Getting the Best Start

Extended Essay

Getting the Best Start

The EE Basics

·  As a Diploma candidate, you must write an Extended Essay.

·  The essay is a maximum of 4,000 words (excluding appendices and abstract).

·  You should spend approximately 40 hours on the EE.

·  You have a supervisor who, preferably, is an IB teacher or is familiar with the IB curriculum/experience.

·  You select the group, subject, and topic on which you write.

·  Group 1 and 2 essays must be written in that language. All other EEs must be written in English.

·  It is highly encouraged that you write your EE in an IB HL subject you study.

·  After you finish you will have a short interview, viva voce, with your supervisor.

·  The EE is graded by an external examiner. Your EE supervisor provides a predicted grade. You also earn a grade in IB English 11.

·  Malpractice is an attempt to gain an unfair advantage, by collusion or plagiarism. It may result in you not earning an IB Diploma. Cite everything.

What should I do first?

1.  Think about the subject in which you want to write. This will be discussed with Mr. Sapakie in your early ToK classes.

2.  Supervisors will be allocated by February 10th, hopefully by February 3rd. When you know who your supervisor is you must contact him/her to arrange a meeting.

3.  Confirm that your topic and focus are feasible for a paper of this length and that it contributes to scholarship in the field. Develop a manageable and focussed research question with your supervisor.

4.  Submit your agreed research question to Mr. Sapakie

Subject / Topic
Which subject does it fit within?
Ex: History / Which topic within this subject do you want to explore?
Ex: Henry VIII’s 6th wife

Although the Extended Essay is your work, you are not working alone.

What does my supervisor do?

·  Gives you advice and support in refining your topic, undertaking research, and writing your argument.

·  Spends about 3-5 hours supervising you.

·  Ensures that your research question meets IB requirements.

·  Monitors the progress of your essay to offer you guidance

·  Ensures the EE is your own work by seeing drafts.

·  Provides a supervisor’s predicted grade on your EE.

·  Answers questions about structuring your essay and about what areas in particular need improvement, and makes suggestions about how you can make them better.

Ø  In addition to all of his/her other work, your supervisor takes on this role. Let them know you are truly appreciative for their knowledge, guidance, and time. Follow their advice about research and writing. To ignore their advice is to throw points away.

What does my supervisor not do?

·  Your supervisor does not decide the topic for you.

·  Your supervisor cannot edit your draft essay. He/she may read and comment on it

·  Your supervisor does not remind you of deadlines or do the work for you.

Who else can help me?

·  Use the IB documents, talk to Mr. Sapakie, to other teachers, experts, check IB websites.

·  Consult libraries and librarians: school, city, university

·  There may be University tutors or academic authors you can email. If you are polite and show enthusiasm for their subject, they might reply.

Hints

1.  Keep your EE under control – it should take no more than 40 hours from the time you first think about it until you hand in your final draft. Smaller and more focused allows you to say more significant things.

2.  Keep your topic and research question manageable. Stay within your time table and skill level. A focused research question is best, e.g. “To what extent might internal fighting explain the collapse of the Mayan civilisation” is better than “The Mayan civilisation”. Again, a smaller focus is almost always superior.

3.  4,000 is the hard-cap maximum word limit.

4.  You are not expected to write something totally original, but it must contribute to scholarship in the field. If you do not understand what is meant by this, make sure to bring it up with Mr. Sapakie in class.

5.  Write on a topic that interests you and that you want to teach yourself about.

6.  Follow the guidelines for general and subject specific criteria. You may write a great paper but earn a low grade because you fail to follow the rubric.

7.  Meet deadlines! They help you manage your time. Failure to do so puts pressure on your other work.

8.  Your EE will never be perfect so strive for excellence instead of perfection. IB is at least as concerned about the process as they are about the product, and the criteria reflect that in many places.

How do I choose a subject, then a topic, and then a research question?

To choose a subject, ask yourself

1.  What subjects am I studying at HL?

2.  What subjects do I most enjoy studying?

3.  What subjects do I want to study at University? Or, talk about in my University interview?

Once you have answered these questions, choose your subject.

To choose a topic within that subject, ask yourself

1.  What topics have I enjoyed learning about?

2.  What topics do I find interesting or prompt my enthusiasm?

Once you have answered these questions, discuss with you advisor if this is a subject/topic combination that is relevant to current scholarship in the field.

Points to keep in mind while choosing a subject and topic

If you have chosen a subject from
Group 1 / ·  You can write on a book you’ve read. You must go beyond it show evidence of wider reading
·  You can compare a book written in your A1 language to one written in another language
Group 2 / ·  You must write it in that target language
Group 3 / ·  Avoid “What if..?” questions as these do not fit well within the Assessment Criteria
·  An analysis of reliability and/or representativeness of sources will be crucial
Group 4
Decide which type / ·  Experimental EEs: You will gather data and analyse it. You must schedule lab/supervision time with your supervisor. Avoid experiments for which the outcome is already well documented.
·  Library-based EEs: May be easier to research, in a school or university library. You will need to manage a large amount of material and be selective for relevant information.
Group 5 / ·  You must be taking Math HL
Group 6 / ·  Avoid purely biographical or historical research questions

Once you have thought through these points, choose a research question

·  The question must be an open question (i.e. it cannot be answered by a simple yes or no)

·  It must limit your research to something manageable within 4,000 words, 40 hours, and be specific.

·  Do not attempt topics which are taught in depth in your IB classes.

Advice about good and bad research questions

Subject / Good questions / Poor questions
English A1 / How are men and women portrayed differently in Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘North’ and ‘South’?’ / How are men and women portrayed by Elizabeth Gaskell in her novels? (too large)
How is the subject of death treated in a selection of poems by Thomas Hardy? / How did Thomas Hardy’s life influence his poetry? (too biographical)
Group 2 / How can Switzerland develop their tourist industries in a sustainable way? / “Does tourism have a future in Switzerland?” (too trivial)
To what extent does racism exist in France towards those of North African descent? / “Racism in France” (lacks focus; not a question)
History / Which theory best explains why Labour won the election by a landslide in 1997? / Why did Barak Obama win the Presidential election of 2008? (too recent, must be at least 10 years in the past)
To what extent were Hitler’s educational aims fulfilled in the Uhland Gymnasium, 1937–1939? / How successful were the Nazis in maintaining control? (too broad)
Biology / What effect does detergent toxicity have on soil bacteria? / How are detergents broken down in the soil? (partly Chemistry, not focussed solely on Biology)
What effect does differing pH levels on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris? / The effect of acidity on plant growth. (not a question)
Physics / To what extent is it possible to determine the presence of a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way? / What have been the latest findings about string theory? (too descriptive)
Chemistry / What effect do sugar-free chewing gums have on the pH of saliva in the mouth after a meal? / How do alkali metals react with water? (already covered by the syllabus)
Math / How well can π, e, and other irrationals be approximated by rational numbers? / To what extent have rivalries between mathematicians helped solve mathematical problems? (too biographical and historical)
Theatre / How does the mask contribute to the creation of a character in Noh? / The use of fans in Restoration comedy (not a question, too broad)
How can the use of female stereotypes in a selection of Brecht's plays be compared and contrasted in performance? / A study of the effects of the use of fabrics and lighting in The Tempest. (not a question, lacks focus)
Visual Art / How has Western portrait art in the twentieth century been influenced by the African artistic tradition? / How did Western portrait art develop 1800-2000? (too long a time period, lacks specific focus)
What is the impact of transcultural experience on the art of Gu Xiong? / The impact of immigration on an artist’s work (too broad, not a question)

What do I do if I have no idea for a subject or topic?

1.  Ask an IB teacher if you could have 5 minutes to talk to them about possible research questions. They may not end up being your supervisor, but they may be able to help you.

2.  Read through this booklet and some past EEs.

3.  Do not get wrapped up in choosing the absolute best topic. Choose a topic which is good.

It is up to you to make appointments with EE supervisors. They will not chase you.

What is the point of my research?

·  Your research like an iceberg. About 80% of an iceberg is below the water-line. The mass below allows a great portion to stay above the water. Your essay will be supported by a mass of research which is not explicitly visible in the essay. Again, remember how IB values process as well as product.

·  The point of your research will depend on the subject and topic you have chosen.

·  You will need primary and secondary research, but the balance of these will depend on your topic area. Make sure to discuss this with your advisor.

·  Your research should provide you with a depth and range of knowledge so that you:

o  Presearch: understand the background and academic context of your topic

o  assemble an appropriate variety of viewpoints and evidence

o  know your topic

o  develop your interest in your topic and question

When do I do my research?

·  Once your research question has been approved, start researching!

·  Use University libraries as well as both CHS and Chandler city libraries. Work with librarians: school, city, University

·  Use search engines designed specifically for research papers. JSTOR, SSRN and Proquest are a few. As well, the Chandler library offers numerous databases you can access from home with a library card. Google scholar can be effective as well for at least locating the names of sources, although the full text is not always available.

·  As good as Wikipedia is, and while you should use it to familiarize yourself with the topic it will not lead to sufficiently personal judgements required by the criteria. The links at the bottom of Wikipedia articles, on the other hand, may serve as strong sources

·  Make sure to have a variety of source types…print…visual…web…human. (See “investigation” below)

·  If you choose an experimental based Group 4 EE, speak to your supervisor ASAP, to schedule lab work.

·  Follow the writing steps and deadlines.

How should the assessment criteria influence my research?

·  Investigation (criterion C) – used an imaginative range of appropriate sources or data and carefully selected what appears in the essay; investigation was well planned.

·  Knowledge and understanding of the topic studied (criterion D) – demonstrates very good knowledge and understanding of the topic studied; precisely locates the investigation in its academic context.

·  Reasoned argument (criterion E) – presents ideas clearly and in a logical and coherent manner; you develop a reasoned and convincing argument in relation to the research question.

·  Holistic judgment (criterion K) – shows intellectual initiative, depth of understanding and insight.

How do I keep a record of the research I have done?

·  From the start keep an annotated bibliography of the books, magazines and journals you have consulted, including the page numbers.

·  Keep a record at the top of each page of your notes. Write the book, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number.

·  Keep track of web pages in your favorites or through online research tools (e.g. zotero, surfulater).

·  Ask your supervisor for strategies which work best in your subject.

·  Use the agreed documentation style to show the basis for your claims and reasoning (as in ToK) and give due consideration and respect to the work of others (as in IB Learner Profile)

What is the point of the essay?

·  To present a structured, well-reasoned, well-developed, well-supported argument.

·  To allow others to follow your process and check the primary and secondary data.

·  To produce something you can be proud of.

·  To further develop and reflect on your skills as a scholar.