THE EXTENDED ESSAY

What is it?How do I get started?Good and Bad Research QuestionsSome Common Problems

Basic Facts about the Extended Essay

Requirement for the IB Diploma

Basic Facts

Personal research by the student On a question or hypothesis chosen

by the student, not assigned by the teacher

In a subject or discipline listed by the IB (e.g., NOT Linguistics, Sociology or Mathematical Economics)

In the format of a formal research paper

Basic Facts

Length 4,000 words not including appendices,

illustrations, bibliography, footnotes or endnotes

with an abstract within 300 words

Basic Facts

Assessed according to published criteria

Counts towards additional diploma points along with Theory of Knowledge

WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED ESSAY?

The student The student’s supervisor The EE Coordinator The International Baccalaureate

Organization

GETTING STARTED ON THE EXTENDED ESSAY

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Decide which subject interests you the most.

Without personal curiosity and interest, it’s impossible to do research.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

In that subject, make a

list of thetopical areas in the

subjectwhich interest you.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Discuss this list with your teacher, with friends, with parents and anyone else who you think may be able to give you advice or be interested.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Choose an area from this list, and read more in this area with advice from your supervisor.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

While reading, try and list questions that you are curious about.

THIS MUST BE DONE RIGHT THROUGH THE RESEARCH PROCESS, SO....

KEEP A RESEARCH DIARY

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Ask yourself what data you might need to

answer these questions whether you will have access to the

data whether you will need to find other

sources of dataSee whether there has been any

research by others in this area.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Consult the librarian for help with tracking down research papers or writings, and read the abstracts.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Ask what methods you will need to adopt to answer the questions you have in mind.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Brainstorm and draw spider diagrams of questions and issues and connections between them.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Narrow down the number and scope of your questions as you proceed.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

Consult your supervisor at each stage, and in case of difficulty.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

EXPECT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE YOU FINALLY SETTLE ON A TOPIC.

WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION?

One formulated by the student out of his/her own curiosity or interest

Non-trivial (i.e., substantial, not speculative or too limited in scope, not self-evident)

Sharply enough focused so that the student can answer it in 4,000 words.

Unsuccessful topics

A topic that is too broad

One that requires no personal research and relies only on secondary sources

A topic with which the student has little or no personal engagement

EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION

ECONOMICS: Does globalization affect Sweden?

EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION

BIOLOGY: What causes cancer?

EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION

HISTORY: What would have happened to Turkey if the last Sultans had been more powerful?

EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION

GEOGRAPHY: Does Istanbul have a central business district? (variant of an example in The Extended Essay, IBO, 1998)

EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

ECONOMICS: Is there a connection between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda?

EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

BIOLOGY: The ecology of snails in the Maria Park area.

EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

HISTORY: The establishment of foreign schools in Turkey in the 19th century

EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

GEOGRAPHY: How has migration affected land use patterns in XXX province?

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

Students discover too late that there is too little data, or data is inaccessible.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

Bad pacing of the research and writing process

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

PLAGIARISMThe use of the work of other authors(texts, data, creative productions,oral statements OR ideas) withoutproper acknowledgement, with theeffect that it appears to be theplagiarist’s own work or idea.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

Over-reliance on web-based sources

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

Students discover too late that their knowledge of the subject is not deep enough.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

Ethical issues regarding gathering of data or performing of experiments

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

No contribution by the student – the extended essay is a compilation of information from other sources.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Ask your supervisor. Heed his or her advice

How your supervisor can help you

Discuss the choice of topic - help you to formulate a well-focused research question and ensure that the research question is appropriate to the subject.

• Give advice on:Relevant resources (e.g. laboratory, library, Internet, people)Techniques on how to gather and analyse information, data and evidence

GOLDEN RULES Don’t be too ambitious, you are not

going to find a cure for cancer Don’t be trivial. Be focussed Keep within the discipline of the

subject – it is an academic essay.

KEY POINT Criteria A,;

1. ”clearly and precisely stated, 2. sharply focussed and 3. effective treatment”

Do point 1, and 2 and 3 follow naturally, and the essay will be of better quality.

THE TITLE IS CRUCIAL

The Supervisor Will Not:

Get you started and tell you what to do

Give you a research question Give you the resources Edit your work Remind you of the deadlines Chase you to be able to read a draft

and offer advice

Where to find more information?

EE Blog

 50 Excellent Extended Essays  – a CD produced by the IB- Library  

Subject Course Companion  and Subject Study Guide  both contain chapters on Extended Essays. The Study Guide also contains a check-list.

What to do now ?

Read entire extended essay handbook and subject specific guide.

Meet with faculty supervisor to agree on the topic

Submit signed contract form to EE coordinator