IB Extended EssayStudent Training

Today we will cover…• Overall process and timeline of Extended

Essay• Understanding your student responsibilities• Prepare you to begin the steps of the EE

process, choosing a topic and creating a research question

• Encourage you to “become one” with your subject area’s rubric

Proposed Timeline• See attached

Extended Essay RequirementsChosen from approved DP listInvolves higher level researchOpportunity for personal researchRequired for all DP candidatesAligned with Learner Profile40 hour commitment for studentExternally Assessed

Extended Essay Requirements4000 word maximum300 word abstractNo editing by supervisorSupervisor submits predicted grade and supervisor’s reportTOTAL assessment points 0-36Point relationship between EE and TOK

Regulations From 2010 onwards, 28 points overall will berequired to be eligible for the diploma if a studentattains an “E” grade in either the Extended Essayor Theory of Knowledge. As previously, a grade“A” in one of the requirements earns an extrapoint even if the other is a grade “E”. Attaining agrade “E” in both the Extended Essay and Theoryof Knowledge continues to represent an automaticfailure.

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.”• 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/student/ac_paper/what.html

The Iceberg Model7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft PhaseStudent and Supervisor work

together to:• Explore and discuss ideas• Locate resources• Discuss readings and ideas• Develop suitable research

question• Supervisor monitors progress

1/8 = Writing PhaseStudent works independently

to:• Write EE draft• Revision conference drives finalversion of essay• Prepare the final EE

Research QuestionIt’s Just One Question!How Difficult Can That Be?

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Why — This short key word invites candidates topresent reasons for the existence of something. Thus,the brevity of this command rather disguises apowerful requirement to present a detailed, reasonedargument. In effect it is similar to the invitation"account for."

Criteria• A Research Question 2• B Introduction 2• C Investigation 4• D Knowledge/Understanding 4• E Reasoned Argument 4• F Apply Analysis & Evaluation 4• G Language Appropriate 4• H Conclusion 2• I Formal Presentation 4• J Abstract 2• K Holistic Judgment 4

EE Grade Boundaries as of 2009A 29 – 36B 23 – 28C 16 – 22D 8 – 15E 0 – 7

Details—Subject Specific Guidelines

Specific Subject Criteria (p. 34 – 175) Each Subject Area Includes:

Overview of subjectChoice of topicTreatment of the topicInterpretation of assessment rubric

ACTIVITY!

Student Responsibilities• Choose a topic from approved list of subjects• Observe all regulations• Meet deadlines• Acknowledge all sources of information• Think about a research question• Plan a schedule for research and writing• Structure the essay• Meet all assessment criteria of the chosen

subject area

For students to meet their responsibilities,they must learn to:• Conduct meaningful research

– Encourage students to read widely and to listen

• Document sources (everyone should have a style manual)

• Develop research questions that are focused andpertinent

• Develop argumentative skills• Write introductions, conclusions and

abstracts