The Extended Essay
What is it?
And why should I care?
The Extended Essay is a requirement of the
diploma program.
To provide students with an opportunity to:
• 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 tot eh subject
• Experience the excitement of intellectual
discovery
IB Curriculum
Extended Essay Requirements
 Compulsory and externally assessed
 Contributes in combination with TOK; up to 3 points to
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diploma
A piece of independent research on a topic chosen by
the student in cooperation with a supervisor
In a subject on the approved Diploma Program list
A formal piece of scholarship in a form that matches
how research is done in the field
No more than 4000 words
About 40 hours of work
Concluded with a short interview with the supervising
teacher
Diploma Point Matrix
Theory of Knowledge
Excellent Good Satisfactory Mediocre Elementary
Excellent
Good
Extended Satisfactory
Essay
Mediocre
Elementary
Not
Submitted
3
3
2
2
1
3
2
1
1
0
2
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
N
N
N
N
1
0
0
0
Failing
condition
N
Not
Submitted
N
N
N
N
N
N
Changes to the EE
Same for 2009
New for 2009
 4000 words max
 strongly recommended
 300 word abstract
that supervisors spend 3-5
hours with each student
supervised
 Bibliography lists only
sources cited
 one set of assessment
criteria A-K interpreted for
each subject
 concludes with the Viva
Voce
 40 hour commitment
for student (?)
 no editing by
supervisor
 supervisor submits
predicted grade &
supervisor report
Viva Voce
(optional)
The viva voce is a short interview
(10 and 15 minutes) between the
student and the supervisor, and is a
recommended conclusion to the
extended essay process.
Students who do not attend the
viva voce may be disadvantaged.
Choosing a subject
 The essay can be done in any of the IB areas of study
 It cannot cross boundaries (e.g. a psychological look at
a biological problem) since it would not fit into one
discipline for grading purposes.
 Highly recommended that students choose a subject
they are studying since then they have been exposed to
the “way” academic study in that field is done. (A
TOK approach)
 The research and essay should align with the way work
is done in the field.
Subjects
 Chemistry
 Biology
 English
 History
 French
 Mathematics
 Each one has specific requirements for the nature of
the paper; e.g. an EE in math would look very different
from one in English.
Choosing a supervisor
 Once you have selected your subject and begun to
narrow down your focus, we can begin the search for a
good supervisor to match your interests
 The supervisors must be someone on staff, not related
to you and with qualifications in the subject you want
to work with them on.
 If you choose to do a paper in history, we have several
trained teachers on staff who are trained in history.
Depending on what sub-field of history you choose, we
will match you with the best person.
Supervisor/EE Mentor
 Your Mentor must be a teacher at
Ancaster
 Select a teacher that you know or have
worked with before
 Teachers are not required to supervise an
extended essay
 Teachers normally only supervise 3 to 4
students -- ask early
Supervisor/EE Mentor
The extended essay supervisor has
a few principal responsibilities:
 Provides advice & guidance in the skills of undertaking research
 Encourages & supports the student throughout the writing of the
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EE
Ok's the research question
Knows the regulations governing the EE & the assessment criteria
Reads & comments on first draft only – does not edit the draft
Monitors the progress
Submits a predicted grade
Completes the supervisor's report which among other things states
that the essay you are submitting is your work (so supervisor must
see enough of you and your research process to honestly say this)
Student Responsibilities
It is required that students:
 Choose an appropriate topic
 Observe the regulations relating to the EE (on website)
 Meet deadlines (sheet of dates will be posted)
 Read and understand IB Academic Honesty Policy (on
website)
 Realize that your papers will be sent in and examined by
Turnitin and you will receive an Originality report showing
any problem areas. (you will go over this with the supervisor)
 Acknowledge all sources of information & ideas in an
approved academic manner appropriate to the field of study
(Which citing style)
Ancaster Library - EE Website
http://schools.hwdsb.on.ca/ancasterhigh/library-2/
 Go to the AHS Extended Essay web site to find all of the
information and forms needed to complete the EE.
Student Responsibilities
 It is strongly recommended that students:
 Start early
 Think about and choose the research question carefully
 Plan how, when & where you will find the research material
 Plan a schedule for researching and writing the essay
 Record all sources accurately
 Have a clear structure for the essay before beginning to write
 Check & proofread the final version carefully
 Treat your supervisor appropriately according to IBO guidelines
 Seek out your supervisor or EE Co-ordinator for help early
 Use the Library and Librarians to help
 Go to our school website for direction (under IB; Extended Essay)
 Remember it is your responsibility, not anyone else’s
Choosing a topic
 Narrowing it down to the form of a research question
 This takes pre:research; literature search
 Helps to have several questions
 You should check with your supervisor and work
through which one seems to offer thee best chance for
a successful paper.
 WHO IS YOUR SUPERVISOR????
Deciding on your topic
Your supervisor may help you:
 Ensure that the chosen research question is appropriate
for the subject
 Advise you on:
 Access to appropriate resources
 Techniques of information, evidence , data gathering,
and analysis
 Writing an abstract
 Documenting sources
Emphasis is placed on the
Research Process
 Choose a topic (no later than Dec. 1)
 Check the EE guide to make sure your intended
research matches the requirements for the subject
 Formulate the research question (RQ)
 Plan the investigation & writing process
 Plan a research structure (outline)
 Undertake some preparatory reading
 Carry out the investigation
A common assessment
rubric has been established
Assessment
A
-- Research Question (2)
 B -- Introduction (2)
 C -- Investigation (4)
 D -- Knowledge and Understanding of
the topic studied (4)
 E – Reasoned Argument (4)
Assessment
 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)
How to Write a 4000 word EE...
 Consult the guide
 Look at exemplars (on website)
 Work in the library during free time
Definition of Malpractice
 Plagiarism
 The representation of ideas or work
of another person as the candidates
own
 Collusion
 Supporting malpractice by another
candidate, as in allowing one’s work
to be copied or submitted for
assessment by another
Definition of Malpractice
 Duplication of work
 The presentation of the same work
for different assessment components
and/or diploma requirements
 Any other Behaviour
 Which gains an unfair advantage for a
candidate or which affects the results
of another candidate
Research Questions - how to
choose
Ask yourself
 what data you might need to answer the question
 whether you will have access to the data
 whether you will need to find other sources of data
 whether there has been any research by others in this area.
Do a literature search.
 what methods you will need to adopt to answer the
questions you have in mind. (survey, experiment,
study, meta-analysis)
Research Questions - how to
choose
Start a research journal.
Ask questions.
Brainstorm and use a graphic organizer.
What makes a good RQ?
 Good research questions:
 Match the criteria in the EE guide for the subject being studied
 Don’t cross subject boundaries
 Are specific and able to be covered in 4000 words (narrow scope)
 Do not have obvious answers out there already
 Are created in collaboration with your supervisor
EXPECT TO CHANGE
YOUR MIND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE
YOU FINALLY SETTLE ON A TOPIC.
 Is not your first thought..
Good research questions
 Are formulated by the student out of his/her own curiosity
or interest
 Are non-trivial (i.e., substantial, not speculative or too
limited in scope, not self-evident)
 Are sharply-enough focused so that the student can answer
it in 4,000 words.
Bad questions
ECONOMICS:
Does globalization affect Sweden?
BIOLOGY:
What causes cancer?
HISTORY:
What would have happened to Turkey if the last
Sultans had been more powerful?
More bad questions
GEOGRAPHY:
Does Istanbul have a central business district?
Good questions
ECONOMICS:
Is there a connection between international coffee prices and
living standards in Uganda?
BIOLOGY:
The most important impact on the ecology of snails in the Maria
Park area.
HISTORY:
The effects of the establishment of foreign schools on education
in Turkey in the 19th century.
More good questions
GEOGRAPHY:
How has migration affected land use patterns in XXX
province?
Common problems with
questions
 Students discover too late that there
is too little data, or data is
inaccessible.
Bad pacing of the research and
writing process
More problems
PLAGIARISM
The use of the work of other authors
(texts, data, creative productions,
oral statements OR ideas) without
proper acknowledgement, with the
effect that it appears to be the
plagiarist’s own work or idea.
More problems
Over-reliance on web-based
sources
Students discover too late that
their knowledge of the subject is
not deep enough.
More problems
Ethical issues regarding gathering
of data or performing of
experiments
No contribution by the student –
the extended essay is a
compilation of information from
other sources.
The process of writing a 4000
word essay for the first time.
Suggestions for the students...
Tackle the EE by breaking it
down into small parts.
The Research and Writing Process
The success of an extended
essay is shaped largely during
the preparatory stages.
The Research and Writing Process
 The iceberg analogy
illustrates clearly the
importance of the
analysis/research/exp
erimentation that
underpins the
completed essay.
The Research and Writing Process
Since the initial work is so crucial,
consider following the steps
preparing the extended essay.
in
The Research and Writing Process
Title
 Provide a concise title that clearly
indicates the focus of the essay.
 Do not use your research question or
hypothesis as your title.
The Research and Writing Process
 Abstract
 An abstract is not an introduction,
although there is some overlap. (250 to
300 words)
 An abstract is a synopsis of the essay.
 It also sets the tone of the essay.
The Research and Writing Process
 Table of contents
 The contents page outlines the main
sections with corresponding page
numbers.
 It also indicates the structure of the
essay.
The Research and Writing Process
Introduction
Although not listed as a criterion of
assessment, an introduction is an
important component of an
extended essay.
The Research and Writing Process
Body and development
This is the longest and most
important section.
The Research and Writing Process
Conclusion
Remember that last impressions
are lasting impressions.
The Research and Writing Process
Quotations
Use quotations judiciously and
integrate them smoothly into the
text of the essay.
The Research and Writing Process
Structure
Organization enhances the
clarity of your thesis.
The Research and Writing Process
Style
Write your essay in a style
that is clear and smooth and
in a tone that is formal and
scholarly.
The Research and Writing Process
Subheadings/chapters
Longer essays in certain subjects,
like the sciences, might require
section headings.
The Research and Writing Process
Documentation
Whether you are citing a
quotation, an idea, an illustration
or Internet information, you must
document the source.
The Research and Writing Process
Length
The most successful essays are in
the 3,200 – 3,800 word range.
[4000 maximum]
The Research and Writing Process
Formal presentation
Proofread your essay
meticulously from the title
page to bibliography.
The Research and Writing Process
Appendix
All material placed in the
appendix must be directly
relevant to your thesis.
The Research and Writing Process
Technology
The computer is simply a tool and
its effectiveness as a tool is
determined by how you use it.
The Research and Writing Process