2. Diploma Requirements
○ Over the course of the two-year
programme, students:
● study six subjects chosen from the six
subject groups
● complete an extended essay (EE)
● follow a theory of knowledge course
(TOK)
● participate in creativity, action, service
(CAS).
(Marsh & Fink)
3. Assessment
○ Criterion-related assessment
○ Up to 36 points
● A – excellent (29 – 36)
● B – good (23 – 28)
● C – satisfactory (16 – 22)
● D – mediocre (8 - 15)
● E – elementary (0 – 7)
5. School Responsibilities
○ “It is required that the school:
● Ensures that each student has an
appropriately supervisor, who is a teacher
within the school.
…
○ It is strongly recommended
that the school:
● Ensures that the students have been
taught the necessary research skills.
● Set their own internal deadlines”
(EE Guide, p 8)
6. Supervisor Responsibilities
○ Provide students with advice and
guidance
○ Encourages and supports the student (p.9)
○ Discusses the choice of topic… and in
particular, helps to format a well-focused
research question. (p.9)
○ Reads and comments on one completed
draft only (p.9)
○ Reads final version to confirm authenticity
(p.9)
○ Spends 3 to 5 hours with student (p.10)
7. Supervisor’s Responsibilities Con’t
○ Advises students on:
● Appropriate resources
● Techniques of data gathering and analysis
● Writing an abstract
● Documenting sources (p.10)
○ Conducts a short, concluding interview
(viva voce) with the student before
completing the supervisor’s report (p.10)
○ DOES NOT correct spelling and
punctuation (p 11)
8. Student Reponsibilities
○ It is required that the 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
● Meet deadlines
● Acknowledge all sources of information
and ideas in an approved academic
manner (p. 12)
9. Student Responsibilities Con’t.
○ It is strongly recommended that the
Student:
● Start work early
● Plan how, when, and where they will find material
for their essay
● Plan a schedule for both researching and writing the
essay
● Record sources as their research progresses
● 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
(p12)
10. St. Robert Dates and Deadlines
○ March 26, 2015
● Extended Essay In-service with Grade 11 IB students
(library)
○ April 2 (Easter Weekend)
● Have a mentor in place in your EE chosen subject
○ April 30
● Select a working topic; develop a research question
with a thesis statement; get mentor’s approval
○ April 30
● Submit Extended Essay Student Report to Mrs.
Steele
○ June 1st – 5th
● End of year meeting with mentor
● Discuss progress, summer plans for essay, essay
outline, arguments.
● Refine Research Question and Thesis as needed
11. St. Robert Dates and Deadlines
○ September 28, 2015
● Submit essay to your EE mentor by this date
○ October 12
● Meet with mentor for feedback by this date
○ October 30
● Submit final version to mentor for Predicted
grade by this date
● This includes a completed bibliography,
necessary/appropriate citations, abstract…
○ November 9th to 13th
● “viva voce” interview with mentor (10-15 minute
interview);
○ November 16
● 2 copies of Extended Essay to Mrs. Steele
● Mentors to give final EE predicted grade and sign off
○ November - December
● TOK Essays, University Applications and
Supplementary essays.
12. The EE -- What it is …
○ “An in-depth study of a focused topic
chosen from the list of approved Diploma
Programme subjects – normally one of
the student’s six chosen subjects for the
IB diploma.” (Extended Essay Guide, p 5)
○ “Presented as a formal piece of
scholarship containing no more than 4000
words.” (EE Guide, p 5)
● Word count includes: intro, body,
conclusion, quotations (not abstract,
etc.) (p 16)
○ “Approx. 40 hours of work” (EE Guide, p 5)
13. Viva Voce (p 19 – 20)
○ A short interview with your
supervisor (10 - 15 min.)
○ Conducted after the completion of
your essay
○ The purposes of which including
serving as a check on plagiarism
and malpractice and an opportunity
to reflect on what you have learned
14. Advice from Examiners
○ Read the Advice from Examiners
section (page 13-14) and highlight
the one piece of advice you feel is
most important for you!
15. Researching and Writing
○ Choose area and topic
○ Formulate a research question
○ Plan the investigation and writing
○ Plan the essay
○ Prepartory reading
○ Carry out the investigation
○ Write the essay
16. Visit a Library
○ Toronto Reference Library
○ York University library
○ Robarts library (U of T)
○ Other University library
○ Your public library
○ Bring:
● Money for the photocopier, your phone,
or IPad.
17. O.P.V.L.
Remember from Grade 10 History…
○ Origin= Who wrote it? Where?
○ Purpose=Why was this written /
said?
○ Value= What is the value to my
topic?
○ Limitation= What are the limitations
of my source?
○ Consider OPVL for every source.
18. Elements of the final work
○ Title page
○ Abstract (write last)
○ Contents page
○ Introduction
○ Body
○ Conclusion
○ References and bibliography
○ Appendices
19. Formal Presentation of the Essay
○ Extended Essay Guide 2013
(available electronically in D2L and
in paper in the library)
○ See the guide on page 16 and 17
for details about
● The title
● What goes in an abstract
● How to include illustrations
20. What Citation Style?
○ Any recognized style as long as it includes
date accessed for internet resources and
page numbers for printed material. (p 18)
○ Appropriate to the subject area
○ Same as everyone else writing in that
subject area from St. Robert!
MLA (parenthetical)
APA (parenthetical – sciences –
date focused)
Chicago (footnotes/endnotes)
21. Assessment
○ A -- Research Question (2)
○ B -- Introduction (2)
○ C -- Investigation (4)
○ D -- Knowledge and
Understanding of the topic
studied (4)
○ E – Reasoned Argument (4)
22. Assessment
● F – Application of analytical and evaluative
skills appropriate to the subject (4)
● G – Use of Language appropriate to the
subject (4)
● H -- Conclusion (2)
● I – Formal Presentation (4)
● J -- Abstract (2)
● K – Holistic Judgment (4)
23. A: Research Question
○ MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA!
○ Worth 8 points! (2+2+2+2)
○ The research question is clearly stated in
either the introduction or on the title page
and is sharply focused, making effective
treatment possible within the word limit
○ You must get 2 points on this criteria.
Make sure your supervisor helps you get
this right.
25. C: Investigation
○ Imaginative range of appropriate
resources has been consulted, or
data has been gathered, and
relevant material has been
carefully selected. The
investigation has been well planned.
○ How many is this, really?
26. D -- Knowledge and Understanding
of the topic studied
○ Clearly and precisely locates the
investigation in an academic context
.. (in relation to what can
reasonably be expected of a pre-
university student)
27. E – Reasoned argument
○ Ideas are presented clearly and in a
logical an coherent manner. The
essay succeeds in developing a
reasoned and convincing argument
in relation to the research question.
28. F: Application of analytical and
evaluative skills appropriate to the
subject
○ This is why you write in an area in
which you are familiar…. Do you
know what analytical and evaluative
skills are appropriate to film
studies?
○ May involve reading course
companion (on reserve in library) or
course syllabus
29. G: Use of Language Appropriate to the
Subject
○ The way the author said stuff was
really cool.
○ This was just the way things were
back then.
30. H: Conclusion
○ Do not just repeat your intro
paragraph!
○ An effective conclusion is clearly
stated. It is relevant to the research
question and consistent with the
evidence presented in the essay. It
should include unresolved questions
where appropriate to the subject
concerned.
31. I: Formal Presentation
○ O points if your essay is longer than
4000 words!
○ Include all of the elements (see
page 27)
32. J: Abstract
○ O points if the abstract exceeds
300s words!
○ Include all of the elements (3). See
page 28 and 16 – 17.
33. K: Holistic Judgement
○ Intellectual initiative, depth of
understanding and insight.
○ Does the reader think you chose a
risky, brave topic or that you played
it safe? Are they impressed with
what you did with it?
○ Maybe a bit of: Does the reader like
your topic? Were you boring or
interesting?
34. Subject-Specific Criteria
○ You MUST get a copy of the Subject-
Specific Details for your Subject (about 5
– 10 pages)
○ You MUST make sure your supervisor has
one too.
○ You MUST read it before you decide on
your topic or research question
○ For each criterion (A – K) these subject
specific descriptions help make it clear
what is expected in YOUR AREA.
35. Subject-Specific Details
○ Join a group of 4 and look at the
subject-specific details for one
subject area.
● Underline one thing that surprised you.
● Circle one thing you have a question
about.
● Highlight one thing you think is
important to remember
36. Works Cited
Extended Essay Guide (Updated August
2013), International Baccalaureate
Organization, 2007, Cardiff.
Marsh & Fink, The Extended Essay Power
Point, Glenforest Resource Centre, Web.
Accessed June 6, 2014
http://schools.peelschools.org/sec/glenforest/ib/ibextendedessay/Pages/default.aspx
37. Other Resources
EE Powerpoint from Forest Hill High
School:
www.foresthillhs.com/uploads/2/1/4/
4/.../the_extended_essay.ppt
