J ILL PAVICH, NBCTJ I L L . PAV I CH@PAL MBE ACHS CHO O L S . O RG

* * *BOCA RATON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

AICE: General Paper 8004Open House/Parent Night

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

Reading Endorsed

ESOL Endorsed

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

EducationGP:

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

Content and 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 environmental concerns; renewable energy resources; 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 fictionlanguage – heritage, tradition, dialectthe global media – tv, radio, satellite; influence and

controls; effects on lifestyle, culture and habitscultural dilution and diversification; advertising; role

modelscensorship; privacy; the right to know; freedom of the

press, etc. uses and abusestraditional arts and crafts; creativity; national

heritage/preservation; effects of tourismarchitecture; 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 = BESTBAND 5 = WORST

Broad Term? Get Your Hands Dirty!

CRIME

Science/Tech.Environment

Politics/Gov’t

Social/Cultural

Media, Entertainment

Assess society’s record on human rights.

Assess society’s record on human rights.

Discursive promptGood or bad…

• Civil rights/liberties• Women’s rights• Gay rights• Equality: race/culture• Labor rights• Children’s rights

(-) (+)

Generating Ideas

So, how do I find ideas?? T h i n k G P R E L E VA N C E … ! ! !

State, national, international Past history, current events Consider all academic categories

Use the Hand Approach to help you…

THUMB: SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

INDEX: GOVERNMEN

T and POLITICS

MIDDLE: ENVIRONMEN

T

RING: SOCIAL

RELATIONSHIPS

PINKY: MEDIA,

SPORTS and ENTERTAINM

ENT

PROMPT

CREDITS: Teaching the General Paper: Strategies That Work, By Teachers, For TeachersNational Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological UniversityEdited by Caroline Ho, Peter Teo, Tay May Yin (2006)

“History repeats itself.” Discuss.

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

THE GP INDIE :WWW.THEGPINDIE.COM

EMAIL ME: JILL.PAVICH@PALMBEACHSCHOOLS.ORG

Visit my (personal) BLOG for GP Student/Parent

SUPPORT!!!