1. THE EXTENDED ESSAY What is it? How do I get started?
Good and Bad Research Questions
Some Common Problems

2. Basic Facts about the Extended Essay
Requirement for the IB Diploma

3. 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

4. Basic Facts Length 4,000 words
not including appendices, illustrations, bibliography, footnotes or endnotes
with an abstract within 300 words

5. Basic Facts Assessed according to published criteria
Counts towards additional diploma points along with Theory of Knowledge

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

7. GETTING STARTED ON THE EXTENDED ESSAY

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.

9. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
In that subject, make a list of the
topical areas in the subject
which interest you.

10. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Discuss this list with your teacher, with friends, with parents and anyone else who you think may be able to give you advice or be interested.

11. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Choose an area from this list, and read more in this area with advice from your supervisor.

12. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
While reading, try and list questions that you are curious about.
THIS MUST BE DONE RIGHT THROUGH THE RESEARCH PROCESS, SO....

13. KEEP A RESEARCH DIARY

14. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
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.

15. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Consult the librarian for help with tracking down research papers or writings, and read the abstracts.

16. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Ask what methods you will need to adopt to answer the questions you have in mind.

17. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Brainstorm and draw spider diagrams of questions and issues and connections between them.

18. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Narrow down the number and scope of your questions as you proceed.

19. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
Consult your supervisor at each stage, and in case of difficulty.

20. HOW TO CHOOSE A RESEARCH TOPIC
EXPECT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE YOU FINALLY SETTLE ON A TOPIC.

21. WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION?
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.

22. EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION
ECONOMICS:
Does globalization affect Sweden?

23. EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION
BIOLOGY:
What causes cancer?

24. EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION
HISTORY:
What would have happened to Turkey if the last Sultans had been more powerful?

25. EXAMPLE OF A BAD RESEARCH QUESTION
GEOGRAPHY:
Does Istanbul have a central business district? (variant of an example in The Extended Essay, IBO, 1998)

26. EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION
ECONOMICS:
Is there a connection between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda?

27. EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION
BIOLOGY:
The ecology of snails in the Maria Park area.

28. EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION
HISTORY:
The establishment of foreign schools in Turkey in the 19th century

29. EXAMPLE OF A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION
GEOGRAPHY:
How has migration affected land use patterns in XXX province?

30. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS

31. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
Students discover too late that there is too little data, or data is inaccessible.

32. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
Bad pacing of the research and writing process

33. 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.

34. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
Over-reliance on web-based sources

35. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
Students discover too late that their knowledge of the subject is not deep enough.

36. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
Ethical issues regarding gathering of data or performing of experiments

37. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EXTENDED ESSAYS
No contribution by the student – the extended essay is a compilation of information from other sources.

38. WHERE TO GET HELP
Ask your supervisor.
Heed his or her advice

39. GOLDEN RULES
Don’t be too ambitious, you are not going to find a cure for cancer
Don’t be trivial.
Be focussed
Keep within the discipline of the subject – it is an academic essay.

40. KEY POINT THE TITLE IS CRUCIAL Criteria A,;
”clearly and precisely stated,
sharply focussed and
effective treatment”
Do point 1, and 2 and 3 follow naturally, and the essay will be of better quality.
THE TITLE IS CRUCIAL