Year 11

Life of New DP Students: Extended Essays

Last Friday May 28th, the topic for the Year Level Meeting for Year 11 was Extended Essay. Ibu Celi as the Extended Essay coordinator explained the next steps in the process of the Extended Essay, which is the first formal reflection.

What is the Extended Essay?

The IB Extended Essay (EE) is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects. It is intended to promote high- level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in 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.

For full diploma students, it is mandatory to take the EE, while for course students it is optional. Students have the freedom to choose what subject their EE will focus on and a supervisor will be assigned to support each student. The topics chosen by students this year have so much variety, ranging from analysing lyrics from a rock band called “Rage against the machine” until analysing mathematics in Origami design.

Extended Essay Criteria

The method of assessment used by the IB is criterion-related. That is to say, the method of assessment judges each student in relation to identified assessment criteria and not in relation to the work of other students. Assessment of the extended essay is a combination of formative assessment (the reflections on the planning and progress form) and summative assessment (the extended essay itself).

First Formal Reflection

From 31st May - 11 June 2021 is the process of First Formal Reflection. Every student must contact their supervisor and arrange a meeting to discuss the following:

• Research question

• EE requirements and criteria

• Short and long term timeline

• Resources for the EE (both primary and secondary)

• Possible approaches, challenges and how to overcome them

The extended essay is an important process for students as it encourages them to be independent, creative and also embrace their critical thinking.