What the investigation does
Three Shakespearean characters are compared through one interpretive lens: how early-modern English attitudes toward France shape their representation.
What the examiner response highlights
A three-text corpus stays manageable because each comparison serves the same defined interpretive problem.
Historical and scholarly context establishes the question’s significance before sustained close reading begins.
Secondary scholarship supports the literary argument without replacing analysis of the primary texts.
What to examine critically
The legacy report rewards features of an older assessment model, including an abstract, and does not model the present reflection process.
For assessment from May 2027, former Language A and Language B categories have been removed, so current subject guidance must determine the approach.
How to use this example
Study the decisions behind the work: how the question is narrowed, what counts as evidence in this subject, how the line of argument develops, and where the evaluation becomes specific. Do not copy its wording, structure or method as a template.
Assessment changes for first examination in May 2027 redesign the criteria around the essay framework, knowledge and understanding, analysis and argument, discussion and evaluation, and reflection. Always check the requirements for your own session.
Essay & examiner commentary
Read online or save both PDFs to study alongside this breakdown.
Source & assessment context
These files come from the IB’s 50 More Excellent Extended Essays (2011). The essay and commentary retain their original attribution. Consult the current guide for your assessment session.
IB Extended Essay resources ↗Current Extended Essay updates ↗
