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The Complete Extended Essay Guide

The International Baccalaureate’s (IB) program requires that you write a 4,000-word extended essay. This should be submitted separately.

All IB students are required to complete the extended essay assignment, regardless if they are studying CAS or TOK.

Students can choose any topic they wish to write about and show their ability beyond what they have learned in class. Students can use this assignment to improve their writing and research skills in preparation for the Bachelor’s or Master’s levels.

Students complete an extended essay during the second term. Students must collaborate with their supervisors to decide the topic of the essay and answer the research questions.

To get feedback from the supervisor, you will need to submit an extended essay draft before you can submit the final version. An essay should include a short vivavoce.

Extended Essay facts

– A maximum length of 4,000 words is acceptable for essays.
The project will be completed within a year.
Significance and importance of an extended essay
– In 2019, about 200,000 students took IB Programme Exam
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Students is available to students aged 16-19 years.

Significance Of Extended Essay

How much does the extended essay assignment impact the overall grade?

For these reasons, the extended essay is critical:
It helps students polish their skills to write essays at the Masters and undergraduate levels.
– They can independently research the topic of your interest that is related to one the six IB Programme modules.
Students will learn how to use a desk-based research tool to identify relevant and manageable topics.
– They will learn how to form research questions.
They develop arguments.
The assignment can be completed successfully to improve the student’s ability to critically analyze and evaluate information.

You will need to do extensive, inter-disciplinary research on a topic of global importance if you decide to take up the extended essay in international studies.

Extended Essay Evaluation Criteria
External examines from the IB assign a score between 0 and 34 to extended essays.
You will score a score in the assignment based on one of these bands:

– A Work of outstanding standard.
– B: Work that is of high quality.
C – Work of satisfactory quality
– D – Work of a Moderate Standard
– E – Work of an Elementary Standard.

How do you choose a topic for your extended essay?

The most challenging and exciting part of the entire process is choosing a topic that you find interesting and manageable for your extended essay. The IB Programme requires you to research one topic from each of six subjects.
The criteria for selection are determined by the analysis of a topic of global importance in a particular context. You could, for example investigate local cultural, technological, or medical trends.

These are some suggestions for selecting the right topic for your extended essay.
It shouldn’t be too wide or too narrow.
– Select a topic that interests you.
– What global trends are you most interested in understanding and exploring?

It can be difficult to choose the right topic. Consider the topics you are most passionate about and the reasons you would like to learn more about them. You will be able to compare your ideas and make your own choices.

Notice: The topic is approved by the IBO.

How do you formulate research questions for an extended essay?

After the topic is approved, it’s time to start forming the research questions. You should not rush to formulate research questions that aren’t well-thought out. This can lead to problems later.

The research question must not simply be answered with a yes or no. Instead, it should provide valuable information within a wider context. The title should be relevant and focused on the research question. If your research question contains a hypothesis, you are not required to give it correct or incorrect. Your job is only to test the hypothesis.

It is not necessary to start the question with words such as “Is”,” “Will”, or “Should”, but instead, use words such as “Why”, and “How”. Not stating that “yes” or “no” are correct is unacceptable.
The best essays are those that address a larger research question. You could even use it to formulate a hypothesis that you are trying to test.

You will make a grave error if your research questions are not addressed. No matter if the essay research is primary, secondary or both, it is important to have a plan in place to find the right academic resources.

But, most of the time, secondary data is not available. Primary research can cost money and take up time. It is important that you clearly explain why you prefer one method to another.

Finally, if your research question is not sufficiently well-researched, your supervisor can help you modify it.

How to choose the supervisor

These are some tips to help you choose the right advisor

If you’re unsure who you want to work alongside, make a list.
– Your topic should be well-known to the supervisor.
– Find an advisor who can get the best from you.
– A patient advisor would be willing to review multiple drafts of the essay and provide feedback.
– It is better to have open discussions with your children.
– Your final EE score will be determined by the assessment of your supervisor. They should be familiar with you personally. Unreliable teachers may not be fair in assessing you.
It may not make sense to have your favorite teacher as your advisor, since they might not be knowledgeable about the subject.
Make sure you check with your school to see if the advisor must sign a consent form.

Structure for an Extended Essay

Extended essays follow the same structure as standard essays, which includes the introduction, main body and conclusion. For any complications, you should always consult your supervisor.

Your supervisor will be there to provide support throughout the writing and research process.

There are up to three reflection sessions with the assigned supervisor. The final round includes an interview, also called the viva-voce.

The reflection meetings and extended essay provide much-needed motivation, especially for those who must pass the interview assessment to be accepted for a university place or before being hired.

An extended essay structure must contain six components:

1. Cover Page

You should include the title page, which is where you will state your research question and the subject matter you are researching.

2. Contents page

Here you should list the headings and subheadings along with the page numbers. Microsoft page numbering is used to number each page.

3. Start of Introduction
This is the opening of my introduction.

The introduction to an extended essay should briefly explain the research question and thesis statement. It should also present the central argument of the essay.

4. Main body

Here you will present your arguments, evaluations, comparisons, and analysis. This section is structured differently depending on the subject, but all information should have supporting evidence.

5. In summation,

The conclusion section should contain the thesis statement, research scope, and argument. The conclusion section should address any unanswered questions, limitations in research, or other problems.

6. Bibliography and References

At the end of each essay, a list is included listing academic sources. Although the style of citation you must use will vary from one subject to another, you should follow it consistently throughout your essay.

What deadline do you need to meet?

The deadline for extended essay assignments will be provided by your school. Each school will have a different deadline for the IB. The essay will take you one year, but most students don’t finish it by the deadline.

You can avoid last-minute panic by planning carefully. Many students make a fatal mistake by spending too much of their time researching and reading while writing very little.

Schools set deadlines for different projects to ensure students are on time. To ensure that each section is completed on time, keep in touch with your advisors and the management.

The viva-voce Interview

Students can use the viva-voice interview to highlight the significance of their research findings.
Students can also share details about the difficulties and successes they have encountered during their research in the interview.

For example: You could talk with your supervisor about what you did to solve the problem during data collection.

Biology Extended Essay Subjects

Investigate the relation between indole acid acetic, a growthhormone and the development of X (a cultivable).
– To determine the relationship between population size and density.
How does a 2-hour incubation time at x’C affect the concentration of lactose in milk, cheese, and yoghurt?
Discuss the relationship between climate and plant production.
To find out more about the possibility to make flowers.
– An exploration into the possibility that plants could heal a disease.
– The effects of different drugs on the brain’s functioning
What effect does changing habitat have on the existence of organisms?
Investigate how safe it is to store cow’s dairy milk.
– The relationship between human retina photoreceptor cell and “age and gender”
– Examining how climate change affects the growth of X plants
Neadderthalian DNA for people with European ancestors

Extended Essays on Psychology
Discuss the relationship among violent acts and viewing violence posted on social networking platforms.

Bipolar disorder: Can drugs be used to help?
Meditation can be used to treat general anxiety disorder.
– Analyzing the relationship between cognitive environments and social variables, such as education, poverty, culture and parenting.
– How do our relationships evolve? What causes a relationship’s end?
– Examine the effects of domestic violence upon the brain.
Discuss depression from psychological perspectives.
– There is a difference between male and female schizophrenia.
– The relationship of General Anxiety Disorder to stress
– Stress and Bulimia: A Medical Condition
– The link between obesity and our media-oriented lifestyle
What is suicide? How do suicidal behaviours develop over time?

What are some potential topics for an extended essay in English?

– Why English Literature is so important in today’s world
– Consider the literary function of English.
Explore the relationship between politics & social Darwinism.
– The twenty-first century’s sexual and ethnic identity
– The English language’s impact on other languages
– How English learns differently from other languages
– The distinctive patterns of American English phonetics.
– Identifying Sanskrit’s use in English
– A systematic approach to tracing differences between American English English and British English.
Identify English words and phrases that were used in Hindi and Urdu languages during British Raj
– The influence of French on the evolution and development of English.

Literature Extended essay Topics

– Compare the impact of different Noble Prize winners in literature on stylistic evolution.
– A discussion of the controversy surrounding Bob Dylan’s Noble Prize award
– Emile Zola’s Role in the Dreyfus Affair’s “J’accuse”.
– Analysing Jane Austen
Jame Baldwin illustrates Racism.
– English literature’s development of the ideal woman
– The Islamic text of religion
Emma by Jane Austen and Dance’s importance
– An examination of Severus Snapchate’s character within Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows & Harry Potter: The Chambers of Secret. What are the similarities/differences between J.K Rowling and Severus’s character in the novels?
– Bilbo Baggins’ character evolution from Lord of the Rings through the Hobbit Sequel

Literature Extended essay Topics

Extended essay topics in Economics

– The global impact of Covid-19
Covid-19: How car manufacturers have had to reinvent their economic models because of its impact on the economy
– India’s growing role in the global economy
China’s Plans to Takeover the World Economy by 2050 – Is this fact valid?
– Road infrastructure’s role in developing a growing country like Afghanistan
– The relationship between increasing exports and local farmer empowerment in an agricultural country such as India
– Tax handling within a globalized world.
– The economic impact of Japan’s ageing population
– Political corruption and offshore tax havens. How can we stop this trend?
– Brexit’s impact on the UK’s Economy From the UK’s perspective, discuss the benefits and drawbacks.

Movie Extended Essay Topics

– Social protest elements in Charlie Chaplin’s films
Computer capabilities have revolutionized traditional cinematography.
– How to avoid the so-called “soap-opera” effect. Why movies remain at 24 frames per seconds (including future predictions).
– Motion camera – Revolutionary ideas (for instance, in the Matrix/the Tenet)
– Relationship between IMDB marks, differing national and international films
– The Metamorphosis Of Masculinity In Our Contemporary World, as illustrated in Battle Club
– There are many ways to manipulate the timeline for paper writing services cinematography
Sci-Fi films that heavily depict systematic techniques or scientists in a highly distorted manner

Extended Essay Topics on History

– The Rise of the Ottoman Empire. – A discussion of King Salman-II’s role
– How important was the Battle of Vienna in European History?
– The British Raj on India Subcontinent
– Discuss why the Arabs lost in six day against resurging Israel.
– India 2000s vs India 1950s.
– The story behind animosity among two nuclear-armed neighbors – India & Pakistan
– A look at the events that led Hitler to rise to power in Germany.
– Invasion by Nazi Germany and the USSR of Poland during the second World War
– A Japanese perspective on the attack on the Pearl Harbour
– What was the reason for the expansion of Islam’s empire between the 8th Century and the Tenth Century?

Geography Extended Essay Subjects

– China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) importance for Chinese economic dominance
– An analysis of current climate changes and their effects on the oceans
– Learn about and compare the various strategies to avoid power outages due to solar storms.
India’s improved fertility rate and its relationship to women empowerment and education are evidence of India’s improvement in this area.
How is Regent’s Park managing biodiversity in London?
– The relationship of obesity risk and parameters like education, gender, genes, or social settings
– Evaluate the impact of company X’s environmental sustainability program.
Compare the country without access to the sea to the one with access.
– A review of the impact of the agricultural revolution on the environment around the world
What does geography have to do with the social relationships among people?

Mathematical and Physics Extended Essays

– General Functions of the Theory of Partitions
– Cosmology and general relativity
Symmetries in plane tessellations
– Egyptian forces at arithmetic
– An overview of various methods used by academic researchers
– What is the reason why planets move in this way? Why do they move in a circular fashion?
– A study into string theory
– How quantum Physics can revolutionize science rules
– The basics in dynamics – forces & motion
– Discuss the different types forces (magnet force, quantum force, physical).
– Quantum movement of particles
What influence does the quantum-slit experiment have over traditional Newtonian Physics?
– The behavior and nature of light
– The cosmic pattern of planets and stars
– Gravitational Waves – Generation, propagation rules, detection in Earth?
– Do scientists have scientific proof that there is another intelligent species in this universe other than humans?

Author

  • laynesalazar

    I'm Layne Salazar, a 31-year-old education blogger and teacher. I love sharing insights and ideas on how to improve student learning, and I'm passionate about helping educators reach their full potential.

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laynesalazar

I'm Layne Salazar, a 31-year-old education blogger and teacher. I love sharing insights and ideas on how to improve student learning, and I'm passionate about helping educators reach their full potential.

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