The Extended Essay It’s all about the PROCESS!

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Workshop Goals TODAY Understand the Extended Essay  Scholarly research in academic language  Time management and motivation challenge  Requirement of the Diploma Programme See the Benefits  In-depth study of a meaningful topic  Practical experience (head start) on university work Explore Topics / Research Questions Tour of MVHS Resources for Extended Essay

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 The Extended Essay Requirements  Chosen from approved DP list  Involves higher level research  Opportunity for personal research  Required for all DP candidates  Aligned with Learner Profile  Supervised by a teacher at MVHS  Externally Assessed (world-wide)

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Extended Essay Process  Formulating and refining a research question that can be addressed in 4000 words  Providing evidence and reasons to support your answer to the research question  Adding to your repertoire of skills for a college education and LIFELONG LEARNING

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Page 5 EE Scoring Criteria A Research Question2 BIntroduction2 CInvestigation4 DKnowledge/Understanding4 EReasoned Argument4 FApply Analysis & Evaluation4 GLanguage Appropriate4 HConclusion2 IFormal Presentation4 JAbstract2 KHolistic Judgment4

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 EE Grade Boundaries as of 2009  A29 – 36  B23 – 28  C16 – 22  D8 – 15  E0 – 7 Page 6

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Student Responsibilities  Choose a topic from approved list of subjects  YOU schedule the meetings with your EE Supervisor  Meet deadlines  Acknowledge all sources of information  Think about a research question  Plan a schedule for research and writing—40 hour requirement  Structure the essay per guidelines  Meet all assessment criteria of the chosen subject area

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Academic Honesty  Student is ultimately responsible  Work or ideas of others must be fully and correctly acknowledged  Supervisor confirms that the EE submitted is the authentic work of the student  Both plagiarism and collusion are forms of malpractice  Same piece of work, or two versions of same, cannot be submitted by student

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Academic Honesty Tips Page 9 Burden of proof should rest with the student Students: KEEP ALL DRAFTS IN HARD COPY AND ELECTRONIC FORMAT until you start college Ask questions from IB Staff!!! Turnitin.com as a preventive measure

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 TOOLS for Success  Extended Essay Manual  Specific Subject Guide  MVHS IB web page links + MVHS Library web page  ONLINE DATABASES at MVHS & Public Libraries  Discussions with your EE Supervisor  Ask questions! We’re here to help you!

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Managing the Extended Essay Page 11

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Do yourself a favor....  Pay attention to the DEADLINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 The Iceberg Model  7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft Phase Student 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 Phase Student works independently to: Write EE draft Revision conference drives final version of essay Prepare the final EE

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 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.” -- quoted from The Dartmouth Writing Project

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 It’s Just One Question! How Difficult Can That Be? Activity #1: Developing Research Questions

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Page 16

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Where to Start?  IB Course Companions have EE suggested topics  Book, newspaper article, magazine piece that fascinated you  Author, historical figure, or performer that inspires you  Website, film, musical performance or play  Experiment that captured your imagination  Natural phenomenon  CAS or TOK activities  Issue or problem in local community, past or present  Significant event in your life or your family

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Keep in Mind  Your original idea is PROVISIONAL until you are sure you can find enough supporting information in published from.  Be prepared to LISTEN to the advice of your supervisor---finalize your RESEARCH QUESTION with supervisor approval only

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 Acknowledgements  Barbara Dirscherl Teacher Librarian Palm Harbor University HS Palm Harbor, FL  Sharon Vansickle English, TOK Marietta High School Marietta, Georgia  IB Prepared: Extended Essay Guide, 2010