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What is a guiding question?

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  • What is a guiding question?

Paper 1 asks you to respond to a guiding question.  But what exactly is a guiding question?  

Loosely defined, a guiding question is a question (sometimes it's written as a statement) based on a "technical or formal element that may provide an interesting point of entry into the text" (35, Language A: Language and Literature Guide).

But what is meant by a techical or formal element?  Sometimes, it's easiest to use an example.  One exam asked students about the "narrative structure" while another asked "how text and image work together."  In other words, it can be super specific (i.e. narrative structure) or more general (i.e. text and image). 

Do you have any examples of actual guiding questions from past exams? 

May 2021 Guiding Questions Paper 1 Timezone 1

How is the narrative structure used to explore ideas about identity? (from the Buzzfeed News - Yoruba Twins)

How do text and image work together to convey the comic's message? (from a comic from jakelikesonions.com)

May 2021 Guiding Questions Paper 1 Timezone 2

Discuss how different features are used on this webpage to create an impression of Indian culture. (from a magazine article about tandoori food)

Comment on how the interplay of text and images is used to appeal to multiple audiences. (from a medical infographic based in the UK)

Be prepared for a wide range of questions to appear.  In fact, we don't know what the IB will ask you on the exam and that's okay!  The point of Paper 1 is to be able to analyze any non-literary text, using any question, you get.