Geography Extended Essay: Steps for Success

Explore a possible topic

 Brainstorm possible topics
 Connect an area of interest to you with a feasible
geographic investigation
 Research to see if this topic is feasible
 Identify possible locations for your fieldwork
Research
 Get to know your topic via extensive research using
the internet, the library and research journals
 Refer to previous research relevant to your topic to
help with knowledge and your methodology
 Research widely to collect secondary information
Select a Location
 Decide on an appropriate fieldwork location
 Find out as much as you can about the specific
location before you plan your methods
 Collect maps and background information
 Ensure you will have sufficient time there to
conduct your investigation
Finalize an analytical framework
 Gain as much background knowledge on your topic
and relevant theories as possible
 Decide on the most important aspects of the topic
to focus your research on
 Use your analytical framework to shape your
methodology
Plan your methodology
 Determine what are the important aspects of
information and data you need to collect
 Design surveys to ensure you collect the correct
qualitative data
 Plan techniques to collect the quantitative data
Conduct your fieldwork
 Collect as much qualitative and quantitative
information as time allows
 Take many photos etc
 Ensure you have all of the information /data that
you need
Process your data/ information
 Organize a system to effectively process your data
 Process all the data you require
 Use tools such as
 Insert data, photos, ideas, quotes into your essay
framework, you can edit it later
Create visuals
 Use tools such as Excel, Pixlr Editor, Piktochart,
Google Earth, Google Draw, etc
 Create a variety of visuals including annotated
photos
 Ensure that you include some spatial mapping
 Refer to all visuals in your text
Get analytical
 Refer specifically to the patterns/ trends displayed
in your visuals
 Use formal analytical language
 Recognize and account for any anomalies
 Ensure all of your analysis links back to the research
question and relates to Butler’s model
 Evaluate your extended essay process
Produce your final draft
 Structure your essay as required and follow all
necessary conventions for formatting, layout and
referencing
 Ensure you stay within the 4000 word limit
 Edit it fully before you hand it in
 Important: Your final draft should be what you
consider to be the finished essay
Reflect on advice and produce final version
 Pay attention to all advice offered as feedback
 Reflect then act on feedback as quickly as possible
 Make use of the EE week to make final tweaks
 Complete your viva voce interview