IB EXTENDED ESSAY

1. IB EXTENDED ESSAY Gresham High School

2. THE EXTENDED ESSAY RELAX

3. THE EXTENDED ESSAY It’s just a paper The myth is worse than the reality You will spend more time worrying and whining than working You will do it all in 1 or 2 weekends, so why not tackle it THIS semester It’s like baking a cake – follow the recipe

4. THE EXTENDED ESSAY“A study in depth of a limited topic” • Independent research supervised by a teacher • In a topic YOU choose from one of the IB subject areas • On a question YOU develop • Presented in 4000 words • In accordance with IB requirements

5. WHAT IS IT? • Prepares you for independent research expected by universities • Format is a formal research paper – scholarly journal • Written in a scholarly voice • Essay is an analytical answer to a question YOU develop

6. WHAT IS IT NOT? • It is NOT a review of the literature • It is NOT a book report or plot summary • It is NOT everything you ever learned about your subject • It is NOT your opinion, your thoughts, or your beliefs

7. THE EE IS…….. • A carefully constructed analytical answer to a very precise question • Based on DATA and EVIDENCE from your research • Data cited as to source

8. General Time Line • Due Date: End of first semester your senior year • This semester: research • Summer: research and rough draft • Next semester: writing the essay • Next fall: College Aps!

9. REQUIRED DELIVERABLES • IB Advisor: April 1 • Research question: May 11 • Annotated Bibliography: June 1 • Summer progress report: ~Sept 19* • Detailed outline: ~Oct 1* • 1st Complete Draft: ~Dec 1* • FINAL: February 1 • + Monthly notebook checks w/ homework * Depends on final school calendar

10. How do we support you? • Provide you with an EE supervisor based on your research question • Make appointments – don’t do drive by drop ins • Use email. Schedule summer contact

11. The EE Advisor • Must be a Gresham teacher • YOU are responsible for making appointments • Will advise and guide you through the research • Will complete a Supervisor’s Report at the completion of the essay • IB will not accept an essay w/o an Advisor.

12. The EE Advisor WILL NOT • Tell you what to do • Give you a RQ • Give you research resources • Edit your work • Remind you of the deadlines • Chase you down

13. Getting to the Research Question S-T-Q Subject…. Topic…. Question….

14. Getting to the Research Question • Choose a SUBJECT • Choose a TOPIC within that subject • Choose a narrow RESEARCH QUESTION that will focus your research and argument.

15. Choosing a Subject • Step 1: READ THE GUIDELINES • Must be one of IB subjects • Choose a subject that is interesting and challenging to you and that you have taken an IB class in • Do background reading • Essays submitted in Group 2 must be written in that language

16. Choosing a Subject • Your essay must use scholarly language of the field so it must reflect your study of the field. It is not recommended that you do an essay in a subject you have not studied

17. Choosing a Topic • Limited in scope and sufficiently narrow to allow you to examine an issue in depth • But big enough so you may collect and/or generate data for analysis • Science topics are most successful when you conduct an experiment • Consult your advisor and Librarian

18. Choosing a Topic • If you’re not confused, you haven’t spent enough time on it yet. • Keep reading. • If you haven’t changed your mind, you haven’t spent enough time on it yet. • Read some more.

19. The Research Question • The MOST important part of the essay. There are NO good essays with BAD research questions. • Think of the RQ as the map for the essay – don’t create a map to nowhere. • Questions have “question marks” • No ??, no research question.

20. The Research QuestionIt must be: • Narrow • Specific • Non-trivial • Answerable in 4000 words • Researchable, not speculative

21. BAD Research Questions • ECONOMICS: Does globalization affect Turkey? ENGLISH, Group 1: What symbols are employed by F. Scott Fitzgerald?

22. BAD Research Questions • BIOLOGY: What causes cancer? HISTORY: What was the impact of the civil rights movement? The History of _______________

23. GOOD Research Questions • ENGLISH: How does the portrayal of Joan of Arc by Shaw, Anouilh, and Schiller differ? BIOLOGY: An experimental study to determine if Vitamin C levels in orange differ in supermarket vs restaurants

24. GOOD Research Questions • ECONOMICS: • What is the impact of international coffee prices on the standard of living in Guatemala

25. IB Prohibitions • Cannot recycle topics/papers you have written for IB classes. • Ethical considerations in design of experiments – no experiments that cause pain or stress to living organisms.

26. IB Prohibitions • The RQ MUST be yours. Beware of off-campus interning projects. • One student per Research Question – this YOUR question

27. Know the Criteria! • A. Research Question (0-2) • B. Introduction (0-2) • C. Investigation (0-4) • D. Knowledge of topic (0-4) • E. Reason argument (0-4) • F. Application of Analytical skills (0-4) • G. Use of appropriate language (0-4)

28. Know the Criteria (con’t)! • H. Conclusion (0-2) • I. Formal presentation (0-4) • J. Abstract (0-2) • K Holistic Judgment (0-4) • TOTAL possible points: 36 See pages 25-31, Blue Book

29. Mark Bands • 29 – 36 Excellent A • 23-28 Good B • 16-22 Satisfactory C • 8-15 Mediocre D • 0-7 Elementary E

30. Diploma Points Matrix

31. Failing Condition for the Diploma • If you fail to submit an EE • If you write an EE but fail to meet with your advisor • If you fail BOTH the TOK paper AND the EE • If you fail the EE or TOK, you must earn at least 28 points on the exams to earn the Diploma (instead of 24)*

32. It’s all about analysis • Use EVIDENCE, DATA not description, chronological lists. • This is not a ‘report.” • It’s an argument with supporting information. • This is NOT a review of the literature—your voice must come through loud and clear.

33. It’s about being a scholar • Use a scholarly, professional style • No “I” statements (“I think”) • Use the language and vocabulary of your field • Keep a Research Diary/Portfolio

34. It’s about the rules! • Read the Guidelines (“The Blue Book”) • Make sure your RQ is in the right Subject – your essay will be submitted to an examiner in YOUR subject • This is NOT the place for interdisciplinary topics • Did we mention: Read the Guidelines (“The Blue Book”)

35. It’s about the sources! • Do not rely uncritically on Internet sources • Analyze your sources IN your essay • Primary sources over secondary sources • No encyclopedia-like sources • No Gresham textbooks • No Wikipedia!! • Range and balance of sources

36. Let’s talk plagiarism • EACH fact, idea, quote, chart, graph, picture, number not your own must be sourced (with page number) • The direct or indirect use of the words of another person MUST be sourced. • Restating someone’s ideas EVEN IF not copied is plagiarism! • The solution: CITATIONS • Be consistent in citation style • Manage sources as you do your research: research notebook

37. What do you do now? • Review this with family and sign the Extended Essay contract • Get into the IB Guidelines (The Blue Book) • Read some Extended Essays – available in RM 240 • Toy with ideas, talk to teachers • Explore!

38. Pitfalls: The Research • Plan for science experiments to go awry – they always do • Data may be unavailable for your topic • RQ may be too broad • You may not have enough background to complete the research • Be flexible and willing to change directions in the beginning

39. APPENDIX: The PresentationHow to put it all together • Title page (Title is NOT the RQ) • Abstract of 300 words • Table of contents with subheads • Body of essay with subheads • Bibliography (ONLY works cited and in alphabetical order) • Page numbers • Candidate number on every page

40. Pitfalls: Word Count • Word count must be on title page • 4000 words max for paper • This does not include acknowledgements, table of contents charts and tables, annotated illustrations, bibliography or any appendices.

41. Pitfalls: Word Count • Word count must be on title page • 4000 words max for paper • This does not include acknowledgements, table of contents charts and tables, annotated illustrations, bibliography or any appendices.

42. PRESENTATION: TITLE PAGE The Impact of Bicycle Paths on Land Use in Portland, Oregon Susie Q. Student Candidate 0517-123 Environmental Systems and Societies Word Count: 3922 December 16, 2010

43. ABSTRACT • Abstract of 300 words. Abstract is NOT an introduction. • Write this LAST. • Abstract should state: • Research question being investigated • The scope of the investigation • The conclusion/s of the essay

44. TABLE OF CONTENTS • Place AFTER the abstract • All pages must be numbered • Body of essay must have subheadings that are reflected in the TOC • Index is not required

45. BIBLIOGRAPHY • Each work cited in the essay must be listed in the bibliography • Examiners match the citations to the bibliography • Over reliance on limited sources will lose points

46. APPENDICES • Not viewed as essential and examiners are not required to read • Unless considered essential, complete lists of raw data should not be included