ASSESSING THE EE 2027+

Research question

Make sure the research question arises from the context of a specific topic that is related to your chosen DP subject(s) and that it really is a question. The question should be specific and focused. Make clear to the reader the significance and purpose of the research question and ensure that it connects with the knowledge and understanding evident in your essay.

The research question should: 

• encourage critical analysis rather than a descriptive or narrative response

• allow for the development of a strong line of argument

• avoid combining more than one question (i.e. “double-barrelled”), in which case the scope of the essay would probably be too broad

• avoid questions that are liable to lead to writing a descriptive essay; you should aim to be analytical and evaluative

• use higher-order questions that engage deeper thinking processes—wording such as “how significant…?”, “how successful …?”, “to what extent …?” or “what if …?” is more likely to engage you with analysis and inspire critical evaluation of your research findings

• not lead the reader to a self-evident answer; rather, the question should create an opportunity for you to research the topic thoroughly and construct a line of argument that is not immediately obvious from the question itself.

Research methods

Explain the suitability of the research methods you have chosen to conduct your research and understand how these connect with the methodology of the subject(s) used. Remember that “methodology” is the overall research strategy and rationale, the lens through which the analysis occurs. Meanwhile, “research methods” are the specific tools and procedures used to collect and analyse data.

If the approach to the essay involves experimentation or fieldwork, provide a description of the methods used that would allow the work to be repeated.

Make sure the reader can see evidence of how you have applied your chosen research methods.

Ensure that there are sufficient sources of suitable quality to allow effective research using your chosen methods. If there are not enough, you may need to amend or change your research question or even reconsider your topic.

Structure

As you write your extended essay you will need to be aware of any structural conventions that relate to academic writing in your chosen subject(s), for example, Biology, Geography, Literature.

Structural conventions are rules that should be followed. For instance, in geography and science essays, figures and tables are often used (though they are only included if they help to illustrate a point you are making). Figures and tables should always be clearly labelled and referred to in your essay text, for example, “the population has grown considerably over the last two decades (see figure 1)”.

Analysis

Analysis means breaking down your topic to bring out its essential elements or structure; you can use your research question as a prompt. The aim is to understand the topic better and to demonstrate this in your writing by establishing relevant findings derived from your research. When you make a particular point of analysis, be sure to support it with relevant evidence from your research.

If your essay is largely descriptive or narrative, it is unlikely to provide sufficient evidence of your skills of analysis.

Line of argument

A line of argument is a reasoned thread that runs through your essay, linking its various elements, bringing overall coherence and supporting the position you are taking. In other words, it is a set of logical connections with signposts that help the reader to see where your argument has come from and where it leads. A clear line of argument will complement your analysis and contribute to a convincing and effective piece of writing.

Why is this necessary? It helps the reader follow the logic of your argument, so they can see a clear pathway through the details of data, quotations and information that you present to support your position. Just as importantly, it also helps you, the author, to navigate your way clearly as you work through the subsections of the essay. A solid line of argument:

• helps your reader understand your position

• shows that you have a strong understanding of the material

• helps justify the choices you have made along the way

• helps to link your ideas coherently

• shows that you see “the big picture”

• moves your argument forward.

Ideally, you want the reader to be able to agree with your conclusions. For this to happen, they will need to be able to see how you have linked together the various parts of the essay in a logical and effective way. You do not want the reader to be asking, “This is interesting but how do the different parts fit together?”. The “fitting together” is your job as the author, not the job of the reader. The way the elements of the essay fit together should be obvious and explicit. There should be:

• a thread that links the elements of the essay

• an intentional and sustained set of logical connections.

What are the key elements of a “line of argument”? An extended essay typically has certain subsections that may be signposted by chapter headings or may emerge organically from the way the essay is written, as follows.

• Research question

• Research findings

• Conclusions

These sections are the key elements of the line of argument. Their beginnings and ends need to be signposted so the reader knows where they start and finish. To create an effective line of argument, you do not need to add an “extra layer”, or an extra paragraph, to the essay. Instead, you connect the parts that you would typically use, in an effective and explicit way.

Discussion

To demonstrate your discussion skills, you need to offer a considered and balanced review of the significance of your research findings that includes a range of factors or perspectives. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence. Compelling arguments are developed through thoughtful analysis of the evidence obtained from research.

Evaluation

As a discerning author of an extended essay, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of your essay by appraising your research materials, weighing up their strengths and limitations. This includes being aware of the stated or implied positions and views of the writers. Evaluation goes hand in hand with discussion and feeds into your line of argument as you work your way towards showing the reader that you have reached a well-founded conclusion

Evaluative

As you reflect on your extended essay experience, to be evaluative you need to consider the value of its impact on you as a learner. Give explicit examples of how you have transferred the skills you have learned to apply them in other contexts.

Growth

To reflect on your growth as a consequence of doing the extended essay, consider these questions: 

• How did changes in perspective impact your decision-making? 

• How might your experiences and insights shape your future thinking, including how you envisage transferring the skills and lessons you have learned to other circumstances, such as future studies, career or life in general?

How to get additional diploma points from the EE and TOK core components