… as well as World Studies, an interdisciplinary topic combining two or more subjects from the Diploma Programme that explores one of the following global themes:
- Language, culture and identity
- Science, technology and society
- Equality and inequality
- Conflict, peace and security
- Economic and/or environmental sustainability
- Health and development
For more information, please see pages 360 - 369 in the
The supervisor-student working relationship is probably the most important one in the Extended Essay process. The EE supervisor will advise students during the entire process such as confirm research questions, read final draft and give comments for revising it and submit a predicted grade to the IBO. It is the student's responsibility to select the appropriate supervisor for their EEs. While selecting supervisor, students are advised to consider the following issues: S/he
is interested in the topic and available to work with
What supervisors can do:
What supervisors cannot do:
If students give
Tips on choosing a supervisor...
If you are not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, I would start by creating a list of your top three choices. Next, create a list of pros and cons (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).
For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher, and we get along really well, but he teaches English, and I want to conduct an experiment to compare the efficiency of American Hybrid Cars to Foreign Hybrid Cars. Ms. White teaches Physics, I had her a year ago, and she liked me. She could help me design my experiment. I am going to ask Ms. White!
Do NOT just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor. They may be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. I would not suggest asking your Biology teacher to guide you in writing your English EE.
EXCEPTION: If you have a teacher who is passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my Theater topic), you can ask that instructor. Consider all of your options first before you do. There was no theater teacher at my school, so I could not find a theater-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.
Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form. Make sure you ask your IB coordinator if there is any required paperwork. IBO does not require any paperwork. If your school needs a Form signed, make sure you bring it with you when you ask a teacher to be your EE advisor.
Some teachers may just take on students because they have to and may not be passionate about reading drafts and may not give you a lot of feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make the draft better.
Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have no connection to; a teacher who does not know you is unlikely to push you.
Note: The IBO only allows advisors to suggest improvements to the EE, but they may not be engaged in writing the EE. The IBO recommends that the supervisor spends approximately 3-5 hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.
Source: PrepScholar, available at https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-guide-to-ib-extended-essay-tips-grading-guideline-and-sample-essays
After choosing the subject for your extended essay, the next step in the research process is to define what your research is going to focus on - the topic.
At this stage you need to explore:
Your research topic:
Tips to choose a research topic:
Details tips on how to choose a Research Topic
[Developing a Topic video by Oregon School Library Information System]
[“Writing a Research Paper.” World News Digest. Infobase Learning, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017. ]
The research question (RQ) derives from the title and is expressed as a question that is intended to be answered through researching and writing the EE. It appears on the title page and could also be visible as a header throughout the essay. It should:
• be clear and focused
• provide a path through which you can undertake achievable research
• use keywords that connect with the topic, the title, and the DP subject or world studies area of study
• support the development of an argument
1. Cannot Google the answer!
2. It should be broad enough to explore (40 hours) and narrow enough to be manageable (4000 words)
3. It does not repeat what is already known
4. It adds value to the existing knowledge
5. It expands on existing knowledge or frames it in a new context
Sample Research Questions
What is the history of Chinese theater? | How does the legacy of Mei Lan Fang contribute to modern Jingju? |
What was the impact of Ho Chi Minh’s allegiance to Lenin? | To what extent was nationalism the guiding factor in Ho Chi Minh’s adoption of Leninism in 1920? |
How important is chlorophyll to plant life? | What is the effect of different concentrations of kinetin on leaves aging and the biosynthesis of chlorophyll? |
How has grooming products changed over the time? | How has the portrayal of men in male grooming products changed from the 1980s to date? |
Five steps to developing a research question
1. Choose a topic within a subject that is of interest
2. Carry out preliminary reading.
3. Consider the emerging questions
4. Evaluate the question
5. Consider research outcomes
Note: Sometimes students may need to revise their research question; therefore, a research question should always be considered provisional until they have enough research data to make a reasoned argument.
The following video and pictorial presentations may guide you on how to formulate a research question:
Lekanides , Kosta . Extended Essay Course Book: Oxford IB Diploma Programme . OUP, 2016.
Working on a specific area of research and engaging with different sources of information and data, you may expose to different and new perspectives on issues and topics. At this stage, you need to construct a r esource Plan, identifying all the resources needed to complete the essay. You should also produce a schedule indicating when each resource will be used and note any assumptions and constraints made during the resource planning process. IB suggested that students should use both primary and secondary sources for their research. However, students should use secondary data as the basis of their EE, supported where appropriate by primary research. The sole use of secondary sources is permitted and will allow students access to all levels of the EE assessment criteria (IB EEG, p.146).
Primary vs Secondary Sources
Whether conducting research in the social sciences, humanities (especially history), arts, or natural sciences, the ability to distinguish between primary and secondary source material is essential.
Primary sources are materials that are direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or as close to the original source as possible. | Secondary sources describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and process primary sources. analyzes based on primary sources. |
Example: | Example: *Please note that a book is simply a format. You can find primary and secondary sources published in book form |
Note: Often secondary and primary sources are relative concepts. Typical secondary sources may be primary sources depending on the research topic.
How can I find and identify scholarly sources/resources?
Not very easy! but following some strategies/ methods, one can justify the scholarly resources. The following presentation may guide you on how to search and justify scholarly resources online!
Subscribed Dat abases at ICS, Zurich
Open Access Dat abases at ICS, Zurich
These are highly recommended Open Access databases. To search your desired resource click on the selected database and explore…
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
ScholarWorks (Indiana University)
HighWire (Stanford University)
BASE ( Bielefeld University Library, Germany)
Google Scholar
IB Research Database
Digital Common Networks
World Digital Library
CORE (Open Access Research Papers)
FreeFullpdf
List of Digitized Magazines
It is recommended that the student sends their supervisor an outline of their research proposal ahead of the meeting in order to give the supervisor the opportunity to review their work. Therefore, plan a Research Outline is crucial for the EE...
*Your thesis statement is the foundation of your research paper and is an answer to the research question that you formulated. Your thesis statement is not the title of your paper; it is a single sentence that summarizes the argument you intend to make or the point you want to prove throughout your paper.
Students should use their chosen style of academic referencing as soon as they start writing. That way they are less likely to forget to include a citation. It is also easier than trying to add references at a later stage. Regardless of the reference style adopted by the student/school for a given subject, it is expected that the minimum information given includes (IB EEG, p.81):
• name of author
• date of publication
• title of source
• page numbers as applicable
• date of access (electronic sources)
Please, educate yourself with the IB Effective citing and referencing documents !
What to Cite and How to Cite
For the In-text citation and bibliography, follow the minimum requirements as summarized in this presentation.
More resources
Commence Reading
It is important to adapt how you read to suit the material and your purpose for reading. Depending on what you are reading and why, you will find some of the following strategies useful. The following are the effective reading strategies adapted from Charles Darwin University:
Skimming ( click and scroll down)
Keyword Spotting@Key information
Analytical Reading
Critical Reading
Reading Difficult Texts
Commence Research
If you are undertaking an Extended Essay on any subject you are required to complete some research. Research generally involves two different types: primary and secondary research. Once students have identified their topic and written their research question, they can decide how to research their answer. Consider your research goals, and whether they can be met by secondary research, or require primary research. The definition of “research” and terms such as “primary data” and “secondary data” varies from subject to subject. In some subjects, students must use both primary and secondary data. In others, students may, or even must, rely exclusively on secondary data.
Primary vs Secondary Research
Primary Research | Secondary Research |
---|---|
(field research) involves gathering new data that has not been collected before. It is based on raw data. | (desk research) involves gathering existing data that has already been produced. It is based on analyzed and interpreted information. |
Example | Example and industry publications |
Considering the complexity of research, all students must carry out secondary research in terms of a literature review for their topic (IB, EEG, p. 111). The purpose of secondary research is to:
Use of Scholarly resources
It is also important that you consult relevant and reliable scholarly and peer-reviewed sources in your research. You need to evaluate all the sources that you use for your secondary research. The authority and credibility evident in scholarly sources will improve the quality of your paper or research project. Moreover, the use of scholarly sources is an expected attribute of academic coursework.
How can I tell if a source is scholarly?
Not very easy but following some strategies/ methods such as ABCDE, CRAAP, CRAB methods, one can justify the scholarly resources. The following presentation may guide you on how to search and justify scholarly resources online!
Research Skills Guide: Brought to you by...
Oregon School Library Information System@ Learn how to do Research
State Library of Victoria@ Research Skills
Kentucky Virtual Library@ How to do Research
Writing the extended essay
The structure of the essay is very important. It helps students to organize the argument, making the best use of the evidence collected. Six required elements of the extended essay:
Title page Contents page Introduction Body of the essay Conclusion References and bibliography
Integrate others' ideas through Paraphrasing, Summarizing and Quieting
In academic writing, we have to incorporate other ideas and research findings to our research. Now the question is how do we do that? Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing are the three main ways of integrating others’ ideas in your academic work.
Writing Tips: Brought to you by...
Purdue University-OWL@ Academic Writing
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School@ Writing an Introduction
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School@ Writing a Conclusion
Plagiarism Tutorials: Brought to you by...
University of Sydney Library
Vaughan Memorial Library
Plagiarism Quizzes: B rought to you by...
Turnitin
Staffordshire University
You are highly encouraged to read the document "How to Write a Research Paper" at Research Guide . <https://icsz.libapps.com/libguides/admin_c.php?g=664309&p=4700645>
The length of the extended essay
The extended essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. Given that the extended essay is a formally written research paper, it should strive to maintain a professional, academic look.
To help achieve this, the following formatting is suggested:
• the use of 12-point, readable font
• double spacing
• page numbering
• no candidate or school name on the title page or page headers
• the essay should be a maximum of 4 000 words (the examiner won’t read anything past this cut off point!)
• the file size must not be more than 10 MB.
Note that the RPPF is uploaded separately and is not part of the overall file size of the essay!
Word counts
The upper limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays. Examiners are instructed not to read or assess any material in excess of the word limit. Please refer to the following guidance on what content should be included in the word count (IB EEG, pp. 82-83):
Included in the word count | Not included in the word count |
---|---|
The introduction | The contents page |
The main body | Maps, charts, diagrams, annotated illustrations |
The conclusion | Tables |
Quotations | Equations, formulas and calculations |
Footnotes and/or endnotes that are not references | Citations/references (whether parenthetical, numbered, footnotes or endnotes) |
The bibliography, appendices, survey form | |
The Reflections on planning and progress form | |
Headers |
Exception: Students writing their extended essay in Japanese or Chinese should use the following conversions:
• Japanese: 1 word = approximately 2 Japanese characters (upper limit 8,000 characters)
• Chinese: 1 word = approximately 1.2 Chinese characters (upper limit 4,800 characters)
There are two types of assessment identified by the IB:
• Formative assessment informs both teaching and learning. It is concerned with providing accurate and helpful feedback to students and teachers on the kind of learning taking place and the nature of students’ strengths and weaknesses in order to help develop students’ understanding and capabilities. Formative assessment can also help to improve teaching quality, as it can provide information to monitor progress towards meeting the course aims and objectives.
• Summative assessment gives an overview of previous learning and is concerned with measuring student achievement.
Assessment of the extended essay is a combination of formative assessment (the Reflections on planning and progress form) and summative assessment (the extended essay itself). However, generic assessment criteria are used with subject-specific interpretations.
What are the criteria to assess the Extended Essay?
There are five (A-E) criterion to assess the EE and each criterion is organized at three levels of information. Firstly, the markband , which relates to the mark range available; secondly, the strand , which relates to what is being assessed; and, thirdly, the indicators , which are the demonstration of the strands within a markband.
Criterion A: Focus and method – This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding – This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question. Criterion C: Critical thinking – This criterion assesses the extent to which critical-thinking skills have been used to analyse and evaluate the research undertaken. Criterion D: Presentation – This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication. Criterion E: Engagement – This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process.
Overview of the Criteria
B: knowledge and understanding | C: critical thinking | D: presentation | E: engagement | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Topic • Research question • Methodology | Context • Subject-specific terminology and concepts | Research • Analysis • Discussion and evaluation | Structure • Layout | Process • Research focus |
Mark | Mark | Mark | Mark | Mark |
6 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 6 |
How is the Extended Essay assessed? All extended essays are externally assessed by examiners appointed by the IB. They are marked on a scale from 0 to 34. The score a student receives relates to a band. The bands are:
As the extended essay is an important component of the Diploma Programme, and a substantial piece of work, students need to ensure that they understand the expectations of the task and manage their time and workload effectively. The following suggestions are given as guidance to help with the process.
Students are strongly recommended to:
• develop a Researcher’s reflection space as a planning tool
• use the Researcher’s reflection space to prepare for reflection sessions
• share excerpts from the Researcher’s reflection space with the supervisor during the reflection sessions
• choose a subject, followed by a topic, and then think carefully about the research question for their essay
• plan how, when and where they will find material and sources for their essay before deciding on the final topic and research question
• plan a schedule for both the researching and writing of their extended essay, including extra time for delays and unforeseen problems
• record sources as their research progress using their Researcher’s reflection space rather than trying to reconstruct a list at the end
• make the most of their supervision and reflection sessions by arriving prepared to discuss their work
• have a clear structure for the essay before beginning to write
• check and proofread the final version of their extended essay
• make sure that the version they submit for assessment is the final version with all sources correctly and consistently referenced
• ensure that all requirements are met
Adapted from IB EE Guide, pp.48-49.
At ICS, Zurich students are required to:
Supervisor's support:
You should think of your EE supervisor as a resource for general feedback, but do not rely on them to hold your hand through this process. You must take the initiative on all fronts, from choosing your subject to writing a plan and setting internal deadlines for yourself so that you can meet school deadlines! You will edit your EE on your own; do not expect your EE Supervisor to read, edit, or mark up your drafts in any way.
Think of it this way: The IB’s general EE guidelines require you to spend at least forty hours researching and writing your Extended Essay. In contrast, your EE Supervisor should spend no more than about 3-5 hours advising your work along the way.
That said, your supervisor can be a valuable support to you through this process - someone to bounce ideas off, clarify your understanding and support your time-management. Make them your first point of call if you have difficulties…do n't suffer in silence, they are there to help!
The supervisor-student working relationship is probably the most important one in the Extended Essay process. The EE supervisor will advise students during the entire process such as confirm research questions, read final draft and give comments for revising it and submit a predicted grade to the IBO. Supervisors must ensure that they understand the important role they play in supporting students in this process.
Supervisors are required to:
Supervisors are strongly recommended to:
Adapted from IB Extended Essay Guide, pp.46-47.
The following FREE online courses may guide you throughout your extended essay (click on the course image):
1. Developing Your Research Project
What topics will this course cover?
Academic research: principles and definition
Drafting and developing research proposals
Gathering information from literature and from findings
Research methods: choosing an appropriate methodology
Academic reading and note taking
Referencing, plagiarism, and academic integrity
Academic writing: organising sources, structuring essays
Academic writing: summarising a research project into an abstract
Academic presentations: preparation and delivery
2. Information & Digital Literacy for University Success
3. Research Writing: How to Do a Literature Review
Yes. If you do not complete the extended essay (or it does not meet minimum standards) you will be deemed ineligible to receive your IB Diploma.
No. However, it is strongly recommended that you select a topic from one of your Higher Level (HL) subjects. Other subject areas may be chosen; however, that will only be allowed if there is a qualified staff member to help so that you have every opportunity to do well in that area. If you are not currently enrolled in a course in the subject area from which you choose your EE topic, you must have a solid knowledge base in that subject area. In general, you are ‘wisest’ to choose a topic in an area that you are passionate about and currently studying at the HL.
Unlike most student/teacher relationships, for the Extended Essay, you are the one in the driver’s seat. Yes, there are deadlines and guidelines and you must meet them, but you choose your topic and you plan your research on your own and you write and edit the essay on your own. Your EE Supervisor is there as a resource if you need help, or if your essay is heading in the wrong direction or stalled. Think of your EE Supervisor as a backseat driver - you may hear “Watch out!” or “Go [write] faster!” but, ultimately, you are the one responsible for putting your foot on the pedal and making sure you are in good shape coming down the home stretch of the Extended Essay process.
Learning how to edit your own work is an invaluable skill, though it may be painful at first. Some tried-and-true tips for copy-editing as you go along:
Relax. Many students are overly worried about writing academic papers simply because they may not be able to visualize what exactly an academic paper will entail, and how it differs from the school papers they have been writing in one form or another since elementary school.
Here is the quick definition: an academic paper is a piece of formal writing (i.e., unlike a conversational tone such as what I am using now, you will most likely be using the third person voice, and should avoid colloquialisms and unfounded generalizations). At the heart of most academic papers is the thesis statement, which describes what you believe and what you are trying to prove, out of all the research and analysis you have done. All the other points in the paper will go towards supporting your thesis statement.
You will write the Extended Essay to emulate an academic journal article. Because these journal articles are published, there is often a very strict methodology for how you go about writing them. This is great for you because it means there are a lot of resources, both online and off, available to teach you about these methodologies! Good luck, and happy writing!
You will have the opportunity to explore an interesting self-selected topic in-depth. You will develop your research skills and, if applicable to your subject area, your investigative skills. As well, you will improve your presentation skills, as you will be required to use MLA/APA as a citation format and to prepare an annotated bibliography. These skills will be extremely useful in your post-secondary studies.
Yes! As noted above, if you do not submit an extended essay, or if your extended essay does not meet the minimum requirements, you will not receive your diploma. As well, your assessment on your extended essay and your ToK essay and project are combined into a point matrix. You may qualify for up to three additional points which are added to your total IB Diploma score.
Step -1: Read the key EE documents
Step -2: Record your thoughts@RRS
Step -3: Choose a subject & supervisor
Step -4: Confirm a research topic & title
Step -5: Formulate a research question
Step -6: Identify sources
Step -7: Plan a research outline
Step -8: Decide on reference style
Step -9: Commence research/reading
Step -10: Writing the essay
*Write 3 reflections according to the ICS timeline
Susan Trower from West Sound Academy
by Antony W
March 13, 2023
Group 1 Extended Essay subjects give IB students the opportunity to conduct independent research into a topic of interest in English, Language, and Literature.
Apart from promoting creativity and intellectual discovery, the subject group helps you to appreciate the value of advanced research and improve your writing skills.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about English Extended Essay.
In particular, we will look at the definition of English EE, English EE categories, and some English Extended Essay topics to get you started.
Category 1: language.
This category focuses on the analysis of some aspects of English.
Topics such as national language policies of English speaking countries, the influence of technology on English vocabulary, and use of dialects and ascents would fit into this category.
The primary sources of information for this category would be newspapers, interviews, and websites. You secondary sources would be articles and journals.
We divide Culture and Society further into two sub-categories.
In the first sub-category, the focus is on the effect of cultural change on a language in a particular issue on the use or form of the language itself.
In this case, your essay can focus on topic to do with gender, communities, or social groups.
For example:
Such are important and interesting questions that your Extended Essay can focus on if you choose to work on this sub-category.
The second sub-category focuses on artefacts. While this sub-category is general in its cultural nature, it must be specific to a country or community that speaks the language.
To research topics in this sub-category, you will have to use cultural artefacts, which can be visual documents (such as architectures and films), written documents (such as newspapers, articles, adverts, and magazines), spoken documents (such as interviews and screenplays), and fashion icons (such as food dishes or brands).
This category of English Extended Essay is based on a specific work of literature wit text written in the English language.
Writing a 4,000-word essay takes time. You have to identify a topic of interest, develop a research question, determine what to base your research on, and find the right information to include in the essay.
In the following section, you’ll learn how to write a comprehensive English Extended Essay using an easy to follow, systematic approach – even if you think your topic of interest in the subject looks complicated.
Explore the topics and themes taught in you English class and pick one that’s not only of interest to you but also one you’d like to know more about.
Generally, the English EE topic you choose should:
After identifying your area of interest and the topic that you would like to explore, it should be easy for you to develop a relevant research question to explore.
Many IB students fail Extended Essay because they get the research question part completely wrong. Quite too often, they choose narrow or broad topics that they can’t answer in 4,000 words.
You shouldn’t make the same mistake with your English Extended Essay. What you need is a workable research question with a clear focus that you can answer within the word limits of an Extended Essay.
To arrive at more concise topic to explore in your English Extended Essay, it’s best to employ relevant limiting factors to the broad topic.
For example, the theme “how technology and social media impact our lives” is obviously too broad because it doesn’t tell us what part or component of our lives social media affects exactly.
By applying limiting factor to this theme, we can come up with a more focused research question that will be easily to evaluate within the limits of the expected word count.
A question such as “ to what extent social media corrupted or contributed or corrupted the English language” would be an interesting and more specific topic to explore in your EE.
The third step to writing an English Extended Essay is to find relevant sources to support your research into the topic you selected in step 1.
Start by determine which English category you wish to base your Extended Essay on. That’s because there are minimum expectations when it comes to primary as well as secondary sourcing.
If you’ve ticked all the boxes in step one to three, schedule an appointment with your supervisor for more guidance on how to proceed further with your research project.
You shouldn’t worry too much if you feel stuck on choosing the best topic for your English Extended Essay . We’ve put together a list of some topic ideas that cover different areas in literary themes, literature, and the English language.
About the author
Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.
Primary research is the collecting of original data.
Not all subjects permit the use of primary methods as part of the research process for the EE, so it is important to carefully check your subject guidelines before starting.
On this page, you can find information on:
Primary Research - What is Its Purpose? Primary Research - Preparation Before You Begin Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Research Methods Considerations for Primary Research Ways That Primary Research Can Fail Video Tutorials
After the literature review or secondary research is completed, you must analyze your findings and:
At this point you may decide to investigate further by carrying out your own primary research , in other words by collecting your own data .
You will have to choose a method or methods that are appropriate to the research question and commonly used in the particular Diploma Programme subject. NOTE: although the method may be appropriate for the subject, in the instance of the EE it may not be permitted, so check the subject guide!
Possible data collection methods include:
The details of how the data was collected are crucial to the validity of any argument based on the findings. You must put in the main body of your essay the details of any primary research you carry out. These include:
Students must follow the accepted process for carrying out their chosen method of research—how the data is recorded, analysed and presented. Otherwise, their data will have little value.
Students need to plan carefully how to carry out their research. In most cases, there will be only one opportunity to collect primary data from a particular source.
It is extremely important that students approach their research in an ethical and legal manner. See:
Quantitative research follows a well-defined process that yields data that can be analyzed statistically. For example:
Qualitative research collects information that may reflect opinions or personal perspectives on a particular situation. The data that is collected gives an overall impression and generally cannot be analyzed statistically. For example:
B2Bwhiteboard. What is primary data? 3 January 2012. YouTube, https://youtu.be/yZgCam-sjCw. Accessed January 2017.
Learn how to conduct an online survey. Topics include: Developing research questions; designing a good questionnaire; choosing the right online survey tool (Google Forms, Sosci Survey, Survey Monkey).
Ebster, Claus. How to conduct an online survey. 5 August 2014. YouTube, https://youtu.be/uTIWl76_klI. Accessed January 2017.
This video from Ivory Research provides information on the top 3 primary research methods for graduate students writing a dissertation - including questionnaires, interviews and focus groups: how to collect research and use it for maximum effectiveness.
IvoryResearch. Dissertation tutorial: Top 3 primary research methods. 12 August 2013. YouTube., https://youtu.be/_lR7oCjutZE. Accessed May 2015.
Experiments can be conducted and their data collected using systematic methods and well-defined processes. For example:
Experiments usually involve quantitative processes to collect and analyze the resulting data.
Investigations
Types of investigation include:
Investigations of original source material can reveal whether a particular situation exists or to what extent it does. Investigations can also extract and analyze data from original sources to demonstrate that a particular outcome does occur.
Interviews can be with one person or a small group, also called a focus group. Face-to-face interviews have the advantage of allowing the interviewer to ask follow-up questions during the interview.
Question design
Questions should be designed to elicit the responses required to help answer the overall research question.
Recording the interview
Another consideration is how to record the response. You must ask the permission of the interviewee if you wish to use any audio-visual equipment during an interview. Please note that electronic submissions are not acceptable, and so an example of a transcript will need to be attached in the appendix. Refer to the section of this guide on appendices for further information.
Surveys can be carried out:
The researcher is better able to control who is responding to the questions when using paper surveys than online.
Successful surveys require:
Quantitative vs qualitative data
To collect quantitative data the survey must ask closed or multiple-choice questions. These:
To collect qualitative data , the survey must ask open-ended questions, which allow the respondents to write their own answer.
Sample size and selection
When collecting data from groups of people, you must make certain that:
Whichever method is used, your primary research must be well structured and collect data relating to people, events or objects.
The data collected must be:
Questions for you to consider are:
The analysis of primary research includes:
You time should be spent researching:
A badly designed or implemented experiment or investigation will lead to flawed results . The following list indicates some ways that primary research can fail.
|
|
Evaluating sources.
As you research your Extended Essay, you will explore a range of primary and secondary sources . It's good to collect a lot of sources. But like so many things in life, what you exclude from your essay is just as important as what you include. Filtering, organising and evaluating sources are essential steps in doing research. So what constitutes a valuable source? Below are two methods to help you determine what to include and exclude from your essay.
This popular method for evaluating source comes with a snappy acronym and many variations on it. In brief in asks you to look at these 4 aspects of any source:
C urrency: How up to date is your source? R elevance*: How relevant and is your source to your research question ? A cademic authority: Is there a sense of expertise? P urpose and bias: What is the aim of the source?
*Note: The 'R' in the CRAP method traditionally stands for 'reliability', which arguably overlaps with 'authority'. 'Relevance' plays an equally important role, especially in relation to the Extended Essay.
Examiners will study bibliographies to see if they pass the CRAP test. Click on the slides below to see how several bibliographical entries have been annotated using the CRAP method by an experienced IB workshop leader, John Royce . Try annotating a few sources from your bibliography, using this method.
To evaluate a source is to ask several critical questions of it. These questions are essentially variations of the CRAP method above, with more detail. You can substitue the word 'text' for 'source' if that is more appropriate for the context of your research.
Why am I reading this text?
What do I hope to gain by reading this text?
What type of text is this?
What kind of audience is targeted by this text?
How could this text be classified? Prose?Fiction? Instruction? Expository?
Where is the text published?
What are the aims of the author?
What is the author's purpose?
Is it to inform, persuade or entertain?
How as the author approached the topic?
What is being claimed?
What is the author's stance on a topic?
What values are expressed?
How clear are the author's claims?
How consistent are the author's claims with other people's claims?
What concepts are key to understanding this text?
How do the author's ideas fit into a conceptual framework for this topic?
How are various phenomena explained?
What can I take away from this text?
What questions, illustrations or diagrams can be used to support my own arguments or ideas?
What is the value of this text?
How important is this text to me and to others?
How does this contribute to its field or subject area?
How does it compare to other texts I've read?
Evaluating your sources critically can help you earn marks on Criterion C: Critical thinking. In fact you are assessed on your ability to 'evaluate the research'. This is to say that you should call into question both your methods, sources and arguments and other people's methods, sources and arguments.
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Methodology is the term used to describe the ways in which you gather data and acquire knowledge. Before you finalise your research question, you will need to know which methods are most appropriate for exploring it. Here is an overview, by group, of common data-gathering methods. Consult this overview before filling out an EE proposal form.
Body of the essay. Conclusion. References and bibliography. Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories, or IB subject groups, which are as follows: Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature. Group 2: Language Acquisition. Group 3: Individuals and Societies. Group 4: Sciences.
The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper. One component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, the extended essay is mandatory for all students. Read about the extended essay in greater detail. You can also read about how the IB sets deadlines for ...
write the first draft of your extended essay.Directions: You will write an introductory paragraph and a list of p. tential sections from the body of your essay. On the top of the page you must write your research question and subject area, and on the bottom you must. plicitly state your research.
The Extended Essay has several key objectives: To provide students with the chance to engage in an in-depth study of a question of interest within a chosen subject. To develop research, thinking, self-management, and communication skills. To introduce students to the excitement and challenges of academic research.
In this essay, we will provide you with a well-defined IB Extended Essay Methodology that you can use as a guide to streamline your Extended Essay. Let's give it a closer look: The introduction is the foundation stone! The methodology begins with laying a foundation stone. It is like preparing your canvas to be painted with beautiful shades.
Extended Essay Methodology. In accordance with extended essay guidelines, it's mandatory to choose and clearly state a methodological approach. So, it will be apparent to your examiner how you answered your research question. Include your collection methods and tools you use for collection and analysis. Your strategies can be experimental or ...
The topic of the extended essay is the subject, issue or theme that you are investigating within a specific DP subject or world studies area of study. The topic, which develops during the initial thinking about the EE, should later be reflected in the wording of the title. The title of the EE is a clear, summative statement that specifically ...
The Extended Essay (EE) is an independent, self-directed academic research, presented in the form of a 4,000-word paper. One component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, the extended essay is mandatory for all students. ... Many students struggle o to write the perfect introduction and methodology, and get ...
IB Extended Essay is a smaller beast considering that you give it enough time before it becomes more prominent. All you need to do is relax your mind, de-stress and follow a simple procedure explained further in the article. There is no need to panic. Trust us, listen to us, and be like us!
The extended essay (often called the EE) is a 4000-word structured essay on a topic of your choice, which can take many different forms. Ultimately, what your EE ends up looking like depends on the topic that you choose. Some students choose to write their extended essay on an aspect of literature or
The extended essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. Given that the extended essay is a formally written research paper, it should strive to maintain a professional, academic look. To help achieve this, the following formatting is required:
In a nutshell. The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word research paper that must be written to earn the full Diploma from the International Baccalaureate (IB). It is based on a topic of the candidate's choice and, in most cases, one of the candidate's six subjects. The EE provides students with an opportunity to develop their skills in academic ...
write the first draft of your extended essay.Directions: You will write an introductory paragraph and a list of p. tential sections from the body of your essay. On the top of the page you must write your research question and subject area, and on the bottom you must. Your introductory paragraph should:
Body Part 1: The "course concepts" part. Include 3 to 5 course graphs that help you answer your RQ. As you write, you'll be using economics diagrams and concepts to help to answer your question. By the end of each tool-section, you'll want to include some data and analysis on your case.
The introduction should outline your methodological or source-based approach so the reader understands how you went about answering your research question.Be specific. You should consider the following:
Extended Essay The E xtended Essay (EE) is a mandatory core component of the IB Diploma Programme. It is a research paper of up to 4,000 words giving students an opportunity to conduct independent research or investigation on a topic that demonstrates their passion, enthusiasm, intellectual initiative and/or creative approach for their chosen topic.
The extended essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. The use of word processors is encouraged. The length of the extended essay The upper limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays. This upper limit includes the introduction, the body, the
Step 2: Develop a Research Question. Many IB students fail Extended Essay because they get the research question part completely wrong. Quite too often, they choose narrow or broad topics that they can't answer in 4,000 words. You shouldn't make the same mistake with your English Extended Essay. What you need is a workable research question ...
Primary research involves either quantitative or qualitative research methods. Quantitative research follows a well-defined process that yields data that can be analyzed statistically. For example: outcomes from experiments. data collected from surveys where responses involve closed or multiple-choice responses.
Welcome to this free Support Site on the Extended Essay for the IB Diploma Programme.The content, created by Brad Philpot and John Royce, provides coordinators, supervisors, teachers and students access to student samples, writing tips, guidance and discussion groups. This site is developed independently from the IB. Feel free to browse this Support Site as much as you need - a subscription is ...
Any attempts to evaluate the research are superficial. 4-6. The research is adequate. Its application is partially relevant and appropriate to the research question and argument. Analysis of the research is adequate and only partially relevant to the research question. Irrelevant research takes away from the argument.
Evaluating sources. As you research your Extended Essay, you will explore a range of primary and secondary sources. It's good to collect a lot of sources. But like so many things in life, what you exclude from your essay is just as important as what you include. Filtering, organising and evaluating sources are essential steps in doing research.