How do I get started?

What is the first step?

Think about what interests you, what you are passionate about, what you want to study at university, elements within your favourite subject which you found fascinating ..... almost any area can become the starting point for your Extended Essay.

If there is a TV series you enjoy, this could be the foundation for an English EE. Football can lead to Economics EEs. Cycling might allow you to examine areas to do with Geography. An interest in fashion can become a Visual Arts EE. Anything that happened more than ten years ago can be a History EE. If you intend to become a doctor or an engineer, then you should probably do your EE in Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

Or, if there is no particular passion, interest or university need to inspire you, then decide in which of your six subjects it would be least painful to write an EE.

I have an idea - what happens next?

Which Diploma Programme subject does your passion/interest/fascination fall? This is important - your Extended Essay MUST fall within an available Diploma Programme subject taught at AISV. Before you move forward, choose the subject discipline! If you think your EE might fall between two subjects, you can explore the possibility of writing an interdisciplinary EE that encompasses two subjects.

You will be asked to complete a form indicating in which two subjects you can see yourself writing an EE. A teacher can only supervise a maximum of 5 EEs, so not everyone will get their first choice of subject/supervisor - this is why we need to have two, well-justified subject choices from you.

Once I am assigned a supervisor, what happens?

Make an appointment to meet with your supervisor. Check the list of deadlines, and see when initial meeting #1 should be completed. Go to the 'Reflections' tab to read more about the kinds of questions that will be asked during the meeting so you can come prepared. This is an important meeting which counts towards the 4 marks for ‘Reflection.’ Once you have had this meeting, you will be well on the way towards making a start to the research and writing process.

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