The Extended Essay What is it? Deadlines/Calendar Sample Topics EE Wiki

1. The Extended EssayWhat is it?Deadlines/CalendarSample TopicsEE Wiki

2. What is the EE? • The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 3500 - 4000-word paper. • College level essay – with a lot of guidance • In-depth study in a topic of interest

3. EE Length • Average length is 19-20 pages • Word count does not include abstracts, contents, charts/tables, bibliography or appendices. • The IBO recommends the student spend 40 hours on their EE

4. Format • Must be Double spaced • 12 point type. Only standardized fonts with non-stylized, standard horizontal spacing • The essay requires an abstract (summary), • Title page, table of contents, and bibliography • Uniform citation style (MLA) • All margins should be one inch • All pages should be numbered

5. Scoring • The total score of the essay places it in one of the following categories: • A excellent • B good • C satisfactory • D mediocre • E elementary

6. Assessment Criteria • Externally assessed by IBO examiners • General assessment criteria: • writing, use of data and overall presentation. • Subject assessment criteria: • how the chosen topic is managed within the context of the chosen subject of the essay. • Each subject has its own set of assessment criteria. • Official essay guidelines will be provided to the student when the essay topic is finalized.

7. Bloom’s New Taxonomy

8. The EE Develops Capacity to: • Analyze • Synthesize • Evaluate knowledge Taken from: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/core/essay/

9. Advisors • Students are supported throughout the process with advice and guidance from a supervisor (usually a teacher at the school) • Role of Advisor • Offer encouragement, support • Help with determining topic and research question (but this should be the student’s choice) • The advisor reads and comments on the first draft of the extended essay, but is not permitted to edit this draft for the candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to correct mistakes and verify the accuracy of the contents of the extended essay. • Completes advisor’s report when EE is completed

10. Research Process • Emphasis is placed on the Research Process: • Formulating an appropriate research question • Engaging in a personal exploration of the topic • Communicating ideas • Developing an argument.

11. The Iceberg Model • 1/8 = Writing Phase • Student works independently to prepare the final EE: • Revision conference drives final version of essay • 7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft Phase • Student works with supervisor to: Explore and discuss ideas • Locate resources • Develop suitable research question • Take notes, make outline • Write drafts—monitor progress

12. Iceberg Analogy • The success of an extended essay is shaped largely during the preparatory stages. (7/8 Pre-writing/Draft phase) • Major weaknesses can be traced directly to the research phase: • Topics too broad • Lack of focus • Vague research questions

14. Important EE Deadlines • October 18, 2010: Choose an Advisor • October 25, 2010: Choose Subject and topic • March 26, 2011: Advanced Outline Due • May 21, 2011: First Draft Due • August 20, 2011: Second Draft Due (1st day of school) • December 2011: Final Essay Due

15. What should you be doing now? • Explore different subjects you are interested in • Begin with: • Your subject area interests • The things you have been reading • Conversations you have had in class or with others are often good sources of ideas. • Think about the subject areas of the IB hexagon which area interests you the most? • Talk to your teachers about possible topics

16. IB Hexagon

17. Choosing a Topic • Select a subject you are interested in • Must be one of your IB diploma subjects. • Read the subject guideline in The Extended Essay Guide (EE Wiki) • Meet with your supervisor • Create a list of possible topics • Narrow to a topic of interest to you

18. Look at Your Motives • Achieving motive: to achieve at a level relative to others • Learning strategy: focuses on organizing and structuring knowledge of topic in most efficient way (managing time commitments, working space, resources) with purpose of optimizing a grade or meeting other external criteria

19. Surface Motive • To retain knowledge to meet a criterion unrelated to the idea • Learning strategy: focuses on superficial features of topic, learning and memorizing in an unquestioning way so they can be reproduced at later date

20. Deep Motive • To increase one’s knowledge of a topic • Learning strategy: focuses on underlying meaning of topic; searches for meaning; questions ideas to achieve better understanding; links new information with what is known; takes ideas apart and examines from multiple perspectives

21. Subject Areas • English literature • Arabic literature • History • Biology • Mathematics • Chemistry • Music • Visual Arts • Physics

22. Subject vs. Topic • The single biggest problem most students have is distinguishing between a subject and a topic.

23. Examples • Subject: The life and paintings of Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840). • Topic: The transfer of the silhouette technique from humans to landscape in the later paintings of Caspar David Friedrich. • Subject: Raku pottery. • Topic: The impact of Raku glazes on contemporary western pottery.

24. Which is a better topic? • Nationalism • Nationalism as a cause of the First World War

25. History • Cecil Rhodes • An examination of the influence of British Darwinism on Cecil Rhodes

26. Math • Prime numbers • Prime numbers in cryptography

27. Math • Graph Theory • Using Graph Theory to minimize cost

28. Alternative energy sources • Wind Power: A clean source of Energy?

29. English Literature • The Brontes • Religious imagery in Wuthering Heights

30. English Literature • Racial conflict in the twentieth century • The problems of racial conflict as shown through the works of James Baldwin

31. Arabic Literature • The land in Mahmod Darwish poets • Mahmod Darwish poets

32. Arabic Literature • Women in Khalil Gibran’s writing • Khalil Gibran

33. Art • The history of Renaissance Art • An analytical study of the cycle of frescoes of St Christopher’s Church in Milan

34. Biology • Factors which affect the germination of seeds • The effect of banana peel on seed germination

35. Chemistry • Chemical Kinetics • Kinetics of oxidation of Iodide with H2O2 in acidic solutions

36. Economics • The Third World Debt Crisis • Do interest rates affect investment decisions?

37. Economics • The consequences of shrimp farming in Ecuador • The economic costs and benefits of shrimp farming in Ecuador

38. Music • The music of Africa • African influence on Paul Simon

39. Music • The Xylophone • The marimba music of Bagamoyo

40. Group 1 Advisors • English A1 • Ms. Kimberly Halverson • Mr. Graham White • Arabic A1 • Mr. Asem Masharfa • Ms. Haifa Jackaman • Ms. Rahna Nazzal • Mr. Zuhair Muati

41. Group 3 Advisors • History • Ms. Kirsty Wilkenson • Economics • Mr. Arthur Klatt

42. Group 4 Advisors Experimental Science • Chemistry • Ms. Karyn Watt • Biology • Mr. Paul Devonshire • Physics • Mr. Georg Eitelhuber

43. Group 5 Advisors Math • Ms. Debbie Huang • Mr. Robert Espinol • Ms. Sharon Harris

44. Group 6 Advisors Applied Arts • Visual Arts • Ms. Paulina Aguilera • Music • Ms. Courtney Malone • Mr. Richard Swann

45. EE Wiki • Http://extendedessayhelp.wikispaces.com • A lot of important information about the EE is available on the EE Wiki. • EE Calendar • Info on how to choose a topic • IBO Guide to the EE (Subject specific criteria) • Forms you need to fill out • Advisor form • Research Checklist • Examples of excellent Extended Essays