The Extended Essay
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What is the Extended Essay?
It is an ‘in-depth study of a limited topic within a subject’ (IB)
Why is it part of the IB Diploma programme?
‘It provides candidates with an opportunity to engage in independent
research’
What do I gain from it?
No Extended Essay no IB Diploma!
Part of the 3 Extra Points for the Diploma
Pre University Skill: good for interviews, etc.
2
TOK excellent
good
satisfactory
mediocre
elementary
Not
submitted
EE
Excellent
+3
+3
+2
+2
1+Failing
condition
No
diploma
good
+3
+2
+1
+1
Failing
condition
No
diploma
satisfactory
+2
+1
+1
0
Failing
condition
No
diploma
mediocre
+2
+1
0
0
Failing
condition
No
diploma
elementary
Failing
condition
Failing
condition
Failing
condition
Failing
condition
Failing
condition
No
diploma
Not
submitted
No
diploma
No
diploma
No
diploma
No
diploma
No diploma
No
diploma
3
What skills can you demonstrate?
 Personal research skills and organisation
 Communication of ideas & information in a logical and
coherent manner
 To present work in a required format to an accepted
academic standard
4
Choice of subject / topic
Positive reasons:
 What are you interested in?
 What are you good at, what are your Highers?
 What is achievable for you?
 What studies do you intend to go into?
Negative reasons:
 Someone can write it for me
 I can get it all from the Internet
5
Choice of subject / topic
Research Question and Material!!
Not :
The influence of advertising on young people
But: Group 2 (Language):
The language of advertising in sports magazines in the UK:
how does it reflect the target audience?
6
Primary Sources
the "materials on a topic upon which subsequent interpretations or
studies are based, anything from firsthand documents such as
poems, diaries, court records, and interviews to research results
generated by experiments, surveys, ethnographies, and so on.
sets of data, such as census statistics, interviews, etc. which have
been tabulated, but not interpreted
 records of events as they are first described, without any
interpretation or commentary
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Essay question in English B:
How does the depiction of the character Michael
vary in Puzo’s novel the Godfather and Scorseese’s
film the Godfather part 1?
Article on violence in the film, the godfather
The novel
Interview with Puzo
The film
The film, the godfather part 1
Review of the film
Sparknotes on Puzo, The godfather
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Primary and secondary sources
Article on violence in the film, the godfather
The novel
Interview with Puzo
The film
The film, the godfather part 1
Review of the film
Sparknotes on Puzo, The godfather
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Primary vs Secondary Sources
Primary Source
Secondary Source
Art
Original artwork
Article critiquing the piece of art
History
Slave diary
Book about the Underground Railroad
Literature
Poem
Treatise on a particular genre of poetry
Political
Science
Theatre
Treaty
Essay on Native American land rights
Videotape of a
Biography of a playwright
performance
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/primar
y.html
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Ideas about topic choice!
 Choose a subject you are actually studying. Higher
Level Subjects are strongly advised (compulsory for
Sciences) and will have preference during allocation.
 Think about which is your strongest subject(s)
 How easy is it going to be to get particular information?
Don’t be too ambitious! IB recommends 40 hours to
complete an Extended Essay.
 Have a variety of ideas, you may think a topic is
feasible, but a teacher may advise against it
 Be organised - it’s less stressful in the long term
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Advice to students from IB
 Start work early and stick to deadlines
 Think carefully about the research question
 Plan how, when and where you will find material




for the essay
Plan a schedule for both researching and writing
the essay, including extra time for delays and
unforeseen problems
Record sources while you are researching
Have a clear structure to the essay before writing
Carefully read the assessment criteria
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Organising the essay
The essay must be no more than 4000 words in length
and presented in the required format. The word limit
IS included in the following sections:
• Introduction
• Main body
• Conclusion
The other parts: abstract, acknowledgements, contents
page, maps/charts/diagrams etc, references &
bibliography AND appendices are NOT included in the
word count.
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Understanding the Assessment Criteria
A: research question
2
B: introduction
2
C: investigation
4
D: knowledge and understanding of the topic
4
E: reasoned argument
4
F: application of analytical and evaluative skills appropriate to the subject 4
G: use of language appropriate to the subject
4
H: conclusion
2
I: Formal presentation
4
J: abstract
2
K: holistic judgment
4
Explain to your partner what they need to do to get high marks. Pp.6-8
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What you have to do!
Think about which subjects you might be interested in
Make an appointment with a teacher to discuss options
Write down possible topics and primary sources
Keep an open mind there are a lot of students to supervise in
Year 12
 Prepare proposals for your chosen subject(s) and get them
signed by Monday before the deadline
 Hand it in by the deadline date (February)




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ISH paperwork!
These forms help your Year Leader, mentors & supervisor do their
job properly:

Proposal Form - sets out your ideas

Progress card/booklet

Checklist for satisfactory progress given before summer
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Deadlines
January 2012
07 February 2012
14 February 2012
20 – 24 Feb
16-20 April
13 June to 19 June
Summer Holidays
03 – 07 Sept
11 September 2012
23 October 2012
20 November 2012
Before Christmas
information sessions
proposal form for subjects/topics to the mentors
announcement of supervisors
1st meeting with supervisor
2nd meeting with supervisor
3rd meeting: used as one of the Promotion
Criteria into Year 13: promotion form
Substantial work on Essay
4th meeting with supervisors
Submission of first draft
Submission of final draft
Submission of Extended Essay
Viva (short interview) with supervisor
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PROPOSAL FORM
Extended Essay Proposal Form
Year 12
2012
To be submitted to mentor on 07/02/2012. This deadline is crucial. Late
submission of proposals will lead to allocation of subject and
supervisor according to availability rather than choice.
Name: _______________
Mentor: ____________
The aim of this proposal form is for you
1)to identify a subject area/ subject areas you would like to write the essay
in
2)to identify a research question or topic you would like to investigate.
3)to identify relevant material (primary sources) in regards to your
research question
1st proposal : (in total 2 proposals or 3 if from Eco, B+M, History or Physics)
Subject: _______________________________________________________________
Possible research question/ interest:
__________________________________________
Research Material:
_______________________________________________________
Discussed with (Teacher’s name) _____________________ signature:
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Authenticity in your work…
Malpractice
 Plagiarism: this is defined as the representation of the ideas or
work of another person as the candidate's own
 Collusion: this is defined as supporting malpractice by another
candidate, as in allowing one's work to be copied or submitted
for assessment by another
 Duplication of work: this is defined as the presentation of the
same work for different assessment components and/or diploma
requirements
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Starting!!
 Read the Extended Essay booklet
 Read a good Extended Essay in our library
 Look at various sources (syllabus, internet, texts, journals
….)
 Always keep a record of each source
 Think about your strengths, ideas & interests before you talk
to your teacher
 Be prepared when you have a meeting, your supervisor
doesn’t have time to waste!
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Choosing a subject
Group 1: Mrs van der Ende
Group 2: Ms Fox
Group 3: in lessons
Group 4: Ms Mak
Group 5: Mr Andreadis
Group 6: Mr den Exter
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