imagery in both texts. How does Orwell’s use of dark and oppressive imagery in “1984” compare to the visual elements discussed in the article?

Student: Orwell’s use of dark and oppressive imagery, such as the description of the telescreens, creates a sense of constant surveillance and control. This imagery emphasizes the Party’s invasive presence in every aspect of life, contributing to the loss of personal identity. In the article, the visual elements include images of athletes in moments of triumph or defeat. These images are used to highlight the binary narrative of winners and losers on social media. Both sets of imagery serve to illustrate the themes of control and identity loss, but they do so in different contexts—Orwell’s being a dystopian society and the article’s being the modern digital landscape.

Teacher: That’s insightful. You mentioned the mental health impacts on athletes due to social media scrutiny. How does this tie into the broader theme of external forces shaping self-perception in both texts?

Student: The mental health impacts on athletes due to social media scrutiny tie directly into the broader theme of external forces shaping self-perception. Just as the Party in “1984” manipulates and controls individuals’ realities and identities, social media imposes unrealistic standards of success and failure on athletes. This scrutiny can lead to severe impacts on their mental health and self-worth, as they internalize the public judgment and binary portrayals of success. Both texts demonstrate how powerful external forces can distort individuals’ understanding of their own identity and worth.

Teacher: Very well said. Finally, considering your analysis of these two texts, what conclusions can you draw about the role of external forces in shaping personal identity in our current society?

Student: In our current society, external forces such as political regimes or digital platforms have a significant impact on personal identity. Orwell’s “1984” serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarian control over personal identity and truth. Meanwhile, the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers” highlights the more insidious and pervasive influence of social media on how we perceive success and self-worth. Both texts underscore the importance of being aware of these external influences and striving to maintain a sense of individual identity and autonomy amidst them.

Teacher: Excellent conclusion. You’ve provided a comprehensive and insightful analysis. Well done!

How Did I Prepare?

Understanding the Task and Selection of Texts

1. Familiarization with the IBDP Individual Oral Requirements:
   • I started by thoroughly reviewing the IBDP Individual Oral guidelines, focusing on the assessment criteria, the structure of the oral presentation, and the expectations for both the literary and non-literary texts. This helped me understand the key components of the task: introduction, main analysis, and questions and answers.
2. Choosing the Global Issue:
   • I selected “the impact of social media on personal identity” as my global issue. This topic is relevant and multifaceted, offering rich material for analysis. It allowed me to explore how external influences, such as surveillance in a totalitarian regime and social media pressures, shape and distort personal identity.
3. Selecting the Texts:
   • For the literary text, I chose a passage from George Orwell’s “1984.” This novel’s exploration of identity loss through totalitarian control provided a strong foundation for discussing external influences on personal identity.
   • For the non-literary text, I selected the article “The Olympic Winners and Losers” from Englishmelon.com. This article offers a contemporary examination of how social media impacts personal identity, particularly through the lens of how Olympic athletes are portrayed.

In-depth Analysis and Preparation

4. Close Reading and Analysis of “1984”:
   • I reread the selected passage from “1984” multiple times to deeply understand its themes and stylistic elements. I focused on how Orwell uses imagery, tone, and symbolism to convey the oppressive nature of the Party’s surveillance.
   • I took detailed notes on key quotes and analyzed their significance. For instance, the quote “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command” was pivotal in understanding the manipulation of reality and identity.
5. Analyzing “The Olympic Winners and Losers” Article:
   • I read the article several times to grasp its main arguments and examples. I noted how the article discusses the impact of social media on athletes’ self-perception and public identity.
   • I identified key points, such as how social media amplifies the binary narrative of winners and losers and how this affects mental health and self-worth. I also paid attention to the use of visual elements in the article, such as images of athletes in moments of triumph and defeat.

Structuring the Oral Presentation

6. Crafting the Introduction:
   • I prepared a concise introduction that outlines the global issue and introduces the two texts. I made sure to clearly state the relevance of each text to the theme of social media’s impact on personal identity.
7. Developing the Main Analysis:
   • I structured my main analysis to first discuss the literary text (“1984”) and then the non-literary text (the article). This organization helped maintain a clear and logical flow.
   • For “1984,” I discussed the oppressive imagery, the role of telescreens, and the manipulation of truth. I used specific quotes to support my points and linked these to the broader theme of identity loss.
   • For the article, I examined how social media creates unrealistic standards of success and failure, using specific examples and visual elements from the text. I connected these points to the theme of identity distortion through external validation.
8. Preparing for Questions and Answers:
   • I anticipated potential questions that my teacher might ask and prepared thoughtful responses. For example, I considered questions about how Orwell’s portrayal of telescreens contributes to the theme of identity loss and how the visual elements in the article enhance its discussion on social media’s effect on identity.

Practicing the Presentation

9. Rehearsal:
   • I practiced delivering my presentation multiple times, focusing on clarity, pacing, and engagement. I aimed to keep my analysis concise yet comprehensive, ensuring that each point was clearly articulated and well-supported by evidence from the texts.
   • I also practiced answering potential questions to build confidence in my ability to discuss the texts and the global issue in depth.
10. Feedback and Refinement:
    • I sought feedback from peers and my teacher to identify areas for improvement. Their insights helped me refine my analysis, improve my delivery, and ensure that my presentation was coherent and compelling.

Through this detailed preparation process, I ensured that my Individual Oral was well-organized, insightful, and effectively addressed the global issue of social media’s impact on personal identity.