DP1 - Semester 2 Outline Submission

World Studies Extended Essays

What makes WSEE different from an EE in other subjects?

A World Studies EE is an EE that is interdisciplinary, meaning that it draws upon the methods, understandings, and perspectives of more than one subject (specifically, for WSEE, there must be two subjects.)

The WSEE is also a thematic (專題) essay; research questions, and the way that you use the knowledge, concepts, and methods of two DP subjects are all directed towards exploring an issue that interests you as part of a larger, global theme. Those themes are explained below.

WSEE has its own set of rules and requirements; it does not follow the rules and requirements outlined in the other subjects (e.g., Economics does not have to follow a five-year rule.)

Lastly, a World Studies essay looks at a global issue or challenge through a local version of that challenge or issue. So, an essay about nuclear power plant safety (drawing upon ideas from Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies) may talk a bit about the general challenge of safety, but it is far more likely to zoom in and spend significant time on safety challenges to nuclear plants in Taiwan, or another specific region of the world. This local case study is used as an example to help explore the bigger picture.

Common Misconceptions

World Studies essays are not just a blend of two DP subjects -- World Studies is the subject. It has its own subject-specific guidance and interpretation of the rubric. The specific requirements of individual EE subjects do not apply to WSEE.
It is not a good option for someone who just doesn't know what to do. Like the other EE subjects, there are requirements and expectations that need to be met.
Not all subject combinations are viable -- they have to be subjects that line up nicely with the global theme you select, the subject of the essay, as well as the "local" case study you choose to use. You cannot just pick two DP subjects out of a hat and expect it to work.
Interdisciplinary learning means that both disciplines/subjects are necessary to understanding the issue. The ideal WSEE does not evaluate a problem from two different, separate perspectives -- the goal is to evaluate that problem from an interdisciplinary perspective, where both subjects add to the other's understanding. You should not treat the two disciplines separately, but integrate them.
You do not need to fully explore the issue -- there is a clear idea within World Studies that using a local case study (or even more than one local case study) will not help you fully explore an issue or topic. They are looking for you to highlight what the local study can teach us or help us understand about the global issue; it is normal to have things "left out." Those remaining topics or ideas could potentially be discussed in the conclusion of an essay...

Global Themes

For all of the WSEE global themes, sample topics and questions (as well as disciplines that could work for each) can be found on IBO's WSEE site. Check here: https://ibpublishing.ibo.org/extendedessay/apps/dpapp/tsm.html?doc=d_0_eeyyy_gui_1602_1_e&part=4&chapter=3

Conflict, Peace, and Security

Subjects like Literature, History, Global Politics, Economics, etc. often fit nicely here (alongside others.) This theme does not have to focus on CONFLICT, but can dig into ideas such as justice, the media, multiculturalism, etc.

An interest in public life or provocative literature or ideas can be a starting point for a WSEE in this global theme.

Culture, Language, and Identity

English A, English B, Global Politics, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, the Arts etc. all work very nicely in here. Chinese cannot be used as the language of the EE, since WSEE can only be written in English, Spanish, or French, BUT topics from literature and ideas about language are valuable no matter where they come from :)

A key idea here is often "identity." Look at the sample topics for this theme and you'll see that there is no requirement to focus on language -- these themes are BROAD on purpose.

Environmental and/or Economic Sustainability

This is for environmental OR economic sustainability (though there may be some essays that manage to use both.)

Here, the sciences are clearly more relevant! Economics and Business Management also get a real chance to shine. SDGs are pretty common topics here, so they can be good starting points. Many MDID Students have used this while combining issues from Biology/Chemistry as well to great success.

Equality and Inequality

Another broad category! Econ, Global Politics, Philosophy, Language/Literature, and even some relevance for the sciences (a bit.)

Group 3 combos are common here, as are some group 3/4 combinations. Language or Literature are also excellent disciplines to use, depending on the topic you select.

Health and Development

This theme is a great opportunity to explore a Group 3 and Group 4 subject in service of a research topic (GloPo/Bio, Physics/Econ, etc.)

Health obviously can have links to the sciences, but also to environmental issues (so Environmental Systems and Societies is viable) and politics (hello GloPo.) Development can be studied through a range of subjects: Econ, GloPo, Psychology, the sciences, etc.

Someone with a keen interest in both Group 3 and Group 4 may do well to consider a WSEE using this theme. Currently, MDID's only WSEE is in Health and Development.

Science, Technology, and Society

Despite seeming to favor sciences, this is also a surprisingly broad area -- literature works extremely well here, as does History (both with their useful application to "society" as an idea.) Heck, the picture I'm using is of Science Fiction author William Gibson, who wrote about things like the internet, metaverses, virtual reality, etc. in the 1980s. (Read Neuromancer if you're bored; it's terrific.)

If you find the computer science EE requirements to be a bit strict, this may be a way to use the subject (in combination with another) without those onerous expectations. Computer Science + Philosophy? 🤔

How to approach a WSEE?

IB recommends the following process - the Global Themes are really there to guide you towards a viable topic. DO NOT START WITH TWO TOPICS ALREADY IN MIND -- think global theme, then topic, then disciplinary lenses (DP subjects.) ONE of the DP subjects MUST be a course that you are currently in. The second does not have to be, though it will give you an advantage. It is possible to use a DP subject that MDID does not offer as the second discipline, but this is not recommended unless you are really motivated and have a good track record of keeping up with your work, catching up when you fall behind, etc.

Task 4: World Studies Example.

This task is not just the first time many of you would be looking at a full Extended Essay, but we will be looking at a previous MDID student's work - which hopefully should give you the idea that you, too, are capable of writing something like this. Students have done it before, and you can do it again.

Your task is to read the extended essay and trying to answer a series of questions about it - more specifically, about how it is able to use the themes of the Extended Essay to their advantage. In the end, after reading this, I want you to think about if you want to do an World Studies extended essay - there are usually 3-5 for every cohort.

All questions must be answered and submitted to your RSS by the due date. Don't forget to click the box to make sure I can see that you have finished it!

Questions for work:

How does the student explain why they are choosing this example as a relevant and important example for a local case study?
How does the student justify using their two DP subjects for this topic?
How does the student use the skills and ideas they gained from their DP subject in their discussion and analysis?
How does the student use multiple sources to help justify their analysis?
What do you think of the student's amount of citations and their use of citations and quotes inside their essay?
In the end, how effective was the student in answering their research question?