The Extended Essay ~ A User’s Guide for Palmer IB Diploma Students ~ Published April 2014 for the May 2015 Exam Session. You will need this next year and will not be provided with another copy! Please don’t lose this.

*** Contents FAQ’s Palmer timeline, products, and deadlines Subject Selection Previous Titles by Palmer Students Sample Outline and Annotated Bibliography Entry Form

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Name _____________________________ In addition to this material, there is one “document” you need: The Extended Essay Guide. There you will find assessment criteria and specific guidelines for each IB-approved Subject (e.g., History, Biology, etc.), among other things.

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The Extended Essay

~ FAQ’s

What is it? “The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects—normally one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB diploma. It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen” (EE Guide, p. 2). The essay may not be longer than 4000 words. A good minimum is 3500. When is the final version of the essay due? After winter break, senior year. How much does it count? Together with your performance in TOK, the EE can earn you an additional 3 points towards the 24 needed for the Diploma. If you receive an “Elementary” mark on your EE (the lowest of five marks), you then must earn 28 points to receive the Diploma. What’s the process? Read through the Extended Essay Guide. Choose a Diploma subject. Read the Subject Details for that subject. Consult with a faculty supervisor. Formulate a well-focused research question. Identify research sources. Research and write a 2-3 page sentence outline over the summer. Include an annotated bibliography of ten quality sources. Turn in your outline and bibliography in hard copy to Mr. Kern in TOK at the beginning of the first semester. Meet with your supervisor to plan next steps. Complete a draft of at least 3000 words during the first quarter. Submit it to turnitin.com and to Mr. Kern. Meet with your supervisor. Revise. Turn in your final version after winter break. (There may also be an electronic upload requirement.) Schedule a short concluding interview (10-15 minutes) with your supervisor. How do I pick a topic? Start first with the list of IB-approved Subjects. You may write an essay ONLY in subjects (courses) you have studied in IB with a very few exceptions. (A list is provided later in this packet.) Interdisciplinary approaches don’t work – except in the subject called “World Studies” – see details under that heading.) Then, consulting with your supervisor, determine a Research Question that targets a specific and limited Topic within that subject. Finally: You cannot duplicate IB-required work from other courses as your IA – e.g., your Historical Investigation, Math Studies Project, Psychology Experiment, etc. What is a supervisor and how do I get one? IB requires that each student have a supervisor who is a Palmer faculty member (not necessarily an IB teacher). According to IB, “The supervisor must have appropriate qualifications and experience in the subject chosen by the student…” The supervisor provides advice during this process. Approach a teacher soon and ask if he or she will be your supervisor. Don’t delay. Teachers are not expected to supervisor more than five EE’s, and many run out of slots quickly. How long am I expected to spend on it? “[A]pproximately 40 hours of work” (EE Guide, p. 3). What happens if I don’t do it? If you don’t submit an acceptable outline or rough draft by the stated deadlines, you will be scheduled out of the IB program. No matter how well you do in your courses, failure to complete an Extended Essay is a “failing condition,” meaning that you cannot earn an IB Diploma no matter how well you do in your individual classes. Since IB at Palmer is “Diploma only,” you may not remain in IB classes if it becomes apparent that you are no longer interested in or eligible to seek the Diploma.

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The Extended Essay

The Palmer Timeline

Process: What should I be Date or Timeframe doing? Today! Learn about EE basics th 4 quarter, junior 1. Consult the Extended Essay Guide year

Product: What is due? Only your attention

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Select an IB-approved subject. Find a Palmer teacher to serve as your supervisor. 4. Consult with your supervisor about your topic and research question (narrowed focus). 5. Identify research sources.

Who gets this? The IB Coordinator

There are no formal deadlines until May (see next step below), but your supervisor may require deadlines of his/her own (e.g., list of sources or conference times, etc.) prior to the end of the school year. This is entirely up to your supervisor and whatever arrangement you work out with him/her.

Mon., May 12

TURN IN: Extended Essay Entry Form (see page 9)

Summer between junior and senior years

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Mon., Aug 25

Turn in 2-3 page sentence outline & annotated bib.

First quarter, senior year

1.

Tues., Oct 21

Upload 3000-word (minimum) draft

Conduct your research, collecting additional sources as needed. 2. As you read and study, develop a preliminary thesis (answer to your research question). 3. Create a working outline and then a detailed, sentence outline.

Mrs. Kelly, IB Office

Although IB has no formal deadlines during the summer, your supervisor may establish or recommend some deadlines to you, such as finishing your research and revising your question. Some supervisors require their students to check in by phone or e-mail during the summer. Other supervisors give students a great deal of latitude (i.e., rope with which to hang themselves as they continue to procrastinate through those long, lazy summer afternoons). Either way, it is not your supervisor’s job to track you down or “make you” do this.

Meet with your supervisor following the submission of your outline to plan next steps 2. Draft essay

Mr. Kern, in TOK, then your supervisor

Again, no formal deadlines here, but your supervisor may recommend additional conferences.

Turnitin.com

Meet with your supervisor following the submission of your draft to plan revisions. 2. Revise and finalize essay

Your supervisor

Wed., Jan 7

Submit final version of EE in TOK (IB may also require electronic uploading)

Mr. Kern, in TOK

Sometime during February

Schedule and conduct your concluding interview

Your supervisor

Second quarter, senior year

1.

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Subject Selection: Start here… Group 1: English Language and Literature (solid choice) Group 2: Language B – must be written in the Language B, e.g., Spanish, French, Chinese (possible, not recommended: you should only consider this Subject if you are a very strong language student – i.e., consistently earn A’s) NOTE: Group 1 and Group 2 essays can be written in one of three categories that range from literary analysis, to language, to culture. Be sure to see the relevant pages in the EE guide, as the requirements are very precise. Failure to follow them will lead to a poor EE. Biology (good choice if strong in HL bio) Business and management Chemistry (good choice if strong in HL chem) Classical Greek and Latin Computer science (must have completed course as a junior and have strong skills) Dance (possible, not recommended – see below) Design technology Economics Environmental systems & societies (good choice – see below) Film (possible – see below) Geography (not recommended – see below) History (solid choice) Human rights (not recommended – see below)) Information technology in a global society (possible – see below)

Literature and performance (possible – see below) Mathematics (possible if strong in HL math) Music (possible – see below) Peace and conflict studies (solid choice) Philosophy Physics (must completed course as a junior and have strong skills) Politics (not recommended – see below) Psychology (solid choice) Social anthropology Sports, exercise, and health science (possible – see below) Theatre arts (possible – see below) Visual arts (solid choice if in SL/HL art) World religion (possible – see below) World studies (good choice – interdisciplinary – see below)

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You may not write an Essay in an IB subject that is crossed out. These are highly specialized fields that definitely require experience in an IB course to have any chance of success.

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You may not write an Essay in a subject you have not taken at Palmer, with the following exceptions: 

Environmental systems & societies: If you are scheduled for ESS next year, you could select this subject as everyone in IB has had some biology and chemistry in MYP. But you’ll need to plan on some significant time with a suitable supervisor this spring to make sure you have the environmental background and an acceptable research question.

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Geography, Human Rights, Politics: These are subjects where mastery of a complex conceptual framework is required. A strong, highly motivated student could probably make it work, but you need to be ready to teach yourself the theory. Palmer students electing to write in these subjects have typically struggled and earned low marks – though a few have done okay (e.g., “C’s”).

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Information technology in a global society: A student with a strong background / interest in technology (not necessarily computers) could make this subject work.

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Dance, Film, Literature and performance, Music, Theatre Arts: Students coming in with strong backgrounds (e.g., formal training, extensive experience) in these subjects who are highly motivated could make these essays work if they select a suitable approach.

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Sports, exercise, and health science: This subject combines aspects of anatomy and physiology with sports and exercise. It is definitely a science subject. A student who is strong in biology and/or who completed anatomy could make this subject work, but selecting the right topic will be essential.

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World Religions: A strong English or history student could make this work, but read the SubjectSpecific Details carefully. This is most definitely not a paper where you would discuss your personal beliefs or criticize/evangelize about your or others’ religions. We have had reasonable success in the past at Palmer when students have come into the process with fairly detailed prior knowledge about religion and/or a genuine and substantial curiosity.

NOTE: All of these subjects have their own official IB Subject Guides which you MUST read. These are separate from the 3-5 page Subject-Specific Details offered in the EE Guide. These are the extensive curriculum guides that teachers follow to deliver these courses, with all the aims/objectives, syllabus points, etc. You can get these from Mr. Kern. Remember: IB expects that if you write an Extended Essay in a subject, it is a subject you have formally studied. 

Special situations 

Computer science and physics. Writing a decent Extended Essay in these areas is challenging. You must have completed the SL courses at Palmer in your junior year to be allowed to write one in these subjects. You should have strong skills in these subjects as evidenced by A’s or B’s at the semester with the expectation of receiving at least a 4 (preferably a 5 or better) on the IB exam.

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World Studies. This is a relatively new offering for IB, and it is a good one! From the EE Subject Guide: An extended essay in world studies provides students with an opportunity to undertake an in-depth, interdisciplinary study of an issue of contemporary global significance. Students should choose to explore a topic from one of the following global themes: o o o o

o

Language, culture and identity Science, technology and society Equality and inequality Conflict, peace and security

o

Economic and/or environmental sustainability Health and development

World studies extended essays may examine issues such as the global food crisis, climate change, terrorism, energy security, migration, and global health, technology and cultural exchange. Global issues of this nature play out in local contexts—a zero-carbon-footprint city policy in Denmark; a new clean energy technology used by a village in India; the education of migrant children in two contrasting frontier towns. An in-depth examination of local instances of globally significant phenomena provides opportunities for a well-grounded appreciation and understanding of the issue under study.

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The Extended Essay

Previous Titles by Palmer Students

Group 1 (English Language and Literature) Deserts and Wastelands: Essential Motifs in Early Modernist Poetry

Music 1974: The End of Minimalism in Modern Music Peace and conflict studies

Group 2 (Languages B) Molière et la Farce: Sa Méthode Préféré d’Ecrire Biology

Political Deadlock: The Struggle between the State Peace and Development Council and the National League for Democracy for Control of the Government of Myanmar

The Analysis of the Human Mitochondrial DNA and its Applications in the Search for Human Origins

Physics

Chemistry

Aerodynamic Effects of Up-Turned and Down-Turned Tip Caps

The Comparison of Various Types of Teas through the Extraction of Caffeine

Psychology Towards Wholeness: How does Piaget’s theory of developmental stages of learning provide for a defense of art education in public schools?

Computer science Nueral Networks and Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis and Comparison of Hebbian and Self-Organizing Maps in Relation to the Creation of an Artifically Intelligent Computer

Theatre arts Methods in Madness: How and why have portrayals of Hamlet changed through the ages?

Environmental systems Blasted Legacies: How should we manage the the ecological impact of nuclear weapons testing on the American Southwest?

Visual arts Collisions at the Intersection of Art and Politics: What are the qualities of an effective editorial cartoon?

History

World religions

A Comparison of Virginia McClurg’s and Anna Dickinson’s Tactics in the Late 1800s and their Involvement in the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Spiritual Intersections: What do the common factors of mysticism in the Christian Desert Fathers, Zen Buddhism, and Islamic Sufism reveal about conceptions of ultimate reality?

Mathematics Applications of Quaternions in Three-Dimensional Transformation

TIP: Unsure about a Subject? See Ms. Kelly in the main office to check out some Essays by Palmer students during the past few years that have received high marks from IB. We have papers in all of the most commonly selected Subject areas. You can also see Mr. Kern for some model essays supplied digitally by IB which earned high marks. Bring a thumb drive with you to save a copy.

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Sentence Outline and Annotated Bibliography

Summer work

Instructions: Over the summer, you should conduct the majority of your research, fine-tune your research question, and develop a preliminary answer to your question. The required documentation for this work is a 2-3 page sentence outline and annotated bibliography. This will be due, in hard copy, to Mr. Kern in TOK (see Palmer Deadlines on p. 3 of this packet). Here are the specific requirements:  

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Begin by listing your IB Subject, your focused topic, and your research question. Include in your heading your EE supervisor. Next is the sentence outline. Note those words! To receive credit, this MUST be a sentence (with one exception, see below) outline in standard format. No bullets! o Use Roman numerals for major sections of your paper. Entries at this level are the ONLY exception to the complete sentence requirement. For this entry, you may write a question or a phrase that indicates the general focus of this section of your paper. o Use capital letters for topic sentences for each paragraph. o Use numerals for main supporting ideas and/or examples. o Indent to show the subordination of entries. o You do not need to outline your introduction or conclusion. o DO NOT INCLUDE EXTENSIVE QUOTATIONS FROM YOUR SOURCES. This outline is showing the main sections, key ideas, and summaries of supporting examples. Finally, the annotated bibliography, as follows: o You must have at least ten quality sources. This will almost certainly NOT be your final number of sources. After you and your supervisor have met to discuss your outline in September, he/she may well have additional suggestions. Most successful EE’s, depending on approach, have between 15 and 20 high-quality sources. o NONE of these sources may be Wikipedia, infoplease.com, about.com, or other generic internet sources. These are absolutely unacceptable when it comes to formal academic writing. o Put your bibliography is a recognized standard format appropriate to your chosen subject – APA, MLA, Chicago style, etc. o After each entry, provide a brief annotation that describes what this source is and how it is relevant (i.e., how will you use it) in your paper.

The following model should serve as a guide. To save space here, this is single-spaced. If it were double-spaced, it would be 3 pages. Your supervisor will find it easier to read if you use 1.5 or 2.0 spacing.

SENTENCE OUTLINE AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY IB Subject: Human Rights TOPIC: The fight over same sex marriage in the American states

My Name Supervisor’s Name

RESEARCH QUESTION: On what basis should same-sex marriage be considered a universal human right? I. What is meant by a fundamental human right? A. There have been numerous attempts in law and philosophy to offer theories and lists of human rights. 1. Generally, attempts offer a theory of origin: God-given or natural 2. Theories often focus on power relationships: in effect, those in power get to decide who has rights. B. The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a well-known effort to codify rights that should be available to all people simply based on their shared humanity. C. The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution is another attempt to universalize rights. II. Opposition to same-sex marriage: traditional definitions and Biblical values

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A. In the U.S, political and religious conservatives typically oppose same-sex-marriage. 1. Conservative religious opposition is based on a particular interpretation of the will of God – that God allows marriage only between one man and one woman. 2. Both conservative Protestant and Catholic readings of the Bible are often the basis for political opposition. B. Opposition is not always explicitly religious, but many federal and state laws in recent decades endorse the view that marriage is for heterosexual couples only. 1. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was passed on September 21, 1996 and signed into federal law by President Clinton. 2. Conservative majorities in many states have been successful in banning same sex marriage or amending state constitutions to include traditional (heterosexual) definitions of marriage. III. Marriage Equality: the evolution of a universal human right A. Many progressive Christians and Jews support same sex marriage based on a different interpretation of the Bible. 1. Such beliefs stem from the view that the Bible is not always meant to be taken literally, is not infalliable, and must be interpreted in light of modern, scientific findings. 2. The central values of love, mercy, inclusion, and dignity are emphasized by progressive religious voices. B. Politicians on the left have also evolved. 1. President Barack Obama expressed his support for same-sex marriage in 2012 after previously opposing it. 2. The repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell policy was seen as a victory for progressive views. 3. The Democrats included a “Freedom to Marry” section in their platform in 2012. C. The appeal to the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause is at the heart of the Human Rights Campaign. IV. A possible way forward: what science is telling us A. It may be possible to form a theory of human rights on what is “natural” from a scientific perspective rather than basing a theory on political or religious ideology. 1. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 2. Many researchers now believe that genetic heredity plays a role in homosexuality. 3. If sexual orientation is to some extent inherited, then perhaps it falls within the range of a normal continuum of human sexual expression. B. There is still not consensus on the relationship between nurture (environment, upbringing) and nature (genes, brain development) regarding sexuality, but if homosexuality is not really a “choice” or a “life style,” then not to allow gays and lesbians to marry as heterosexuals can is discrimination and a violation of human rights.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

[NOTE: For reasons of space, this model includes only three sources. Eventually, this Extended Essay included 25 sources. You need ten sources for this step.]

Bering, Jesse. “Is Your Child Gay?” Scientific American Mind. July/August 2012. This journal article summarizes academic research about whether sexual orientation is inherited genetically or develops in response to the environment. Donnelly, Jack. International Human Rights. Boulder: CO: Westview, 2007. Print. This book provides an overview of several theories about human rights, and it includes a number of primary sources like the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley. “Same Bible: Different Verdict on Gay Marriage. National Public Radio, May 11, 2012. Web. 26 August 2012. [URL omitted for length] This radio piece examines the different ways that conservatives and progressives interpret the Bible to provide justification for their support or opposition to same sex marriage.

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IB Diploma Program

EE Entry Form

Name of candidate: ___________________________________

IB Subject: _____________________________

This is an IB subject I have taken at Palmer. _______ Yes. If not, I have discussed this with Mr. Kern and his initials here indicate that this is ok: _______ EXCEPTIONS: You do not need Mr. Kern’s permission if you propose to write an essay in Environmental Systems and will take that course next year. You do not need permission to write in World Studies . Research Question: __________________________________________________________________________________ Five research sources in standard bibliographic form. One of these can be an expert in your subject area who is not your official supervisor. You must have ten by the time your sentence outline is due in August. NONE of these may be Wikipedia, infoplease.com, about.com, or similarly generic internet sources.

1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ENTRY PROCESS Create a link to the official EE Guide in your internet favorites. Access all the tabs and read the material under “Introduction.” These apply to all EE’s, no matter the subject: “Nature,” “Aims, “Assessment Objectives.” Then refer to “Details—All Essays” and “Details— Subject Specific” for process guidelines and specific details about EE subjects. Select a Subject. Make an appointment with a Palmer faculty member to discuss your ideas. Identify five research sources. Complete this form and return to Mrs. Kelly in the IB Office by Monday, May 12. Include five preliminary research sources. If you have not submitted this form by May 19 you will be notified to select a non-IB schedule for senior year. Official registration will be completed in the fall of your senior year during IB exam registration. Changes in Subject after registration result in additional fees, which the Candidate is responsible for paying.

I understand that in order to continue in the second year of the Diploma Program, I am expected to submit a 2-3 page sentence outline along with an annotated bibliography to Mr. Kern in TOK on August 25. I understand I must submit a 3000-word draft through turnitin.com by October 21. I understand that I must submit a final version of my essay on January 7 and that after I submit the final version I may not make any changes. I understand that these steps will generate grades in TOK. I understand that plagiarism (or other forms of “academic malpractice”) of the essay will result in my ineligibility to earn the IB Diploma. I understand that it is a requirement to meet with my supervisor as noted in this packet and that failure to do so will jeopardize my continuation in IB ____________________________________ Signature of candidate I will be working with the following teacher as my EE Supervisor: ___________________________________________ (Note: This person must be a member of the Palmer faculty but need not be an IB teacher.) ____________________________________ Signature of Supervisor My signature indicates that I will accept this student and that I believe that I “have appropriate qualifications and/or experience in the subject chosen by the student…” (EE Guide, p. 32).

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