The written task 2 is a take-home assignment. This means that one is able to find quotes from the literary or non-literary works to support the arguments in the essay. This process of finding the right qotes, also known as 'quote hunting', is very important. If a written task 2 is not supported by illustrations from the primary source, it will not score well on Criterion B, which states that the response is supported by well-chosen examples from the text. 

In this lesson, you can see how a literary work, in this case Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, is used to lead the discussion and guide the essay. In the first step, you will gather important passages. In the second step, you will find an appropriate prescribed question. In the third step, you will go quote hunting again. You can see the final product of this lesson, by clicking on the link to WT2 Q4 S1 (Persepolis).

Important themes

Imagine you have just finished reading the graphic novel Persepolis. Split your class up into groups. Each group must find the most important passage from the section of the work that you have been assigned. Explain to the rest of the class why you think your passage is the most meaningful from your section. Name at least one important theme that is illustrated in your passage. As a class you should be able to come up with a list of five important themes. What makes a theme 'important'?

• The passage may show a turning point for the main character
• The passage may depict a plot twist or a climax
• The passage may include a dialogue that illustrates some of the work's main ideas
• The passage is unforgettable

Below are passages that were taken from each section of Persepolis I. After reading these, what would you say are the major themes of the work?

An appropriate prescribed question

Once you know the themes of a work, you can begin to think about which one of the six prescribed questions is most appropriate. Based on your understanding of Persepolis from the passages above, which one of the six prescribed questions would you think is most appropriate? Once know which prescribed question you want to answer, create a mind map or spider diagram like the one you see below (also based on Persepolis).

Six prescribed questions

1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers?
2. If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience, how and why might it differ?
3. How and why is a social group represented in a particular way?
4. Which social groups are marginalized, excluded or silenced within the text?
5. How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose?
6. How has the text borrowed from other texts, and with what effects?

Return to quote hunting

Once you have discussed the themes of the literary work, selected a prescribed question and unpacked the question. You will have to go back to the literary work and find more evidence to support the aspects that you want to focus on in the written task 2 critical response. 

How would these passages help support an answer to Question 4, as outlined in the spider diagram above?

Teacher talk

This notion of quote hunting may seem simple and it is. Nevertheless, students often do not spend enough time scanning an entire work, searching for the perfect passage to build their essay around. How does one develop this skill further?

Towards assessment

Written task 2 - Be sure to read the sample student response on Persepolis which came out of this lesson on quote hunting.