Extended Essay
What is the Extended Essay?
The Extended Essay is an academic style research paper that will promote academic research and writing skills.
It allows students to engage in a personal research topic of their choice (in an IB subject area you are enrolled in or will be enrolled in senior year)
Aimed at developing research skills, inquiry, creativity, organizational skills, referencing, writing skills, critical thinking and independence.
Requires academic honesty in your approach to research and the final production of your Extended Essay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic requirements of the Extended Essay?
The Extended Essay is a 3500-4000 word research paper on a topic of your choosing with internal citations or footnotes. It must include a Works Cited (MLA) or a Bibliography (Chicago/Turabian) as a separate component. It requires a research question, table of contents, scholarly sources (number dependent on subject area), page numbers and the communication, research and analytical skills relevant to your subject area.
What is the RPPF?
RPPF stands for the Reflections on Planning and Progress forms. It will be 500 words maximum. It is a mandatory form that is submitted with (3) reflections written by the student and signed by their supervisor. You will undertake (3) reflection sessions with your supervisor that will guide these written reflections.
How is it supervised?
You will be assigned an Extended Essay supervisor based on the subject area of your paper. You will be required to meet with your supervisor for 3-5 hours within a 10 month period. Their goal is to provide advice and support, but they cannot red pen/edit your work.
How is it assessed?
Extended Essays are assessed externally by IB examiners. Points range from 0-34. The five criteria includes Focus + Method (6 points), Knowledge and Understanding (6 points), Critical Thinking (12 points), Presentation (4 points) and Engagement (6 points). You must score a D or higher in order to be awarded the diploma.