EE: Extended Essay 

Step 1: Choose a topic you care about
Pick something in the visual arts that genuinely interests you. This could be an artist or movement, a visual culture, or a theme or issue (like identity, protest, or gender in art). Avoid topics that are too broad. Be specific.

Step 2: Develop a focused research question
Turn your topic into a clear, focused question that can be investigated.
Examples:

• Too broad: How has street art changed over time?

• Better: To what extent does Banksy’s work critique consumer culture through visual symbolism?
  Make sure you can answer the question through research and visual analysis.

Step 3: Do your research
Gather both primary and secondary sources. 

• Primary sources include the artworks themselves. 

• Secondary sources include books, articles, interviews, exhibition catalogs, and videos.
  Use reliable sources and keep track of your references for citations.

Step 4: Analyze the artworks closely
Use visual arts vocabulary to describe and analyze what you see. Focus on formal elements like line, color, texture, space, and form, as well as style, technique, context, and symbolism.
Ask questions like: What is the artist expressing? How do they express it? What historical or cultural context matters?

Step 5: Plan and outline
Organize your ideas before writing.

• Introduction: Introduce your topic and research question. Explain why it’s important.

• Body: Break the essay into sections, each with a clear focus that supports your argument.

• Conclusion: Answer your question and explain the significance of your findings.
  Keep referring back to your research question to stay on track.

Step 6: Write a draft and revise
Write clearly and formally. Include images of the artworks you analyze and refer to them directly. Don’t just describe—analyze.
Ask your supervisor or teacher for feedback, and revise accordingly.

Step 7: Finalize and submit
Make sure your essay is no more than 4,000 words. Include proper citations, a bibliography, and a list of images. Use a citation style approved by IB (like MLA). Double-check formatting and requirements before submitting.

Quick Tips:
Stick to a timeline and break the work into smaller steps. Use your Visual Arts Journal as a place to explore ideas and track your thinking. Remember, the EE is a chance to show both your research skills and your creative thinking in the arts.

Prioritize visual analysis. Treat the artwork like a primary text. Focus on how visual elements create meaning—not just the artist’s biography or context.

Craft a debate-worthy question. Use phrasing like “to what extent” or “how effectively” to invite multiple interpretations and deeper analysis.

Think critically about sources. Don’t just quote experts, question their perspectives and explore alternative views.

Compare with purpose. Only use comparisons when they reveal something deeper about form, meaning, or cultural context.

Show your thinking process. Reflect on how your ideas evolved. Intellectual growth is part of what the IB values.