extended essay overview

The Extended EssayWhat is it?

Deadlines/CalendarSample Topics

What is the EE?The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 3500 - 4000-word paper.

College level essay – with a lot of guidance

In-depth study in a topic of interest

EE LengthAverage length is 19-20 pages

Word count does not include abstracts, contents, charts/tables, bibliography or appendices.

The IBO recommends the student spend 40 hours on their EE

FormatMust be Double spaced

12 point type. Only standardized fonts with non-stylized, standard horizontal spacing

The essay requires an abstract (summary),

Title page, table of contents, and bibliography

Uniform citation style (MLA)

All margins should be one inch

All pages should be numbered

Scoring The total score of the essay places it in one of the following categories:

A excellent

B good

C satisfactory

D mediocre

E elementary

Assessment CriteriaExternally assessed by IBO examiners

General assessment criteria:writing, use of data and overall presentation.

Subject assessment criteria: how the chosen topic is managed within the context of the chosen subject of the essay.

Each subject has its own set of assessment criteria.

Official essay guidelines will be provided to the student when the essay topic is finalized.

Bloom’s New Taxonomy

The EE Develops Capacity to:

Analyze

Synthesize

Evaluate knowledge

Taken from: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/core/essay/

AdvisorsStudents are supported throughout the process with advice and guidance from a supervisor (usually a teacher at the school)

Role of AdvisorOffer encouragement, support

Help with determining topic and research question (but this should be the student’s choice)

The advisor reads and comments on the first draft of the extended essay, but is not permitted to edit this draft for the candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to correct mistakes and verify the accuracy of the contents of the extended essay.

Completes advisor’s report when EE is completed

Research Process

Emphasis is placed on the Research Process:Formulating an appropriate research question

Engaging in a personal exploration of the topic

Communicating ideas

Developing an argument.

The Iceberg Model1/8 = Writing Phase

Student works independently to prepare the final EE:

Revision conference drives final version of essay

7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft Phase

Student works with supervisor to: Explore and discuss ideas

Locate resources

Develop suitable research question

Take notes, make outline

Write drafts—monitor progress

Iceberg AnalogyThe success of an extended essay is shaped largely during the preparatory stages. (7/8 Pre-writing/Draft phase)

• Major weaknesses can be traced directly to the research phase:

Topics too broad

Lack of focus

Vague research questions

Important EE Deadlines

Choose an Advisor

Choose Subject and topic

Advanced Outline Due

First Draft Due

Second Draft Due (1st day of school)

Final Essay Due

What should you be doing now?

Explore different subjects you are interested in

Begin with:Your subject area interests

The things you have been reading

Conversations you have had in class or with others are often good sources of ideas.

Think about the subject areas of the IB hexagon which area interests you the most?

Talk to your teachers about possible topics

IB Hexagon

Choosing a TopicSelect a subject you are interested in

Must be one of your IB diploma subjects.

Read the subject guideline in The Extended Essay Guide (EE Wiki)

Meet with your supervisor

Create a list of possible topics

Narrow to a topic of interest to you

• Achieving motive: to achieve at a level relative to others• Learning strategy: focuses on

organizing and structuring knowledge of topic in most efficient way (managing time commitments, working space, resources) with purpose of optimizing a grade or meeting other external criteria

Look at Your Motives

Surface Motive• To retain knowledge to meet a criterion

unrelated to the idea

– Learning strategy: focuses on superficial features of topic, learning and memorizing in an unquestioning way so they can be reproduced at later date

Deep Motive

To increase one’s knowledge of a topic

Learning strategy: focuses on underlying meaning of topic; searches for meaning; questions ideas to achieve better understanding; links new information with what is known; takes ideas apart and examines from multiple perspectives

Subject Areas

English literature

Arabic literature

History

Biology

Mathematics

Chemistry

Music

Visual Arts

Physics

Subject vs. TopicThe single biggest problem most students have is distinguishing between a subject and a topic.

ExamplesSubject: The life and paintings of Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840).

Topic: The transfer of the silhouette technique from humans to landscape in the later paintings of Caspar David Friedrich.

Subject: Raku pottery.

Topic: The impact of Raku glazes on contemporary western pottery.

Which is a better topic?

Nationalism

Nationalism as a cause of the First World War

HistoryCecil Rhodes

An examination of the influence of British Darwinism on Cecil Rhodes

MathPrime numbers

Prime numbers in cryptography

MathGraph Theory

Using Graph Theory to minimize cost

Alternative energy sources

Wind Power: A clean source of Energy?

English LiteratureThe Brontes

Religious imagery in Wuthering Heights

English LiteratureRacial conflict in the twentieth century

The problems of racial conflict as shown through the works of James Baldwin

Arabic LiteratureThe land in Mahmod Darwish poets

Mahmod Darwish poets

Arabic LiteratureWomen in Khalil Gibran’s writing

Khalil Gibran

ArtThe history of Renaissance Art

An analytical study of the cycle of frescoes of St Christopher’s Church in Milan

BiologyFactors which affect the germination of seeds

The effect of banana peel on seed germination

ChemistryChemical Kinetics

Kinetics of oxidation of Iodide with H2O2 in acidic solutions

EconomicsThe Third World Debt Crisis

Do interest rates affect investment decisions?

Economics The consequences of shrimp farming in Ecuador

The economic costs and benefits of shrimp farming in Ecuador

MusicThe music of Africa

African influence on Paul Simon

MusicThe Xylophone

The marimba music of Bagamoyo