IB Extended Essay Orientation

Berlin Metropolitan School

July 2015

Today’s Goals

Learn the requirements of the EE

Understand importance of EE

Understand key components of successful EEs

Know where to go for help!

The Extended Essay is…

“an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper. The extended essay an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of special interest to them, which is also related to one of the student's six DP subjects. ”

What is the Extended Essay? International Baccalaureate

Organization. Cardiff: Pearson, 2015. Web.

Tell me More!

Required for all IB students

1 year, 40 hours

Completed outside of class time

Formal academic essayAbstract, Table of Contents, Works Cited

Assessed Externally Scale of 0-36 pointsLetter grade of A-E

Why do I have to do this?

Because the IB says so…

Preparation for university-level work

Focus on an area YOU are interested in

What else should I know?

BMS teacher will supervise

Science subjects include experimental work

Internal deadlines along the way

Viva Voce at the end

What does the supervisor do?

Help you formulate a research question

Advise you on resources and research techniques

Read and comment on the first draft

Monitor your progress towards deadlines

Participate in the Viva Voce

What DOESN’T the supervisor do?

Chase you down for meetings

Do your research or write your essay for you

Proofread for grammar and spelling

What is the Viva Voce?

10-15 minute concluding interview

An opportunity for you to reflect on the process and the result

An opportunity for you to reflect on successes and difficulties in the research process

A check against plagiarism

Helps your supervisor write their final report

How do I get started? 1. Choose a subject

2. Choose your supervisor

3. Choose your topic Interesting? Challenging? Narrow enough? Offer opportunities for research?

4. Find sources and start background reading

5. Formulate a research question (and maybe change it)

This research question is pretty important, right?Yes! Choosing a good question might be the most important part of the EE process…

• Part of the assessment criteria

• Affects ALL other parts of the essay

• Should be narrow and specific

• Should be challenging, but something you can explore within 40 hours and 4,000 words

• Usually formulated as a question, but may be stated as a hypothesis

Now what? Research

1. Develop a detailed plan

2. Read, read, read Take careful notes and record bibliographic info as

you go

3. Organize notes and create an outline

4. Assess your progress. Do you have enough info?

5. If not, read, read, read and take more notes

Balanced Sources

Books

Journal articles

Websites

Sources for Sources

*Library Catalog*Library Databases*Google Scholar

Now what? Drafting and finalizing

1. Write your first draft and hand it in to your supervisor

2. Get feedback and redraft Additional research if needed

3. Write final draft and abstract

4. Revise and polish

5. Submit on or before the due date

6. Attend the Viva Voce

Time Management

Photo courtesy Flickr Commons

Most of your time will be planning and researching. Just a small fraction will be spent writing!

Obvious but true advice…

Start early!

Stay organized

Have a plan

What are the deadlines?

Presentation requirements Title Page

Abstract 300 words stating the research question, scope of

investigation, and conclusion reached in the essay

Contents page

Introduction Sets the research question in context, explain topic’s

significance

Body Development of a reasoned argument, backed by evidence

Conclusion

References and Works Cited

Presentation Requirements

Body Development of a reasoned argument, backed by evidence

Conclusion

Footnotes

Works Cited

Word Count

4,000 words is the upper limit

Intro, body, and conclusion count

Abstract, contents, Works Cited, equations, etc. DO NOT

How is the essay assessed?

10 Criteria (possible points)A. Research Question (2)

B. Introduction (2)

C. Investigation (4)

D. Knowledge and understanding of the topic covered (4)

E. Reasoned argument (4)

F. Analytical and evaluative skills related to subject (4)

G. Use of language appropriate to subject (4)

H. Conclusion (2)

I. Abstract (2)

J. Holistic Judgment (4)

How is the essay marked?

Point scale of 0-36 based on 10 criteria

A-E letter grades given by point scaleo 30-36 points Ao 25-29 points Bo 17-24 points Co 9-16 points Do 0-8 points E

Final thoughts

If you…

*Are really interested in your topic

* Plan ahead

* Seek help and use available resources

You have a good chance of doing well on your EE!