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OGC Extended Essay: Language Acquisition

 Language Acquisition: Overview 

An EE in language acquisition is intended for students who are studying a second modern language. An essay cannot be submitted as a language acquisition essay in a student’s language A. The EEs in this group are divided into three categories:

  • a specific analysis of the language (its use and structure), normally related to its cultural context or a specific text (Cat 1)

  • an analysis of a cultural nature that describes the impact of a particular issue on the form or use of the language (Cat 2)

  • an analysis of a literary type, based on a specific work or works of literature exclusively from the target language. (Cat 3)

Requirements for a Language Acquisition EE

Read the Subject-Specific Guidelines to ensure your paper meets the requirements: Print, highlight, and annotate this page and pin it above your desk!

Use Command Terms in your essay to indicate a strong background in your subject

Read the Subject Reports to know what the examiners are looking for.

Read about a BROAD topic to gradually narrow to a FOCUSED topic.

Sample Research Questions (score unknown)

  • How does the novel Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson reveal American's fear against Japanese-Americans during the 20th century? [Cat 3] 

  • Brief analysis of the difficulties of Hong Kongnese to speak Mandarin (2014)

  • What is the Chinese language's current position with the effects of westernisation and economic advancement? (2012)

  • Comment Camus utilise-t-il le protagoniste, Meursault, comme critique du système judicaire Franco-Algérien dans son roman L’Étranger? (2013)

  • Le langage des jeunes des cités en France et l'exclusion sociale: Jusqu'à quel point le langage de jeunes de cités en Framce renforce-t-il leur exclusion sociale? (2014)

  • Représentations des classes sociales dans I'Indochine Française à travers les femmes dans le film "Inchine" de Régis Wargnier: Mythe ou réalité? (2014)

  • La religion chrétienne dans les oeuvres de Gustave Flaubert (2021)

  • ¿Hasta qué punto la oposición a las corridas de toros en Cataluña es únicamente en beneficio de los animales? (2011)

  • To what extent is the opposition of bullfighting in Catalonia solely in the best interest of animal rights (2011)

 

Why Read Past Papers?

 

  • See common structures, methodologies, use of command terms and other subject-specific vocabulary
  • Notice the difference between successful papers AND papers that were less successful
  • Read the examiner comments on scored papers and their reflections to note what worked and what didn't

 

Past Papers in Language Acquisition (various languages)