2. Writing the Extended Essay
“Most people would rather die than think; in fact they do so.”
-Bertrand Russell

3. IB EXTENDED ESSAY

4. THE EXTENDED ESSAY
RELAX

5. THE EXTENDED ESSAY It’s just a paper
The myth is worse than the reality
You will spend more time worrying and whining than working
You think you will do it all in 1 or 2 weekends, so why not tackle it now?
It’s like baking a cake – follow the recipe

6. THE EXTENDED ESSAY “A study in depth of a limited topic”
Independent research supervised by a teacher
In a topic YOU choose from one of the IB subject areas
On a question YOU develop
Presented in 4000 words (max.)
In accordance with IB requirements

7. WHAT IS IT?
Prepares you for independent research expected by universities
Format is a formal research paper – scholarly journal
Written in a scholarly voice
Essay is an analytical answer to a question YOU develop.

8. WHAT IS IT NOT? It is NOT a review of the literature
It is NOT a book report or plot summary
It is NOT everything you ever learned about your subject
It is NOT your opinion, your thoughts, or your beliefs

9. THE EE IS……..
A carefully constructed analytical answer to a very precise question
Based on DATA and EVIDENCE from your research
Data cited as to source

10. General Time Line Due Date: End of first semester your senior year
This semester: thesis & beginning research, first outline
Summer: research and rough draft
Next semester: writing the essay

11. REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
Topic & IB Advisor: May 3rd
Research question: May 10
Bibliography: May 17
First draft of outline: EXAM
Summer progress report: ~ Aug. 19*
Detailed outline: ~Oct. 1*?
1st Complete Draft: ~Dec. 1*?
FINAL: February 1?
* Depends on final school calendar

12. How do we support you?
Provide you with an EE supervisor based on your research question
Make appointments – don’t do drive bys or drop ins
Use . Schedule summer contact

13. The EE Advisor Must be a Reagan teacher
YOU are responsible for making appointments
Will advise and guide you through the research
Will complete a Supervisor’s Report at the completion of the essay (submitted with essay to IB)
IB will not accept an essay w/o an Advisor.

14. The EE Advisor WILL NOT
Tell you what to do
Give you a Research Question
Give you research resources
Edit your work
Remind you of the deadlines
Chase you down

15. Getting to the Research Question
S-T-Q
Subject….
Topic… Question….

16. Getting to the Research Question
Choose a SUBJECT
Choose a TOPIC within that subject
Choose a narrow RESEARCH QUESTION that will focus your research and argument.

17. Choosing a Subject Step 1: READ THE GUIDELINES
On my weebly: ajcraig.weebly.com
Must be one of IB subjects
Choose a subject that is interesting and challenging to you and that you have taken as an IB class
Do background reading
Essays submitted in Group 2 must be written in that language

18. Choosing a Subject
Your essay must use scholarly language of the field so it must reflect your study of the field. It is not recommended that you do an essay in a subject you have not studied

19. Choosing a Topic
Limited in scope and sufficiently narrow to allow you to examine an issue in depth
But big enough so you may collect and/or generate data for analysis
Science topics are most successful when you conduct an experiment
Consult your advisor and Librarian

20. Choosing a Topic Read some more.
If you’re not confused, you haven’t spent enough time on it yet.
Keep reading.
If you haven’t changed your mind, you haven’t spent enough time on it yet.
Read some more.

21. The Research Question
The MOST important part of the essay. There are NO good essays with BAD research questions.
Think of the RQ as the map for the essay – don’t create a map to nowhere.
Questions have “question marks”
No ??, no research question.

22. The Research Question - It must be:
Narrow
Specific
Non-trivial
Answerable in 4000 words (max)
Researchable, not speculative

23. BAD Research Questions
ECONOMICS:
Does globalization affect Turkey?
ENGLISH, Group 1:
What symbols are employed by F. Scott Fitzgerald?

24. BAD Research Questions
BIOLOGY:
What causes cancer?
HISTORY:
What was the impact of the civil rights movement?
The History of _______________
(fill in the blank…smurfs, pogo sticks, shoes?)

25. GOOD Research Questions
ENGLISH:
How does the portrayal of Joan of Arc by Shaw, Anouilh, and Schiller differ?
BIOLOGY:
An experimental study to determine if Vitamin C levels in an orange differ in supermarket versus restaurants

26. GOOD Research Questions
ECONOMICS:
What is the impact of international coffee prices on the standard of living in Guatemala?

27. IB Prohibitions
Cannot recycle topics/papers you have written for IB classes. (self plagiarism)
Ethical considerations in design of experiments – no experiments that cause pain or stress to living organisms.

28. IB Prohibitions The RQ MUST be yours.
One student per Research Question – this YOUR question

29. Know the Criteria! A. Research Question (0-2) B. Introduction (0-2)
C. Investigation (0-4)
D. Knowledge of topic (0-4)
E. Reason argument (0-4)
F. Application of Analytical skills (0-4)
G. Use of appropriate language (0-4)

30. Know the Criteria (con’t)!
H. Conclusion (0-2)
I. Formal presentation (0-4)
J. Abstract (0-2)
K Holistic Judgment (0-4)
TOTAL possible points: 36

31. Mark Bands 29 – 36 Excellent A 23-28 Good B 16-22 Satisfactory C
8-15 Mediocre D
0-7 Elementary E

32. Diploma Points Matrix TOK/A TOK/B TOK/C TOK/D TOK/E EE/A 3 2 1* EE/B 10*
EE/C
EE/D
EE/E
Failing

34. Failing Condition for the Diploma
If you fail to submit an EE
If you write an EE but fail to meet with your advisor
If you fail BOTH the TOK paper AND the EE
If you fail the EE or TOK, you must earn at least 28 points on the exams to earn the Diploma (instead of 24)*

35. It’s all about analysis
Use EVIDENCE, DATA not description, chronological lists.
This is not a ‘report.”
It’s an argument with supporting information.
This is NOT a review of the literature—your voice must come through loud and clear.

36. It’s about being a scholar
Use a scholarly, professional style
No “I” statements (“I think”)
Use the language and vocabulary of your field
Keep a Research Diary/Portfolio

37. It’s about the rules! Read the Guidelines
Make sure your RQ is in the right Subject – your essay will be submitted to an examiner in YOUR subject
This is NOT the place for interdisciplinary topics
Did we mention: Read the Guidelines

38. It’s about the sources! Do not rely uncritically on Internet sources
Analyze your sources IN your essay
Primary sources over secondary sources
No encyclopedia-like sources
No textbooks
No Wikipedia!!
Range and balance of sources

39. Let’s talk plagiarism
EACH fact, idea, quote, chart, graph, picture, number not your own must be sourced (with page number)
The direct or indirect use of the words of another person MUST be sourced.
Restating someone’s ideas EVEN IF not copied is plagiarism!
The solution: CITATIONS
Be consistent in citation style
Manage sources as you do your research: research notebook/ notecards

40. What do you do now?
Read some Extended Essays – available on my weebly – ajcraig.weebly.com
Toy with ideas, talk to teachers
Explore!

41. Pitfalls: The Research
Plan for science experiments to go awry – they always do
Data may be unavailable for your topic
RQ may be too broad
You may not have enough background to complete the research
Be flexible and willing to change directions in the beginning

42. APPENDIX: The Presentation How to put it all together
Title page (Title is NOT the RQ)
Abstract of 300 words
Table of contents with subheads
Body of essay with subheads
Bibliography (ONLY works cited and in alphabetical order)
Page numbers
Candidate number on every page

43. Pitfalls: Word Count Word count must be on title page
4000 words max for paper
This does not include acknowledgements, table of contents charts and tables, annotated illustrations, bibliography or any appendices.

44. Pitfalls: Word Count Word count must be on title page
4000 words max for paper
This does not include acknowledgements, table of contents charts and tables, annotated illustrations, bibliography or any appendices.

45. PRESENTATION: TITLE PAGE
The Impact of Bicycle Paths on
Land Use in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Susie Q. Student
Candidate
Environmental Systems and Societies
Word Count: 3922
December 16, 2013

46. ABSTRACT Abstract of 300 words. Abstract is NOT an introduction.
Write this LAST.
Abstract should state:
Research question being investigated
The scope of the investigation
The conclusion/s of the essay

47. TABLE OF CONTENTS Place AFTER the abstract All pages must be numbered
Body of essay must have subheadings that are reflected in the TOC
Index is not required

48. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Each work cited in the essay must be listed in the bibliography
Examiners match the citations to the bibliography
Over reliance on limited sources will lose points

49. APPENDICES
Not viewed as essential and examiners are not required to read
Unless considered essential, complete lists of raw data should not be included