Key Idea: Four mistakes cost the most in the HL essay: summary, a broad question, feature-spotting and no development. Each has a fix you can check as you write.
| Mistake | What it looks like | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Retelling the work | Analyse authorial choices |
| Broad question | A vague topic | A focused, arguable 'how' question |
| Feature-spotting | Naming devices | Add their effect and evaluate |
| No development | A repeating argument | Build a layer each paragraph |
Check as you write
- Am I analysing, or retelling?
- Is my line of inquiry narrow?
- Does every device have an effect?
- Has this paragraph moved the argument on?
If the essay could end after paragraph one, it is not developing.
Why is a broad question a problem? The essay becomes a list of observations.
What earns little: summary or analysis? Summary.
What is feature-spotting? Naming devices without analysing their effect.
What fixes 'no development'? Each paragraph adds something new.