The supervisor is the guide and mentor, not the subject expert or editor. Their role is to support the student through the rese4arch process while ensuring that the work remains entirely their own.
Core Responsibilities:
Provide process-focused guidance. Support the student in the understanding how to form a research question and use appropriate research methods.
Discuss and refine the topic and research question. Help the student choose a suitable topic, pathway and subject, and guide them in refining the question so that it is focused, feasible and aligned with the subject or pathway chosen.
Ensure understanding of the EE requirements. Make sure students understand: the expectations of the extended essay, the assessment criteria, the chosen pathway (subject focused or interdisciplinary), ethical and safety requirements, and responsibilities for academic integrity.
Supervise ethical, safe, and responsible research. Check the the research question and methods comply with legal, ethical and safety standards relating the health, human rights, confidentiality, animal welfare and environmental issues.
Offer up to five hours of support. Be available for three to five hours of supervision across the EE process, including support between the formal reflection sessions.
Conduct three mandatory reflection sessions. Hold the initial, interim and final reflection sessions and record the student's attendance on the RPF. Ensure the student completes one reflective statement of up to 500 words, which appe3ars on the final page of the RPF.
Provide feedback on one full draft. Offer comments on a single, complete draft focusing on clarity, structure, argument, critical thinking, and use of sources. Supervisors must NOT edit, rewrite, correct language, or provide detailed line by line suggestions.
Monitor academic integrity. Ensure that the essay is the student's own work. If concerns arise, supervisors must notify the EE Coordinatory (Mrs. Thompson).
Authenticate the final essay. After the final reflective session, confirm that the essay is authentic on the RPF.
Support reflective and independent learning., Encourage the student to use their Researcher's Reflection Space (RSS) for planning and reflection, recognizing that it is not assessed and not monitored.