The extended essay is a piece of personal research into a topic of your choice which has to be presented like a formal research paper with around 4,000 words. The extended essay in history gives students the opportunity to undertake in-depth research in an area of history of genuine interest to them.
Along with your grade for the Theory of Knowledge course, the EE can contribute up to three points to your total score for the IB Diploma. The extended essay should be around 4,000 words in length and as such, it is recommended that students spend 40 hours on the EE. The EE is concluded with a short interview, or viva voce, with your supervising teacher.
The essay is then externally marked out of 36 and given a grade from A-E. This is combined with your ToK grade to give an overall points score out of 3. Your extended essay in history should include the following elements:
Along with your grade for the Theory of Knowledge course, the EE can contribute up to three points to your total score for the IB Diploma. The extended essay should be around 4,000 words in length and as such, it is recommended that students spend 40 hours on the EE. The EE is concluded with a short interview, or viva voce, with your supervising teacher.
The essay is then externally marked out of 36 and given a grade from A-E. This is combined with your ToK grade to give an overall points score out of 3. Your extended essay in history should include the following elements:
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Contents Page
- Introduction
- Body of the essay - divided into chapters
- Conclusion
- References and Bibliography
- Appendices.
Step 1: Choose a topicYour choice of topic area for the EE is completely up to you and does not have to be part of the IBDP history course. Try to choose a topic you are genuinely interested in however bear in mind that you need to be able to access, read, analyse and evaluate a wide range of sources so choose something that is accessible to research. It can be related to a topic studied in class.
Step 2: Choose a Research QuestionOnce you have a topic, you need to decide what question you can ask within that topic. Start by doing some general reading about your topic to try and identify what the key issues are and possible areas of historical debate and analysis. Don't worry if you are not entirely happy to start with, you can refine your question as you carry out research. Look at these examples of how questions have been derived from topics:
Topic - Non-Intervention in the Spanish Civil War Question - Why did Britain pursue a policy of non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War during 1936? Topic - The Second World War in Asia Question - To what extent was the Jaywick Raid on Singapore Harbour in 1943 successful? Step 3: Start Collecting EvidenceStart looking for sources as soon as you have identified the topic you are interested in. You will need about 20 different sources including primary and secondary sources, books and articles by historians and websites. Try to gather a range of different types of sources.
Remember, as you gather you evidence and sources, be sure to make detailed and RELEVANT notes. Think about what you are trying to find out from each source before reading it. Categorise your notes thematically and sort it chronologically. Step 4: Complete EE Proposal FormOnce you have finished with your preliminary research, download and complete the EE Proposal Form.
Step 5: Start writing EssayOnce your proposal has been accepted, you can begin writing your EE. Tackle each section at a time. Refer to the pages for each Section of the EE on this website for help. Download and use this Mark Scheme to help make sure you are hitting full marks.
FIRST DRAFT IS DUE FIRST WEEK BACK AFTER SUMMER HOLIDAY IN SEPTEMBER OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! |
Example EE TitlesHow decisive was Spain's contribution to the outcome of World War Two?
How reliable is Hogarth's 'The Rake's Progress' as evidence of 18th century London? To what extent was the British victory against the communists during the Malayan Emergency due mainly to the actions of the High Commissioner, General Templer? To what extent was World War Two a catalyst for British decolonisation? How far did Nietzsche's ideas influence the Third Reich? How and why do Historical sources disagree about the life and career of Bonnie Parker? Finding SourcesTry to identify a selection of primary, secondary and online sources for your EE. Try using the following links to help with your research:
BBC History Magazine Search History Today Magazine Search Internet Modern History Sourcebook Visualising China - Great Primary Sources on Modern Chinese History. Guide to Online Primary Sources - Excellent database of links to primary evidence collections all online and covering various areas of world history. Amazon Booksearch Google Booksearch Example EE's Graded as A or BFor reference, have a look at some of the excellent EE's completed by students at the International School of Toulouse from www.activehistory.co.uk:
How and why do Historical sources disagree about the life and career of Bonnie Parker? To what extent was World War Two the catalyst or cause of British decolonisation? How did Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas influence the Nazi regime in the Third Reich? |
