Dystopian Texts
Summative Assessment: Compare and Contrast Essay
Task Description: Compare and contrast the author’s use of dystopian elements.
Considering both “Examination Day” and the episode “Eyes of the Beholder”, discuss three different elements of dystopian fiction. Each of your body paragraphs should focus on one of those elements, comparing and contrasting how each text uses it.
Criterion A: Analysis
Maximum: 8
Students should be able to:
analyse the content, context, language, structure, technique and style of text(s) and the relationship among texts
analyse the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience
justify opinions and ideas, using examples, explanations and terminology
evaluate similarities and differences by connecting features across and within genres and texts
Score
IB Descriptor
Task-Specific Clarifications
0
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1-2
The student:
provides limited analysis of the content, context, language, structure, technique and style of text(s) and the relationship among texts
provides limited analysis of the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience
rarely justifies opinions and ideas with examples or explanations; uses little or no terminology
evaluates few similarities and differences by making minimal connections in features across and within genres and texts.
The student:
shows a limited understanding of the dystopian elements used by each of the authors, nor how or why they are used
shows a limited understanding of the effects of the authors’ choices on the reader
does not use textual evidence (quotations) to support or justify their arguments
does not evaluate the similarities and differences of each author’s use of dystopian elements in their stories
3-4
The student:
provides adequate analysis of the content, context, language, structure, technique and style of text(s) and the relationship among texts
provides adequate analysis of the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience
justifies opinions and ideas with some examples and explanations, though this may not be consistent; uses some terminology
evaluates some similarities and differences by making adequate connections in features across and within genres and texts.
The student:
shows a vague understanding of the dystopian elements used by each of the authors; attempts to explain how and why they are used
shows some understanding of the effects of the authors’ choices on the reader
uses some textual evidence (including at least 3 relevant quotations) to attempt to support and justify their arguments
attempts to evaluate the similarities and differences of each author’s use of dystopian elements in their stories
5-6
The student:
competently analyses the content, context, language, structure, technique, style of text(s) and the relationship among texts
competently analyses the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience
sufficiently justifies opinions and ideas with examples and explanations; uses accurate terminology
evaluates similarities and differences by making substantial connections in features across and within genres and texts.
The student:
shows a clear understanding of the dystopian elements used by each of the authors, including how and why they are used
shows a clear understanding of the effects of the authors’ choices on the reader
uses textual evidence (including at least 6 relevant quotations) to support and justify their arguments
evaluates the similarities and differences of each author’s use of dystopian elements in their stories
7-8
The student:
provides perceptive analysis of the content, context, language, structure, technique, style of text(s) and the relationship among texts
perceptively analyses the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience
gives detailed justification of opinions and ideas with a range of examples, and thorough explanations; uses accurate terminology
perceptively compares and contrasts by making extensive connections in features across and within genres and texts.
The student:
shows a clear and in-depth understanding of the dystopian elements used by each of the authors, including how and why they are used
shows a clear and thorough understanding of the effects of the authors’ choices on the reader
uses textual evidence (including at least 6 relevant and thoughtful quotations) to support and justify their arguments
skillfully evaluates the similarities and differences of each author’s use of dystopian elements in their stories