AICE: General Paper 8004 Open House/Parent Night

AICE: General Paper 8004Open House/Parent Night Jill Pavich, NBCT Jill.pavich@palmbeachschools.org * * * Boca Raton Community High School

Jill Pavich, GP Team Leader (gr. 9 & 10) • Boca Raton High School, English Department (10th year!!) • AICE: General Paper, grades 9 & 10 (4 years) • Kent State University, English Education/Writing minor • Florida Atlantic University, Curriculum & Instruction/ELA • Nationally Board Certified (NBCT) in 2009 • ReadingEndorsed • ESOLEndorsed • I like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Yoga; and I’m a new mommy as of August 2012!

What is AICE? What is GP? • AICE: • Advanced International Certificate of Education • GP: • General Paper • Which means that the “Paper,” or essay, is about “General” topics that span the curriculum, from science and math all the way to literature and the arts.

The General Paper…what does it look like? • Administered in MAY/June and Oct./Nov. • WRITTEN examination, 2 ESSAYS in 2 HOURS (1 day of testing) • The exam paper is divided into three sections, with four prompt options in each for a total of 12. • Candidates must choose two questions, each from a different section. • Each essay is weighted at 50% of the final mark. • Each essay written carries up to 30 marks for Contentand up to 20 marks for Use of English/ Conventions.

SECTION 1: Historical, Social, Economic, Political and Philosophical • the role of history and war; terrorism • the role of the individual in society – the family, marriage, peer pressure, social class • cultural changes – youth and drug culture • education and welfare • sport, leisure, international competition • wealth; changes in work practice • the importance and impact of tourism on a country – implications for the economy, employment • public transport, environmental concerns • aid provision • the State and its institutions; development of State, democracy post-imperialism, nationalism • minority groups, pressure groups • freedom of speech, action, thought • Judiciary • matters of conscience, faith, tolerance, equality.

SECTION 2: Science, Geography, Math • medical dilemmas and issues of research and ethics; concept of progress in science • drug manufacture and provision • diet, health education • old and new industries • spin-offs from space industry; weaponry • information and communications technology; the Internet • environmentalconcerns; renewableenergyresources; climate change • migration; population dynamics • feeding the global population; farming techniques for the twenty-first century • public transport and travel • the uses and applications of mathematics in everyday life.

SECTION 3: Literature , Language, Arts and Crafts • literature, biography, diary, science fiction • language – heritage, tradition, dialect • the global media – tv, radio, satellite; influence and controls; effects on lifestyle, culture and habits • cultural dilution and diversification; advertising; role models • censorship; privacy; the right to know; freedom of the press, etc. uses and abuses • traditional arts and crafts; creativity; national heritage/preservation; effects of tourism • architecture; painting; fashion; photography; sculpture; music; heritage, etc.

Essay Styles • EXPOSITORY • GOAL: • to provide information; to objectively EXPLAIN, define, clarify or interpret… • UNIQUENESSES: • doesn’t require an argument! Just tell it like it is! • PERSUASIVE • GOAL: • to take a specific stance on an issue in order to CONVINCE the reader to adopt your way of thinking; to anticipate opposing viewpoints and refute via counter-argument • UNIQUENESSES: • biased! Takes ONE side and defends that side ONLY!! Never supports the opposition, not even for a minute.

Essay Styles Con’t • The third style of essay is, perhaps, brand new to you… • DISCURSIVE(most advanced…pros and cons, oh my!) • GOAL: • asks you to consider BOTH sides of a single issue, objectively analyzing each before arriving at any kind of value judgment. • Basic Layout: Begin with a neutral introduction, provide evidence for the case, provide evidence against the case, conclude by either adopting one side of the argument or maintaining a neutral (middle-of-the- road) standpoint.

SCORING • The AICE: General Paper exam grades students on two aspects of the final product essay: • CONTENT (30 points) • CONVENTIONS (20 points)……………………..2 ESSAYS = 100pts max • So do their facts need to be accurate? YES!!! • Do they need to cross all t’s and dot all i’s? YES!!!! • BAND 1 = BEST • BAND 5 = WORST

Broad Term? Get Your Hands Dirty! Politics/Gov’t Science/Tech. Environment Social/Cultural CRIME Media, Entertainment

Assess society’s record on human rights.

Discursive prompt Good or bad… Assess society’s record on human rights. • Civil rights/liberties • Women’s rights • Gay rights • Equality: race/culture • Labor rights • Children’s rights

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Generating Ideas • So, how do I find ideas?? Think GP RELEVANCE…!!! • State, national, international • Past history, current events • Consider all academic categories • Use the Hand Approach to help you…

INDEX: GOVERNMENT and POLITICS THUMB: SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY MIDDLE: ENVIRONMENT RING: SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS PROMPT PINKY: MEDIA, SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT CREDITS: Teaching the General Paper: Strategies That Work, By Teachers, For Teachers National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University Edited by Caroline Ho, Peter Teo, Tay May Yin (2006)

“History repeats itself.” Discuss. “The truth should be told, whatever the cost.” Discuss.

Visit my (personal) BLOG for GP Student/Parent SUPPORT!!! The GP Indie : www.thegpindie.com Email me: Jill.pavich@palmbeachschools.org

AICE: General Paper 8004 Open House/Parent Night