Here’s the complete list of text types that can appear in IBDP English A Paper 1, combining non-literary and literary texts:
Non-Literary Texts
- Advertisements
- Articles (from magazines, newspapers, or journals)
- Brochures or Leaflets
- Blog Posts
- Editorials or Opinion Columns
- Essays (non-academic reflective or persuasive pieces)
- Infographics (charts, diagrams, and text combined with visuals)
- Interviews (transcripts or written forms)
- Letters (open, personal, or professional)
- Memoirs or Extracts from Autobiographies
- Manifestos (e.g., political, artistic, or ideological declarations)
- News Stories (factual, not opinion-based)
- Social Media Texts (e.g., Instagram posts, Tweets, or Facebook entries)
- Reviews (film, book, product, or others)
- Reports (e.g., investigative or informational)
- Speeches
- Websites or Webpages
Literary Texts
- Extracts from Novels
- Extracts from Short Stories
- Poetry (modern or classical)
- Extracts from Plays or Drama
- Extracts from Memoirs or Literary Autobiographies
- Literary Essays (analytical or reflective pieces with artistic merit)
- Prose Poems (a blend of prose and poetic qualities)
- Excerpts from Epistolary Fiction (letters as part of a fictional narrative)
Marks
Summary Table
| Feature | HL | SL |
|---|---|---|
| Number of texts | 2 | 1 |
| Time limit | 2h 15m | 1h 15m |
| Total marks | 40 | 20 |
| Writing style | Two separate analyses | One full analysis |
| Depth of analysis | Higher, with some comparison | Focused on one text |
Melons Structure
| “MELONS” | Explanation | Paper 1 Criteria |
|---|
| M for “Marking.” Mark or note down the basic information about the text type. |
✅ Identify text type (poem, article, speech, ad, etc.). ✅ Summarize the central meaning and themes. ✅ Explain the purpose (persuade, inform, entertain, critique, etc.). ✅ Establish the tone and mood. ✅ Start with a thesis statement outlining your main argument. |
Criterion A: Understanding & Interpretation ✔ Clearly identifies themes, purpose, and meaning. ✔ Shows a strong grasp of the text’s message. |
| E for “Elements & Evidence.” It is now time for identifying the various elements that make the text-type. |
✅ Identify literary, rhetorical, or visual elements used in the text. ✅ Provide specific evidence (quotes, images, word choices). ✅ Explain how these elements develop meaning, tone, and reader impact. ✅ Link back to the writer’s purpose. |
Criterion B: Analysis & Evaluation ✔ Insightful analysis of techniques and effects. ✔ Strong evidence and clear explanations. |
| L for “Language.” | ✅ Analyze diction (formal, informal, poetic, persuasive). ✅ Examine figurative language (imagery, metaphors, alliteration, irony). ✅ Discuss tone shifts and their impact on interpretation. ✅ Consider how language engages the reader. |
Criterion B: Analysis & Evaluation ✔ Strong focus on language and style choices. ✔ Shows how language shapes meaning and emotions. |
| O for “Organization.” | ✅ Analyze structure and flow (linear, cyclical, fragmented, contrast). ✅ Discuss sentence length & pacing (short = tension, long = reflection). ✅ Identify progression of ideas (cause-effect, chronological, logical argument). ✅ Consider any shifts in focus or tone. |
Criterion B: Analysis & Evaluation ✔ Examines text structure and progression. ✔ Evaluates how structure reinforces meaning. |
| N for “Nuances & Negatives.” Start analyzing the unseen areas of the text-type along with some of the limitations and biases. |
✅ Explore multiple interpretations—how might different audiences react? ✅ Consider historical, cultural, or personal context affecting meaning. ✅ Discuss subtleties in word choices, connotations, and symbolism. ✅ Compare with other texts if relevant. |
Criterion B: Analysis & Evaluation ✔ Goes beyond surface meaning to explore depth and complexity. ✔ Recognizes alternative perspectives. |
| S – Sum Up (Conclusion) | ✅ Reinforce the key insights from your analysis. ✅ Link back to the writer’s overall purpose and impact. ✅ Offer a final thought—why is this text significant? |
Criterion C: Focus & Organization ✔ Effectively wraps up ideas without repeating. ✔ Leaves the reader with a strong final impression. |
NB: The Criterion C and D are part of all levels of an analysis. You should be focused on the organization.
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