The Extended Essay
Writing the Research Question
AIMS of the Extended Essay
 To provide students the opportunity to:
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pursue independent research on a focused topic
develop research and communication skills
develop the skills of creative and critical thinking
engage in a systematic process of research appropriate to the
subject
• experience the excitement of intellectual discovery.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
What College Writing Is…
 Academic writing done by scholars for scholars.
• “…being a scholar requires that you read, think,
argue, and write in certain ways.”
 Academic writing devoted to topics and
questions that are of interest to the academic
community.
• “When you write an academic paper, you
must…find a topic or question that is relevant and
appropriate.”
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
What College Writing Is…
 Academic writing [presents] the reader with an
informed argument.
• “To construct an informed argument, you must
first try to sort out what you know about a subject
from what you think about a subject.”
--quoted from The Dartmouth Writing Project
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/stude
nt/ac_paper/what.html
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
REMEMBER
Create a Working Bibliography
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It’s Just One Question!
How Difficult Can That Be?
Developing
Research Questions
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
If you still need to think about this:
 Take out the Brainstorming worksheet
(from Session 1)
 Compose three urgent questions related to each
topic:
• FOR EXAMPLE: Now that I think about it, I really want to
know, ”What drove Sanford to betray King Leopold at the
Anti-Slavery Conference?”
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© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
• OR, “By examining the early Belgian Congolese
trade, what can we learn about contemporary
American trade agreements with nations that
institutionalize inhumanity against their citizens?”
• Doing this will help you come up with a unified
question that incorporates the topic---but it takes
some thinking and discussion!
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© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Let’s take time to peruse
 Some examples with EXAMINER comments
from
IB Connected: Extended Essay
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Practice! (Purposeful Questions Worksheet)
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Step 1: Name your topic
Step 2: Suggest a question
Step 3: Add a rationale
Repeat the process as needed
NOTE: You cannot write a full statement of
purpose/rationale until you have gathered and
read some solid information on your topic. Once
you have done so, you’ll almost be ready to write your
research question.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Command Terms Can Become Question Stems
 Account for — Asks candidates to explain a
particular event or outcome. Candidates are
expected to present a reasoned case for the
existence of something.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Command Terms Can Become Question Stems
 How — On its own this is a straightforward invitation
to present an account of a given situation or
development. Often a second part will be added to
such an essay question to encourage analysis.
• Adding a second word such as "successfully",
"effective", "accurate", or "far" turns a "how"
question into one that requires a judgment. The
candidate is now expected to provide his/her
detailed reasons for that judgment.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Command Terms Can Become Question Stems
 To what extent — Asks candidates to
evaluate the success or otherwise of one
argument or concept over another.
Candidates should present a conclusion
supported by arguments.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Command Terms Can Become Question Stems
 Why — This short key word invites
candidates to present reasons for the
existence of something. Thus, the brevity of
this command rather disguises a powerful
requirement to present a detailed, reasoned
argument. In effect it is similar to the
invitation "account for".
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
Acknowledgements
 International Baccalaureate
Organization
 Dartmouth Writing Project
 Barbara Dirscherl
Teacher Librarian
Palm Harbor University HS
Palm Harbor, FL
 Sharon Vansickle
English, TOK
Marietta High School
Marietta, Georgia
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009