The new course invites consideration of literary works in a way that will be important to establish from the beginning. Traditional reading models locate the meaning of the work inside the text itself and encourage readers to 'find sense' in the text in front of them. More modern ways of thinking show that meaning is far less fixed and determined - existing in the space/s between the text,...

Probably the most exciting aspect of the new course is the freedom it gives to teachers in terms of planning their course, with texts no longer organised according to parts or linked to specific assessment tasks. However, this freedom also presents a challenge and, whether you are in a department of two or twenty teachers, you have probably started thinking and talking about how you might organise your course, and also possibly started to feel a little overwhelmed by the range of choices the new course presents.

This Standard Level course design offers a more straight-forward approach than the HL sample (example outline 1). It is built around the areas of exploration, with each year following a sequence of four units. The sequence consists of one unit on each area of exploration followed by an independent unit where students have more choice and autonomy as they prepare for a major assessment - the IO at the end of Year 1 (or the start of Year 2) and Paper 2 at the end of Year 2. We welcome your feedback on this model and your own thoughts on course design as you start to discuss this within your departments.

Rather than just adopting one organizing principle - concepts or areas of exploration, for example - this approach seeks to integrate and interleave the three areas of exploration, the seven concepts and the conceptual questions associated with each area of exploration. It also includes possible texts and links to assessments. Each unit is built around two or three connected concepts, linked to one, two or three of the areas of exploration, with the associated conceptual questions from the guide (pages 22 - 24) also included. We welcome your feedback on this model and your own thoughts on course design as you start to discuss this within your departments.

Although it is obviously true to say that Paper 2 exam preparation is particular to the various texts students have been studying, there are nonetheless a range of more generic skills associated with preparing the answer. The notes and PowerPoint below are designed to be applicable for a range of question types, as well as a range of texts. But you may feel you need to adapt further. The key thing, perhaps obviously, is to make sure students know how to use the time before they start to write the essay in a meaningful and purposeful manner.

Assessment of Paper 2 is broken up into five strands of criteria each weighted equally. The strands are similar to other parts of the course although for Paper 2 there is a little more weighting on elements that reward the content of student writing over elements that are more technically focused. There is also a strong emphasis on a student's ability to answer the question: this is a Criterion...

Written Assignment 1: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Reflective Statement: How was your understanding of cultural and contextual considerations of the work developed through the Interactive Oral? In the Interactive Oral we looked into subjects varying from the history of the book 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' to the conditions in the labor...

Once the Interactive Oral has been completed, all students must answer the question above, as prescribed by the syllabus. Before writing the RS, however, it is important to discuss with students the kind of things that might be written for it because the 3 marks awarded are easily compromised if students (or teachers!) think about the statement in the wrong way. Essentially, the RS should present...

The final stage of the process is of course to start writing the actual assignment. As the supervisor of the essay, your role is to provide guidance and support - but to keep in mind at all times that the assignment must be the work of the student. Note that you are only allowed to provide feedback on one written draft, and you must not write notes on the draft itself. Suggestions for improvement...

Part 1 is assessed through the submission of one 1500 word coursework essay, and is assessed externally. However, the syllabus asks all students to approach the final essay through a particular series of steps which are designed to address a range of issues: 1. The need to address the various contexts in which the text was written and in which it is being read. 2. Provide students with guidance...