Extended Essays
INTRODUCTION TO THE EXTENDED ESSAY:
Early in second semester of the junior year, IB diploma candidates receive a copy of the Extended Essay Guidelines with specific deadline dates and copies of the forms to be submitted. A worldwide requirement of the IB diploma program is the completion of the Extended Essay. This is a 4000 word research paper completed by a diploma candidate in one of the IB subject areas. Students may select the IB subject area for research. A subject faculty member will be selected as the student's EE supervisor. This research project is a scholarly pursuit done by the student under the supervision of a faculty expert, working with the student approximately 4-5 hours maximum over the course of the year. The Extended Essay must meet the guidelines established by IB and the guidelines established by your faculty expert. Extended Essays cannot include the same topics completed for Internal Assessments in IB classes. Furthermore, two or more diploma candidates can not submit essays on the same topic.
Should a diploma candidate not submit an Extended Essay he/she will not receive an IB diploma.
Tips for a successful EE experience:
-Begin early.
-Spend time considering your subject area and topic. Read the subject area overviews, talk to your subject area teachers and choose something that interests you and you can get excited about researching.
-Develop and maintain a good working relationship with your supervisor.
-Create deadlines with your supervisor and stick to them-utilize the spring and summer months to get most of your EE completed. -Work in large chunks of time with no distractions- this is not something you can do for only 1/2 hour at a time.
Be proud of this work! You are doing college level research and becoming somewhat of an "expert" in your topic!
For students in the current Junior IB class, please access the "Class of" tab under Extended Essays
