Sample introductions taken from past IB exams

"The poem "Night Wind", written by Christopher Dewdney in 1984, is a melange of diverse elements. At heart, it is a celebration of nature, of the permanence and freedom of the night wind. At the same time, the poem relates the personal journey and transformation of a man, the author, as he takes flight upon the wind, "rising on wings of darkness." (Score: 55545)

"In this reflective poem, Christopher Dewdney exposes his own feelings when captivated by the wind's overwhelming power. Although written in free verse, the poem contains certain characteristics that contribute to its rhythm and sonority. "Night Wind" contains five unrhymed stanzas that are structurally different from one another, but that tend to be repetitive in some way. Dewdney writes in a certain nostalgic tone, as though he were longing for something. The night wind grasps him with such intensity that he is able to accompany it. He is no longer a mere human being. Instead, Christopher Dewdney follows the wind as it takes him in what seems to be a spiritual quest, endless, just as the wind." (Score: 44445)