ib extended essay

IB EXTENDED ESSAYIB EXTENDED ESSAY

What makes a good RQ?What makes a good RQ?

THE EXTENDED ESSAYTHE EXTENDED ESSAY

RELAXRELAX

THE EXTENDED ESSAYTHE EXTENDED ESSAY“A study in depth of a limited topic”“A study in depth of a limited topic”

• Independent research supervised by Independent research supervised by a teachera teacher

• In a topic YOU choose from one of In a topic YOU choose from one of the IB subject areasthe IB subject areas

• On a question YOU develop On a question YOU develop • Presented in 4000 wordsPresented in 4000 words• In accordance with IB requirementsIn accordance with IB requirements

WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT?

Prepares you for independent Prepares you for independent research expected by universitiesresearch expected by universities

Format is a formal research paper – Format is a formal research paper – scholarly journalscholarly journal

Written in a scholarly voiceWritten in a scholarly voice Essay is an Essay is an analyticalanalytical answer to a answer to a

question YOU develop question YOU develop

WHAT IS IT NOT?WHAT IS IT NOT?

It is NOT a review of the literatureIt is NOT a review of the literature It is NOT a book report or plot It is NOT a book report or plot

summarysummary It is NOT everything you ever learned It is NOT everything you ever learned

about your subjectabout your subject It is NOT your opinion, your thoughts, It is NOT your opinion, your thoughts,

or your beliefs or your beliefs

THE EE IS……..THE EE IS……..

A carefully constructed analytical A carefully constructed analytical answer to a very precise questionanswer to a very precise question

Based on DATA and EVIDENCE from Based on DATA and EVIDENCE from your researchyour research

Data cited as to sourceData cited as to source

The EE Advisor WILL NOTThe EE Advisor WILL NOT

Tell you what to doTell you what to do Give you a RQGive you a RQ Give you research resourcesGive you research resources Edit your workEdit your work Remind you of the deadlinesRemind you of the deadlines Chase you downChase you down

Getting to the Research QuestionGetting to the Research Question

S-T-QS-T-Q

Subject….Subject….

Topic….Topic….

Question….Question….

Getting to the Research QuestionGetting to the Research Question

Choose a SUBJECTChoose a SUBJECT

Choose a TOPIC within that subjectChoose a TOPIC within that subject

Choose a narrow RESEARCH Choose a narrow RESEARCH QUESTION that will focus your QUESTION that will focus your research and argument.research and argument.

Choosing a TopicChoosing a Topic

Limited in scope and sufficiently Limited in scope and sufficiently narrow to allow you to examine an narrow to allow you to examine an issue in depthissue in depth

But big enough so you may collect But big enough so you may collect and/or generate data for analysisand/or generate data for analysis

Science topics are most successful Science topics are most successful when you conduct an experimentwhen you conduct an experiment

Consult your advisor and LibrarianConsult your advisor and Librarian

Choosing a TopicChoosing a Topic

If you’re not confused, you haven’t If you’re not confused, you haven’t spent enough time on it yet.spent enough time on it yet.

Keep reading. Keep reading. If you haven’t changed your mind, If you haven’t changed your mind,

you haven’t spent enough time on it you haven’t spent enough time on it yet.yet.

Read some more.Read some more.

The Research QuestionThe Research Question

The MOST important part of the The MOST important part of the essay. There are NO good essays essay. There are NO good essays with BAD research questions.with BAD research questions.

Think of the RQ as the map for the Think of the RQ as the map for the essay – don’t create a map to essay – don’t create a map to nowhere.nowhere.

Questions have “question marks”Questions have “question marks” No ??, no research question.No ??, no research question.

Good Research QuestionsGood Research Questions Should relate two things (Like Should relate two things (Like

variables in a grade 10 science fair)variables in a grade 10 science fair) These factors should be These factors should be

““cause and effect” relatedcause and effect” related

Good research questionsGood research questions

Is it too easy? Is an answer easily Is it too easy? Is an answer easily found?found?

Is it “unanswerable”? Ghosts do not Is it “unanswerable”? Ghosts do not exist. Cannot look everywhere!exist. Cannot look everywhere!

Is there a clear cut answer?Is there a clear cut answer? Is there no real answer?Is there no real answer? Does enough evidence exist to argue Does enough evidence exist to argue

this?this?


Can an argument be developed for or Can an argument be developed for or against an aspect of this?against an aspect of this?

Is the question speculative? What if?Is the question speculative? What if? Could a reasonable person disagree Could a reasonable person disagree

with the argument?with the argument?


Is it narrow enough?Is it narrow enough? Can it be done in 4000 words?Can it be done in 4000 words? How can it be narrowed?How can it be narrowed?

• GeographicallyGeographically• By eraBy era• By exampleBy example• With real world exampleWith real world example• To one workTo one work


Are ones for which information is Are ones for which information is availableavailable

Relate to the real world or have Relate to the real world or have practical applicationspractical applications

Deepen the questionDeepen the question• Has the “So what?” factorHas the “So what?” factor• Includes a possible solutionIncludes a possible solution• The issue is not trivialThe issue is not trivial


Avoid Avoid • vague words (interesting, best, difficult)vague words (interesting, best, difficult)• inflammatory words (evil, all, every, inflammatory words (evil, all, every,

best)best)• using too many words of others –needs using too many words of others –needs

to be your own wordsto be your own words

Research Question AnalysisResearch Question Analysis

ECONOMICS:ECONOMICS:

Does globalization affect Turkey?Does globalization affect Turkey?

ENGLISH, Group 1:ENGLISH, Group 1:

What symbols are employed by What symbols are employed by

F. Scott Fitzgerald?F. Scott Fitzgerald?

BAD Research QuestionsBAD Research Questions

BIOLOGY:BIOLOGY:

What causes cancer?What causes cancer?

HISTORY:HISTORY:

What was the impact of the civil rights What was the impact of the civil rights movement?movement?

The History of _______________The History of _______________

GOOD Research QuestionsGOOD Research Questions

ENGLISH:ENGLISH:

How does the portrayal of Joan of Arc How does the portrayal of Joan of Arc by Shaw, Anouilh, and Schiller differ?by Shaw, Anouilh, and Schiller differ?

BIOLOGY: An experimental study to BIOLOGY: An experimental study to determine if Vitamin C levels in orange determine if Vitamin C levels in orange juice differ in supermarket vs. juice differ in supermarket vs. restaurantsrestaurants

GOOD Research QuestionsGOOD Research Questions

ECONOMICS:ECONOMICS:

What is the impact of international What is the impact of international coffee prices on the standard of coffee prices on the standard of living in Guatemala?living in Guatemala?

IB ProhibitionsIB Prohibitions

Cannot recycle topics/papers you Cannot recycle topics/papers you have written for IB classes.have written for IB classes.

Ethical considerations in design of Ethical considerations in design of experiments – no experiments that experiments – no experiments that cause pain or stress to living cause pain or stress to living organisms.organisms.

IB ProhibitionsIB Prohibitions

The RQ MUST be yours. Beware of The RQ MUST be yours. Beware of off-campus interning projects.off-campus interning projects.

One student per Research Question – One student per Research Question – this YOUR questionthis YOUR question

Know the Criteria!Know the Criteria!

A. Research Question (0-2)A. Research Question (0-2) B. Introduction (0-2)B. Introduction (0-2) C. Investigation (0-4)C. Investigation (0-4) D. Knowledge of topic (0-4)D. Knowledge of topic (0-4) E. Reason argument (0-4)E. Reason argument (0-4) F. Application of Analytical skills (0-4)F. Application of Analytical skills (0-4) G. Use of appropriate language (0-4)G. Use of appropriate language (0-4)

Know the Criteria (con’t)!Know the Criteria (con’t)!

H. Conclusion (0-2)H. Conclusion (0-2) I. Formal presentation (0-4)I. Formal presentation (0-4) J. Abstract (0-2)J. Abstract (0-2) K Holistic Judgment (0-4)K Holistic Judgment (0-4)

TOTAL possible points: 36TOTAL possible points: 36

Mark BandsMark Bands

29 – 3629 – 36 ExcellentExcellent AA 23-2823-28 GoodGood BB 16-2216-22 SatisfactorySatisfactory CC 8-158-15 MediocreMediocre

DD 0-70-7 ElementaryElementary EE

It’s all about analysisIt’s all about analysis

Use EVIDENCE, DATA not description, Use EVIDENCE, DATA not description, chronological lists.chronological lists.

This is not a ‘report.”This is not a ‘report.” It’s an argument with supporting It’s an argument with supporting

information.information. This is NOT a review of the literatureThis is NOT a review of the literature

—your voice must come through loud —your voice must come through loud and clear.and clear.

Using EvidenceUsing Evidence

Like in English…Point; Proof; Like in English…Point; Proof; Explanation!Explanation!

State your claim. Include your State your claim. Include your evidence and relate it to your claim.evidence and relate it to your claim.

Comment on the evidence to show Comment on the evidence to show how it supports your claim.how it supports your claim.

Include counter-argument evidence.Include counter-argument evidence.

EvidenceEvidence

Without a claim…Without a claim… Evidence is not persuasive!Evidence is not persuasive!

Without evidence…Without evidence… A claim is not persuasive!A claim is not persuasive!

ExampleExample

To support an RQ: “do teens who To support an RQ: “do teens who multi-task perform less well multi-task perform less well academically in high schools in academically in high schools in Ontario?”Ontario?”

Evidence ExampleEvidence Example

Claim: students who listen to music Claim: students who listen to music while studying do less well on tests. while studying do less well on tests.

(this is my thought based on what I (this is my thought based on what I have read and it supports my thesis)have read and it supports my thesis)

It is nothing without some evidence.It is nothing without some evidence.

EvidenceEvidence

Find an expert or a researcher who Find an expert or a researcher who has studied this.has studied this.

Use databases…you know like Use databases…you know like Questiaschool or the Virtual Library or the Virtual Library

[email protected] Pw: Ancaster (case sensitive)Pw: Ancaster (case sensitive)

Evidence to supportEvidence to support Although many students may believe they can switch back and forth

between different tasks with no serious consequences to their academic performance, multitasking has been shown to dramatically increase the number of memory errors and the processing time required to "learn" topics that involve a significant cognitive load (Rubenstein, Meyer, and Evans, 2008). Found on Questiaschool

Critically evaluate: Who are these people? Have they written on it before? Are they experts? The study is older? Has research changed since? Was this a peer-reviewed journal? Can their findings be related to my topic? Is it externally valid? Was the study well done?

If I get satisfactory answers to these questions, then I move on with this as a piece of evidence.

Evidence to supportEvidence to support

The older, but still important study by Rubenstein The older, but still important study by Rubenstein et al. (2008) of university students and their et al. (2008) of university students and their abilities to focus while using laptops at the same abilities to focus while using laptops at the same time, clearly showed evidence that students are not time, clearly showed evidence that students are not effectively able to switch between tasks and still effectively able to switch between tasks and still perform at their highest level. This study, published perform at their highest level. This study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, while in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, while looking at university-aged students, was performed looking at university-aged students, was performed under conditions currently found in Ontario high under conditions currently found in Ontario high schools and therefore, is evidence that similar schools and therefore, is evidence that similar limitations exist in our high school students limitations exist in our high school students attempting to multi-task.attempting to multi-task.

Scholarly WritingScholarly Writing

Scholarly writing is hard…Scholarly writing is hard… You have to have the best evidenceYou have to have the best evidence You have to analyse itYou have to analyse it You have to tie everything together to You have to tie everything together to

make a compelling argument around make a compelling argument around your thesisyour thesis

Your voice has to shine throughYour voice has to shine through It has to be supported by expert It has to be supported by expert

evidenceevidence

It’s about being a scholarIt’s about being a scholar

Use a scholarly, professional styleUse a scholarly, professional style No “I” statements (“I think”)No “I” statements (“I think”) Use the language and vocabulary of Use the language and vocabulary of

your fieldyour field Keep a Research Diary/PortfolioKeep a Research Diary/Portfolio

It’s about the rules!It’s about the rules!

Read the Guidelines (“The Blue Book”)Read the Guidelines (“The Blue Book”) Make sure your RQ is in the right Make sure your RQ is in the right

Subject – your essay will be submitted Subject – your essay will be submitted to an examiner in YOUR subjectto an examiner in YOUR subject

This is NOT the place for This is NOT the place for interdisciplinary topicsinterdisciplinary topics

Did we mention? Read the EE GuideDid we mention? Read the EE Guide

It’s about the sources!It’s about the sources!

Do not rely uncritically on Internet sourcesDo not rely uncritically on Internet sources Analyze your sources IN your essayAnalyze your sources IN your essay Primary sources over secondary sourcesPrimary sources over secondary sources No encyclopedia-like sourcesNo encyclopedia-like sources No textbooksNo textbooks No Wikipedia!!No Wikipedia!! Range and balance of sourcesRange and balance of sources

Let’s talk plagiarismLet’s talk plagiarism

EACHEACH fact, idea, quote, chart, graph, fact, idea, quote, chart, graph, picture, number not your own must be picture, number not your own must be sourced (sourced (with page numberwith page number))

The direct or The direct or indirectindirect use of the words of use of the words of another person MUST be sourced. another person MUST be sourced. (paraphrasing doesn’t mean no citation)(paraphrasing doesn’t mean no citation)

Restating someone’s Restating someone’s ideasideas EVEN IF not EVEN IF not copied is plagiarism!copied is plagiarism!

The solution: CITATIONSThe solution: CITATIONS Be consistent in citation styleBe consistent in citation style Manage sources as you do your research: Manage sources as you do your research:

research notebookresearch notebook

Pitfalls: The ResearchPitfalls: The Research

Plan for science experiments to go Plan for science experiments to go awry – they always doawry – they always do

Data may be unavailable for your Data may be unavailable for your topictopic

RQ may be too broadRQ may be too broad You may not have enough You may not have enough

background to complete the researchbackground to complete the research Be flexible and willing to change Be flexible and willing to change

directions in the beginningdirections in the beginning

APPENDIX: The PresentationAPPENDIX: The PresentationHow to put it all togetherHow to put it all together

Title page (Title is NOT the RQ)Title page (Title is NOT the RQ) Abstract of 300 wordsAbstract of 300 words Table of contents with subheadsTable of contents with subheads Body of essay with subheadsBody of essay with subheads Bibliography (ONLY works cited and Bibliography (ONLY works cited and

in alphabetical order)in alphabetical order) Page numbersPage numbers Candidate number on every pageCandidate number on every page

Pitfalls: Word CountPitfalls: Word Count

Word count must be on title pageWord count must be on title page 4000 words max for paper4000 words max for paper This does not include This does not include

acknowledgements, table of contents acknowledgements, table of contents charts and tables, annotated charts and tables, annotated illustrations, bibliography or any illustrations, bibliography or any appendices.appendices.

PRESENTATION: TITLE PAGEPRESENTATION: TITLE PAGE

The Impact of Bicycle Paths on The Impact of Bicycle Paths on

Land Use in Portland, OregonLand Use in Portland, Oregon

Susie Q. StudentSusie Q. Student

Candidate 0517-123Candidate 0517-123

Environmental Systems and SocietiesEnvironmental Systems and Societies

Word Count: 3922Word Count: 3922

December 16, 2010December 16, 2010

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

Abstract of 300 words. Abstract is Abstract of 300 words. Abstract is NOT an introduction.NOT an introduction.

Write this LAST.Write this LAST. Abstract should state:Abstract should state:

• Research question being investigatedResearch question being investigated• The scope of the investigationThe scope of the investigation• The conclusion/s of the essayThe conclusion/s of the essay

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

Place AFTER the abstractPlace AFTER the abstract All pages must be numberedAll pages must be numbered Body of essay must have Body of essay must have

subheadings that are reflected in the subheadings that are reflected in the TOCTOC

Index is not requiredIndex is not required

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

Each work cited in the essay must be Each work cited in the essay must be listed in the bibliographylisted in the bibliography

Examiners match the citations to the Examiners match the citations to the bibliographybibliography

Over reliance on limited sources will Over reliance on limited sources will lose pointslose points

APPENDICESAPPENDICES

Not viewed as essential and Not viewed as essential and examiners are not required to readexaminers are not required to read

Unless considered essential, Unless considered essential, complete lists of raw data should not complete lists of raw data should not be includedbe included

ib extended essay

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