School-Supported Self-Taught Programme
Develop critical thinking, literary analysis, and academic writing skills through rigorous engagement with diverse literary texts. Master the IB Diploma Programme's most challenging course with expert mentorship.
Language A: Literature (SSST) is a unique IB Diploma Programme course designed for students who study literature as a self-taught subject with school support. This course emphasizes critical thinking, textual interpretation, and intercultural awareness through engagement with diverse literary works across cultures, periods, and styles.
As a self-taught student, you will design your own course of study under the guidance of an SSST Supervisor and a tutor in your first language. This approach develops independence, intellectual maturity, and a sophisticated understanding of literature's role in human expression and cultural understanding.
Explore diverse literary traditions, authors, forms, and historical contexts. Develop familiarity with the literary heritage of your chosen language and understand how literature reflects and shapes culture.
Master techniques for identifying and analyzing authorial strategies. Understand how writers create meaning through language, form, and structure, and develop the ability to articulate sophisticated interpretations.
Develop the ability to interpret texts within their cultural and historical contexts. Make connections between works, explore global issues through literature, and appreciate the aesthetic qualities of diverse texts.
Develop self-directed learning skills and intellectual independence. Learn to manage your own study, conduct literary research, and take responsibility for your academic development.
A 10-minute recorded oral presentation where you analyze a literary text studied in your course. You will discuss the text's significance, demonstrate understanding of literary techniques, and articulate your interpretation of themes and cultural contexts.
Analyze an unseen literary text (prose, poetry, or drama). You will identify literary techniques, analyze their effects on meaning, and discuss the text's significance within broader literary and cultural contexts. This assesses your ability to apply analytical skills to unfamiliar texts.
Write a comparative essay analyzing two literary texts from your course. You will explore thematic connections, stylistic differences, cultural contexts, and global issues. This assessment demonstrates your ability to synthesize ideas and construct sophisticated arguments.
Develop a booklist of literary works studied in your course and maintain a portfolio of analytical writing. This demonstrates your engagement with diverse texts, your ability to select appropriate literary works, and your development as a literary scholar.
Your school appoints an SSST Supervisor who teaches a course in studies in language and literature. This mentor will:
Your school also assigns a tutor proficient in your first language. This expert will:
Understand the literary heritage of your chosen language. Explore how authors, literary forms, and historical contexts shape literature and influence interpretation.
Identify and analyze how writers create meaning through language, form, and structure. Develop sophisticated understanding of literary techniques and their effects.
Explore global issues and themes through literature. Make connections between works across cultures and time periods to develop intercultural understanding.
Master academic writing, analytical reading, and oral communication. Develop the ability to articulate complex ideas persuasively and confidently.
Design your own course and develop self-directed learning skills that prepare you for university-level studies.
Work closely with mentors who provide individualized guidance tailored to your interests and learning style.
Develop a sophisticated understanding of literature's role in human expression and cultural understanding.
Engage with other SSST students in weekly group meetings to discuss literature and share insights.