The Extended EssayWhat is it?
Deadlines/CalendarSample Topics
What is the EE?The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 3500 - 4000-word paper.
College level essay – with a lot of guidance
In-depth study in a topic of interest
EE LengthAverage length is 19-20 pages
Word count does not include abstracts, contents, charts/tables, bibliography or appendices.
The IBO recommends the student spend 40 hours on their EE
FormatMust be Double spaced
12 point type. Only standardized fonts with non-stylized, standard horizontal spacing
The essay requires an abstract (summary),
Title page, table of contents, and bibliography
Uniform citation style (MLA)
All margins should be one inch
All pages should be numbered
Scoring The total score of the essay places it in one of the following categories:
A excellent
B good
C satisfactory
D mediocre
E elementary
Assessment CriteriaExternally assessed by IBO examiners
General assessment criteria:writing, use of data and overall presentation.
Subject assessment criteria: how the chosen topic is managed within the context of the chosen subject of the essay.
Each subject has its own set of assessment criteria.
Official essay guidelines will be provided to the student when the essay topic is finalized.
Bloom’s New Taxonomy
The EE Develops Capacity to:
Analyze
Synthesize
Evaluate knowledge
Taken from: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/core/essay/
AdvisorsStudents are supported throughout the process with advice and guidance from a supervisor (usually a teacher at the school)
Role of AdvisorOffer encouragement, support
Help with determining topic and research question (but this should be the student’s choice)
The advisor reads and comments on the first draft of the extended essay, but is not permitted to edit this draft for the candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to correct mistakes and verify the accuracy of the contents of the extended essay.
Completes advisor’s report when EE is completed
Research Process
Emphasis is placed on the Research Process:Formulating an appropriate research question
Engaging in a personal exploration of the topic
Communicating ideas
Developing an argument.
The Iceberg Model1/8 = Writing Phase
Student works independently to prepare the final EE:
Revision conference drives final version of essay
7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft Phase
Student works with supervisor to: Explore and discuss ideas
Locate resources
Develop suitable research question
Take notes, make outline
Write drafts—monitor progress
Iceberg AnalogyThe success of an extended essay is shaped largely during the preparatory stages. (7/8 Pre-writing/Draft phase)
• Major weaknesses can be traced directly to the research phase:
Topics too broad
Lack of focus
Vague research questions
Important EE Deadlines
Choose an Advisor
Choose Subject and topic
Advanced Outline Due
First Draft Due
Second Draft Due (1st day of school)
Final Essay Due
What should you be doing now?
Explore different subjects you are interested in
Begin with:Your subject area interests
The things you have been reading
Conversations you have had in class or with others are often good sources of ideas.
Think about the subject areas of the IB hexagon which area interests you the most?
Talk to your teachers about possible topics
IB Hexagon
Choosing a TopicSelect a subject you are interested in
Must be one of your IB diploma subjects.
Read the subject guideline in The Extended Essay Guide (EE Wiki)
Meet with your supervisor
Create a list of possible topics
Narrow to a topic of interest to you
• Achieving motive: to achieve at a level relative to others• Learning strategy: focuses on
organizing and structuring knowledge of topic in most efficient way (managing time commitments, working space, resources) with purpose of optimizing a grade or meeting other external criteria
Look at Your Motives
Surface Motive• To retain knowledge to meet a criterion
unrelated to the idea
– Learning strategy: focuses on superficial features of topic, learning and memorizing in an unquestioning way so they can be reproduced at later date
Deep Motive
To increase one’s knowledge of a topic
Learning strategy: focuses on underlying meaning of topic; searches for meaning; questions ideas to achieve better understanding; links new information with what is known; takes ideas apart and examines from multiple perspectives
Subject Areas
English literature
Arabic literature
History
Biology
Mathematics
Chemistry
Music
Visual Arts
Physics
Subject vs. TopicThe single biggest problem most students have is distinguishing between a subject and a topic.
ExamplesSubject: The life and paintings of Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840).
Topic: The transfer of the silhouette technique from humans to landscape in the later paintings of Caspar David Friedrich.
Subject: Raku pottery.
Topic: The impact of Raku glazes on contemporary western pottery.
Which is a better topic?
Nationalism
Nationalism as a cause of the First World War
HistoryCecil Rhodes
An examination of the influence of British Darwinism on Cecil Rhodes
MathPrime numbers
Prime numbers in cryptography
MathGraph Theory
Using Graph Theory to minimize cost
Alternative energy sources
Wind Power: A clean source of Energy?
English LiteratureThe Brontes
Religious imagery in Wuthering Heights
English LiteratureRacial conflict in the twentieth century
The problems of racial conflict as shown through the works of James Baldwin
Arabic LiteratureThe land in Mahmod Darwish poets
Mahmod Darwish poets
Arabic LiteratureWomen in Khalil Gibran’s writing
Khalil Gibran
ArtThe history of Renaissance Art
An analytical study of the cycle of frescoes of St Christopher’s Church in Milan
BiologyFactors which affect the germination of seeds
The effect of banana peel on seed germination
ChemistryChemical Kinetics
Kinetics of oxidation of Iodide with H2O2 in acidic solutions
EconomicsThe Third World Debt Crisis
Do interest rates affect investment decisions?
Economics The consequences of shrimp farming in Ecuador
The economic costs and benefits of shrimp farming in Ecuador
MusicThe music of Africa
African influence on Paul Simon
MusicThe Xylophone
The marimba music of Bagamoyo