The Extended Essay Handbook 2014-2015 American International School Kuwait Diploma Programme

Table of Contents
Topic Extended Essay Timeline The Extended Essay: An Overview THREE Points for your Diploma The Components of the EE FAQs The Research and Writing Process Diagram STEP 1: Choose a Subject/ STEP 2: Choose a Supervisor STEP 3: Choose a Topic STEP 4: Developing a Research Question STEP 5: Research, including Academic Honesty STEP 6: Annotated Bibliography STEP 7: Outline your Paper STEP 8: The Writing Process, including how to construct research paragraphs STEP 9: The Abstract STEP 10: Putting it all together Extended Essay Rubric The EE Criteria in Detail: A: Research Question B: Introduction C: Investigation D: Knowledge and Understanding of Topic E: Reasoned Argument F: Application of Analytical and Evaluative Skills G: Use of language appropriate to the subject H: Conclusion I: Formal Presentation J: Abstract K: Holistic Judgment The Viva Voce Life after the Extended Essay Bibliography Appendices: Appendix 1: Extended Essay Contract Appendix 2: Workshop Handout How to Refine your Topic Appendix 3: Workshop Handout Drafting the Research Questions Appendix 4: Focus Identification Form Appendix 5: Sample Abstract Appendix 6: Sample Introduction Appendix 7: Sample Conclusion Appendix 8: EE Pre-Submission Checklist Page Number 3 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 24 25 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 52

Diploma Programme Extended Essay Timeline

Requirement
EXTENDED ESSAY ORIENTATION Mrs. Murray has introduced the EE to you and you have time to think about what you would like to do. Take time to read over the IB guidelines and assessment criteria while you are sorting out what subject area to work in. SUBJECT CHOICE Think about what subject areas interest you and what topic you might like to explore. Do some preliminary research to see if your subject choice is right for you. You must also contact your supervisor IN PERSON. TOPIC CHOICE/RESEARCH QUESTION Research something that you think that you will be interested in and that is acceptable according to the IB standards. It should be interesting yet challenging. Attend the H Block Workshop, Thursday, February 20 on choosing your topic and refining your research question. You must come up with a valid research question to guide your research for your EE. Consult with your supervisor. Do research to ensure that: 1) There is enough information to support your research question. 2) You know enough about the topic to be able to write a sound essay.

Absolute Deadline

Supervisors Signature

ManageBac Update

September 2013

January 15, 2014 Enter you subject choice and supervisor onto ManageBac. Earlier is fine, later is unacceptable.

March 4, 2014 You and your supervisor must sign the EE contract. Return the contract to Mrs. Murray. Use the appendices in this booklet to help refine your topic and research question. Enter your research question onto ManageBac.

RESEARCH/ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Attend the Introduction to Research workshop on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Attend the trip to the AUK library on March 22, 2014. It is imperative that you document everything that you do. You should be building a working bibliography while your read and research. OUTLINE You should prepare a detailed outline of where your EE will go. It helps you to organize your thoughts. FIRST DRAFT Your first COMPLETE draft is due today. Please submit it to your supervisor. Your supervisor will read through it and provide you with valuable comments. EE DRAFT CONFERENCES Now that you have submitted your first complete draft and your supervisor has had time to read through it, you will set up a conference time convenient for both of you to discuss your progress and set up a plan to finish your EE in the final format. SUBSEQUENT DRAFTS Feel free to send your supervisor subsequent drafts but he/she is NOT to comment on any other drafts. You want to make sure that you are showing him/her your progress.

March 30, 2014 Instructions can be found on page 19 of this handbook. Submit an annotated bibliography to your supervisor and on ManageBac.

April 27, 2014 Submit an outline to your supervisor and on ManageBac. May 15, 2014 Your first draft will be submitted to turnitin.com . Your supervisor will access it there. Also post a copy to ManageBac. May 15, 2014 -May 22, 2014

June, July, August, September 2014 Email subsequent drafts to your supervisor and post them on ManageBac.

ABSTRACT and BIBLIOGRAPHY Work on writing your abstract and double checking your references. You want a 3 out of 3 on your abstract. FINAL DRAFT You must submit your EE to turnitin.com. It is highly recommended that you submit it early to avoid disappointment. VIVA VOCE/PREDICTED GRADE The Viva Voce is the concluding interview that you will have with your supervisor. You will set up a time to meet with your supervisor to complete the Viva Voce. Your supervisor will also share the predicted grade with you during this meeting. CELEBRATE! Your EE should be absolutely completed!!! Congratulations! Several Diploma Program candidates will be selected for the AIS Extended Essay Award

Prior to September 30, 2014 Email your abstract and Bibliography page to your supervisor. Also post them on ManageBac. September 30, 2014 Submit the final copy of your EE to ManageBac. October 15, 2014

The Extended Essay: An Overview The Extended Essay (EE) sits at the core of the Diploma Programme hexagon. It is one of the required components along with Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Creativity, Service and Action (CAS). Every IB student must submit an EE in order to fulfill the requirements for the Diploma Programme. The EE is an independent, self-directed 4000 word research paper. The EE is very important to teach you the proper techniques in research and writing which, in turn, is practical preparation for your university career.

Extended Essay Guide, International Baccalaureate Organization, 2012

The EE provides you with the opportunity to focus on an area of study that is appealing to you. It is based on a question or hypothesis chosen by you; it is not assigned by the IBO or by a subject teacher. However, you must choose to do your research in a subject or a discipline listed and approved by the IBO. The EE also gives you the chance to develop your ideas, theories, and writing skills that will directly prepare you for what is to come in university. Although the EE is an independent paper, you will have a teacher supervisor who will provide guidance for you and who verify that your EE is authentic. You are fully responsible for ensuring that you avoid plagiarism or any other form of academic malpractice. 6

THREE points The Extended Essay is combined with TOK to obtain three points that are included in your overall score for the diploma. They are NOT bonus or extra points. They are three points that you can easily obtain if you set your mind to it and it will make a big difference in your overall grade average. Below is the Matrix used to calculate the three points between TOK and the EE.

A student who, for example, writes a good extended essay and whose performance in theory of knowledge is judged to be satisfactory will be awarded 1 point, while a student who writes a mediocre extended essay and whose performance in theory of knowledge is judged to be excellent will be awarded 2 points. A student who fails to submit an extended essay will be awarded N for the extended essay, will score no points, and will not be awarded a diploma. Performance in both the extended essay and theory of knowledge of an elementary standard is a failing condition for the award of the diploma. * From 2010 onwards, 28 points overall will be required to be eligible for the diploma if a student attains an E grade in either the extended essay or theory of knowledge. As previously, a grade A in one of the requirements earns an extra point even if the other is a grade E. Attaining a grade E in both the extended essay and theory of knowledge continues to represent an automatic failure.

This information is taken directly out of the IBO Extended Essay guide 2012.

The Components of the Extended Essay The required elements of the final work to be submitted are listed here. Please note that the order in which they are presented here is not necessarily the order in which they should be written. Title page Abstract Contents page Introduction Body (development/methods/results) Conclusion References and bibliography Appendices

Your Responsibilities It is required that 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 regularly meet with your supervisor meet deadlines acknowledge all sources of information and ideas in an approved academic manner. It is strongly recommended that students: start work early think very carefully about the research question for their essay plan how, when and where they will find material for their essay plan a schedule for both researching and writing the essay, including extra time for delays and unforeseen problems record sources as their research progresses (rather than trying to reconstruct a list at the end) 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 (for example, all students should get full marks for the abstract)

Frequently Asked Questions 1. How long does it take? DP Coordinators Answer: It should not take more than a total of 40 hours of work. The research will take the longest but once you organize your ideas and write the first draft, the rest is very easy. Students answers: The essay itself didnt take very long because I had made a detailed outline before writing the first draft. I did not feel as though the research took me long either because I started researching once I had all my materials in front of me. It took me a couple of days. 20 hours in the lab, 10 hours researching theory, 10-15 hours writing and revising and perfecting the final draft. It was quite reasonable. 5 weeks because I had to collect all the data and type everything out. I had to manage my summer in order to get my work done. It takes a lot of thinking and cannot be done last minute. Split up your particular essay for your topic and follow through on each part. The research took a lot of time. If I would have worked during the summer, I would have finished earlier. Procrastination didnt help me. If you are on task, it should take about a week to write. This doesnt include going over rough drafts and meetings. Its best to write at least 100 -200 words every week, once you have a set topic and a question, as well as sources. 2. What can I do to make sure I do a good job and dont stress out? DP Coordinators Answer: I have organized this so that you can manage your time with some structure and some flexibility. Respect the deadlines and set your own. Get the work done and dont drag it out because that is what causes the pain, it isnt the essay! Students answers: Its really not as bad as it seems. Putting it off will make it seem much worse than it really is, but once I started writing I couldnt stop. I wrote my first dr aft all in one sitting. Meet with your supervisor! You have no idea how less stressed you are going to feel if you try to organize your ideas by going through the ideas with him/her. Having a supervisor is a huge advantage, so use it. Work consistently. If you work frequently on it, you wont stress out. Seek a lot of advice from your advisor/supervisor. He/she is knowledgeable. All you have to do is ask. Plan out your essay you really need to work on your outline. Its not graded, but it will help you finish in time, and you will have enough to say.

Be sure to meet with your supervisor regularly. He/she has tips for your essay, and can guide you. Waiting until last minute decreases your quality of work as well as your supervisors. Split up the essay into pieces in order to be able to work on it in manageable parts. If you think youll finish it in two-three weeks, youre wrong! Picking an interesting topic is very important. People usually dont procrastinate when they are interested in a topic.

3. How do you feel about the EE? DP Coordinators Answer: Naturally, I think it is a great idea. However, I do also believe that one of the most important parts of the EE is picking a topic that you like, or that you love. You have to be self-motivated to work on it so make it something you enjoy. Students answers: I feel like it was satisfactory work. I worked hard and I feel that is a fantastic learning experience. But you must take interest in the subject, and that is what I did. The EE was time consuming, but not as stressful as I thought it would be. ITS NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS I PROMISE! Honestly, I hated it at first. But since I picked a topic I liked, I didnt really get bored. Ive never written an essay that long, so Ive learned to better organize my essays. Im glad I learned as much as I did from this experience. I think it is a relatively easy task which is made difficult by the lazy nature of most teenagers.

* Feedback from students is courtesy of the AIS Diploma Program Class of 2014.

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The Research and Writing Process Research Choose Subject by analyzing Assessment Criteria Choose the Topic in the Subject Preliminary research to ground the topic Develop the Research Question and get it approved Develop annotated bibliography Research and gather information on note cards Classify the note cards Writing

Outline 1st Draft Revising and editing Proofreading 2nd Draft Revising and editing Developing Abstract Proofreading, editing, and correcting

FINAL COPY
Title Page Table of Contents & Abstract Introduction, Body & Conclusion divided into subtopics Works cited & documentation Appendices (Illustrations, graphs, diagrams, etc.)

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Getting Started STEP 1: Choose a Subject The following subjects are available for 2014. Although we do not offer courses in all of these subjects, you may choose to write an EE within the subject.
Biology Business and Management Chemistry Economics History Language A (Arabic or English) Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Theatre Arts Visual Arts Information Technology (ITGS) World Religions Psychology Human Rights Politics

The first thing that you will do is choose your subject area. One of the most common errors is to choose the topic that you would like to research. First you should decide what subject interests you and then you can choose the topic. While doing this, you should take a close look at the assessment criteria outlined in the IBO Extended Essay Guide found on ManageBac. It is strongly encouraged that you write an EE in one of the subject areas that you are currently studying. You will become more knowledgeable in that subject area and this will help you to prepare you for your IBO World Exams. It is best to choose a subject that you enjoy and one that you have a substantial base of knowledge and skills. STEP 2: Choose a Supervisor
As previously mentioned, you will have a teacher supervisor to work with you and guide you through this process. You are the person who will receive credit for your essay, not your supervisor; therefore, it is you who must write it. Your supervisor should be an expert in the field of your subject and topic choices. The EE supervisor will: help you define your topic and give feedback on your question advise you on where to look for resources help you with skills that you will need to write the essay point out problems in your drafts, and suggest possible solutions predict a grade for you after your EE is complete. You will spend several hours (3-5) with this person over the course of writing your essay so you will need to make sure that you are able to have a good working relationship with him/her. Due to the yearly staff changes, you must be careful not to choose a staff member that will be leaving the school at the end of the year. Once you have asked a teacher to be your EE supervisor, both of you will fill out the EE Contract and exchange contact information.

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STEP 3: Choosing a Topic You should choose a topic that is interesting for you but also challenging so that you can push yourself to your limits and yet still enjoy what you are doing. Choosing a topic is different from choosing the subject. You will want to make your topic broad enough so that you will be able to develop a proper thesis and be able to support it, but not so broad that you become lost in the research and find it impossible to develop an appropriate focus for your paper. However, you do not want the opposite situation either; that is, choosing a topic so narrow that it would be next to impossible to find enough evidence to sustain a 4000 word essay. Your EE supervisor will be able to discuss topic options with you. He/She will not provide a topic for you but will help you to discover what it is you would like to work on. You will be required to do a large amount of research so be sure that you are doing something that you will enjoy, otherwise the task will be a burden and you will not want to do it. How to go about choosing a topic (use the focus identification form attached in the appendices to assist you): Make a list of possible topics that interest you in the subject area. Discuss ideas with your teachers, parents, friends, etc. Talk to your supervisor. Do preliminary research by doing as much reading as you can. While you are reading and researching, make a list of possible questions that you may be able to explore. As you research you may change your topic several times until you decide on the one. Ask yourself if you have enough resources to continue with your topic. Ask yourself if you have access to the resources you need. If not, how can you go about researching the topic? Kuwait is a difficult place to find adequate resources. You may have to access resources when you are out of the country on travel or you may have to purchase books on your own.

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STEP 4: Developing a Research Question

The research question steers the fate of your extended essay. You want to start off with a very strong research question as it is the backbone of your research and analysis. Your topic is not the same thing as a question and research questions vary between subject areas. It is vitally important for you to speak to your supervisor in depth about your research question and appreciate the feedback given to you by the supervisor. You will want to: Choose a question that is compact and precise. Choose a question that will not cross over into another subject area/discipline. Choose a question that is feasible given your current situation. For example, do not pick a topic that will require complicated and costly scientific equipment that we do not have. Sample Questions: Subject Biology

Business Chemistry

Economics English, Category 1 English, Category 2

English, Category 3 History Math Physics Visual Arts

Question Are commercially available antibacterial cleaning agents effective at controlling the growth of E. coli on nutrient agar under laboratory conditions? How effective has the joint venture between ABC Ltd and UBI Ltd been as a growth strategy? Does the time it takes to brew a cup of tea using a specific commercial brand of tea leaves significantly alter the amount of caffeine that is dissolved in the drink? To what extend have the South Tyrolean governments policies been effective in reducing vehicle carbon emissions? What are the role and the significance of dance in Pride and Prejudice and Emma? In what ways do the male authors of Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary seek to render their heroines sympathetic to the reader? How far do they succeed? How far does the use of rhetoric in Barack Obamas speeches increase their effectiveness? What was the influence of Ernesto Che Guevara on the Cuban Revolutionary War 1956-59? How many square numbers are also triangular numbers, where are they, and what other problems lead to Pells equation? What will be the angular deflection of starlight by the Sun if Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation is applied? Antonio Gaudi and Santiago Calatrara: How does Calatraras work evoke the work of Gaudi?

* Sample questions take from: IBO Extended Essay guide 2012.

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STEP 5: Research The Extended Essay is an independent research essay and you will have to do a fair amount of independent research. You have chosen your subject area, you have chosen your topic, and you have a working research question. You will now have to focus on how best to go about your research. The research question will help to keep you focused so that you do not waste time. Always refer back to your question to make sure you are staying on task. Once you have narrowed down your topic and have a research question, you will want to look for resources that will: Support/prove your point. Provide background information about your topic. Provide a different point of view. Locating information and resources
You must begin researching right away. Your supervisor may already have some ideas of where you can go to start. Ask him/her. However, if your supervisor does not have any leads for you, it is ultimately your responsibility to acquire resources. Look: In the school media centre. Speak to the librarian about what is available. In the community libraries. Find out where you can go to access information in the language necessary. Mrs. Murray will take you to the AUK library. For experts in the field that you are researching. Speak to them. On the internet for books that can be ordered. You are responsible for purchasing books if they are needed. You should order them early to leave sufficient time for them to arrive.

Libraries in Kuwait
AIS Media Centre Kuwait National Public Library Kuwait University Library 2415181 4816497 Heritage Manuscripts & Documents Centre 5320900 British Council 2515512 Library of Gulf University 2645806 Al Ahmadi Public 3987086 Al Daeia Public 2515686 Dahiyat Abdulla Al Salem Public 2548878 Al Dasma Public (Women) 2530842 Al Faihaa Public 2540898 Al Farwaneia Public 4720570 Al Fahaheel Public 3913810 Al Khaldia Public 4813331 Al Qadseia Public 2515298 Al Rumathaya Public 5610399 Al Sameia Public 4818343 Al Sabaheia Public 3619328 Hawally Public 2644738 Kaifan Public 4815724 Kheitan Public 4712691 American International School Al-Mubarakia, Souk Al-Mubarakia Khaldiya Jabriya, Block 5, Street 3 Mansuriyah, Block 2, Street 2 Hawalli, Musa Bin Naser Street Ahmadi Al Daeah, Block 4 Block 3, beside Co-op Dasma Al Faihaa, Block 5 Al Farwaniya, beside Police Station Fahaheel, in front of Post Office Khaldia Qadsia Rumathaya, Block 7 Shameia Sabaheia Hawalli, Tunis St, beside Gulf Bank Kaifan, Block 1 Kheitan

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Not having resources is not an acceptable excuse for not meeting deadlines or not being able to write your essay. You must determine this early on. If you dont have access to what it takes, change the topic! Dont waste your time. Remember the internet is a tool, not a source. You must use the internet carefully because anyone can post information on the internet. This doesnt make it true or accurate. Check your sources before using the internet information. Working bibliography A bibliography is a list of the resources that you used in your research paper. Since you havent started and you arent close to being finished yet, the working bibliography is an ongoing record of all of the resources that you have consulted. It is crucial that you record every single detail of where you have looked for information. This will help you go back and find it when you need it. It also shows that you are keeping track of your research and shows that you are working on your research. As you being to research, make sure you record ALL the information needed in a bibliography. Reading You obviously know something about the topic you have chosen but you will need to learn more in order to write a full Extended Essay. It is a good idea to read information that is general to start off with so that you have a good understanding of what you are getting into. When you find books that are topic appropriate, look at the bibliographies to see if you can find more resources to help you with your research. Not every source is appropriate and you should evaluate the source before using it. As you begin to read more, take notes to see what position or argument you will adopt for your topic. Once you find that you have enough information to begin, collect the sources that you need and start making research notes. Evaluating your Research Resources Part of conducting good research is choosing credible sources to base your paper on. This is a tough job if you are used to simply taking the first thing that you find or if you rely too much on the internet. Here are a few pointers to help you evaluate the good from the bad. Is the source suitable for your subject/topic? o How much of it is useful to you? o Is it on topic or not? Who is the source intended for? o Is it too basic for what you are looking for? (simple, elementary) o Is it too complicated for what you are looking for? (complex, PhD level) 16

 Is it a scholarly source or a popular source? o Again, who is the intended audience? o Who is the author? o What is the context of the source? Who is the author and what is his/her background? o Beware of this especially on the internet because anyone and everyone can publish on the internet and not all the information is accurate. What type of documentation (bibliography, works cited) is available for your source? Is your source objective or subjective? Are you using the internet as a tool or as a source? o Who is the author of the website? (If you cant find one, be careful about using this information.) o Does a specific organization sponsor the website? Can you find out more information about them? (About us?) o Is the site up-to-date? (Check last update.) o Is the information credible? (See above questions to apply to this as well.) Speak to your supervisor or the Media Centre Librarian for more help when it comes to researching for your EE and evaluating the sources that you have chosen to use. Research Notes Research notes are essential for good organization and good writing. You can highlight information on a page but, if you rely on this method, when it comes to organizing your thoughts you will be flipping through papers in order to find what you are looking for and it will waste a lot of time. You should write your research notes on note cards (recipe cards) so the information is accessible and can be manipulated. The literacy coach, Ms. Susanne Davie, will show you how the Cornell Notes system can work for your research. Proper Documentation * You should also refer to the AIS Research and Documentation Handbook Paraphrasing, Quotations and Citations As you research, you will read the work of others and you will use some of this to support your points. You must give credit to work that is not your own. If you do not, it is considered plagiarism and it is a very serious offense. A piece of work submitted to the IBO that has been plagiarized will receive a failing grade and you will NOT receive your diploma. Therefore, it is very important that you understand how to paraphrase and properly cite your sources. You will want to cite work that is credible and supports your topic. There are two ways to do this. Indirect quotations occur when you use the ideas of another author and put them in your own words. Direct quotations occur when you quote a source word for word from the original. The Diploma Programme is the best thing that has happened to me (Mortage, 34). Longer quotations are single spaced and do not require quotation marks. Both indirect and direct quotations must be properly cited. MLA citation must be used.

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Plagiarism and Academic Honesty Plagiarism is the use of someone elses ideas without giving credit where credit is due. More specifically, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers defines plagiarism as the act of using another persons ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source (Gibaldi and Achtert 20). Plagiarism is academic theft, and it can mean the loss of all your marks for an assignment. As you enter post-secondary educational institutions it can result in the loss of credit in your course and in extreme cases of plagiarism, it can mean expulsion from post-secondary institutions. You must sign off that the Extended Essay is an original piece of writing, written by you. Under no circumstances should you attempt to pass of someone elses work as your own. You will not receive your IB Diploma and you may have serious difficulty entering university or college. Academic dishonesty is a serious and criminal offense.
Your EE supervisor will not sign off on your cover sheet if he/she suspects plagiarism.

Some examples of plagiarism are: Downloading materials in whole or in part from the Internet (even if you pay for them) Copying word-for-word from published or unpublished work Paraphrasing published or unpublished material without bibliographic notation or citation Copying and turning in another students work as your own with or without that students knowledge How to Avoid Plagiarism Always give credit where credit is due. Citing a source means giving credit to someone or something when what you use is not your own original work. Cite your sources within your text and in a bibliography at the end of the assignment. Sources should be cited when: you use another persons idea, opinion or theory even if it is in your own words you use any fact, statistics, graphs, drawings, pictures, sounds, or any other piece of information that you found from another source. you use quotations of another persons actual spoken or written words. Citing Sources All information must be cited whether it is from a book, interview, Internet, electronic source, et cetera. When you use the work of others, you must give them the credit they deserve. When in doubt, cite your source! For further information on what constitutes malpractice and plagiarism and the consequences, review your copy of the IBOs document Academic Honesty. Pay particular attention to Section 1 (Academic Honesty), Section 2 (Malpractice and Section 5 (The Detection of Plagiarism).

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STEP 6: Construct an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography will help you to organize a detailed list of relevant resources for your EE. In addition, it will help your supervisor to know if you are on the right track. A. Bibliography vs. Works Cited? In the studies of your documentation style, you will likely see both of these terms used. It is important to understand the difference and what IB expects from you. For your extended essay, the IBO expects you to call your list of sources a bibliography, not a works cited page, regardless of what your documentation manual calls it. From the IBOs viewpoint, a bibliography is an alphabetical list of every source used to research and write the essay (International Baccalaureate Organization 2012). B. Annotated Bibliography vs. Traditional Bibliography On the final copy of your extended essay, you will be submitting a simple bibliography. For your meeting with your supervisor, you will be required to bring in an annotated bibliography. The main difference is that in addition to the correct entry and format for a bibliography, an annotated bibliography includes a brief paragraphfour to six sentencesthat both summarizes and explains the usefulness of each particular source for your essay. It allows you to have a much easier dialogue with your supervisor about why you chose to include that source for your extended essay by explaining its value and/or allowing your supervisor to quickly scan it for authenticity and merit. For the final draft of your extended essay, these explanations come out; all that remains are the entries themselves. C. Formatting of an Annotated Bibliography The catch to a good bibliography is its parallelism and neatness. For example, if each entry requires a period at the end of an entry, you must make sure that this occurs at every step along the way and in each entry. In terms of neatness, margins must be even and consistent, spelling and punctuation exact, and fonts in traditional styles. Your annotated bibliography, in MLA style, may look something like this:
Annotated Bibliography Jarrell, Randall. Robert Frosts Home Burial. Critical Reading and Writing Across the Disciplines. Ed. Cyndia Susan Clegg. New York: Holt, 1988. Print. Randall Jarrell, a respected poet himself, analyzes the dramatic dialogue and action of Robert Frosts Home Burial, showing how the rhythms of the lines and the word choices illustrate the separate ways of grieving and the failure of the couple to reach the understanding of each others pain at the loss of their child. Jarrells emphasis on the domineering manner will support my own view that the husband attempts to devalue his wifes feelings, suggesting a pattern in their relationship that has caused previous anguish and explains her rejection of his efforts to appease her. Malinski, Sean. Anger and Sorrow in Home Burial by Robert Frost. Journal of American Poetics 57.4 (1993): 27-49. Print. Malinski offers an alternative view about the husbands

D. Using Your Annotated Bibliography in Your Supervision Conference As you might imagine, your annotated bibliography and outline will be the central focus of your conference with your supervisor. It is imperative that you have a complete annotated bibliography for this meeting.

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STEP 7: Outline your paper The Thesis Statement The thesis statement is a statement that will provide the focus for your entire essay. It must take the form of an argument that can be well supported by evidence in the body of your paper. As you research and work on your first drafts, your thesis may change from time to time as it takes shape. This is normal and acceptable. However, you will want to ensure that when you are finished, your thesis is clear and you have successfully proved the point you set out to make in the beginning of your paper. The Outline
Once you have done your reading and research, you should be ready to put together a working outline or plan. An outline will help your sort through your ideas and organize them in a clear and coherent manner in preparation for writing the first draft. Outlines are especially helpful for significantly large essays because they help both you and your supervisor make sense of and organize an overwhelmingly large amount of information. Outlines are meant to be flexible to change; the best writers do not cement a rough outline into permanence the first time around.

Your outline should: clearly show the chosen subject area and topic. include your thesis statement. Your thesis statement will help you clarify the major points of your outline. indicate the point of view from which you will approach your topic. This will be implied by your thesis statement. include your major topics and their importance. be in a logical format. See the example below. The graphics to the right show that your introduction will begin with a general introduction of the topic and work to a more specific point (your thesis statement). Each supporting paragraph is well rounded and provides supporting points for the main sections of your essay as well as the main points of each paragraph. The conclusion works back from the specific point and puts the subject back into perspective.
I. Introduction A. Introductory Sentence B. Thesis Statement C. Concluding Sentence II. Attitudes before the war A. Patriotism 1. Perth 2. The scene in All Quiet on the Western Front 3. Montreal III. Horrors of the war A. Life in the trenches 1. Mud 2. Shelters

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3. Rats, lice 4. Sickness 5. Death B. Attacks 1. Description 2. Terrors 3. Effects and consequences IV. Title of next paragraph A. Supporting point B. Supporting point 1. Example 2. Definition V. Conclusion A. Introductory Sentence B. Restate the thesis statement C. Concluding sentence

Step 8: The Writing Process A good essay is not created overnight. You must work and rework your essay into perfection. Once you have gathered the information and organized your thoughts with an outline, you can begin writing the first draft. Introduction: Introduce the topic. Specify the research question/thesis statement. Body/Development: Develop an answer to your research question/thesis statement. Make sure your essay is organized in a logical manner and that your argument is solid and you support your thoughts with concrete evidence. The format of the essay will depend on the subject area. Please speak to the Diploma Programme Coordinator or your supervisor about sample essays to look at. Conclusion: Clearly conclude your piece of writing. Bring the arguments together and reaffirm that you have succeeded in answering the research question/thesis statement. The writing process should involve the construction of several drafts. Keep your supervisor updated about your drafts.

*Sample successful EEs with examiner feedback for each criterion can be found on ManageBac. It is imperative you look at these samples before you begin your writing process. Also, it is important that you learn from the best: previous students who were successful on their extended essays.
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How to Construct Research Paragraphs Paragraphing in a paper as large as the extended essay is a much greater challenge than in a shorter essay. There are two basic laws when paragraphing for your extended essay that are not unlike other papers: every paragraph should express one main idea and that idea should in some way relate back to your thesis statement/research question. A. Elements of a Paragraph To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and Adequate Development. As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs. B. Unity The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with a one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different ideas. C. Coherence Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges. D. Logical bridges The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sen tence. So, if topic A is discussed in sentence #1, topic A is discussed throughout the entire paragraph. For example, in an English paper, the diction of a poem may be its own paragraph. However, if the diction creates positive images in the first three stanzas and negative imagery in the last three stanzas, it would be best to have two separate body paragraphs. The logical bridge would be the turn in imagery. The organization of the paragraphs would also be discussed chronologically, as a poem might. E. Verbal bridges
Key words can be repeated in several sentences Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences (his, their, this, its) Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences (Furthermore, Additionally, Second, Finally)

F. A topic sentence A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule for less experienced writers, although it is not the only way to do it). Regardless of whether you include an explicit topic sentence or not, you should be able to easily summarize what the paragraph is about. 22

G. Adequate development The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be discussed fully and adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to paragraph, depending on the author's purpose, but writers should beware of paragraphs that only have two or three sentences. It's a pretty good bet that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short. Some methods to make sure your paragraphs are well-developed in a research paper: Use examples and illustrations Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others) Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases) Use an anecdote or story Define terms in the paragraph Compare and contrast Evaluate causes and reasons Examine effects and consequences Analyze the topic Describe the topic Offer a chronology of an event (time segments) How do I know when to start a new paragraph? You should start a new paragraph when: 1. When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph. 2. To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other difference. 3. When your readers need a pause. Breaks in paragraphs function as a short "break" for your readersadding these in will help your writing more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex. 4. When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the writer's purpose. H. Your Best Strategy Again, the best option for you outside this general list of guidelines is to take a great extended essay and analyze a few paragraphs in a row for the writers: topic sent ences, pacing/length, methods of development that seem to work best for your subject matter (see above list), and bridges and transitions. Verify that your paragraphs align with your outline and consistently refer back to your thesis and research question. Remember that the biggest mistake IB students make in writing their Extended Essay is that they forget to answer their actual research question! 23

STEP 9: The Abstract Once you have completed the Extended Essay, you will be able to write the abstract. The abstract actually goes at the beginning of your paper but you must know exactly what you have done in order to write it properly. The abstract is NOT an introduction to your essay; rather, it is a synopsis or a summary of your whole Extended Essay. The abstract will encourage you to take a look at how you approached the research question and how you went about developing your ideas. It allows the reader to quickly understand the content of your essay before reading it. You want to: clearly state your research question/thesis statement (What are you writing about?) clearly state the scope of your investigation (Where did you get your information from and how are you developing your argument?) clearly state the conclusion of your essay (What is your point? Did you prove it?) write less than 300 words. How to Write an Abstract An abstract is a concise, stand-alone statement that conveys the essential information contained in an article, book, research paper, or document. Written in a direct non-repetitive style, the abstract should:
identify the problem (research question or thesis) investigated. describe the scope or method of investigation. summarize the results. state the conclusion(s).

Writing the Abstract:

1. Highlight the sentences in the paper that detail the problem (objective) investigated. 2. Highlight the research question (or thesis). 3. Identify information (phrases, key words) that shows the scope and sequence of the investigationidentify but do not explain. 4. Condense the conclusion into a few concise sentences.

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STEP 10: Putting it all together Make sure you have all of these elements before you submit your final copy to Turnitin.com. Also use the checklist attached in the appendices. Presentation and Format Title Page Subject of your essay Research Question/Title of your essay Your name Your candidate number The word count of your paper Abstract Immediately following the title page Not more than 300 words long Typed Table of Contents Immediately following the abstract Clearly labeled. All pages must be numbered. Typed. Essay Typed. Less than 4000 words. At least 1.5 spacing. Uniform font. (12 pts is the maximum) Standard margins. Numbered pages in order. Have your name and candidate number as a header on each page. Bibliography/Works Cited Follows the essay. Alphabetical order. Proper format. Appendices (if applicable) Follow the bibliography/works cited. Clearly labeled and in order.

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The EXTENDED ESSAY CRITERIA IN DETAIL

*Sample successful EEs with examiner feedback for each criterion can be found on ManageBac.

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Getting this right is probable the most critical aspect of writing the essay and it cannot be emphasized enough that the quality of the research question has a direct bearing on the quality of the essay. You need to focus on the extent to which the purpose of the essay is clearly specified and this can be formulated as a question (the research question) but it doesnt need to be in the form of a question. If you dont get this right you will fail to reach the top level for this criterion but you also are limited with what you can achieve in other criteria. For example, in criteria C and E if the examiner decides that you research question does not lend itself to a systematic investigation in the subject in which the essay is registered, the maximum level that can be awarded for both C and E is 2. This would mean that even if your essay did well against all of the other criteria it would be very difficult to reach an excellent level overall. To help you decide whether the topic you are interested in fits within the disciple (subject) for which you intend to register get advice from your EE supervisor. Finally you need to decide whether the research question can be addressed adequately and answered within the word limit.
Your question is clearly stated in the introduction. The working of your research question matches the wording used in other parts of the essay and the abstract. The research question is precise and can be effectively dealt with within the 4000 word limit.

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It is worthwhile planning to have a section within the essay that you think of as the introduction. In some subjects it will even be appropriate to have a chapter heading within Show how your research the structure of the essay that you call introduction. This question relates to other similar will help the examiner to find the appropriate information research. Explain how finding answer to and to follow your thinking. In some subjects that use a your research question could more free-flowing style, such as group 1 or 2 languages, help clarify some issues. where it may not be appropriate to use chapter heading, it Explain how the answer to your may be nest to devote one or two paragraphs at the start of research question could be the essay to meeting the requirements of the introduction. important. You can illustrate the significant of your investigation by Make sure you state specifically your research question in the pointing out whether your research addresses an open issue introduction. (to which the student can explore a conclusion), a question that has not been resolved or an issue that has never been researched before using he approach that you plan to apply. So, effectively you are trying to show how the research question fits within the existing knowledge. To be able to do this you need to have read about your topics and some of the related issues and to refer to these sources in the introduction. A convincing introduction will be well referenced and will point out to the reader what other people have said and what is already known about the topic. In doing this you are establishing what is called the context of the research question.

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The approach to this criterion can vary considerably from one subject to another so it is important to consult the relevant subject guidelines in order to make sure you are on Although there is nothing wrong track. The title of this criterion makes it clear that the work for with a well-worn (topic by an extended essay is an investigation (presenting and students, arguments tend to be analysing information, evidence and data in an attempt to rather obvious when answer the research question) and not a report (a summary approaching the work of a of facts and information about the topic). In assessing this popular or classic topic. It is criterion the examiners make a judgment about the important to adopt a fresh or thoroughness of your research. This could include looking at original perspective, or to try to the bibliography to assess whether you have accessed a wide shed new light on the subject. enough range of sources (books, journal articles, reports, web Use a range of sources (books, journal articles, web-based pages, and so on) and whether the selection you have made resources, etc.) appears to have been done carefully (in other words that you Explain how sources are selected have selected resources based on their relevance and Enough data or information reliability). The bibliography itself provides only part of the should be gathered to answer evidence for this. Try to avoid the temptation to make up a the research question. very long bibliography which includes sources you do not make use of in the text in an effort to impress as examiners will check to see whether the in-text references match with the bibliography. In addition, you need to devote some text to writing about the process you went through to obtain and select sources of information and data. You may also need to devote some text to writing about how you decided on the relevance or reliability of the sources you have used. In other words, what are the values and limitations of the sources you have used.

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In order to address this criterion it is important to show an understanding Demonstrate your thoughts and findings from your investigation and of the material. You can research. Think: how is your topic related to your chosen subject or begin to do this by question? Make sure the information you have selected is specifically explaining the underlying relevant to the research question. theories and issues and by Show the reader that you have understood the main points by linking the explaining the basic terms information back to the research question. in the research question. It is always a good idea to reference knowledge (from several sources) so that the essay is based on a number of relevant studies. These would then One way to do this is to try be used appropriately in the argument. It would also demonstrate to put the important issues knowledge of the most recent research on the area of the topic is into your own words. If you investigating. simply quote passages from the sources you may be showing that you have done some research but you will not be providing any evidence of understanding. By explaining the information and drawing inferences, or pointing out possible relationships, you are showing that you have a grasp of the essential concepts and that you see how they relate to the bigger picture the theory on which your research question is based.

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This is crucial to the success of your essay. Remember your purpose is to convince the reader that the conclusions you draw regarding the research question are well founded and are supported by the evidence you have gathered and presented. So clearly, research question, data, evidence and/or information must be linked in a convincing way to the conclusion. You must do the linking and not simply leave it up to the reader to see the connections or relevance of what you have writte n. It is important to be explicit in your writing about why or how certain information is important or relevant and how it helps to address the research question. This is possibly the most difficult part of the writing process and is often the deciding factor in the overall success of the essay.

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This criterion examines how successful you have been in finding and describing patterns, trends and relationships in the information or data you have compiled. The thinking process and other more technical approaches (such as statistical analysis) need to be explained and possibly even justified (if there are a number of alternative approaches, for example). The approach you take to analysing the data should be acceptable within the discipline or subject area of your essay. In addition, a judgment is made here about how successful you have been in pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of your approach. So it is important to be critical of you own work and say which parts worked well and which parts needed more attention or a different approach.

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Communicating clearly and precisely is not as easy as it sounds, but is a key skill when you are attempting to produce a coherent and intelligible piece of writing in any discipline. There are in fact two aspects to this criterion: the use of clear and Define your terms. precise language on the one hand and the use of Use a simple, clear style in your terminology appropriate to the topic on the other. writing. /try to adopt and sustain a clear and precise style Sustain the same style throughout throughout the essay. While there is not general your essay. requirement to write in a passive voice, this may be preferred in certain subjects. For an explanation of the difference between the active and passive voice see below. Where this is not required, writing in the first person singular, active voice, may be clearer and may in fact be easier to sustain (especially for non-native speakers of the target language). To help with this area of your essay you need to show an understanding of fluency with the main technical terms associated with your topic. This means being able to define and accurately use not only the key terms in the research question but also many if not most of the associated terms. It also means showing that you have a command of the terminology appropriate to your topic and that you can use this in context. It is helpful to be conscious of the level of sophistication of the language that you are using and to try to maintain this at a consistent level. Avoid sudden changes in style; for example jumping between active and passive voice or varying between first person singular and first person plural ( I and we). Problems can also arise if your investigation uses a very technical research approach or experimental protocol. In these cases it is important to make sure that you explain the technical language and that you are able to sustain the technical style in a convincing way. 35

The essay must include a clearly stated and relevant conclusion. It is best to highlight the conclusion for the reader by devoting a separate paragraph, headed section or chapter to this part of the essay. At this stage it is probably also a good idea to restate the research questions as this will help you focus your writing. The goal of your writing should be to make it clear to the reader that the conclusions you are stating are supported by the evidence you have presented. It is valuable to clearly outline, in a sentence or two, each of the key pieces of evidence you have used to draw your conclusion. If you mention unresolved questions then make sure that these are clearly related to the original research question. Questions that further refine or narrow the research question are often appropriate here while introducing completely new ideas in the conclusion should generally be avoided.

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This criterion examines how successful you have been in addressing the elements of formal presentation. Technical or scientific essays tend to need a more obvious structure with chapter headings, illustrations, tables and graphs. The structure of a literary essay or exposition, based on literary works, tends to be of a less obvious, more hidden nature. Due to the nature of this criterion, extracts cannot give an accurate reflection; however, some elements of formal presentations are common to all extended essays.

Ensure the title page is clearly laid out. The table of contents includes page numbers and is accurate. Illustrations and quotations are used where necessary and support the text. The documentation style used is appropriate to the subject and is applied consistently. A conscious decision is made about whether or not to include an appendix.

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This is a very technical part of your essay where the requirements have to be met within a 300word limit. Stating the research question and main conclusions generally should not present any problems. The difficulty arises with what else to say. The abstract must contain information about how you went about conducting the reseal, what methods you used and how you applied these. An abstract which is a summary of the introduction or a personal justification for why you chose the topic will not meet the assessment criterion.

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Evidence of intellectual initiative can come across in your essay, for example, if you refer to unexpected ideas that came up during your research. You could then go on to explain how you incorporated these into your work. Depth of understanding on your part can come across in a number of ways. This can be achieved, for example, by explaining the key concepts in detail or by showing that you can see the connections between seemingly unrelated facts or events and by drawing these together in a coherent way. Showing insight is also not easy but can be achieved by using a novel approach to finding information or by gathering date with a technique that has not been tried before. These are only some of the qualities that the examiner may be longing for. Other qualities could include evidence of energy, enthusiasm, dedication and commitment in the face of difficulties.

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The Viva Voce

The viva voce is a short interview between the student and the supervisor, and is a recommended conclusion to the extended essay process. Students who do not attend the viva voce may be disadvantaged. The viva voce serves the following purposes.

A check on plagiarism and malpractice in general An opportunity to reflect on successes and difficulties in the research process An opportunity to reflect on what has been learned An aid to the supervisors report

The viva voce should last between 10 and 15 minutes. This is included in the recommended amount of time the supervisor should spend with the student. The following are examples of questions that can be asked, which should be adapted to the particular essay and student.

I am not clear what you mean on page XXX. You quote Y: could you explain a little more about what this tells us? On page *** you cite Z. I couldnt find this reference (for example, web site). Could you tell me more about it? What have been the high and low points of the research and writing processes? What were the most interesting aspects of the process? Did you discover anything that surprised you? What have you learned through writing this essay? Is there any advice you would want to pass on to someone just starting out on an extended essay? Is there anything else that you would particularly like me to mention in my report?

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Life after the Extended Essay You should be able to: - Recognize the value of the Extended Essay to your academic and personal growth - See how you can use the skills of the Extended Essay in the future - Look back on your work with a real sense of achievement What have I learned? You have learned that independent research does not mean isolated research. Research is a collaborative process. A researcher works together with other researchers who are interested in the same field of study. They do not steal each others work but rather they respect and acknowledge their mutual contributions and try to build on each others achievements. Successful researchers look to the experts for guidance and direction and seek help whenever they need it and wherever they c can find it. They are self-reliant and do not allow obstacles to stand in their way permanently but look for creative and insightful ways of overcoming problems. How will the extended essay help me? While engaging in the research process for the extended essay you have had an opportunity to develop a range of skills and personal qualities that should contribute to your quest for lifelong learning. In fact many students who have completed the IB Diploma Programme report that the extended essay process has helped them when they have moved on to higher level education. At the undergraduate level the requirements of essay writing may be even more challenging, complex, and intellectually demanding. By successfully completing the extended essay process you have put yourself in a strong position for being able to deal with such a challenge. Did I enjoy this? It is possible that at this stage of your work for your diploma you do not have much time to think about enjoyment. Nevertheless it is important to reflect on the work you have done and what you have achieved. Hopefully, if you have engaged with the process you should be able to look back on your journey and say that you have done something worthwhile and which gave you a sense of satisfaction.

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Bibliography Hordenchuk, C. AIS Diploma Programme Extended Essay Student Guide. Kuwait: AIS, 2011. Hull, B. AIS Extended Essay Guide. Kuwait: AIS, 2012. IBO. Extended Essay Guide: First Examinations 2013. Cardiff, Wales: IBO, 2012. Murray, I. Extended Essay Handbook. Kuwait: AIS, 2013. OFarrell, F. Approach your assessment the IB way: Extended Essay. Cardiff, Wales: IBO, 2010. Spear, J. The UAIS Extended Essay and Research Site. Spear, Justin. "The UAIS Extended Essay and Research Site - Home." The UAIS Extended Essay and Research Site. Weebly, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

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APPENDICES

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Appendix 1: Extended Essay Contract

Please carefully read the information below. Please complete and return to the DP Coordinator, Mrs. Murray by Tuesday, March 4, 2014. I understand that the Extended Essay (EE) is a major part of the IBO Diploma Programme requirements. I have read the Extended Essay General Guidelines. I have read the Extended Essay Subject Specific Guidelines. I am fully aware that the quality of my EE may determine whether I am awarded the IBO diploma. It is my responsibility to meet the deadlines so that I may qualify to register for my IBO World Exams in May 2015. I have met with my supervisor and we have agreed to a plan of action for the research. I have a copy of the AIS Extended Essay deadlines and understand that I must comply with these dates. Failure to do so will result in my removal from ALL extra-curricular activities until I have completed missed work. I realize that I cannot change my subject. I will communicate with my supervisor via email over the summer about all progress with the EE. I fully understand that no papers will be accepted after the final due date.

By signing below, I affirm that my parents and I recognize and accept the fact that the Extended Essay must be completed according to the deadlines and that I must remain in contact with my supervisor. I will meet with my supervisor in person. The final copy is due on September 30, 2014. Student Name:________________________________ Student Mobile #:_______________ Student Email address:__________________________________ Signature:___________________________________ Date:_________________________

Parent Name:_________________________________ Parent Mobile #:_______________ Parent Email address:____________________________________ Signature:____________________________________ Date:_________________________

Supervisor Name: _____________________________ Supervisor Signature:___________________________ Date:_________________________

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APPENDIX 2: Workshop Handout - How to Refine Your Topic Once you have read some background information, you can refine your broad research topic into a narrow, focused topic. The sooner you can develop a broad subject into a focused topic, the sooner you can shape your research into a finished paper. On the other hand, if you start out too focused or detailed, you may have a hard time finding enough sources to write an acceptable paper. Research Tip: A topic is probably too broad if you can state it in four or five words. You can narrow a subject or topic by adding words that will eventually help you make a claim in your thesis statement or help you ask a question if you are developing a research question. Consider using words like conflict, description (describe), contribution (contribute), or development (develop). If you narrow a topic by using nouns derived from verbs, you will be one step closer to a claim that could be challenging enough to keep you and your evaluator interested. Narrowing a Subject to a Manageable Topic: A topic that covers too much material is a common problem for students. Depending on your interests, a general topic can be focused in many ways. For example, if you want to write a paper on government funding for the arts, consider the following questions: What do you already know about this subject? Is there a specific time period that you want to cover? Is there a geographic region or country on which you would like to focus? Is there a particular aspect of this topic that interests you? For example, public policy implications, historical influence, sociological aspects, psychological angles, specific groups or individuals involved in the topic, etc. Consider creating a table or grid to use as a template for narrowing your subject into a manageable topic: General Subject Government Funding of the Arts Time 1930s Place USA Event or Aspects New Deal, paint, painting, artists Narrowed Topic Federal funding of artists through New Deal programs and how the Works Progress Administration contributed to the countrys sense of well being during the depression.

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APPENDIX 3: Workshop Handout Drafting the Research Question A good research question is the central element of a well-written paper. Its a strong question that you can support with evidence. You are likely to offer warrants, those general principles that explain why you think your evidence is relevant to your research question (and perhaps why your readers should believe you and change their way of thinking), and qualifications that will make your question and supporting evidence more detailed and precise. A research question is not simplistic. Your research question must be contestable in some way or you cannot proceed until it is. Your research question must lead your readers to think (because theyve never before thought about your claim) or rethink (because they have long thought about your claim in a different way). Your research question is the product of your own critical thinking after you have done some preliminary research and/or background reading. A. Writing Purposeful Questions Step 1. Name your topic. Describe your work in one sentence. Use adjectives to describe your nouns. I am learning about (or reading about, or studying): ___________________________________________________________________________________. Example: I am studying public funding for the arts. Step 2. Suggest a question. Try to describe your research by developing a question that specifies something about your topic. I am studying _______________________________________ because (in order to) I want to find out (who, what, when, where, whether, why, or how) ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________. Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to know if all socio-economic classes have equal access to the arts. Direct Question: Are the arts equally accessible to all socio-economic classes? Step 3. Add a rationale. Take your questioning one step further by adding a second question aimed at determining your rationale. I am studying _______________________________________ because I want to find out ___________ in order to understand (how, why, to what extent or whether) _________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________.

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Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to find out to what extent the arts are accessible to the working poor so I can determine whether our tax dollars support cultural enrichment for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic status. (Note the rephrasing of the purpose stem if to to what extent.) Direct Question: To what extent are state and federal tax dollars used to support cultural enrichment for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic status? Step 4. Repeat the process. Now, repeat steps 1-3 as often as it takes for you to write enough detail to believe in what you are researching, know what you want to find out, and understand your reason for undertaking your research. B. Is My Research Question Manageable? 1. It is extremely important that your proposed question aligns with your background reading. Even a great EE question can go answered or create tons of extra work if you stray from your reading now. Examine the kinds of information you have gathered in background readingpay attention to your notes or highlighted passages in articles and reference materials. Does it look like I have enough evidence to support my research question? Or, if not, are you fairly comfortable from your background reading that you will be able to find enough evidence to support your research question if you continue to research? 2. If I have more than one question as a possibly, which question based on my background reading do I have enough evidence to support? 3. Evaluate your research question. Which of the following successful EE approaches does your research question employ? Circle Yes/No for each. Your Extended Essay question allows you to YES/NO Define a problem and state your opinion about it YES/NO Discuss the current state of an issue or problem and suggest/predict how it can be resolved YES/NO Offer a possible solution to a problem YES/NO Offer a new perspective on an issue or problem YES/NO Theorize or propose how a situation should be changed or viewed differently YES/NO Compare or contrast (to some end or for some purpose!) YES/NO Offer ideas as to how something has been influenced to be the way that it is/was

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APPENDIX 4: Workshop Handout - Focus Identification Form Your name:

Research topic (this should be fairly general):

Aims of the research:

Research question (this should be very focused):

Methods:
Types of sources to be used (e.g., journals; newspapers; books; Internet sites which must be fully cited, not just the address; interviews if interviews will be used, please state who you are planning to interview and who they are)

How I will have access to these sources?

Are there any important or key theories or theorists?

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APPENDIX 5: Samples Abstract

The following Abstract received full marks. It is within the 300-word limit and includes a word count. The abstract clearly defines the investigations and summarizes the journey of the essay, including a sense of conclusion: Visual arts RQ: Is "Nostos" by Psychopedis a return to his roots or a contemporary outlook of Greece? Abstract This essay examines whether the exhibition entitled "Nostos" by Jannis Psychopedis, is a return to his roots of a contemporary outlook of Greece. Answering the question involved visiting the exhibition as well as interviewing the artist to obtain a personal perspective of the way Psychopedis views his work. The essay explores the meaning of the word "Nostos" in terms of its notion, previous usage in literary works and its modern connotations. Building on the notion of "Nostos", the essay attempts to determine the connection between the works of Art in the collection and the feelings the artist has as he sees how his country of origin has changed. Jannis Psychopedis's work involves taking a journey through time to determine what has happened in his country and how perspectives on historical monuments and sculptures have changed and been incorporated into modern life. The essay examines how the artist views the changes that have been made in the way modern Greeks see their country compared to how the country was perceived in the past. An analysis of the materials and objects as well as famous images of Greece and the way they are used in the works and what they represents is carried out in order to reach a conclusion about the artist's view of contemporary Greek identity and how it relates to the way Greek civilization has been portrayed in modern society. The conclusion arrived at is that "Nostos" is best described as a return to contemporary Greece with a nostalgic view of Greek history and culture seen through a critical analytical eye that becomes an ironic document of Greece as it is in the present. Therefore he returns to his roots but lives within a contemporary reality. Word count: 287

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APPENDIX 6: Sample - Introduction

The following is an introduction that achieved full marks. The geographical and economic context is clearly stated. Economic theory is introduced and made relevant to the case study. Economics: What market form characterizes the bus industry in Mwanza, Tanzania? The way a firm behaves, that is, how much output it decides to produce and the price it sells its products at, depends on the structure of the market for that product'. The market structure of an industry is determined by certain characteristics. Structures in the real world range from monopolistic competition through oligopoly to monopoly; however these model structures are not pure and exclusive (Glanville 114). This essay investigates what market form characterizes the bus industry in Mwanza, Tanzania. The buses commute between Mwanza and other regions e.g. Dar es Salaam. By looking at the number of firms in the industry, the type of product, barriers to entry, supernormal short and long profits, pricing schemes, profit maximisation, price competition, economic efficiency and innovative behavior (Glanville 114) the market structure of the industry can be determined. All of the mentioned features are significant in determining market forms but some are more important than others. By carrying out a survey with specific questions to provide answers for the above we can work out the market form that the industry fits in with. The market structure of an industry does not only affect the price of the particular good but also the quality if the good/service. It also affects the development and growth of the industry and sometimes other industries. The geography of Tanzania, its size, diversity and dispersion give roads a special position in integration of the national economy'. In particular roads serve rural areas (where the majority of the people live) more effectively than any other mode of transport'. Mwanza is a border town whose economy is based largely on transport. It is also a growth region in economic terms; it holds some of the biggest factories along with investments. Mwanza is widely known among the people of Tanzania as the city of opportunities for small businesses. The bus industry plays a big role in the region. To many it is seen as the affordable means of transport to different destinations within the country for different purposes such as business, holidays, schools, home etc. Its alternatives are aeroplanes, which charge more that thrice the price of the bus tickets and trains and ships which take twice the time to complete the journey. From this we can infer that the bus is a preferred means of transport by a lot of people meaning that decisions and actions in the industry affect a lot of people. This investigation is significant because the market structure is one of the biggest indicators of the price and quantity of the industry which affects the service provided to people. It is important for the bus owners to know the market type because it affects their revenue and highlights the degree of competition.

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APPENDIX 7: Sample Conclusion

The following conclusion received full marks. It draws together the main ideas from a lively discussion and a fine piece of independent research, based on an original idea for a comparison of the two texts. The essay maintains its confident focus to the end, and leaves the reader with a sense of the students personal engagement with her subject. New light is shed on both texts as a result of her exploration of the topic: English, Category 1 RQ: A Comparison of the Representation of the Countryside in the Works of Thomas Hardy and Laurie Lee Conclusion To conclude these two novels portray the English countryside wonderfully, and both very differently, with equally unique styles. We can sense the novelists' own relationship to their childhood surroundings throughout the books, and their approach is very different: where Lee writes about the splendour of each living thing, Hardy captures the power within the ancient landscape. Where Lee fuses humankind with his environment, Hardy separates the two- creating a fragility around man and a strength within nature. Because Cider With Rosie is essentially a collection of memories from first hand, the book is more personal with the author's own attachment to everything he writes about. With Hardy, we can definitely detect opinions and sentiments that no doubt belong to him, but he had to convey these through fictional characters which already creates a separation. The fact that Lee writes in the first person and Hardy in the third has a lot to do with these detached versus personal qualities, but it may also be because of the times Hardy and Lee were writing in. In Hardy's day, writers had to be a lot more restrained when describing certain circumstances and portray things through subtly suggestion. An example of this is the discreet Dickensian presentation of Mixen Lane and Peter's Finger- which are presumed to be something like a broth I quarter in Casterbridge. Lee, on the other hand, writes with a more modern approach and describes things that could be considered a taboo subject in Hardy's day: such as the scene of young Laurie and Rosie under the hay cart. Hardy's love of history is communicated throughout his work, even dating back to the Romans, whereas Lee appears to be only interested in his own immediate history, which also makes the novel more personalised. However, as I have mentioned before, the fact that both are writing at specific times, in specific placed, and both about how technology was changing the way of man, links these two authors considerably. Both write poetically about the implacable force of nature and how closely linked we are to it, but also capture rural England in two fine works of literature.

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APPENDIX 8: Extended Essay Pre-Submission Checklist

Do you have a title page? o Does your title page have the name of the subject, the topic, the research question, title, the number of words, your name, your candidate number, your school code and your exam session? o Is your title a clear indication of the main focus of your essay? Do you have an abstract? o Is your abstract less than 300 words? o Does it include a word count? o Does it clearly state the research question that is being investigated? o Is the RQ italicized or in bold? o Does it clearly state the scope of the investigation? o Does it clearly state the conclusion(s) of your paper? o Does it follow your title page? Do you have a contents page? o Does your contents page include all sections of your essay? Do you have a clear introduction? o Is the research question clearly stated? o Is the research question highlighted? o Is the research question set into context? o Is the significance of the topic clearly explained? Do you have a clear conclusion? o Is the conclusion clearly separated from the body of the essay? o Does the section have the heading CONCLUSION o Is the conclusion clearly stated? o Is the conclusion relevant to the research question? o Is the conclusion consistent with the evidence of the body of the essay? Appendices (if applicable) o Are all appendices neatly presented? o Are all appendices clearly labeled? o Are the appendices clearly referenced in the body of the essay? Bibliography o Does it contain only the sources referred to in the essay? o Is it arranged alphabetically? Are all of your pages numbered? Do you have your candidate number as a header on each page? Is your essay less than 4000 words? Is your essay more than 3500 words? Do you have the appropriate margins? If you have illustrations (of any kind), are they properly labeled/cited? Do you make clear connections from the text to the illustrations? Do you have all of your work cited where necessary? Have you used proper parenthetical citation as indicated in the AIS Research Handbook? Have you proofread the paper yourself? (Reading aloud helps when proofreading.) Has someone other than yourself or your supervisor read over your paper?

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