IB Language and Literature SL--2019 Summer Assignment

Welcome to IB English Language and Literature! At the heart of the IB Lang & Lit course is textual analysis; this course
will require you to analyze different texts (advertisements, opinion columns, blogs, political cartoons, tweets along with
more traditional literature). The summer assignment will prepare you for many of the activities you will complete in class
this year.

The Text
There are two parts to this assignment, detailed below. Both will require you to read and analyze ​Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare. Either check out a copy from the TuHS Library prior to departing for summer vacation, or access
a copy of the text online--like this one: ​http://shakespeare.mit.edu/much_ado/full.html

The Assignment
1) Read ​Much Ado About Nothing. ​As you read, take notes or use post-its to mark moments that will help you address the
prompts below.

2)Choose one of the following IB essay prompts taken from previous a exam:
➢ There is no love without suffering. Analyze the extent to which the play supports this view.
➢ Appearances can be deceptive. Discuss the relevance of this statement in regards to the play.
➢ Pride can lead to failure and self-destruction or to accomplishment and self-fulfillment. Discuss the presentation of
pride and its consequences in the play.

3) After choosing the prompt, compose a thesis statement that answers the question. Consider choosing the question that
most appeals to you early in your reading of the play so you can take note of specific passages that address key aspects of
this question.

4) Create an outline or graphic organizer that details your response to the question to use for class discussion and as a tool
for writing an in-class essay. You may use a traditional outline, an organizer from my website (mlangner.weebly.com), or
an organizer of your own creation. ​ Please limit your outline/organizer to one page single-sided and use phrases (not
full sentences). The exceptions are your thesis which may be a complete sentence and any quotes you wish to include.

Evaluation Criteria:

Outline/Graphic Organizer
● Thesis statement make a claim and addresses the question with supporting details that clearly connect to thesis
● Completed organizer reveals sophisticated understanding of the play
● Organizer is typed or neatly written in ink with attention to detail including spelling, grammar, etc.

Due Dates:
Please send me an e-mail (mlangner@ttsd.k12.or.us) confirming that you received this assignment by June 17; feel free to
check in with me throughout the summer regarding questions you have about the assignment or course.

Your outline/graphic organizer and reading notes are all due the first day of class. Students who add the class in
August will have two weeks from registration to complete the assignment.

Happy Reading!!!

Marin Langner
mlangner@ttsd.k12.or.us