disclaimer: if your teacher says to do something different, you probably should listen! after all, im just a student :)

Generic Tips:

basically a summary of the specific advice section

use elevated language

read the books

use sparknotes

create a study guide

 key things to know about the content: time period, main themes, author background, cultural references.

include quotes

know the rubric

know how to write a literary essay and have the correct format with good organization and direction

More Specific Advice: 

use elevated language. our teachers have a rule to NEVER write the word “use” or “utilize.” we literally used to lose major points if we wrote those. instead of saying “the author uses..” state what the author is more specifically doing (ex. this demonstrates... [author] manipulates...). here’s a list of 50 verbs to review if you want. I have a mental bank of like 4 or 5 I just reuse (characterizes, develops the idea, illustrates, etc.). 

read the books. depending on what type of student you are, there’s a good chance you’ve slid through class without doing the reading. this. is. not. the. time. to. do. this. put in the work now because future-you, when you’re sitting in the exam trying to remember what you read on sparknotes, will hate you for not doing it.

speaking of sparknotes, use it! and any other review material you can find! know your reading inside and out and read summaries to get a different perspective and new refresher. hell, i print mine out and highlight it to review.

create a study guide!! if it’s a play, break down the play by scene. know the important motifs and have textual evidence for them to refer to. message me if you want to see the one my teacher gave me to fill out. it’s not mine so I didn’t really want to post it willy nilly.

key things to know about the content: time period, main themes, author background, cultural references.

you must include quotes in the essay. memorize them. reference famous lines everyone knows. hell, create a quizlet. whatever you gotta do.

RUBRIC BREAKDOWN

know it. live it. love it. its all that matters. who cares if you discovered some literary equivalent of the cure for cancer? if you don’t hit the rubric, you don’t get the points. (i can’t find an updated version of the rubric right now, try asking your teacher if they haven’t already given you a copy. message me if you need help finding it because I know I have a spare one in my locker)

written by a grader for teachers, good source. most of the stuff below is from this source. 

Criterion A Language:

accuracy. you’ve been in school and studying the play for a while, you know where you fuck up. do you always misspell the authors name? it’s time to finally get it right and double check. know your weaknesses and know how to fix them. 

sentence structure. saw a good piece of advice: full stops every two lines, max. 

Criterion B Message:

avoid repetition. examiners notice it a mile away and its irritating, boring, and indicates you haven’t planned for the essay. 

you need direction. does the argument go somewhere? this ties back to planning. 

support. do you have evidence? does it support your main argument and is it relevant? 

organization. again, planning. you should be able to summarize in a short sentence the structure of your essay (ex. “I start with A, contrast with B, then show how C is the result.” if you can’t, that’s a bad sign and you need to work on it. 

Criterion C Format: 

right format and register. i don’t have much advice for this one i can explain without being specific, just review the source above if you need more help.  

ESSAY STRUCTURE

Introductory Paragraph

motivator - address the question or statement

background summary - discuss background info for the text and author

thesis - i’m assuming you know how to write a thesis if you’re an ib senior, but just in case you’re weaker at it, check out advice here. You need to be able to write a strong thesis. This can not be emphasized enough. 

focus - how will you prove your thesis? state your arguments here

Body Paragraphs - aim for 3 or 4

topic sentence - its the thesis of your body paragraph. don't forget it (plus i find it helps me to get started)

evidence - quotation or description. try to embed these! it’s easier when reading and doesn’t sound as clumsy. how to embed quotes

analysis - focus on literary techniques and embed key literary vocabulary (this allusion demonstrates...)

link - tie back to the topic and connect to your thesis. like I said in the general tips section, the essay is a web, but everything ties to the center and is connected. do not introduce new arguments or irrelevant information. 

if you have multiple pieces of evidence, I usually repeat evidence then analysis and then link again instead of listing all of my evidence at once. this way, if you run out of time, you still get points for analysis and it sounds smoother overall

Concluding Paragraph

Restate thesis using different words - do not simply restate

Provide a brief summary of your arguments - i think of it like an elevator speech for your essay. Remind them why your essay kicks ass. 

Final sentence - time for the mic-drop! give the reader a reason to feel satisfied after reading and like they have a new perspective after reading

you’ll do amazing!! make sure to do practice papers and aim high. you’ve got this :)

Sources: (check out for even more in-depth advice)

http://www.ibsurvivors.com/new-blog/2016/1/14/how-to-write-a-solid-level-7-english-essay-for-paper-2

http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/