How should I approach the unseen commentary (IB English Paper 1)?
Paper 1 consists of a prose and a poem. Take a moment at the start of the exam to skim through both and choose a passage for analysis.
Next, dedicate a quarter of your time to reading, highlighting, and annotating your chosen passage. Consider the 5 major analytical tools when going through your passage: Audience/Purpose, Content/Theme, Tone/Mood, Stylistic Devices, and Structure. It may be useful to colour-code accordingly in your annotations.
Once you've completed your annotations, start the outline for your essay. There are several ways to do this. It may be useful to start by identifying the overarching theme of the passage. What does the author intend to convey? Then, organise your paragraphs by either the stylistic devices or the 5 major analytical tools. Each paragraph should include an argument, evidence, and explanation/analysis. Make sure to link each paragraphs to the overall purpose of the passage. How does the author use these tools to convey his message? The commentary should be easy to write with a good outline. Make sure to avoid repetition, and don’t just explain; analyse!
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