Extended Essay guide for students 2021/2022
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Extended Essay guide for students
2021/2022
IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young
people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural
understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations
to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate
and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be
right.
Maarif Schools of Sarajevo Mission Statement
The mission of Maarif Schools of Sarajevo is to raise young people with a lifelong commitment
to seek knowledge with intellectual curiosity as self-reliant, principled, open-minded,
balanced, and caring individuals, who think critically and act responsibly as “people of
goodwill”.
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Table of contents
1. The Diploma Programme model 4
2. Overview of the extended essay 5
2.1 What is an extended essay 5
2.2 Key features of the extended essay 5
2.3 Aims of the Extended Essay 6
2.4 Subjects and topics 6
3. Extended Essay skills and attributes 7
4. Extended Essay components 7
5. Duties and responsibilities 9
5.1 Diploma Programme extended essay coordinator 9
5.2 Supervisor 9
5.3 Students 10
5.4 The purpose of the viva voce intervju 10
6. Implementation Process at the Maarif Schools of Sarajevo 11
7. Possible Student Questions 12
8. Monitoring work and completing tasks on time forms 14
8.1 Checklist action 16
31. The Diploma Programme model
The programme is presented as six academic areas enclosing a central core (Image 1). It
encourages the concurrent study of a broad range of academic areas. Students study two
modern languages (or a modern language and a classical language), a humanities or social
science subject, an experimental science, mathematics and one of the creative arts. It is this
comprehensive range of subjects that makes the Diploma Programme a demanding course of
study designed to prepare students effectively for university entrance. In each of the academic
areas students have flexibility and can choose subjects that particularly interest them and that
they may wish to study further at university.
Image 1. Diploma Program model
42. Overview of the extended essay
2.1 What is an extended essay
The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of available
Diploma Programme subjects for the session in question. This is normally one of the student’s
six chosen subjects for those taking the IB diploma, or a subject that a course student has a
background in. It is intended to promote academic research and writing skills, providing
students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice,
under the guidance of a supervisor (an appropriately qualified member of staff within the
school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas
and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the
subject chosen. It is mandatory that all students undertake three reflection sessions with their
supervisor, which includes a short, concluding interview, or viva voce, with their supervisor
following the completion of the extended essay. An assessment of this reflection process is
made under criterion E (Engagement) using the Reflections on planning and progress form.
The extended essay is assessed against common criteria, interpreted in ways appropriate to
each subject.
2.2 Key features of the extended essay
The extended essay is compulsory for all students taking the Diploma Programme and is an
option for course students.
A student must achieve a D grade or higher to be awarded the Diploma.
The extended essay is externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of
knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB Diploma.
The extended essay process helps prepare students for success at university and in other
pathways beyond the Diploma Programme.
When choosing a subject for the extended essay, students must consult the list of available
Diploma Programme subjects published in the Diploma Programme Assessment procedures
for the session in question.
The extended essay is a piece of independent research on a topic chosen by the student in
consultation with a supervisor in the school. It is presented as a formal piece of sustained
academic writing containing no more than 4,000 words accompanied by a reflection form of
no more than 500 words. It is the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.
Students are supported by a supervision process recommended to be 3–5 hours, which
includes three mandatory reflection sessions. The third and final mandatory reflection session
is the viva voce, which is a concluding interview with the supervising teacher.
52.3 Aims of the Extended Essay
The aims of the extended essay are to provide students with the opportunity to:
A. Pursue in-depth independent research on a focused topic.
B. Develop research and communication skills.
C. Develop the skills of creative, analytical, evaluative and critical thinking and
reasoning.
D. Engage in a systematic process of research appropriate to the subject.
E. Experience the excitement of intellectual discovery in a favourite subject/topic of
Interest.
2.4 Subjects and topics
You can write an EE in all subjects offered within the IBDP at the school, with the exception of
the theory of knowledge.
Group 1:
Language A: English A Language & Literature, Bosnian A Literature, Turkish A Literature
Group 2:
Language B: English B
Group 3:
Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS), Social and Cultural Anthropology
Group 4:
Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computer Science
Group 5:
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
3. Extended Essay skills and attributes
At its core, the Extended Essay aims to cultivat or develop a range of skills and attributes,
which can be mapped as ( Image 2):
6Image 2. Extended Essay skills and attributes
On top of these an Extended Essay compels students to act in an academically honest and
ethical manner – both in terms of their approach to research and in the final production of
the essay itself.
4. Extended Essay components
A. What does the Extended Essay comprise?
It is an academic piece of writing on a topic of the studen’s choosing. Bibliography of only the
works cited in the essay itself using an acknowledged referencing style.
B. What should the maximum word count be?
The maximum word count is 4,000 (plus an additional 500 words for the Reflections on
Planning and Progress Form that is submitted with the Extended Essay).
Note: The essay should not be any longer than 4,000 words as any writing over this limit will
not be read and thus could have a negative impact on all assessment criteria.
C. How many hours should be spent on it?
The IB recommends that you spend approximately 40 hours, spread out over the course of
your IB studies.
D. What policies accompany it?
7Academic honesty policy, IB’s ethical guidelines, Animal experimentation policy.
E. How is it supervised?
The IB expects students to receive anything from three to five hours of in-school supervisory
support towards the completion of their Extended Essay. A supervisor is expected to provide
advice and support but not prescribe questions or edit any work produced. Your supervisor
will also be expected to validate the authenticity of the work submitted by you to the IB by
signing and dating the Refections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF). External supervision
(that is, non-school-based) is possible under certain scenarios, although only an in-school
supervisor can sign the forms.
85. Duties and responsibilities
5.1 Diploma Programme extended essay coordinator responsibilities are to:
1. Ensure that extended essays conform to the regulations outlined in the Diploma
Programme Assessment procedures.
2. Ensure that students select the subject for their extended essays from the list of
available subjects until the May of first year.
3. Ensure that each student has a qualified supervisor, who is a member of staff within
the school.
4. Introduce, explain and support the reflection process.
5. Provide supervisors and students with the general and subject-specific information
and guidelines for the extended essay contained in this guide and the accompanying
teacher support material.
6. Ensure that the Reflections on planning and progress form (RPPF) is completed and
signed by the student and supervisor and submitted to the IB with the essay for
assessment under criterion E by the deadline stated in the Diploma Programme
Assessment procedures.
7. Provide exemplars of extended essays to supervisors and students.
5.2 Supervisor responsibilities are to:
1. Provide the student with advice and guidance in the skills of undertaking research.
2. Discuss the choice of topic with the student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-
focused research question.
3. Ensure that the chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical
standards.
4. To be familiar with the regulations governing the EE and the assessment criteria, and
give copies of these to the student.
5. Monitor the progress of the EE to offer guidance and to ensure that the essay is the
student’s own work.
6. Read and comment on one completed draft only of the extended essay (but not edit
the draft), as well as read the final version to confirm its authenticity.
7. Submit a predicted grade for the student’s extended essay to the IB.
8. Complete the supervisor’s report (if the EE cover is not signed by both the student and
the supervisor, the essay will not be accepted for assessment and may be returned to
the school) and fill in, sign and submit the cover sheet.
9. Ensure proper completion of the three stages of the RPPF (2 reflection sessions and
viva voce)
10. Provide an explanation in the report in cases where the number of hours spent with
the student in discussing the extended essay is zero; in particular, it is necessary to
9describe how it has been possible to guarantee the authenticity of the essay in such
circumstances.
11. And write a report and presents it to the school’s DP coordinator if malpractice, such
as plagiarism, is suspected in the final draft.
5.3 Students responsibilities
Students writing the EE are expected to:
1. Choose a topic they are enthusiastic about and that is available.
2. Work independently to produce an authentic piece of research.
3. Acknowledge all sources used using one citation style consistently.
4. Observe the rules and regulations for the EE (plagiarism!).
5. Meet all deadlines and respect the supervisor’s time.
6. Plan for how, when and where to find material and source work and design and
conduct experiment (if applicable).
7. Adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting experiments (see the Animal
Experimentation Policy from the IB, for example).
8. Spend the recommended 40 hours of work on their EE.
5.4 The purpose of the viva voce interview
Once EE is completed, students will have a viva voce interview (generally in Decembre of Year
Two of the programme) led by the supervisor.
The purpose is:
1. To help check on plagiarism
2. To give the students’ an opportunity to reflect on the EE process and what they have
learned.
3. To provide the supervisor with additional ideas for his report.
This compulsory interview (about 20 minutes) constitutes part of the recommended amount
of time the supervisor spends with the student.
106. Implementation Process at the Maarif Schools of Sarajevo
In the two years of the diploma program, students are required to write a research paper, in
the area they are interested in and on a personally selected topic, in cooperation with the
supervisor and the EE coordinator. Research paper should satisfy all the forms prescribed by
the IB for the extended essay, whose features are listed in the text above.
At the beginning of the first year of the diploma program in September, EE coordinator with
the support of the DP coordinator and Librarian, will briefly explain to the students what the
EE should contain, how it will be done and what is expected from the students.
EE coordinator in colaboration with the DP coordinator and Librarian, sets up a timeline and
together with the supervisors, helps students choose an appropriate topic as well as cope with
the pressure of the actual deadline.
At the beginning of October, the EE coordinator will conduct a survey among students with
the aim of gathering information on the possible selection of subjects that students prefer for
EE.
The selection is not final, students can change the subject and the supervisor at the final
selection of the subject.
After choosing the subject from which the students want to do EE, no later than March of the
first year. Students from personal interest, with the help of supervisors and EE coordinator,
find and define the topic of their work.
The EE coordinator directs students to all the opportunities and resources available to them
that they can use until they find the information needed for their work.
In the library students have at their disposal a computer that has a direct connection to the
entire contents of the Library, and can view a database of over 2,500 books that can be used
in research.
Also at the entrance to each classroom is a poster with a QR code that students can scan and
gain automatic access to the contents of the library. (Image 3.) Students can also access the
online platform JSTOR through the library computer.
11Image 3. QR library code
7. Possible Student Questions
Which documents do I consult for rules, guidelines and best practice?
IBO Extended Essay Guide (available through school network)
Assessment criteria: general and specific to your subject (in the IBO Extended Essay Guide)
What can I expect from my supervisor?
Spending sufficient time with each student
Providing advice guidance and support in deciding on the specific research question
Signing the final form for submition of Extended Essay
What if I am at risk of not meeting deadlines?
The supervisor can refuse to give feedback on work submitted late. Part of the EE is
organisational skills, so make sure to start early.
Signal any problems immediately.
How is the Extended Essay marked?
1.The school supervisor predicts a grade.
2. The EEs are marked by external examiners, in countries anywhere around the world.
3. The Assessment Criteria are given in the IBO EE Guide as well as at the end of this
document. The maximum mark available is 34, made up of five different areas of criteria.
4. The marks given are used to award the EE a grade A-E.
125. Significant discrepancies between a predicted grade and an examined grade will mean that
the EE gets looked at again for moderation.
How does the EE contribute to your final point score?
The grade given to students are combined with their grade of Theory of Knowledge
(TOK) using the matrix below.
A maximum of three points is awarded according to a student’s combined performance in
both the extended essay and theory of knowledge.
Failure to submit an EE means the student will fail the whole Diploma Programme
Getting a grade E for the EE and a grade E for TOK is also a failing condition for the whole
Diploma Programme
The diploma points matrix (May 2015 onwards)
138. Monitoring work and completing tasks on time forms
It is recommended to use this form, so that you can better monitor your progress in the
work of EE
Keep notes of all five meetings with the supervisor, write down questions, suggestions,
and instructions you receive from the supervisor as well as the time you spent at each
meeting, as you should keep in mind that IB prescribes 5 hours of work with the
supervisor.
Meeting 1 (Febuary/March)
Questions:
Notes (suggestions, tips, instructions):
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
Meeting 2 (May/June)
Questions:
Notes (suggestions, tips, instructions):
Talk to the librarian: YES NO Librarian's signature:
Talk to the EE coordinator: EE coordinator's signature:
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
14Meeting 3 (September/October)
Questions:
Notes (suggestions, tips, instructions):
Talk to the librarian: YES NO Librarian's signature:
Talk to the EE coordinator: YES NO EE coordinator's signature:
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
Meeting 4 (November)
Feedback on the composition of the first draft
Questions:
Notes (suggestions, tips, instructions):
Talk to the librarian: YES NO Librarian's signature:
Talk to the EE coordinator: YES NO EE coordinator's signature:
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
15Meeting 5 (December)
Talk about the first draft, Checklist completed
Questions:
Notes (suggestions, tips, instructions):
Talk to the librarian: YES NO Librarian's signature:
Talk to the EE coordinator: YES NO EE coordinator's signature:
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
Meeting (January / February): Viva voce
Remarks:
Supervisor's signature: Date: Time spent: mins
Disk submitted: YES NO Final report to be sent off together with
essay to the IBO.
8.1 Checklist action
Actions required to successfully complete the extended essay Done (X)
Is the essay within 4000 words?
Is there a Contents page?
Are all pages numbered?
Are all diagrams, charts and graphs indexed and labelled and sources
referenced?
16Does the Bibliography include all and only the works of reference you have
consulted and used?
Is your research question stated on the title page?
Is your research question stated in the Introduction?
Is your research question restated in the Conclusion?
Is your formatting according to IB standards?
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