extended essay. overview 4,000 words (not including abstract, illustrations, appendices,...
TRANSCRIPT
Overview
• 4,000 words (not including abstract, illustrations, appendices, bibliography)
• Personal exploration of a chosen topic• Required for IB Diploma• TOK/EE combined grading scale
Required Elements
• Title page• Abstract (write last, total of 300 words)
• Table of Contents Page
• Introduction, Body, Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Appendices
Your Objectives
• Pursue independent research on a focused topic
• Develop a research question and critical thinking skills
• Engage in systematic approach to research
• Experience intellectual discovery
Examples
Bad Questions• What causes cancer?• Who was Adolf
Hitler?• Can the Karner Blue
butterfly survive if Albany expands the landfill?
Good Questions• Is there a connection
between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda?
• What is the nature and function of religious imagery in Wuthering Heights?
Where to start?• Topic• Preliminary reading• Create focused
research question
Genocide
Rwanda
Females in Rwanda during genocide
The effect of genocide on the female
population in Rwanda
• Gather sources• Take notes and begin
analysis• Create outline• Rough draft• Proofing and editing• Final copy
Resources
• Where to go– Albany High School
library• Search catalog
• Online databases
– University at Albany main library
• Search catalog
• Online databases
• Think about– Academic journals
– Government documents
– Primary sources
– Newspapers/magazines– Multimedia (i.e.
documentaries, NPR, images)
– Interviews
Hold-Ups
• Bad pacing
• Over-reliance on web-based resources
• Too late (no sources, too many)
• No contributions by student– just compilation of sources
• Disregard assessment criteria (review often)
• Procrastination and delay
Helpers
• Focus specifically on novel, country, time period, effect, law
• Exceed word limit by 20-30% then whittle away through drafting
• Present, analyze, interpret
• Use appropriate vocabulary
Role of Advisor
• Provide advice and guidance
• Support progress
• Reads and comments on first draft– Does not edit
• Completes supervisor’s report and hosts viva voce (short interview)
• Submits predicted grade
Role of Librarian
• Advises student on appropriate research and information gathering
• Suggests avenues of sources i.e. online databases
• Discusses authoritative information vs. non peer-reviewed
• Don’t forget the University librarians!
Assessment
• Research Question
• Data Information
• Analysis/Evaluation
• Discussion/Argument
• Conclusion
• Abstract
• Requirements of the Extended Essay