Once you have a broad area that interests you, the next stage is to narrow it into something that can support a focused, analytical and feasible Extended Essay. This step is about shaping your curiosity into a researchable direction. You are still not writing your proposal at this point yet. You are strengthening your idea so that it can eventually become a strong research question.
Move from topic to problem: Broad topics are interesting, but they are too large for an Extended Essay. To narrow your focus, look for a specific issue within your topic that genuinely deserves investigation. Ask yourself:
What is unclear or debated in this area?
What do researchers disagree about?
What as changed over time?
What seems surprising or inconsistent?
A strong EE begins where something is NOT fully understood.
Begin shaping possible questions: Once you have identified a meaninful problem or tension, you can start exploring possible question starters and frameworks. These are not final questions, only early attempts at focusing your ideas.
Useful Question Starters:
To what extent: Weigh strengths against limitations and make a justified judgement. This is NOT a yes/no question.
In what ways: Identify different approaches and analyze their significance, impact, or implications.
How effective is: Evaluate performance using criteria and evidence.
Why might: Analyze plausible causes and underlying factors, not assert facts.
What is the relationship between: Analyze interaction, influence, and dependency between concepts
How far does: Evaluate scope, reach, and limits using evidence
If your answer could be written without words like suggests, implies, reveals, challenges, limits, or evaluates, it’s probably descriptive.
Check Subject Alignment: Every Extended Essay must follow the methods and expectations of one subject. Before you go any further, confirm that your emerging idea matches the subject you want to write in. Here are accurate reminders on the Extended Essay Guide 2027. Ask yourself:
Does my idea fit squarely within one DP subject?
Does it use methods and approaches of that subject?
Are there any restrictions I must follow?
Examples of subject area restrictions:
Film: Must analyze TWO or more feature length films.
Language A: Literature - Must be a work of literary merit.
Language A: Lang - non-literary texts
Language B: Essay must be written in target language focusing on language, culture, or literature.
Psychology: Must use psychological theory and research. No experiments on humans, no self studies, ethical issues must be addressed
History: Must focus on events at least 10 years old or older. Must use historical methods. No current events. No "what happened" essays.
Global Politics: Must focus on real-world political issues, can include contemporary events, must use political concepts
Biololgy/Chemistry: Must be empirical, requires data collection or analysis, must follow scientific method.Must not perform overly simple experiements or unsafe/unethical experiments. Pure literary reviews score lower.
ESS: Must integrate environmental and societal dimensions..
Visual Arts: Must be analytical and must focus on artworks and artists. Personal artwork cannot be your main focus.
Mathematics: Must explore mathematics beyond the course syllabus and have a clear mathematical focus required.
Interdisciplinary Pathway: Must be two IB Diploma subjects. Both subjects must be necessary to answer the research question. Concepts and method from both subjects woven throughout. You CANNOT use ESS or Literature & Performance in an Interdisciplinary EE. Your RQ must also fit into one of the following frameworks for the interdisciplinary EE pathway:
Power, Equality, Justice Culture, Identity, Expression Movement, Time, Space
Evidence, Measurement, Innovation Sustainability, Development, Change
Look for early sources: To narrow your question further, find three to five credible sources that relate to your topic and emerging problem. These do not need to be perfect yet. You are exploring what is possible. Suitable sources include: peer-reviewed articles, academic texts, reputable organizations or datasets, primary texts (literature/film), historical sources, etc.
Test early feasibility: A strong question is not only interesting. It is realistic. Ask yourself:
Can I access the data, texts, or sources I would need
Does the question allow real analysis
Is the scope of manageable in four thousand words
Are there ethical issues I must consider
Does this question clearly belong to a single subject pathway
If you cannot answer "yes" to these questions, refine your focus further.