1. THE IB EXTENDED ESSAY OR… “Enquiring Minds Want to Know!” Apologies to the National Enquirer

2. What is a metronome?

3. THE EXTENDED ESSAY What is it?... Basic Facts How to Choose a Research Topic The Good, the Bad & the Ugly... A look at Research Questions Some Common Problems Getting Started on your Research Tips & Pits Helpful Websites

4. BASIC FACTS Personal research by the student On a question or hypothesis chosen by the student, not assigned by the teacher In a subject or discipline listed by the IB (e.g., NOT Linguistics, Sociology or Mathematical Economics) In the format of a formal research paper

5. BASIC FACTS Length 4,000 words Not including appendices, illustrations, bibliography, footnotes or endnotes With an abstract within 300 words (not part of the 4,000 words)

6. BASIC FACTS Required for the IB Diploma (no Extended Essay, no Diploma) Counts towards additional diploma points along with Theory of Knowledge Assessed according to published criteria

7. WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED ESSAY? The student The student’s supervisor The IB Coordinator The International Baccalaureate Organization

8. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC Decide which subject interests you the most Without personal curiosity and interest, it’s impossible to do research In that subject, make a LIST or diagram of the topical areas in the subject that interest you the most

9. Discuss this list with Your teacher Your friends Your parents and/or Anyone else who you think may be able to give you advice or be interested HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

10. Choose an area from this list, and read more in this area - if possible, with advice from your supervisor While reading, try and list QUESTIONS that you are curious about. THIS MUST BE DONE ALL THROUGH THE RESEARCH PROCESS, SO....

11. KEEP A RESEARCH DIARY!

12. Ask yourself… what data you might need to answer these questions whether you will have access to the data whether you will need to find other sources of data See whether there has been any research by others in this area. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC

13. Consult the librarian for help with tracking down research papers or writings, and read the abstracts. Talk with your supervisor… ask what methods you will need to adopt to answer the questions you have in mind.

14. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC Brainstorm Draw spider diagrams of questions and issues and connections between them Narrow down the number and scope of your questions as you proceed

15. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC Consult your supervisor at each stage, and in case of difficulty EXPECT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE YOU FINALLY SETTLE ON A TOPIC

16. One formulated by the student out of his/her own curiosity or interest Non-trivial (i.e., substantial, not speculative or too limited in scope, not self-evident) Sharply enough focused so that the student can answer it in 4,000 words WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION?

17. THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY… RESEARCH QUESTION ECONOMICS... Does globalization affect Turkey? ECONOMICS... Is there a connection between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda?

18. THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY… RESEARCH QUESTION BIOLOGY... What causes cancer? BIOLOGY... The ecology of snails in the Koç School campus

19. THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY… RESEARCH QUESTION HISTORY... What would have happened to Turkey if the last Sultans had been more powerful? HISTORY... Which factors were significant in the establishment of foreign schools in Turkey in the 19 th century?

20. THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY… RESEARCH QUESTION GEOGRAPHY... Does Istanbul have a central business district? GEOGRAPHY... How has migration affected land use patterns in Van province?

21. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS Students discover too late that there is too little data, or data is inaccessible Bad pacing of the research and writing process Over-reliance on web-based sources... a minimum of 50% of your sources need to be print sources

22. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS Students discover too late that their knowledge of the subject is not deep enough Ethical issues regarding gathering of data or performing of experiments No contribution by the student – the extended essay is a compilation of information from other sources

23. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS PLAGIARISM The use of the work of other authors (texts, data, creative productions, oral statements OR ideas) without proper acknowledgement, with the effect that it appears to be the plagiarist’s own work or idea

24. GETTING STARTED Select a supervisor, and ask for advice Seek help from Mrs. Land to find various sources of information and/or ideas Find people or institutions outside school that may be able to help you, and approach them

25. TIPS & PITS TIPS Make sure your question is narrowly focused It helps to exceed by about 20-30% the word limit in the first few drafts, and cut it back to the maximum of 4,000 for the final

26. TIPS & PITS TIPS Assess each draft of your essay against the General and Subject Criteria in the Extended Essay Guide Talk to your supervisor Record ALL sources that you consult and use, and cite them carefully

27. TIPS & PITS TIPS Keep a Research Diary or Journal or Notebook, especially a pocket-sized one that you can carry about and record any ideas that occur to you anywhere Frequently draw spider diagrams to get the bigger picture, and make links that you know of, and look for other possible links that you may have missed

28. TIPS & PITS TIPS Make sure that you present, analyze and interpret data – not just present them! Use the technical vocabulary and concepts of the discipline in which you are working - don’t write like a journalist

29. TIPS & PITS TIPS Write the Introduction LAST, so that you can give the reader a clear statement of the research question, and how you have addressed it (a “roadmap” of the essay)

30. TIPS & PITS PITFALLS Don’t neglect to refer to BOTH sections of your Extended Essay Guide FREQUENTLY DON’T leave everything till the last. The deadlines are there to help you pace your work… NOT just a way to fill up Homework Hall!

31. TIPS & PITS PITFALLS Do NOT rely entirely or mostly on web based resources because of they often tend to be unreliable KEEP BACK-UPS (note the plural) OF ALL YOUR WORK. You will be surprised how well your computer knows when to crash KEEP BACK-UPS (note the plural) OF ALL YOUR WORK. You will be surprised how well your computer knows when to crash

32. TIPS AND PITS PITFALLS BEWARE OF PLAGIARISM (especially the unintentional kind)! The consequences are UNPLEASANT BEWARE OF PLAGIARISM (especially the unintentional kind)! The consequences are UNPLEASANT

33. HELPFUL WEBSITES http://www.hamilton.edu/writing http://writing.mit.edu/wcc http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml comprehensive guide to writing research papers; contains the MLA style guide; in addition, also contains sections on plagiarism and citation http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml

34. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Adapted from a powerpoint created by Gautam Sen (Nov. 27, 2005) Posted on IBO Online Curriculum Center Teacher Resource Exchange