Introduction to the Extended Essay

21 January 2010

What is the Extended Essay?

 A piece of independent research/investigation on a topic chosen by the student in cooperation with a supervisor in the school

 Presented as a formal piece of scholarship containing no more than 4000 words

(Source: IBO Extended Essay Guide)

What is the purpose of the EE?

 Develop research and communication skills

 Pursue in-depth a topic that is of significant interest to you

More general info

 The IBO estimates that you should spend about 40 hours on your Extended Essay. Of course, this will vary.

 In combination with TOK, the EE contributes up to 3 points to the total score for the IB Diploma.

TOK/EE points matrix

N = No Diploma *=28 points overall required for Diploma

Choosing a subject

 Subject = broad subject area

 It is strongly recommended that you choose 1 of your 6 IB subjects for your EE.

 If you want to choose another subject, you must submit an application to Mr. Chao by 4 February 2010

Subjects for Extended Essays (Groups 1 & 2)

 Group 1 -- Literature

 Group 2  Written in target language  Relates to language, culture or literature

Subjects for Extended Essays (Group 3)

 Business and Management

 Economics

 Geography

 History

 Human Rights

  ITGS

 Peace and Conflict Studies

 Philosophy

 Politics

 Psychology

 Social and Cultural Anthropology

 World Religions

Subjects for Extended Essays (Groups 4-6)

  Biology

  Chemistry

  Design Technology

  Environmental Systems and Societies

  Physics

  Computer Science

  Mathematics

  Dance

  Film

  Music

  Theatre

  Visual Arts

Choosing a supervisor

 Your supervisor can be any teacher, counselor, or administrator at the school, but not a relative.

 Recommended maximum = 3 supervisees/year

 Mr. Chao can help you find a supervisor once you have a clear idea of your topic.

Choosing a topic

 Topic = particular area of study within the chosen subject

 Interesting and challenging to you

 Narrow enough to examine in depth

Formulating a research question

 Research question = specific question you are trying to answer

 Even narrower than topic Subject

Topic

Research question

Examples (Source: IBO Extended Essay Guide)

Group 1

Topic: Dance in Jane Austen’s novels

Research Question: What are the role and significance of dance in Pride and Prejudice and Emma?

Group 2

Topic: Language laws in Quebec

Research Question: To what extent has Bill 101 contributed to increasing the prevalence of the French language in Quebec?

Examples

Economics

Topic: Economic impact of privatization

Research question: To what extent did Matav (a Hungarian tele-communications company) become more efficient post-privatization?

History

Topic: Changing views of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Research Question: How and why have explanations of the Cuban Missile Crisis changed since 1962?

Examples

Biology

Topic: The distribution and growth of lichens on urban pavements

Research question: How are the distribution and growth of lichens affected by sulfur dioxide and ozone levels in the atmosphere?

Chemistry

Topic: Analysis of strawberry jellies by paper chromatography

Research question: Paper chromatography will be used to determine whether strawberry jellies from different countries all contain the same red dyes.

Examples

Physics

Topic: The efficiency of electromagnetic damping

Research question: Is the efficiency of electromagnetic damping of a moving glider a function of the initial kinetic energy of the glider?

Mathematics

Topic: Archimedes’s calculations of areas

Research question: What is the legacy of Archimedes’s calculations of circular and parabolic areas in today’s methods of integration?

Examples

Theatre

Topic: Fabrics and lighting in The Tempest

Research question: How can fabrics and lighting contribute to the creation of magical effects in a production of Shakespeare’s last play?

Visual Arts

Topic: The impact of immigration on the work of Gu Xiong

Research question: What is the impact of transcultural experience on the art of Gu Xiong?

Assessment of EEs

 EEs in all subjects are assessed using the same criteria.

 The EE guide contains notes on how to interpret the criteria for each subject.

 EEs are externally assessed on a scale from 0 to 36.

A: Research question

B: Introduction

C: Investigation

D: Knowledge and understanding of the topic

E: Reasoned argument

F: Application of analytical and evaluative skills

G: Use of language appropriate to the subject

H: Conclusion

I: Formal presentation

J: Abstract

The requirements for the abstract are for it to state clearly the research question that was investigated, how the investigation was undertaken and the conclusion(s) of the essay.

K: Holistic judgment The purpose of this criterion is to assess the qualities that distinguish an essay from the average, such as intellectual initiative, depth of understanding and insight. While these qualities will be clearly present in the best work, less successful essays may also show some evidence of them and should be rewarded under this criterion.

Citations/references

“An extended essay must reflect intellectual honesty in research practices and provide the reader with the exact source of quotations, ideas and points of view through accurate bibliographies and referencing. Producing accurate citations, referencing and a bibliography is a skill that students should be seeking to perfect. Documenting the research in this way is vital; it allows readers to evaluate the evidence for themselves and it shows the student’s understanding of the importance of the sources used.”

From the IBO EE Guide

Citations/references

“Failure to comply with this requirement will be viewed as plagiarism and will, therefore, be treated as a case of malpractice.”

From the IBO EE guide

Citations/references

  Find out if your subject area has a preferred citation style.

  If not, any commonly used citation style is fine.

  Whatever style you use, use it consistently.

  Check with your supervisor, or consult writer’s handbooks or online guides, such as

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/index.html

(accessed 17January 2010)

Final notes…  Pick a topic in which you have a strong

interest.

  Study and know the assessment criteria and the interpretive notes for your subject.

  Start early and stick to deadlines.

 Keep track of sources and references as you go.

 You will be required to spend IB Core Flex periods working on your EE.

 Good luck – done properly, this can be a challenging and rewarding experience!