1. Unpacking the IOC cRiteria and other great tips!

2. So what do I need to do to gain the maximum marks in each criteria?
Understanding what you are being marked on is vital to your success in IOC
30 marks
5 marks for understanding
10 marks Interpretation and Personal Response
10 marks Presentation
5 marks Use of Language

3. Criteria A Knowledge and Understanding (5 marks)
How well do you know and understand the content of the extract?
How well can you SITUATE THE EXTRACT within the context of the larger work from which it has been taken OR the BODY OF WORKS to which it belongs, where relevant?
In order to get maximum marks here you need to be able to discuss CONTEXT- and this should occur in your intro

4. So What is Context? Context in Dawe
Who Bruce Dawe is -relevant social/historical /political context of poem’s subject
Context in Macbeth
Significant elements of the play-Importance of scene within the play. Action immediately before and after this extract.
Context in MLK
MLK ‘s significance and the relevant social/historical/political context (this is crucial for MLK extracts)
Context in Poe
Who Poe is- Gothic literary elements/ short story elements

5. When should I bring in links to other works/poems/scenes?
The easiest way to remember to link your extract is to bring this into your intro, when you discuss context
For example- when discussing the context of Homecoming (The Vietnam war and Dawes views on conscription and the futility of war) – you would discuss how he explores these themes in Weapon’s Training
There are also other times when you could make connections with other poems- think about the form (dramatic monologue) of Weapon’s Training and how Victorian Hangman has a similar form (dramatic monologue) and structure (one verse- very little punctuation etc).

6. Criteria B Interpretation and Personal Response (10 marks)
Ask Yourself
How valid is your interpretation?
How well have you IDENTIFIED and ANALYSED EFFECTS OF LITERARY FEATURES, such as diction, imagery, tone, structure, style, technique?
How much does your response show critical thinking and originality?
How precise and relevant are your references to the extract/work?

7. So How do I show Personal Response?
By tying techniques with the meaning of the extract and by discussing the effect on the reader/audience
By showing that you have engaged with the text- you can use the first person in IOC
“In my opinion- something that I found interesting about this scene- I think- I believe“
By concluding with something that provides “food for thought”

8. Criteria C Presentation
How structured is your response?
How effective and convincing is your presentation?
How appropriately do you integrate supporting references to the extract?
Timing your IOC- your IOC will go for no more than 8 mins (hand signals will tell you when you are at 6,7 and 8 mins. You will lose marks if you have not concluded
We will be questioned and this will cease at 10 minutes

9. So what can I do to make sure that my IOC is structured?
Spend at least 10 mins of your 20 min prep planning your response
Decide on what approach you will take – thematic, linear, technique etc- and then stick to that approach
Spend your holidays preparing flash cards- that way you will have a subject and approach for every extract
Spend your holidays working in a critical friends network- share the work load of preparing flash cards
Flash Cards and Critical friends

10. What to include on your flash cards
Intro- context
Links to other texts
Overview of extract
Subject for IOC- the thing that you will be focusing on
Your approach- linear/ techniques etc
Important techniques
Personal Response

11. What do the Guiding Questions Look like?
Enter Without So Much as Knocking
Guiding Questions
What elements of Australian society is Bruce Dawe criticising in this poem?
How does Dawe reveal his thoughts on the journey from youth to adulthood?
Explain the use of symbolism in this poem, and make a connection to Dawe’s purpose and the desired effect on the reader.
Questions the examiner might ask
What is the purpose of the compound words in the second stanza?
Explain the repetition of ‘Beep’ in the third stanza. How had Dawe used this indicate an aspect of society, and to build tension in the poem?
Explain how Dawe changes the tone of the poem (note in particular stanzas four and five).

12. Criteria D Use of Language
How accurate, clear and precise is your language?
How appropriate is your REGISTER and STYLE?
Everyone can achieve at least a 3 in this criteria- so no swearing, pausing , slang, ums etc.
You just need to sound like you are knowledgeable and engaged!

13. What Do I need to study?
Dawe: These will include the entire poem and title
Weapons Training
Homecoming
Search and Destroy
The Gift of the Gods
Happiness is the Art of Being Broken
Beggar’s Choice
The Wholly Innocent
New Creatures
Burial Ceremony

14. Macbeth
You must know the scenes (Act and scene numbers) You will not get more than one scene- jumping across two scenes You will not get the porter’s scene or any scene that is made up of mostly minor characters/ action/ blank verse (hint)- the most important scenes are mostly made up of iambic pentameter

15. Important Scenes in Macbeth
Act 1- Scenes 3, 4, 5, 7 Act 2- Scenes 1, 2 Act 3- Scenes 1, 2, 4, 6 Act 4- Scene 1 Act 5- Scenes 1,5, 8