Getting started on the Extended Essay…

“I began to see how I could manage this task once I had sorted out my calendar and agreed on some internal deadlines’’

Role of the EE CoordinatorRole of the EE CoordinatorAssures documentationInform the regulationsFollow up the deadlines and

progressIndividual Interviews – RCs…

Role of the SupervisorRole of the Supervisor

Subject specific adviceSupply of resourcesHelp in time managementGuide towards resources.Navigate the process of

successfully completing the extended essay

Regular consultation as needed.Track meetings on Record sheet

Role of the Role of the Coordinator/SupervisorCoordinator/SupervisorGuidance, advice and a

sympathetic earAsk correct questions to guide

the pathRemember - good questions pave

way for research more than good answers.

In extreme casesIn extreme casesA student meeting the supervisor

only twice to set up the research question and submission of the final draft will face difficulty for not making use of the support mechanisms and opportunity, open the risk of regulations and suspicion of malpractice.

Make regular check in appointments with your Mentor and the EE Advisor.

Flow chartFlow chartTopic selection and assigning supervisorPreliminary research/narrowing the

focus/selection of research questionRough outline/provisional title and

planning the workWriting-data collection, information

gathering, fieldwork, experimentation, literature search, reading

Full written draft submitted to the supervisor

Feedback from supervisorFinal editing /last minute changesFinal essay due

Technically speaking….Technically speaking….The first draft is of extreme importance

since it forms the skeleton and encourage them to put blood and flesh in to it.

The completed draft is just for an over all reading by the Mentor/Supervisor.

Mentor/Supervisor comments and meetings are extremely important - it is necessary that to have a relationship with students, to know the nature of work and the dedication put in.

Ethical issuesEthical issuesIndependent research requires ethical

consciousness. It differs from area to area and from subject to subject too.

IB reserves the right to apply higher ethical standard to your work than may apply specific role related to the subject.

Example – ethical issues of animal experimentation in psychology and biology.

Ethical issues while working Ethical issues while working with peoplewith peopleInformed consentClear the purpose of the

interview or data collectionWhether it is ethical or

appropriate to reveal the identity of the interviewee

Culturally and socially sensitive setting may require privacy and anonymity.

Ethical issues while working Ethical issues while working with animalswith animalsConsult the IB annual

experimentation policy.

MalpracticeMalpracticePlagiarism - Presenting others’

work as your own.Collusion - allowing someone to

copy your work.The person who copies will be

guilty of plagiarism and the person who allows to copy will be guilty of collusion.

Duplication - presenting a substitute material at the last moment even if it is yours.

It’s the duty of the Mentor/Supervisor to see to the matter of malpractice so it doesn’t emerge at the last moment; enforce guidelines around plagiarism.

Why would the essay get a Why would the essay get a ‘zero’?‘zero’?

Criterion A-research questionCriterion A-research question

If the research question is not mentioned in the introduction.

‘From the outset I was genuinely interested in finding an answer to my research question and this helped me to persevere when I ran into difficulties.”

Criterion B-IntroductionCriterion B-IntroductionLittle or no attempt is made to set the research question into context or explain the significance of research question in the introduction.

“When I started looking at journal articles and web based resources I found that a lot of work had been done on related issues. This helped me to see that my research was apart of a bigger picture.”

Criterion C-InvestigationCriterion C-InvestigationThere is little or no evidence that sources have been consulted or data collected, and little or no evidence of planning in the investigation.

“I spent a lot of time looking for resources. Many of the articles I read were just not relevant but when I found this really good one and I was unable to use the bibliography to track down more.”

Criterion D-Knowledge and Criterion D-Knowledge and UnderstandingUnderstandingThe essay demonstrates no real knowledge or understanding of the topic studied.

“When I read through the final essay I found that I really understood more about this issue than before and this seemed to come across in what I had written.”

Criterion E-Reasoned Criterion E-Reasoned ArgumentArgumentThere is no attempt to develop a reasoned argument in relation to the research question.

“Making a strong argument is not as easy as the ideas have to fit together in a convincing way. I have tried to do this by regularly referring to the research question.”

Criterion F-Application of Criterion F-Application of analytical and evaluative analytical and evaluative skills appropriate to the skills appropriate to the subject subject The essay shows no application of appropriate analytical and evaluative skills.

“When I started out I thought there would be some clear, obvious relationships .It seems though that this issue is more complex than I expected.”

Criterion G-Language Criterion G-Language appropriate to the subjectappropriate to the subjectThe language used is inaccurate and uncertain. There is no effective use of terminology appropriate to the subject.

“When I was reading some of the background material I found I had to look up the meaning of lots of terms. I have tried to explain these words in my own words.”

Criterion H-ConclusionCriterion H-Conclusion

Little or no attempt is made to provide a conclusion that is relevant to the research question.

“In the end I found that some of the conclusions I was arriving at were not what I had expected to find when I began working on my essay.”

Criterion- I-Formal Criterion- I-Formal PresentationPresentationThe formal presentation is unacceptable, or the essay exceeds 4000 words.

‘I didn’t worry too much about the organization or appearance of my essay until I began thinking about it from the reader’s point of view.”

Criterion J-AbstractCriterion J-Abstract

The abstract exceeds 300 words

“It wasn’t until I began trying to select journal articles for my essay that I realized the value of an abstract.”

Criterion K-Holistic Criterion K-Holistic JudgmentJudgmentThe essay shows no evidence of holistic judgment qualities.

“My supervisor said that she could sense my excitement and was impressed with my dedication. I have been trying to put this across in my writing.”