An Extended Essay (EE) is intended to be an academic-style research paper on a topic of your choosing in one of the available IB subjects. As such, it is intended to adhere to certain formal guidelines. At its core, the Extended Essay is aimed at cultivating or developing a range of skills and attributes. These attributes are: inquiry, research skills, independence, critical thinking, writing skills, referencing, organizational skills, and creativity. It is a key part of the IB Diploma Core and students must pass the EE in order to qualify for the IB Diploma.
Students will not begin their EE until Winter of their junior year. This allows for students to explore the various IB courses and discover their area(s) of interest for further research. Each IB student will work with an OHS Faculty content advisor to help guide their research.
When picking an EE topic it is important for students to pick topics they find interesting and would like to know more about. Students will be spending a lot of time researching and writing about their topic. Being interested and engaged helps students stay motivated.