Extended Essay at St. Robert

J. Buckley, L. Loffredi and A. Steele

Diploma Requirements

○Over the course of the two-year programme, students:● study six subjects chosen from the six

subject groups ● complete an extended essay (EE)● follow a theory of knowledge course

(TOK) ● participate in creativity, action, service

(CAS).(Marsh & Fink)

Assessment

○ Criterion-related assessment○ Up to 36 points

● A – excellent (29 – 36)● B – good (23 – 28)● C – satisfactory (16 – 22)● D – mediocre (8 - 15)● E – elementary (0 – 7)

Diploma Points Matrix (p 22)

School Responsibilities

○ “It is required that the school:● Ensures that each student has an

appropriately supervisor, who is a teacher within the school.

…○ It is strongly recommended that the school:

● Ensures that the students have been taught the necessary research skills.● Set their own internal deadlines”

(EE Guide, p 8)

Supervisor Responsibilities

○ Provide students with advice and guidance

○ Encourages and supports the student (p.9)

○ Discusses the choice of topic… and in particular, helps to format a well-focused research question. (p.9)

○ Reads and comments on one completed draft only (p.9)

○ Reads final version to confirm authenticity (p.9)

○ Spends 3 to 5 hours with student (p.10)

Supervisor’s Responsibilities Con’t

○ Advises students on:● Appropriate resources● Techniques of data gathering and analysis● Writing an abstract● Documenting sources (p.10)

○ Conducts a short, concluding interview (viva voce) with the student before completing the supervisor’s report (p.10)

○ DOES NOT correct spelling and punctuation (p 11)

Student Reponsibilities

○ It is required that the students:● Choose a topic that fits into one of the

subjects on the approved extended essay list

● Observe the regulations relating to the extended essay

● Meet deadlines● Acknowledge all sources of information

and ideas in an approved academic manner (p. 12)

Student Responsibilities Con’t.○ It is strongly recommended that the Student:

● Start work early● Plan how, when, and where they will find material for their essay● Plan a schedule for both researching and writing the essay● Record sources as their research progresses● Have a clear structure for the essay itself before beginning to write● Check and proofread the final version carefully● Make sure that all basic requirements are met

(p12)

St. Robert Dates and Deadlines○ March 26, 2015

● Extended Essay In-service with Grade 11 IB students (library)

○ April 2 (Easter Weekend)● Have a mentor in place in your EE chosen subject

○ April 30● Select a working topic; develop a research question

with a thesis statement; get mentor’s approval○ April 30

● Submit Extended Essay Student Report to Mrs. Steele

○ June 1st – 5th ● End of year meeting with mentor● Discuss progress, summer plans for essay, essay

outline, arguments. ● Refine Research Question and Thesis as needed

St. Robert Dates and Deadlines○ September 28, 2015

● Submit essay to your EE mentor by this date○ October 12

● Meet with mentor for feedback by this date○ October 30

● Submit final version to mentor for Predicted grade by this date

● This includes a completed bibliography, necessary/appropriate citations, abstract…

○ November 9th to 13th ● “viva voce” interview with mentor (10-15 minute

interview);○ November 16

● 2 copies of Extended Essay to Mrs. Steele● Mentors to give final EE predicted grade and sign off

○ November - December ● TOK Essays, University Applications and

Supplementary essays.

The EE -- What it is …

○ “An in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects – normally one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB diploma.” (Extended Essay Guide, p 5)

○ “Presented as a formal piece of scholarship containing no more than 4000 words.” (EE Guide, p 5)

● Word count includes: intro, body, conclusion, quotations (not abstract, etc.) (p 16)

○ “Approx. 40 hours of work” (EE Guide, p 5)

Viva Voce (p 19 – 20)

○ A short interview with your supervisor (10 - 15 min.)

○ Conducted after the completion of your essay

○ The purposes of which including serving as a check on plagiarism and malpractice and an opportunity to reflect on what you have learned

Advice from Examiners

○ Read the Advice from Examiners section (page 13-14) and highlight the one piece of advice you feel is most important for you!

Researching and Writing

○ Choose area and topic○ Formulate a research question○ Plan the investigation and writing○ Plan the essay○ Prepartory reading○ Carry out the investigation○ Write the essay

Visit a Library

○ Toronto Reference Library○ York University library○ Robarts library (U of T)○ Other University library○ Your public library○ Bring:

● Money for the photocopier, your phone, or IPad.

O.P.V.L.

Remember from Grade 10 History…○ Origin= Who wrote it? Where?○ Purpose=Why was this written /

said?○ Value= What is the value to my

topic?○ Limitation= What are the limitations

of my source?○ Consider OPVL for every source.

Elements of the final work

○ Title page○ Abstract (write last)○ Contents page○ Introduction○ Body○ Conclusion○ References and bibliography○ Appendices

Formal Presentation of the Essay

○ Extended Essay Guide 2013 (available electronically in D2L and in paper in the library)

○ See the guide on page 16 and 17 for details about ● The title● What goes in an abstract● How to include illustrations

What Citation Style?

○ Any recognized style as long as it includes date accessed for internet resources and page numbers for printed material. (p 18)

○ Appropriate to the subject area○ Same as everyone else writing in that

subject area from St. Robert!MLA (parenthetical)APA (parenthetical – sciences – date focused)Chicago (footnotes/endnotes)

Assessment

○A -- Research Question (2)○B -- Introduction (2)○C -- Investigation (4)○D -- Knowledge and

Understanding of the topic studied (4)

○E – Reasoned Argument (4)

Assessment

● F – Application of analytical and evaluative skills appropriate to the subject (4)

● G – Use of Language appropriate to the subject (4)

● H -- Conclusion (2)● I – Formal Presentation (4)● J -- Abstract (2)● K – Holistic Judgment (4)

A: Research Question

○ MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA!○ Worth 8 points! (2+2+2+2)○ The research question is clearly stated in

either the introduction or on the title page and is sharply focused, making effective treatment possible within the word limit

○ You must get 2 points on this criteria. Make sure your supervisor helps you get this right.

B: Introduction

○ Gives your research question context

C: Investigation

○ Imaginative range of appropriate resources has been consulted, or data has been gathered, and relevant material has been carefully selected. The investigation has been well planned.

○ How many is this, really?

D -- Knowledge and Understanding of the topic studied

○ Clearly and precisely locates the investigation in an academic context .. (in relation to what can reasonably be expected of a pre-university student)

E – Reasoned argument

○ Ideas are presented clearly and in a logical an coherent manner. The essay succeeds in developing a reasoned and convincing argument in relation to the research question.

F: Application of analytical and evaluative skills appropriate to the subject○ This is why you write in an area in

which you are familiar…. Do you know what analytical and evaluative skills are appropriate to film studies?

○ May involve reading course companion (on reserve in library) or course syllabus

G: Use of Language Appropriate to the Subject

○ The way the author said stuff was really cool.

○ This was just the way things were back then.

H: Conclusion

○ Do not just repeat your intro paragraph!

○ An effective conclusion is clearly stated. It is relevant to the research question and consistent with the evidence presented in the essay. It should include unresolved questions where appropriate to the subject concerned.

I: Formal Presentation

○ O points if your essay is longer than 4000 words!

○ Include all of the elements (see page 27)

J: Abstract

○ O points if the abstract exceeds 300s words!

○ Include all of the elements (3). See page 28 and 16 – 17.

K: Holistic Judgement

○ Intellectual initiative, depth of understanding and insight.

○ Does the reader think you chose a risky, brave topic or that you played it safe? Are they impressed with what you did with it?

○ Maybe a bit of: Does the reader like your topic? Were you boring or interesting?

Subject-Specific Criteria

○ You MUST get a copy of the Subject-Specific Details for your Subject (about 5 – 10 pages)

○ You MUST make sure your supervisor has one too.

○ You MUST read it before you decide on your topic or research question

○ For each criterion (A – K) these subject specific descriptions help make it clear what is expected in YOUR AREA.

Subject-Specific Details

○ Join a group of 4 and look at the subject-specific details for one subject area.● Underline one thing that surprised you. ● Circle one thing you have a question

about.● Highlight one thing you think is

important to remember

Works Cited

Extended Essay Guide (Updated August 2013), International Baccalaureate Organization, 2007, Cardiff.

Marsh & Fink, The Extended Essay Power Point, Glenforest Resource Centre, Web. Accessed June 6, 2014

http://schools.peelschools.org/sec/glenforest/ib/ibextendedessay/Pages/default.aspx

Other Resources

EE Powerpoint from Forest Hill High School:

www.foresthillhs.com/uploads/2/1/4/4/.../the_extended_essay.ppt