The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) has a comprehensive curriculum intended to foster holistic development among its students. Its curriculum includes three core components, i.e., EE, CAS, and TOK. Each component comes with certain challenges. IB Extended Essay Writing (EE) is a 4,000-word essay that allows students to plunge deep into a topic of their choice within the parameters of the IB syllabus.
Excelling at the art of IB Extended Essay writing is no small endeavour, as it requires dedication, meticulous planning, and a structured approach to research and writing. In the essay that follows, we will explore the important steps and strategies for writing a successful IB Extended Essay.
- Selecting the Research Question:
The first and foremost step in writing a good IB extended essay is to formulate a well-defined, unambiguous, and focused research question.
- The research question should be specific, relevant, and researchable within the scope of the chosen topic.
- It should be selected from one of the six IB subject groups.
- It is an added advantage to base your research question on real-world problems—the relevance of your research in the practical world.
A clear and concise research question serves as the foundation for your entire essay. So, it is important to take some time to brainstorm, refine, and finalise it.
- Doing preliminary research:
Put on your spectacles and peruse!
Once you have narrowed down your thoughts to a specific research question, begin with preliminary research in order to gain a deeper understanding of the chosen topic. This involves delving into books, academic journals, scholarly articles, existing literature related to your chosen topic, relevant magazines, etc. Try to seek information from reliable and reputable sources so that authenticity cannot be compromised.
- Formulating a Research Plan:
A plan is the distance between where you are and where you wish to reach.
The next step involves preparing a detailed research plan highlighting deadlines, milestones, and work. It is important to break down your work into small parts and allocate sufficient time for researching, writing, editing, and reviewing within the definitive time span.
- Primary and secondary research:
After formulating your research plan, the next step is to conduct primary and secondary research, depending on the topic you have selected. Primary research includes surveys, interviews, and experiments, and secondary research includes studying the existing literature and data. The research methodology should be clearly written down in your extended essay.
- Organising Your Ideas:
As you collect information, it becomes imperative to make a rough outline of your ideas and organise them as you keep on accumulating them. When you organise your ideas, it becomes easy to make connections between different aspects of your topic and form coherent arguments. - Formulating a Thesis Statement:
The thesis statement plays a significant role in your extended essay. This thesis statement will be a condensation of your entire extended essay. A well-crafted thesis statement will help you extend your arguments and counterarguments in an unambiguous way.
- It should be coherent and plausible.
- It should have substantiality in it.
- Developing a Structure for the Extended Essay:
The structure of your IB Extended Essay should be as per a standard academic format. It should include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Make sure that each section flows rationally and coherently, with smooth changes between ideas. Use appropriate citations and references while writing your extended essay.
- Introduction writing:
Your introduction should be delectable. It should provide background information, the context of your research study, and your thesis statement. The scope and structure of the essay should be laid out in the introduction.
- Developing the Body Paragraphs:
After developing a well-structured form, it is time to put in your well-formulated content. The body of your essay is where you present your arguments and evidence. Each paragraph should brood deeply on a single argument with proper supporting details before moving on to the next one. It is important to back up your arguments with proper evidence.
- Counterarguments and Evaluation:
Your arguments will support your thesis statement, but in order to make your essay more strenuous, you should add counterarguments and refute them in connection with your research question. Counterarguments are like rebuttals in the debate. They demonstrate your in-depth understanding of all aspects of the topic.
- Conclusion of the Essay and Reflection:
This step involves briefly writing down your key findings and interpretations. In this section, you should state your thesis statement, and it is advisable to avoid introducing new contentions and arguments. Reflect on the broader implications of your independent research project.
- Editing and proofreading:
No garden looks beautiful when weeds pervade it.
Carefully editing and proofreading your essay is necessary for clarity, coherence, and grammar.
Pro Tip: Make sure to take a break before revising to view your work from a fresh perspective.
- Seeking Feedback:
- The right guidance will help you stay on track. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask for help. It is important that you keep in touch with your EE supervisor or teacher to gain insights into the expectations of the extended essay.
- Peer feedback will help you receive constructive criticism so that you can improve upon your inconsistencies.
- Citations and formatting:
Make sure that your essay follows the required formatting and citation styles. Proper citations and references are required to avoid undue credit.
- Final Review:
Before submitting your final draft, it is important to do a final check for any overlooked errors or inconsistencies. Make sure your essay looks presentable and delectable.
Pro Tip: Do not overdo it. Genius is knowing when to stop.
In conclusion, there is no single approach to mastering your IB Extended Essay. It takes relentless efforts, careful planning and organising, diligent research, and good articulation to craft a good essay. No one is born with all the skills required to craft a good essay. Students will learn them in the process, and that’s the beauty of this challenging endeavour.
Happy researching and writing!
