A Student Guide To Writing the Extended...

Gayle Garcia, IB Coordinator Guajome Park Academy

2000 North Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083 (760) 631-8500 x1014

A Student Guide To

Writing the Extended Essay

Table of Contents

Extended Essay Basics ………………………………………..…..…..2 Subjects and Topics ……………………………………………….…….3 The Components of the Extended Essay ………………….…….7 Formal Presentation ……………………………………………….…...8 Assessment …………………………………………………………….….9 Steps to Successfully Completing Your Extended Essay: all areas except science and group 1 (Literature):…..……..11 Steps to Successfully Completing Your Science Extended Essay ……………………………………………………………………….13 Steps to Successfully Completing Your Group 1 (Literature) Extended Essay ……………………………………....15 Hints for Success ……………………………………….…..…………17 The Role of the Supervisor ………………….……………………..18 Extended Essay Timeline and Due Dates ……………………..19

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Extended Essay Basics What is an Extended Essay? In order to fulfill the requirements of the IB Diploma all candidates must submit an Extended Essay in an IB Diploma subject of their own choice. The essay is an in-depth study of a limited topic within a subject. The purpose of the essay is to provide the student with an opportunity to engage in independent research. Approximately forty hours should be spent in total on the essay. Each essay must be supervised by a teacher at Guajome Park Academy. The length of the essay is restricted to a maximum of 4000 words, and it is assessed according to a carefully worded set of assessment criteria. The marks awarded for the Extended Essay are combined with the marks for the Theory of Knowledge course to give a maximum of three bonus points to the IB Diploma candidate. Extended Essays submitted in a group 2 language must be written in that language. Extended essays in all other subjects must be written in English, French or Spanish. An Extended Essay has the following traits:

• It is an experience in independent research

• The topic is selected by the student

• It has a focused research question

• It includes a personal perspective

• It is written in depth on a limited topic

• It uses primary sources

• It is approximately 4000 words

• It fits the IB guidelines

Purpose: The purpose of the extended essay is to show your ability to engage in personal research and to present your findings in an organized manner.

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Subjects and Topics The Choice of Subject When choosing your subject, essential consideration should be given to your personal interests. Be sure to select an area in which you have sufficient knowledge. IB will not give credit when an extended essay consists of rewording extracts from elementary or introductory texts. Extended essays may be completed in the following areas: Group 1 (Language A) Group 2 (Language B) Biology Business and Organization Chemistry Classical Greek and Latin Computer Science Design Technology Economics Environmental Systems Geography History Information Technology in a Global Society Mathematics Music Peace and Conflict Studies Philosophy Physics Politics Psychology Social Anthropology Theatre Arts Visual Arts World Religions The Choice of Topic You should select a topic that is both interesting and original to you. The topic should be of limited scope to allow you to analyze the topic in depth. You should select a topic that involves personal research. The essays that earn the highest marks are ones in which the reader can see evidence of a personal passion regarding the topic. The following are examples of topics in the different subject areas: Group 1 (Literature – Language A)

• Clergymen in Jane Austen’s novels • A comparison of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s

Nineteen Eighty-four • The problems of racial conflict as shown through the works of James Baldwin

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Group 2 (Language B) • The Belgian press and bilingualism • The necessity for spelling reform in France • The influence of tourism on the Spanish language • The language of advertising

Biology

• The effect of detergent toxicity on certain bacterial strains • A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery

after a period of supervised improved nutrition • Histocompatability in organ transplants

Business and Organization

• Communicating corporate objectives to the staff at XYZ • XYZ: the benefits of effective leadership • New product development at XYZ

Chemistry

• Spectophotometric determination of trace amounts of lead in drinking water • The analysis of the red dyes present in different brands of tomato ketchup by

thin layer chromatography • The effects of sugar-free chewing gum on the pH in the mouth after a meal

Computing Science

• Artificial Intelligence: A description of the back propagation algorithm and its application

• The interpretation, parsing and storing of PROLOG terms in TURBO PASCAL

• Fuzzy versus symbolic logic in control systems Design Technology

• An investigation into why canned foods are not packaged in plastics • A study investigating the success of the design of computer chairs for

reducing back strain in users • A study investigating the impact of computer-aided design on modeling

techniques Economics

• A case study of a Mexico City taxi rank – do drivers price discriminate? • Measuring the price elasticity of demand for products in the school shop

Environmental Systems

• Lead pollution: impacts and control in Toronto • An investigation into the energy conversion efficiency of commercial feeds for

Tilapia populations • Sustainable forestry management in Finland

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Geography • The influence of aspect on residential land use in San Salvador, El Salvador • The effect of location on the characteristics of kiosks in Nairobi, Kenya • High School catchment areas in Denver, USA: their spheres of influence

History

• Explanations of the collapse of the Mayan civilization • What does ‘Mein Kampf’ tell us about Hitler? • An analysis of the first five-year plans of Mao Zedong and Stalin

Mathematics

• Price numbers in cryptography • The proof of the law of quadratic reciprocity • Using Graph Theory to minimize cost

Music • A critical Analysis of Daniel Jones’ symphonic cycle • A comparative study of mature symphonic composition of Paul Hindemith and

Arthur Honegger • The marimba music of Bagamoyo

Peace and Conflict Studies

• The debate over the effects of television violence on pre-teenagers: social and legislative safeguards and their effectiveness

• Racism in x and proposals for its reduction • Maori nonviolent struggles for their land

Physics

• Wind Power: A clean source of energy? • A comparison of glass and Perspex as materials for building a greenhouse

Politics

• The politician as representative: an assessment of the effectiveness of a local politician in representing local interests

• US Intervention in Grenada: a study of the War Powers Act and the war-making powers of the US President

Psychology

• The fallibility of memory in eye-witness testimony: a review of evidence and implications

• ‘Identity crisis’ in adolescence: empirical evidence and theoretical importance • An evaluation of physiological and social accounts of the development of

alcoholism

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Theatre Arts • An investigation into the functions of masks in a selection of Zeami Motokiyo’s

plays • An examination of Soyinka’s use of rhythm • A study of the effects of the use of fabrics and lighting in The Tempest

Visual Arts

• What is the artistic significance of the totem poles of the native people of the Pacific North West?

• Greek revival architecture in a New England town • The kimono: art form or tradition?

World Religions

• The role of creation myths in Maori religion • Is the Mormon Church Christian? An examination of Mormon Baptism • The changing face of Buddhist worship: an exploration of worship in

contemporary Western orders Inappropriate Research Questions:

• Biology: What causes genetic diseases?

• Computer Science: How to buy a CD using the internet

• Environmental Systems: The annual net productivity of a pet gerbil

• Geography: The potato – areas of cultivation and the uses of the potato

• Geography: Does Sydney have a central business district?

• History: Why did the Emperor Claudius have a limp?

• Theatre Arts: An investigation into whether stage lighting has an effect

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The Components of the Extended Essay Introduction The introduction should include:

o an indication of why the topic chosen is significant and worthy of investigation

o an indication of why you chose this particular topic o some background information, placing the topic in appropriate context o a clearly and precisely stated research question o a clear concluding statement of the thesis and argument, i.e. the

response to the research question that will subsequently be developed in the body of the essay

Investigation and Reasoned Argument The essential feature of the body of the essay is the systematic development of a reasoned argument in relation to the research question, utilizing appropriate sources. Your argument must show in-depth analysis. The structure and approach to this section will be shaped by the conventions of the particular subject in which the essay is undertaken. Some subjects may require sub-headings for major sections within the main body. For example, scientific investigations will usually have separate sections for method and results. In some other subjects, however, sub-headings should be avoided because they disrupt the flow and unity of an essay. Conclusion The conclusion should be clearly stated, relevant to the research question being investigated, substantiated by the evidence given, and indicate issues, unresolved questions and new questions that have emerged from the research. Formal Presentation The formal presentation must include formal elements: title page, table of contents, page numbers, illustrative material (when appropriate), quotations, documentation (including references, in-text citations and list of works cited) and appendices (when appropriate). Abstract The abstract should clearly state the research question being investigated, how the investigation was undertaken and the conclusions of the extended essay.

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Formal Presentation Format The Extended Essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal style appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. It must be typed. Length The upper limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays. The upper limit includes the introduction, body, conclusion and any quotations. It does not include the abstract, acknowledgements, contents page, maps, charts, diagrams, illustrations, data tables, the references/list of works cited, or appendices. Title The title should provide a clear indication of the focus of the essay. It should be precise and not necessarily phrased in the form of a question. Abstract An abstract not exceeding 300 words must be included. It does not serve as an introduction but presents a synopsis of the entire extended essay, and therefore should be written last. The minimum requirements for the abstract are to state clearly:

• the research question being investigated • the scope of the investigation • the conclusion(s) of the extended essay

The abstract must be typed and placed immediately after the title page. Contents Page A contents page must be provided at the beginning of the extended essay and all pages should be numbered. An index is not required. Illustrations Presentation and overall neatness are important, and it is essential that illustrative material, if included, is well laid out and used effectively. Graphs, diagrams, tables and maps are effective only if they are well labeled and can be interpreted with ease. All such material that is incorporated into the extended essay must be directly related to the text and acknowledged/referenced when appropriate. The use of photographs and postcards is acceptable only if they are captioned and/or annotated and are used to illustrate a specific point made in the extended essay. References/Works Cited The direct or indirect use of the words of another person (written, oral or electronic) must be acknowledged appropriately, as must visual material in the essay that was derived from another source. Failure to do so will be viewed as plagiarism. The list of works cited should include only those works, such as books and journals, that have been consulted or utilized by the student. The MLA style of quoting and documenting sources should be applied consistently.

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Each work consulted, regardless of whether or not it has already been cited as a reference, must be listed in the list of works cited. The list of works cited should consistently follow the standard MLA format of listing sources, and specify: author(s), title, date and place of publication, and name of publisher. Appendices Appendices are not an essential section of the extended essay and examiners are not required to read them, so care should be taken to include all information of direct relevance to the analysis and argument in the main part of the essay. Unless considered essential, complete lists of raw data should not be included in the extended essay. The extended essay should not refer to material presented in an appendix too frequently, as this may disrupt its continuity.

Assessment The following general assessment criteria are applicable to all extended essays, regardless of the subject chosen. The general assessment criteria are summarized below and total a maximum of 24 points. The detailed extended essay criteria can be found in the IB Extended Essay Guide. Criterion A (2 points): Research Question Is the focus of the essay expressed and specified? This does not need to be in the form of a question. An example of an alternative form is a hypothesis. Criterion B (3 points): Approach to the Research Question Does the essay appropriately address and develop the specific research question, including the collection of any relevant information? Criterion C (4 points): Analysis/Interpretation To what extent are relevant materials, sources, data and evidence are considered appropriate in the essay? Criterion D (4 points): Argument/Evaluation Does the essay develop an argument relative to the research question? Criterion E (2 points): Conclusion Does the essay incorporate a conclusion consistent with its argument? Criterion F (2 points): Abstract Is the formal abstract adequate as a synopsis of the essay? Criterion G (3 points): Formal Presentation Criterion G focuses on the layout, table of contents, references, bibliography, appendices, title, quotations, illustrations and organization of the essay. Criterion H (4 points): Holistic Judgment This is the overall assessment of qualities such as personal engagement, initiative, depth of understanding, insight, inventiveness and flair. In addition, 12 points are allocated to subject specific criteria. These can be found in the IB Extended Essay Guide.

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The essay is scored externally by the IBO on a scale of 0-36. This scale is divided into the following bands: A: Work of an excellent standard B: Work of a good standard C: Work of a satisfactory standard D: Work of a mediocre standard E: Work of an elementary standard This band, in conjunction with the band for Theory of Knowledge, determines the diploma points awarded for these two requirements, according to the matrix below:

Theory of Knowledge

A

B

C

D

E

NOT

SUBMITTED

A

3

3

2

2

1

N

B

3

2

1

1

0

N

C

3

1

1

0

0

N

D

3

1

0

0

0

N

E

1

0

0

0

Fail

N

Extended Essay

NOT

SUBMITTED

N

N

N

N

N

N

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Steps to Successfully Completing Your Extended Essay All areas except Science and Group 1 (Literature)

1. Select your area of study

• Select your supervising teacher (EE Advisor) • Talk with EE Advisor about possible topics within your area of study • Select a topic that is scholarly and of limited scope

2. Create a research question

• Explore possible research questions with your EE Advisor • Have EE Advisor approve your research question – your research

question needs to be precise and one that leads to an in-depth investigation

3. Begin investigation of topic

• Begin research – seek out both primary and secondary sources • Have EE advisor check and suggest additional resources • You must keep a Research Log

4. Create a working outline for the essay

• Continue adding and refining sources • Revise your research question as appropriate – keep in mind that your

essay is a fully substantiated argument that flows from your research question

• Remember that you are not writing a report, you are responding to a research question

5. Give your EE Advisor a progress report

• Discuss any difficulties you’ve encountered with your research • Discuss your thesis with your EE Advisor

6. Begin drafting your essay

• Concentrate on: o Logical progression of ideas o Substantiating all assertions o Providing appropriate depth of ideas

• Remember that your essay is an analysis, not a narrative • You must address counter-arguments • Your conclusion must be thoughtful, address unresolved questions, and

show a new synthesis that flows from the argument

7. Show your completed first draft to your EE Advisor • Solicit advisor’s input on:

o The presentation of your ideas o The overall presentation of your research o Simplistic vs. advanced ideas

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8. Revise your essay with your EE Advisor’s comments in mind 9. Prepare your title page, abstract, and list of works cited

10. Show your new draft to your EE Advisor

• Expect to complete several drafts of your essay with substantial revision

11. Give final essay to your EE Advisor for review.

NOTE: You should expect to meet with your EE Advisor every two weeks, in order to make use of their guidance and knowledge and so they can attest to the authorship of the paper. Expect to spend between three and five hours with your EE advisor throughout this process.

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Steps to Successfully Completing Your Science Extended Essay

1. Select your area of study • Select your supervising teacher (EE Advisor) • Talk with EE Advisor about possible topics within your area of study • Select a topic that is scholarly and of limited scope. As you discuss

possible topics, keep in mind: o Avoid topics of a philosophical nature o Stay away from the “frontiers” of science o Avoid science-fiction topics o Select a topic for which you can do the experimentation

without complex instrumentation o Select a straightforward topic, but remember that it must be

outside the content of the course syllabus

2. Create a research question • In conversation with your EE Advisor, explore possible research

questions • Have EE Advisor approve your research question –your research

question needs to be precise and one that leads to an in-depth investigation of science


• Complete background investigation – these are your secondary sources (your primary source is your experiment).

• Have EE Advisor check and suggest additional sources – remember that sources must be referenced in the paper

• You must keep a Research Log.

4. Design your experiment • The design of your experiment should be yours alone, with guidance

from your advisor • Remember that your experiment needs to be directly tied to your well-

defined research question • Run your experiment and collect data


• Discuss any difficulties you have encountered with your experiment. Discuss your data collection with your EE Advisor.

6. Analyzing and interpreting the data

• You must show scope, originality and personal input in your analysis. • You should include error analysis and amount of uncertainty • Create appropriate, annotated diagrams, tables and graphs

7. Create a working outline for the essay

• Keep in mind that your essay is a fully substantiated argument that flows from your research question

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• Remember that you are not writing a report, you are responding to a research question


• Discuss any difficulties you have encountered with your data analysis. Discuss your presentation with your EE Advisor.

9. Begin drafting your essay

• Concentrate on: o Logical progression of ideas o Substantiating all assertions o Providing appropriate depth of ideas

• You must address counter arguments • You must have relevant experimental data tables and graphs in the

body of the essay. Raw data goes in the appendix. • You must extract information from your graphs/tables – don’t just say

“it is evident from the graph that…” • You must clearly define any symbols • Your essay must include evaluation of techniques used • The conclusion must address unresolved questions and consider the

reliability of the results

10. Show your completed first draft to your EE Advisor • Discuss any difficulties you have encountered • Solicit your advisor’s input on:

o The presentation of your ideas o The overall presentation of your research o Simplistic vs. advanced ideas

11. Revise your essay with your EE Advisor’s comments in mind 12. Prepare your title page, abstract, and list of works cited

13. Show your new draft to your EE Advisor – Expect to complete several

drafts of your essay with substantial revision.

14. Give final essay to your EE Advisor for review


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Steps to Successfully Completing Your Group 1 (Literature) Extended Essay

1. Select your area of study

• Select your supervising teacher (EE Advisor) • Talk with EE Advisor about possible topics within your area of study • Select a topic that is literary, scholarly and of limited scope – your

topic will be tied to a specific piece(s) of literature. • Remember that at least one of the texts discussed must have

originally been written in English. • You may not use any piece of literature on the IB syllabus • Your essay needs to reflect a sensitive close reading of the text(s) in

relation to a precisely defined research question. • You might consider:

o A well-chosen and illuminating comparison between novels o An essay that looks at specific use of language in a piece of

literature Avoid topics that are over-done or that come from teacher-taught material

2. Create a research question • In a conversation with your EE Advisor, explore possible literary

research questions. Your research question should allow for an in-depth analysis of the author’s style.

• Have EE Advisor approve your research question – your research question must be precise and one that leads to an in-depth investigation of a literary nature.


• Begin research – you will generally stay with your primary source (the text(s) under discussion)

• Take time to do a careful, close reading of the text(s) – you should read the text(s) more than twice

• Make substantial notations as you read • You must keep a Reading/Research log • Consult secondary sources ONLY when/if appropriate • Have EE Advisor check and guide your investigation

4. Create working outline for the essay

• Continue the adding and refining approach to the topic • Revise your research question as appropriate • Keep in mind that your essay is a fully substantiated argument that flows from

your research question • Remember that you are not writing a report, you are responding to a research

question

5. Give your EE Advisor a progress report • Discuss any difficulties you have encountered with your close reading.

Discuss your thesis with your EE Advisor

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6. Begin drafting your essay • Concentrate on:

o Logical progression of ideas o Substantiating all assertions o Providing appropriate depth of ideas

• You must not just assert your thesis but also analyze its implications • You must substantiate your assertions through supporting evidence from the

text(s) • You must include an in-depth analysis of the author’s style as part of your

essay • Your conclusion must be thoughtful, address unresolved questions, and show

a new synthesis that flows from the argument

7. Show your completed first draft to your EE Advisor • Solicit your advisor’s input on:

o The presentation of your ideas o The overall presentation of your research o Simplistic vs. advanced ideas o

8. Revise your essay with your EE Advisor’s comments in mind 9. Prepare your title page, abstract, and list of works

10. Show your new draft to your EE Advisor – Expect to complete several

drafts of your essay with substantial revision.

11. Give the final essay to your EE Advisor for review


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Hints for Success Considerations when writing a research question For the purpose of the extended essay, you should not know the answer to your research question before you begin – discovery is an important aspect of the essay. Also, it is equally valid to prove yourself wrong as it is to verify your hypothesis. Take time to create a precise, thoughtfully considered question – a well-defined research question is essential to creating a successful essay. Understanding the role of your EE Advisor Your advisor is your guide, providing encouragement and support and advice of a subject-specific nature. Your advisor does not select your topic or sources for you, but rather sends you in the right direction. It is the advisor’s responsibility to help you in the process of research and to ensure that the Extended Essay is your own work. You should expect to spend between three and five hours with your advisor. Focusing research through the use of a research log.The required research log should be a useful tool for gathering, exploring and reflecting on your emerging extended essay. You will use it to record your findings, list citation information, try out your thesis, and develop your argument. It should contain details of your research experience as well as your reflections on the process. Your advisor will periodically review your research log with you. Use sources appropriate to your area of study. Be careful about the use of sources in your paper – don’t plagiarize. Primary sources are required. If you elect to use the internet as a resource tool, make certain you are selecting appropriate sources (valid, reliable, and scholarly). Make certain you are keeping useful notes as you read. Make notes about both the content and notes that give the citation information. Utilizing the writing process The Extended Essay is a project that requires more than one draft. Plan accordingly. Give yourself time to reflect upon your investigations and their significance. Give your advisor time to respond to your drafts. Expect to rewrite – rewriting is essential in presenting a scholarly paper. The role of the abstract The abstract is written after the essay is completed, and provides an overview of the research question, the investigation, and the results of that investigation. It can also help you in the revision process as you note the main points you are making and whether you are keeping your topic in focus. It is not an introduction to your paper.

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The Role of the Supervisor Each student should work with a supervisor in the process of writing the extended essay. The supervisor has four principal responsibilities:

• Encourage and support the student throughout the research and writing of

the essay • Provide advise and guidance in the skills of undertaking research • Ensure that the extended essay is the student’s own work • Complete the supervisor’s report

The supervisor supports the student by offering advice and guidance on the following aspects of the extended essay, as well as any other issues that may come up:

• Finding a suitable focus • Formulating and refining a precise research question • Finding appropriate resources • How to gather and analyze information/evidence/data • Proper documentation of sources • Writing an abstract

The amount of time a supervisor spends with each student will usually be between three and five hours in total. The student should spend a total of approximately forty hours on the extended essay. By monitoring the progress of the essay through various steps, the supervisor can help to ensure that the extended essay is the student’s own work. If the supervisor suspects that plagiarism has occurred, he/she must write a full report. The supervisor should present this report to the Extended Essay coordinator who will then follow the appropriate procedures. The supervisor is encouraged to discuss the choice of topic and research question with the student, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to decide what topic to pursue. The supervisor is encouraged to read and comment on any initial drafts, but the supervisor may not edit any drafts for the student. It is the student’s responsibility to correct mistakes and verify the accuracy of the contents of the extended essay. The supervisor and student should review the assessment criteria to be sure all criteria have been covered in the extended essay. The supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that a completed extended essay cover accompanies the final version of the extended essay.

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Guajome Park Academy 2005 – 2006 Extended Essay Timeline

Extended Essay Proposal (to Mrs. Garcia) Due Monday, Sept 19, 2005

• Topic • Research Question

• Signature from Mrs. Maddox • Supervisor request

Working Bibliography/Purpose and Question Week of Oct 3, 2005 First meeting with supervisor and student

• Review: o Criterion A – Research Question o Criterion B – Approach to Research Question o Criterion C – Analysis/Interpretation o Criterion D – Argument/Evaluation

Working Outline and Project Timeline Week of Oct 17, 2005 Second meeting with supervisor and student

• Basic outline of overall EE • Skeleton outline of written EE • Outline of points for written EE • Review – Criteria A – D

Gathering Resources and Recording Info/Data Week of Oct 31, 2005 Third meeting with supervisor and student

• Review in regards to criteria B-D Rough Draft Intro Week of Nov 14, 2005 Fourth meeting with supervisor and student

• Review all criteria Rough Draft Body Week of Nov 28, 2005 Fifth meeting with supervisor and student

• Review all criteria Rough Draft Conclusion Week of Dec 12, 2005 Sixth meeting with supervisor and student

• Review all criteria Complete Rough Draft (to Supervisor) Due Friday, Dec. 16, 2005

• Title page • Abstract • Contents • Introduction • Body/Method/Results

• Conclusion • Illustrations • Appendix • Documenting Sources • Listing Sources

Revision of Rough Draft Week of Jan 23, 2006 Seventh meeting with supervisor and student

• Revising and Editing

Final Copy due: Monday, February 20, 2006 (to Mrs. Garcia)

Extended Essay Proposal Name: Extended Essay Topic: Research Question: Supervisor Request: ____________________Signature: ___________________ Librarian Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________ Notes: Approved: ________________________________ Date: _____________

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