English A: Lang & Lit · IA research questions
Written and cross-checked by IB Diploma graduates: Alexander (41), Alejandro (40), Martina (40), Victoria (38), Martin (35), Maria (34)
· Checked against official IB guidance · Editorial policy
A strong English A: Language and Literature HL essay isolates one focused concern in one non-literary body of work studied in class and argues how specific textual features construct meaning for a specific audience and purpose.
Scope: Narrow to one text type or one sustained campaign. Use the conceptual frameworks: audience, purpose, context, meaning. 1,200–1,500 words.
Approach · Analyse camera style, metaphor, pacing and register across two launches; argue how tech marketing reshapes masculine conventions.
Approach · Analyse metaphor, colour and modality across campaign materials; argue how guilt and agency are constructed.
Approach · Analyse lexical choice, nominalisation and modality across three leaders; argue how authority is performed.
Approach · Analyse rhyme, register, metaphor and narrative voice; situate the change in the artist's public context.
Approach · Analyse caption tone, emoji use and audience reply conventions; argue how platform affordances shape authenticity.
Approach · Compare narrative structure, address, sound and length; argue how platform change reshapes emotional appeal.
Approach · Analyse rhetorical patterns, parallelism and delivery cues; argue how form constructs belonging.
Approach · Analyse visual grammar and sound symbolism alongside dialogue; argue how form constructs gendered agency.
Approach · Analyse lexical density, nominalisation and visual hierarchy; argue how accountability is rhetorically managed.
Approach · Compare composition, pose, colour and textual command across decades; argue how visual persuasion shifts civic duty.
Approach · Analyse transcribed speech for backchannel, repair and self-disclosure; argue how podcast form constructs authenticity.
Approach · Analyse caption length, image framing and absence of explanation; argue how meaning transfers from text to visual consumption.
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
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