Melons Strategy for IBDP MYP

The MELONS strategy you’ve developed is a robust framework for breaking down and analyzing texts, and it can be adapted effectively for writing a comparative essay for IBDP English Paper 1. Here’s how you can apply it:

Comparative Essay Using the MELONS Strategy

1. M – Main Idea:
   • Step 1: Identify the main ideas of both texts. Determine the central themes or arguments each text presents.
   • Step 2: Compare these main ideas. Are they addressing similar themes but from different perspectives? Are they opposing each other in some way? This will help set the foundation for your comparative analysis.
2. E – Elements:
   • Step 1: Analyze the key elements of each text. Consider literary devices, imagery, tone, and structure.
   • Step 2: Compare the use of these elements. How do they contribute to the main idea in each text? For example, if one text uses dark imagery and the other uses light imagery, explore how these choices affect the reader’s perception.
3. L – Language:
   • Step 1: Examine the language used in both texts. Look at diction, syntax, and figurative language.
   • Step 2: Compare the effectiveness of language in conveying the themes. Is one text more formal while the other is more colloquial? How does this influence the reader’s understanding?
4. O – Organization:
   • Step 1: Analyze how each text is structured. Look at the flow of ideas, paragraph structure, and any use of repetition or contrast.
   • Step 2: Compare the organization of the texts. How does the structure of each text reinforce or undermine its main idea? Does one text follow a linear structure while the other is more fragmented?
5. N – Narration:
   • Step 1: Examine the point of view or perspective in each text. Consider the narrator’s voice, tone, and how it connects with the audience.
   • Step 2: Compare the perspectives. Are they first-person, third-person, or omniscient? How do these narrative choices affect the reader’s engagement with the text?
6. S – Summarize:
   • Step 1: Bring together your analysis by summarizing how the main ideas, elements, language, organization, and narration work in both texts.
   • Step 2: Compare the overall impact of both texts. Which text more effectively conveys its message? Why? This summary can serve as your conclusion, tying together all the points you’ve made.

All-in-One Strategy for Textual Analysis and Essays

The MELONS strategy can indeed serve as an all-in-one framework for both textual analysis and essay writing in English A (DP and MYP). By following this structured approach, you ensure that your analysis is comprehensive and covers all critical aspects, whether you’re analyzing a single text or comparing multiple texts in an essay.

For MYP, you might simplify or adapt the strategy slightly, focusing more on the general understanding and less on intricate details depending on the grade level.

Sample Comparative Essay

Title: Comparative Analysis of Oppression, Gender Inequality, and Cultural Identity in Persepolis and The Last Train Home.

Global issues like oppression, gender inequality, and cultural identity resonate across different societies, shaping individual lives and collective experiences. Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir Persepolis and Lixin Fan’s documentary The Last Train Home both explore these themes, albeit in different contexts—Persepolis in the backdrop of post-revolutionary Iran and The Last Train Home within the socio-economic landscape of contemporary China. This essay will compare how these global issues manifest and impact individuals and communities in both works, highlighting the universal nature of these struggles while also considering their unique cultural expressions.

In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi chronicles her life growing up during and after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The revolution, initially a movement against the oppressive Shah regime, quickly morphs into a new form of authoritarianism under the Islamic government. Satrapi illustrates the widespread oppression faced by ordinary Iranians, especially those who resist the new regime. For example, her family’s involvement in political activism, her experience with censorship, and the severe consequences for those who defy the government’s rules demonstrate the pervasive nature of political oppression.

Similarly, The Last Train Home captures a different kind of oppression—economic and social—within the lives of Chinese migrant workers. These workers are trapped in a cycle of poverty, working long hours in factories far from their homes, with little hope of upward mobility. The documentary portrays the systemic pressures that force families apart and shows the quiet resistance of individuals who, despite their hardships, maintain a hope for a better future. The New Year migration, where millions travel back to their rural homes, symbolizes both their connection to tradition and their ongoing struggle against the oppressive conditions of modern industrial life.

While Persepolis portrays overt political oppression and active resistance, The Last Train Home depicts a more subtle, systemic form of oppression, with resistance manifesting in the persistence of hope and tradition amidst challenging circumstances.

Gender inequality is a central theme in Persepolis, where Satrapi highlights the restrictions placed on women in post-revolutionary Iran. The mandatory veil, the segregation of men and women, and the societal expectations of women are all depicted as instruments of control. Marjane’s personal experiences, such as being chastised for not adhering to dress codes and her struggle for autonomy in a male-dominated society, reflect the broader issue of gender inequality in Iran.

In contrast, The Last Train Home focuses on the impact of gender roles within the context of the Chinese family structure. The film highlights the sacrifices made by women, particularly migrant mothers, who leave their children behind in pursuit of economic survival. The documentary also touches on the generational conflict between traditional expectations and the desires of the younger generation, particularly through the lens of the daughter, Qin, who rebels against her parents’ expectations.

Both works reveal how gender roles are enforced and challenged within their respective societies. While Persepolis focuses on the public sphere of gender inequality, The Last Train Home explores the private, familial implications of gender expectations. In both cases, women grapple with the limitations imposed on them, seeking ways to assert their independence and identity.

Cultural identity is a recurring theme in Persepolis, where Marjane’s struggle with her Iranian identity is central to her narrative. The clash between modernity and tradition, East and West, is a constant tension in her life. Marjane’s time in Europe further complicates her sense of belonging, as she feels alienated both in Iran and abroad. Her memoir is a journey towards understanding and reconciling these different aspects of her identity.

In The Last Train Home, cultural identity is explored through the lens of migration and the disconnection between the urban and rural lives of the migrant workers. The workers’ return home for the New Year is not just a physical journey but also an attempt to reconnect with their roots and cultural heritage. However, the gap between the older and younger generations highlights the evolving nature of cultural identity in a rapidly changing society. The younger generation, represented by Qin, struggles with the traditional values of her parents, feeling a sense of detachment from her cultural heritage.

Both works depict the complexities of cultural identity in the face of societal changes. While Persepolis focuses on the internal conflict of an individual navigating different cultural worlds, The Last Train Home illustrates the broader societal impact of modernization on cultural traditions.

Persepolis and The Last Train Home both address global issues of oppression, gender inequality, and cultural identity, yet they do so within distinct cultural and political contexts. Persepolis emphasizes the individual’s fight against political and gender oppression, whereas The Last Train Home highlights the collective struggles of families against economic and social forces. Despite their differences, both works underscore the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, making them powerful representations of these universal global issues. Through their respective narratives, Satrapi and Fan provide a poignant commentary on the ongoing struggles for freedom, equality, and identity in their societies.

This essay employs the MELONS strategy by identifying the main ideas, analyzing the key elements, comparing the language, organization, and narrative perspectives of both works, and summarizing the overarching themes and issues. This structured approach ensures a comprehensive and comparative analysis, essential for success in IBDP English Paper 1.