1. The Extended Essay (EE) Biotechnology High School Class of 2012

2. What is the Extended Essay? 4,000 word essay on a topic of your choice (that means 14-15 pages) You choose the topic Completed during junior AND senior year (March to November-ish) Graded by IB but also BTHS graduation requirement and completion grade in Senior LEAP

3. What Should I Write About? Choose a topic that truly interests you. Extended essays have been career defining opportunities. Keep your topic narrow. You’ll be surprised at how quickly 4,000 words goes. College recognition/application

4. When is it Due? Review timeline - your supervisor will communicate about deadlines Chunk your work! The final version is due next fall, but there are milestones along the way. This will help you manage your time.

5. Can I Get Some Help? Of course! You will be assigned an EE supervisor. You will meet for up to 3-4 hours with your supervisor (in increments, not all at once). Your supervisor may give you general feedback but may NOT proofread or rewrite anything for you.

6. What Happens at These Meetings? Refine topic Guide research Status updates Bibliography review Summer work proposal Feedback on essay Other help as needed

7. It is recommend that candidates spend about 40 hours in total on their Extended Essay How much time should I spend working on my Extended Essay?

8. The EE Timeline

10. Where Can I Find More Info? On the BTHS IB wiki, you will find: –An e-copy of this presentation –An e-copy of the BTHS EE handbook Specific details/tips relative to BTHS Brief overviews of subject specific EEs –An e-copy of the official IB EE guide Specific details about subject specific EEs Assessment criteria (rubrics) for subject specific EEs

11. Subject Areas Physics Biology Chemistry Computer Science Film English Math Health/Nutrition Environmental Systems & Societies History Psychology ITGS (Information Technology in a Global Society

12. How Do I Choose a Topic? Choose a subject area you are interested in Read the EE Guide (on the wiki!)— especially Assessment Criteria p. 25-31 and Subject Specific Details for the subject areas you are interested in Submit THREE possible subject area/topic ideas

13. Ok, Then What? Based on your possible subject/topic ideas, you will be assigned a supervisor in a subject area of interest to you. The better researched and clearer your research question is, the more likely you are to get your first choice of subject/topic.

14. And Then What? Once you are assigned a supervisor, you will begin to meet with them to determine your research question. Then the real work begins!

15. Please Note: A good research question (which leads to a good EE) is... –Formulated by the student out of his/her own curiosity and interest –Non-trivial (substantial, not speculative or too limited in scope, not self-evident) –Sharply focused so student can answer it in 4000 words

16. Examples of Research Questions  Q’s ECONOMICS: Does globalization affect Turkey? BIOLOGY: What causes cancer? HISTORY: What would have happened to Turkey if the last Sultans had been more powerful? GEOGRAPHY Does London have a central business district? Q’s ECONOMICS: Is there a connection between international coffee prices and living standards in Uganda? HISTORY The establishment of foreign schools in Turkey in the 19th century GEOGRAPHY How has migration affected land use patterns in Nyacki province?

17. This sounds like a lot of work, but I know I can do it - I just need to follow the timeline and assessment criteria. I’ll be fine!