The Extended Essay (EE)

Biotechnology High School

Class of 2012

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

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

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.

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.

What Happens at These Meetings?

• Refine topic

• Guide research

• Status updates

• Bibliography review

• Summer work proposal

• Feedback on essay

• Other help as needed

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?

The EE Timeline

The EE Timeline

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

Subject AreasPhysics BiologyChemistryComputer ScienceFilmEnglishMathHealth/Nutrition

Environmental Systems & SocietiesHistoryPsychologyITGS (Information Technology in a Global Society

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

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.

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!

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

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?

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!