The Extended Essay

Student Training WorkshopRockwall High School

The Diploma Programme

Nature of Extended Essay (p. 4)

Required for IB diploma eligibilityExternally assessed by IBO evaluatorsRoughly 3,500-4,000 words in lengthChosen from current subjects and

preferably a current focus of studyTotal assessment points 0-36, of

which a grade between an A to E is awarded

Represents 40 hours of workTopic agreed upon with supervisor

Nature of Extended Essay (cont.)

Involves collegiate, critical research

Supervisor meetings totaling 4+ hours

Apply analytical and evaluative skills, terminology toward subject matter

Supervisor submits a predicted grade and a supervisor’s report to the IBO

Concludes with the viva voce interview

EE demands a “diverse range of sources”

Aims/Assessment Objectives (p. 5)

Plan carefully, leading up to proposed topic

Develop a thoughtful research questionGather, interpret, present, and argue

information as it pertains to subject areaUse the correct vocabulary and

argumentative style according to the demands of the subject

Apply analytical and evaluative skills in the subject chosen

School Responsibilities (p. 6)Train all supervisors and studentsProvide students with qualified supervisorMake general and subject-specific information

and guidelines accessibleMake students aware of how the EE fits into

program requirementsProvide recommended deadlines to all

supervisors and studentsProvide learning and researching

opportunitiesResolve all pending EE issues and questionsShip all EEs out for external assessing

Supervisor’s Role (p. 6)Use knowledge in subject area to

provide advice and guidance to students

Helps define research questionAids in the research processReads and comments on rough

draftSubmits a predicted grade to the

IBOConducts the viva voce with

studentReports plagiarism, if suspected

RHS supervisors should…(p. 7)

Spend 3-5 hours with youWork to ensure you’ve written a

great questionAdvise you on where to find

materialsVerify your sourcesHelp troubleshoot when you are

stuckGrade and discuss your rough

draftConduct a viva voce conference

at end

RHS supervisors should NOT…(p. 7)

Do research for youTell you what sources to useGive specific advice on how to

improve your draftCorrect bibliographies or citationsChase you down for meetingsRe-teach you concepts in the

subject matter you should already know

Responsibilities of the Student (p. 9)

Choose a topic of interest and invest the time into your research question

Observe and follow all EE regulations, both general and specific

Meet EE/Supervisor deadlinesCommunicate with your supervisor!

◦Attend meetings◦Ask for help◦Address emerging issues◦Be honest and open!

Advice to Students: DO… (p. 9)

Start early! Follow deadlines.Think and plan carefully your

proposal and your questionPlan a schedule for yourself for

completing EEList every source on your

bibliography as you goFollow the rubric and final

checklist RHS provides

Advice to Students: Do NOT… (p. 9)

…forget to analyze/answer the question

…ignore the EE rubric…waste time collecting date irrelevant

to your question…surf the Internet aimlessly,

repeatedly, with no discipline…show lack of discipline in citing

sources…describe or report other information…cite sources that aren’t used in paper

Writing the Extended Essay (p. 10-11)

Extremely precise structureIntroduction should be written after

bodyAbstract written absolutely lastMain focus of essay is the bodySub-headings helpful in most subjectsInclude only relevant sources,

citations all present and consistentEvaluator not required to read

references, bibliography, or footnotes

*Coordinators should consult programme guide for passing eligibility.

*Failing Condition

“From 2010 onwards, 28 points will be required to be eligible for the diploma if a student attains an “E” grade in either the extended essay or theory of knowledge…Attaining a grade “E” in both the extended essay and theory of knowledge continues to represent an automatic failure.”

(Extended Essay Guide 2013)

On the Record, From the IBO…

To qualify as a history EE, all events discussed must take place ten years ago or more

Group 2 EEs must be written in the language for which it is being submitted and must meet current teacher approval

On the Record, From the IBO…

Students may not elaborate, overlap with, or supplement an internal assessment from a DYP class with their EE choice

No two students may write an EE posing the same or nearly same question

Students may further explore a question studied in freshmen or sophomore year, or one never explored in any class (though this is not recommended)

Off the Record from the IBOQuality is important, but so is quantity.

Getting as close to the 4,000 word-count is important…

…except in math. A great paper can be 3,300 words. But usually, 3,300 words will earn very low marks.

Certain subjects grade students unfairly according to well-established IB schools. We have one femme-fatale at the Academy: psychology.

Reports on other scientific reports in sciences score very low. Experimental designs are frequently a must-have for a decent grade.

Off the Record from the IBO (Overheard …)

If considering writing a group 2 essay, you’re required to get a teacher signature. Don’t write one unless you could score a 5 on the AP foreign language test.

Take the IBO’s advice here: “Choosing the write the extended essay in a subject that is not being studied as part of the Diploma Programme often leads to lower marks.” This is not allowed at RHS.

Do not choose a subject that you are just beginning to have background in. This is not the time for beginner’s exploration. This is a time for further exploration.

Combined Role: The Iceberg Model

7/8 = Research Phase (Now-Feb 2015)Student & supervisor work together to:

Explore and discuss ideasLocate appropriate resourcesDiscuss readings and ideasDevelop a suitable research questionSupervisor monitors research progressRepresents 3-5 hours of work per studentNow until June

1/8 = Writing Phase (Feb 2015- Aug 2015)

Student works independently over summer to:

Write EE draftOrganizing your writingRevision conference drives final draft of essayPrepare the final EE

The RHS EE ScheduleProvides internal & external due

dates as the IBO strongly recommends

Builds in five mandatory in-school meetings with supervisors

Assignments are given at each meeting and expected to be completed by the student

Vast majority of work completed before senior year

RHS Process: Supervisor Selection

Students submit and rank two EE proposals in two separate subjects; EE coordinator collects by November 13

Full RHS staff divides students according to teachers’ expertise in proposed areas and to balance staff responsibilities

In-department changes made only when student and both teachers in agreement

So, What About Those Grades?

Grades are not often released worldwide by the IBO

The latest information shows us the following very interesting statistics, from which many inferences can be drawn…

General vs. Subject-Specific Guidelines

General guidelines are broad requirements for all essays: basic outline for each essay, required components, word count, academic honesty, purpose and aims, and so on

Subject-specific guidelines are specific considerations germane to writing in sciences, English, history. These include issues of style but also rules and restrictions on what are acceptable questions.

Activity: Brainstorming EE Topics

Fold blank paper into thirdsLabel your favorite/strongest

subjectsThink of the lessons, issues,

projects, discussions, readings that you experienced in these classes over the last two and a half years. Particularly ask yourself which ones…

Intrigued youMade you think you could do this for a

livingMade you talk nonstopMorally outraged youBroke your heart or disturbed youOpen a whole new world to youLeft you unsatisfied—there was more

to discoverMade you read or investigate furtherPuzzled you—something that didn’t

make sense

Narrow Your BrainstormCross out what’s impractical or

unanswerable or outside approved topic areas

Cross out what’s less promising, interesting, impractical, unoriginal

Look at what’s left and take it down another level of specificity by posing a question or stating, “I want to learn more about/I want to find out what/how/why…”

Topics of Interest…Good Examples

English: “I want to research the role of racism in the Harry Potter series,” developed into the question…

“To what extent does J.K. Rowling use blood as a complex literary device in the Harry Potter series to demonstrate the negative impact of racism?”

More Examples of Good QuestionsCompletely read the RHS

Extended Essay: Getting the Best Start Packet

Talk with your supervisor to help formulate your research question

Extended Essay CriteriaA Research Question 2

B Introduction 2

C Investigation 4

D Knowledge/Understanding 4

E Reasoned Argument 4

F Apply Analysis & Evaluation 4

G Appropriate Language 4

H Conclusion 2

I Formal Presentation 4

J Abstract 2

K Holistic Judgment 4

Total Points 36

Criterion A: The Research Question

Stated and bolded in the introduction

Correct diction, word by wordCorrect qualifiers: more often

open-ended (why, how, to what extent, compare-contrast, etc.) than closed (“yes” or “no” answers okay for science)

Meets “so what?” relevanceCan/Must be answered in 3,500-

4,000 words

Criterion B: IntroductionA prior-knowledge treatiseBriefly state question in context

by noting relevance of author, event, time period, artist, etc.

State personal reasons for pursuing this EE (use of “I” acceptable)

Answers why this topic/question deserves to be studied/answered in an EE

Written after the body

Criterion C: InvestigationEvaluation of sources/bibliography:

◦Appropriate number?◦Is there balance of primary vs. secondary?◦Groups 1, 2, 4, 6: emphasis must be on

primary◦Here, “imaginative” range of sources

includes interviews, museums, concerts, personal photos, unique library trips)

◦For sciences, this criterion score rests on discussion of methodology to demonstrate reliability

Criteria D, E, F: The EE BodyGenerally earn the same rangeThe most difficult points to earnMaximum of 2/4 for D and E if

research question is marked at “0”

Criterion D: Knowledge/Understanding of Topic

“Through writing, to what extent do I show a reasonable expertise on the subject to answer my question?”

To earn a 3 or higher, the student must locate the “academic context,” or the place where current research sits and work from that point forward, not revisit tired material

Criterion E: Reasoned Argument

The single most difficult criterion“Is every paragraph working to

answer my research question, or is it just ‘there’?”

“Does my argument build through transition and flow, or is it choppy and isolated?”

Criterion F: Application of Analytical Skills Appropriate to the Subject

Paper avoids summary Analyses data, evidence,

researchEnglish: “Am I analyzing but also

judging the author’s literary merit?”

History: “Have I evaluated the reliability of my sources somewhere in the paper?”

Sciences: Please note specific requirements on your rubric

Criterion G: Use of Language Appropriate to Subject

Proper terminology to subject matter is utilized

Active voice throughoutElimination of wordiness

(extensive adverbs and prepositional phrases)

Strong vocabularyHistory: absence of sweeping

generalizations

Criterion H: ConclusionNEVER a restatement of the

introduction!A post-knowledge treatiseStates implications for further

studyRaises possible unresolved

questionsNotes any limitations of the

essay/researchHow might this research be taken

further?

Criterion I: The Formal Presentation

Easiest criterion of the EE! Evaluation of contents and orderCheck-off of bibliography

elementsUnder 4,000 wordsNeatness, readability,

appearanceSciences: additional

requirements on rubricNo excuse for less than a 4!

Criterion J: AbstractWritten dead last and never

discussedMaximum 300 wordsThree paragraphs, one for each

purpose:◦State the research question studied◦State the method of investigation

(how the paper proceeds)◦Provides a brief summary of

conclusions (what was found/discovered)

Criterion K: Holistic Judgment

Result of the viva voce and evaluator’s opinion

How hard did the student work?Special circumstances?Intellectual initiative?Above and beyond the call of

duty?

Extended Essay Grade Boundaries

A 29 – 36B 23 – 28C 16 – 22D 8 – 15E 0 – 7