Extended Essay

Overview

• 4,000 words (not including abstract, illustrations, appendices, bibliography)

• Personal exploration of a chosen topic• Required for IB Diploma• TOK/EE combined grading scale

Required Elements

• Title page• Abstract (write last, total of 300 words)

• Table of Contents Page

• Introduction, Body, Conclusion

• Bibliography

• Appendices

Your Objectives

• Pursue independent research on a focused topic

• Develop a research question and critical thinking skills

• Engage in systematic approach to research

• Experience intellectual discovery

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Expect to change your mind…

so, don’t drag your feet!

Examples

Bad Questions• What causes cancer?• Who was Adolf

Hitler?• Can the Karner Blue

butterfly survive if Albany expands the landfill?

Good Questions• Is there a connection

between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda?

• What is the nature and function of religious imagery in Wuthering Heights?

Where to start?• Topic• Preliminary reading• Create focused

research question

Genocide

Rwanda

Females in Rwanda during genocide

The effect of genocide on the female

population in Rwanda

• Gather sources• Take notes and begin

analysis• Create outline• Rough draft• Proofing and editing• Final copy

Resources

• Where to go– Albany High School

library• Search catalog

• Online databases

– University at Albany main library

• Search catalog

• Online databases

• Think about– Academic journals

– Government documents

– Primary sources

– Newspapers/magazines– Multimedia (i.e.

documentaries, NPR, images)

– Interviews

Plagiarism

Don’t do it!

Hold-Ups

• Bad pacing

• Over-reliance on web-based resources

• Too late (no sources, too many)

• No contributions by student– just compilation of sources

• Disregard assessment criteria (review often)

• Procrastination and delay

Helpers

• Focus specifically on novel, country, time period, effect, law

• Exceed word limit by 20-30% then whittle away through drafting

• Present, analyze, interpret

• Use appropriate vocabulary

Role of Advisor

• Provide advice and guidance

• Support progress

• Reads and comments on first draft– Does not edit

• Completes supervisor’s report and hosts viva voce (short interview)

• Submits predicted grade

Role of Librarian

• Advises student on appropriate research and information gathering

• Suggests avenues of sources i.e. online databases

• Discusses authoritative information vs. non peer-reviewed

• Don’t forget the University librarians!

Assessment

• Research Question

• Data Information

• Analysis/Evaluation

• Discussion/Argument

• Conclusion

• Abstract

• Requirements of the Extended Essay

Shall We?