IB Extended Essay Orientation

Berlin Metropolitan School

30 June 2014

Prepared by Rebecca Allsopp, Librarian

The Goals of the Orientation

Know the key features and basic requirements of the

Extended Essay

Understand the importance of the Extended Essay within the IB Diploma Programme

Know the components of an A-grade Extended Essay and

understand the steps necessary to successfully complete

an Extended Essay

Know where you can go for help and guidance

What is the Extended Essay?

“The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic

chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme

subjects—normally one of the student’s six chosen subjects

for the IB Diploma. It is intended to promote high-level

research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity.”

Extended Essay Guide. International Baccalaureate Organization. Cardiff: Pearson, 2012. Web.

Tell me more!

Required for all IB Diploma Students

Formal academic essay

4,000 words

Includes an abstract, table of contents, works cited page…

40 hours over one year

Completed outside of class time

You may not reuse an essay written for a course

Assessed externally

A total of 36 points, divided into bands

A letter grade A-E is given according to the band

Up to 3 points are awarded toward the diploma together with the TOK essay (more about this later)

Why Do I Have to Do This?

Because the IB says so!

Because it is an opportunity to focus on an area of study

that appeals to YOU!

It is a chance to develop your own ideas and theories

independently

It is excellent preparation for university-level work

What else should I know?

You will have a BMS teacher as a supervisor

Internal deadlines

Viva Voce after completion

Must show knowledge of the theoretical framework of the subject (connections to TOK). Should not be merely narrative or descriptive

Science subjects require experimental work

Language

Group 1 or Group 2 - target language.

Other essays - official IB language: English, French, or Spanish (BMS supervisor must be able read it)

You are NOT required to make a new contribution to knowledge

What is the Role of the Supervisor?

Discuss the topic and help you formulate a

precise research question

Advise you on resources & techniques of

research

Read and comment on the first full draft

Monitor your progress to ensure that the work

submitted is your own

Complete a supervisor’s report

Participate in the Viva Voce

What is the Viva Voce?

A 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 on plagiarism and other forms of

malpractice

Helps your supervisor write his/her report

How Do I get Started?

1st STEPS IN THE EE RESEARCH PROCESS (Developing a Research Question)

① Choose a subject

② Choose your supervisor

③ Choose your topic Interesting and challenging

Limited in scope and narrow enough for in-depth exploration

Offer the opportunity for information/data/evidence gathering and analysis

④ Background reading & find out about available resources

⑤ Formulate an initial research question

⑥ Look again at the information you have. You might need to change your research question

This research question is pretty

important, right?

Yes! Choosing a good research question is

probably the most important part of the process.

Part of the assessment criteria AND affects all other parts of

the essay

Should be narrow and specific

Must support an investigation that leads to analysis and

evaluation

Should be challenging, but something you can explore within

4,000 words and 40 hours

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

hypothesis

Now what? Research

① Develop a detailed action plan

② Read and record Record the source’s bibliographic information Record direct quotes as quotes Take care to source paraphrases

③ Assemble and organize your notes.

④ Write an outline or a skeleton essay

⑤ Think about your research question. Have you found

sufficient information?

⑥ Seek out more sources, read and record

Research: Balanced Sources

Books

Journal

ArticlesWebsites

Your Essay

Image: "DesignApplause | Stool 60 80th Anniversary. Artek." DesignApplause RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2014.

Sources for Sources• Library catalogs• LibGuides• Library Databases (deep web)• Bibliographies (chaining)• Google Scholar

Now what? Drafting & 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

7/8 of your time will be spent,

planning, researching, reading

and note-taking, revising research

question, further research, revising

drafts, etc.

1/8 of your time will be spent

writing

What are the deadlines? February 2015: Choose subject, search for suitable topic and research question

and meet informally with subject teacher

March 2015: Students will be assigned supervisors

April 2015: Give topic and outline given to supervisor

May 2015: Give research question to supervisor

June 2015: Meet with your supervisor and identify resources

July – August 2015: Continue research over the summer

September 2015: First draft is due (minimum 2,500 words). Get feedback from supervisor

November 2015: Preliminary final draft (4,000 words) is due to supervisor

December 2015: Final copy of the essay due to supervisor. Two copies required. Complete Extended Essay cover sheet

January 2016: Viva Voce conducted. Supervisors submit essays to the IB coordinator

February 2016: IB coordinator submits essays to the examiner

What are the formal presentation

requirements?

Title page

Abstract 300 words stating the research question, scope of investigation and conclusion

reached in the essay

Contents page

Introduction set the research question in context; explain the significance of the topic

Body development of a reasoned argument, backed by evidence with explanation of

how evidence was discovered

Conclusion

References and bibliography (works cited page)

Appendices *

Tell me more about the word count.

4,000 words is the upper limit

The introduction, body, and conclusion (including any

quotations) are counted

Abstract, acknowledgements, contents page, equations

or calculations, footnotes and parenthetical references,

bibliography, etc. are NOT counted

The appendices are not included in the word count and

examiners are not required to read them. DO NOT put

important information in the appendices.

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 studied (4)

E. Reasoned argument (4)

F. Application of analytical and evaluative skill appropriate to

the subject (4)

G. Use of language appropriate to the subject (4)

H. Conclusion (2)

I. Formal presentation (4)

J. Abstract (2)

K. Holistic Judgment (4)

How is the essay marked?

Point scale of 0-36 based on the 10 criteria

A-E letters grades given by point scale

30-36 points – A

25-29 points – B

17-24 points – C

9-16 points – D

0-8 points – E

How does the EE count towards

the total diploma points?

Advice from Examiners

Make sure you choose a topic that fits an IB approved subject!

Start work early

Read the assessment criteria

Think carefully about the research question

Plan how, when, and where you will find materials (schedule)

Expect problems and unforeseen delays. Plan accordingly

Proofread!

Make sure all basic requirements are met (get full points for these!)

Maintain a good working relationship with your supervisor

Use the library and consult librarians

Advice from Examiners

What NOT to do:

Don’t forget to analyze the research question

Don’t use the Internet uncritically

Don’t forget to acknowledge sources and record source

information as you read and take notes

Don’t cite sources in your bibliography that weren’t used in

the essay

Don’t merely describe or report. You must use evidence to

support the argument

Advice from Calvin

Watterson, Bill. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Pub., 2005. Print.

Final Thoughts

The more background you have in a subject, the better chance

you have of writing a good extended essay

The more interest and excitement you have for the topic, the better chance you have of writing a good extended essay

The more time you give yourself to plan and research, the

better chance you have of writing a good extended essay