Every research project involves a lot of effort, meticulous planning, and organisation. The IB Extended Essay Success is no different. There is not a single way to excel in this particular endeavour, but with the essay that follows, students can take guidance and easily navigate through the process of crafting a good extended essay.
Check, check, check…
A right topic goes a long way: Choosing a suitable topic is like choosing the right fit for a party.
The first and foremost thing while working on an IB extended essay is to choose a topic that interests you personally. It is important to choose a suitable topic, as you will be spending a good amount of time on this topic. Choosing the right topic will help you stay motivated throughout the process. It should be within the scope of your IB syllabus and be feasible enough to gather enough resources.
Formulation of a Research Question:
Once you check the right topic on your checklist, next comes the task of formulating a well-defined research question. It should be specific and focused, and it should add something to the existing repository of scholarship. It would be an added advantage that your research question offers a practical application. This research question will become the basis of your entire research, analysis, evaluation, and writing process. Your supervisors can help refine your research questions, so it becomes important to stay in touch with them.
Rigorous research: Sit, Peruse, Explore.
The research question holds no substantiated weight unless you do thorough research. Research forms the core of the Extended Essay, and students should delve deep into a variety of sources, including books, scholarly articles, academic journals, relevant magazines, etc. The credibility and reliability of these sources should be critically evaluated by the students. Good systematic and planned research will help in a thorough understanding of the conceptual and practical knowledge of your subject matter. Organise the gathered information logically and keep detailed notes to facilitate the writing process.
Pro Tip: Make note of the references and citations to give the original creator their due credit.
Creating a good structure: Crafting a detailed outline is like structuring the building.
In order to maintain the flow and integrity of the ideas and arguments, students should take the time to structure their Extended Essays. Divide the essay into sections, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should contribute to the overall coherence of the essay. A well-structured essay will help you present your ideas in a coherent manner, giving you little room to beat around the bush.
Writing a Compelling Introduction: First impression is the last impression.
This will be your assessor’s first encounter with your Extended Essay. Therefore, writing a compelling introduction becomes as important as anything. An introduction should present your research question, thesis statement, and the significance, background, and context of your chosen topic. Your introduction should be delectable and establish your essay’s importance.
Plausibility and coherency in arguments: What follows the introduction is as important as the introduction itself.
What makes your thesis gritty and strenuous? Arguments.
Arguments are the essence of your Extended Essay. They should be sound, plausible, and coherent in all ways possible. Students should keep in mind that while constructing the arguments, they must relate to the research question at hand. It should not deviate from the thesis statement. Evidence, collected from empirical as well as conceptual methods, must properly back up the arguments in order to make a good Extended Essay. The coherency of the entire essay should not be compromised at any cost.
Applying Analytical Analysis: The hermeneutics of the written text is the most crucial element when it comes to research projects. The IB Extended Essay is no exception.
The next thing on the checklist is applying the critical analysis to your IB Extended Essay. Good Extended Essays demonstrate a high level of critical evaluation and analysis. When you critically analyse a particular topic, you go deep into the text in order to extract meaning—good and bad things in a particular text. A well-critically analysed essay demonstrates a deep understanding of the topic at hand, to your advantage.
References and Citations: Every failed attempt to refer to and cite your Extended Essay will amount to plagiarism.
Credit should always be given wherever it is due. You must keep in mind to cite and refer to the sources you have used while writing the paper. Citations and references should be made in the academic style recommended. Failing to cite the sources can lead to serious academic repercussions.
Adherence to rules is the key: Adherence to the rules is the key. The Extended Essay has a strict word limit of 4,000 words.
The limitations of the essay lie in its lack of adherence to the relevant rules. The word limit is the primary rule that should be kept in mind before submitting your Extended Essay. Students should check the word limit while writing and before submitting the final draft. They should avoid unnecessary and irrelevant information in their essay, as this can feel like an unnecessary stretch.
Conclusion:
Writing a successful Extended Essay is, no doubt, a herculean task, but with effort comes the chance to grow personally and professionally. In order to write a good Extended Essay, you should keep this checklist in mind and keep ticking off every item on the list as you move forward. This way, you will not only score well but will also develop various skills that can be proven really effective in the years to come.
Happy writing!
