The Extended Essay

Supervisor Workshop, Fall 2010Utica Academy for International Studies

Workshop Goals…

Understand the requirements and process that will prepare students to write the Extended Essay (EE)

Gain a better understanding of the scoring rubric and the scoring process

Understand the roles and responsibilities of an EE supervisor

Be prepared to create a informational department presentation to guide diploma candidates toward an area of EE study

The Diploma Programme

*Coordinators should consult programme guide for passing eligibility.

New Regulation for 2010

From 2010 onward, 28 points overall will be required for a student to be eligible for a diploma if that student earns an “E” in either TOK or Extended Essay. As previously, an “A” in one of those requirements earns an extra point even if the other grade is an “E.” Attaining in “E” in both still continues to represent an automatic failure.

The Extended Essay Manual

Required Material for All Supervisors(Pages 1-33)

Core Components—EE ManualIntroduction, Outline, Details, All

Essays◦General information for all subjects

Nature, aims, objectives of EE (p. 1-6) School (p. 7) Supervisors (p. 8-9) Students (p. 10) Use of media and other materials (p. 19) Viva voce (p. 20) General assessment criteria (p. 25)

EE Brief Description

Chosen from approved DP listRequired for IB diploma eligibilityExternally assessed by IBO evaluatorsTotal assessment points 0-36, of which

a grade between an A to E is awardedPoint relationship between TOK and EEOpportunity for personal explorationAligned with learner profile

EE General RequirementsBetween 3,500-4,000 wordsInvolves higher level research300 word abstractRepresents a 40-hour

commitmentNo editing by the supervisorSupervisor submits a predicted

grade and a supervisor’s report to the IBO

Concludes with the viva voce interview

Subject-Specific Areas

Where Can UAIS Students Write Their EEs?

Group 1 (English) Film Social and cultural anthropology

Group 2 (Spanish) Geography Theatre

Group 2 (Mandarin) History Visual Arts

Group 2 (French) Human Rights World Religions

Group 2 (Japanese) Information technology in a global society

Biology Mathematics

Chemistry Music

Classical Greek/Latin Peace and conflict studies

Computer Science Philosophy

Dance Physics

Design Technology Politics

Economics Psychology

Environmental systems and societies

EE Assessment Criteria (p. 22-31)

Provides overview of each criterion assesses

Forms the basis of the scoring rubric for all subject areas

Further advice on interpreting assessment criteria provided within guidelines for each subject provided in “Details—subject specific” section

Extended Essay CriteriaA Research Question 2B Introduction 2C Investigation 4D Knowledge/Understanding 4E Reasoned Argument 4F Apply Analysis & Evaluation 4G Language Appropriate 4H Conclusion 2I Formal Presentation 4J Abstract 2K Holistic Judgment 4

Extended Essay Grade Boundaries

A 29 – 36B 23 – 28C 16 – 22D 8 – 15E 0 – 7

Details—Subject Specific Guidelines Specific subject criteria (p.34-

175)Each subject area includes:

◦Overview of subject◦Choice of topic◦Treatment of the topic◦Interpretation of the assessment

rubricAll teachers must know subject-

specific details and criteria for students to be successful!

Supervisor ResponsibilitiesConduct departmental meetings for EEDiscuss choice of topicHelp formulate and adjust research questionEnsure research question satisfies legal and

ethical standardsAdvise students on how to:

• Gather and analyze information/evidence/data• Encourage consultation with school/university librarian(s)• Write an abstract• Document sources in standard format• Participate in the viva voce

Supervisor ResponsibilitiesRead sample essays & examiner

reports.◦Make samples available to students.◦Let students score sample essays.

Spend three to five hours with each student.◦Students may work with or consult

outside sources, but the supervisor is responsible for completing all responsibilities stated.

Supervisor ResponsibilitiesKnow subject area assessment

criteriaRead and comment on first draft

onlyMonitor progressRead final version to confirm

authenticityConduct the viva voceSubmit predicted gradeComplete evaluator’s reportReport malpractice, if suspected

The Iceberg Model

7/8 = Pre-Writing/Draft PhaseStudent & supervisor work together to:

Explore and discuss ideasLocate appropriate resourcesDiscuss readings and ideasDevelop a suitable research questionSupervisor monitors progressRepresents 3-5 hours of work per student

1/8 = Writing Phase

Student works independently to:

Write EE draftRevision conference drives final draft of essayPrepare the final EE

The UAIS EE ScheduleProvides internal & external due

datesTimeline can coincide with SDD

with sophomores and freshmenBuilds in six mandatory in-school

meetings with studentsEvaluation grade for TOK

following each interview, except Viva Voce

Students write their rough drafts during summer

Subject-Specific Seminars: Nov. 18

Goal: Provide students with specific subject area info necessary to select best topic

Juniors rotate four times among different classrooms, spending thirty minutes in each

Provide specific information about writing in your area that EE coordinator cannot

Subject Preference Seminars Outline

1. Overview of subject-specific guidelines and topic choices

2. Helpful examiner comments from English evaluators

3. Sample topics and questions for English

4. Subject-specific issues to consider before choosing English

5. Academic referencing6. Q&A or peruse examples if time

remains

Supervisor Selection: January

Students submit at least two EE proposals in two separate subjects; EE coordinator collects

Department representatives meet to divide students equitably and in their best interests

Departments meet to assess best supervisor-student relationship

Supervisor-student pairings announced

Discussion: Where Do We Go?

Option 1: Supervisors and students set own meeting times and department-generated due dates, set to occur before or after school or during lunch.

Option 2: Coordinator aligns freshmen & sophomore semester project work days with pre-determined due dates, set to occur during the school day itself.

Writing EE Research Questions

Must be truly in subject areaMust be specific, argumentative,

manageableScience: no blending of

disciplines and no secondary research papers

History: must be at least ten years past

Refer to Glossary of Command Terms

Conducting EE ResearchCoordinator will take students to

a university library, if possibleDepartments should give

students advice based on their own research experiences

Make clear a documentation style you expect and is appropriate for research

Demand working bibliographies, outlines, and written notes or note cards

But I Looked It Up!

Revision ConferenceFollows completion of the rough

draft in September of senior yearAbsolutely NO editing or marks

on clean paper provided back to student

Comments provided in boxes on rubric only

Conference regarding draft can only occur once!

Supervisor’s Final ReportMust be signed by the candidate

and the studentRequires estimate of total hours

spent with candidateCompleted only after a predicted

grade is given by the supervisor, with comments

Should NOT be signed if suspected of plagiarism

What is the Viva Voce?Verbal interviewLasts 10-15 minutesServes as conclusion to EE

processOpportunity for reflectionCan serve as

plagiarism/malpractice checkUsed to bolster holistic

assessmentShould end on a positive noteRefer to page 20 in EE guide

Academic Integrity (pages 36-47)

Student is ultimately responsible.Works or ideas of others must be

correctly acknowledged.Supervisor confirms that the EE the

student submits is authentic work of the student.

Both plagiarism and collusion are forms of malpractice.

Same piece of work, or two versions of the same, cannot be submitted by the student

EE Supervisor Integrity Tips

Always require draftsWhen in doubt, encourage

citationGive any suspicious read a

second look 24 hours laterFair and transparent application

of rulesCite the IB learner profile and

school policyMonitor progress regularly

Group Activity

1. Read over subject specific guidelines for your particular subject area.

2. Score one exemplar using the rubric to derive a predicted score. This mimics what you must do for each of your EE students.

3. Practice writing “non-editing” comments on the draft. Use the combined rubric for your subject matter to help you.

Group Activity: Scoring Guidelines

Scoring guidelines for EE supervisors

Scores for Sample EssaysLanguage A1 History

Poets A (33) Israel A (31)

Gatsby C (20) Mexico C (19)

History Biology

Israel A (31) Malaria D (10)

Mexico C (19) Juice B (25)

Plant Extracts A (33)

Mathematics

Fractional Calculus A (34) Visual Arts

Papageorge C (20)

Le Corbusier A (36)

Examiner Reports 2009Biology The most successful essays had a small number of a

clearly defined and easily manipulated independent variables and a quantifiable and easily measured dependent variable. Successful essays often relied on the use of basic equipment of the type that can be normally found in a school, and were carried out in the school laboratory or in the local environment.

There can be no doubt that the quality, and to a lesser extent the quantity, of supervision received by a candidate can play a significant role in the success of an extended essay. Consequently there is a strong need for supervisors to familiarize themselves with the current guide and to assist the candidates in interpreting the requirements.

Advice to All SupervisorsSome supervisors, unfortunately, appear

not to have ever read the responsibilities of the supervisor and subject criteria guide in the EE guide.

Some supervisors are neglecting to write any comments on the candidates’ performance—though claiming great amounts of supervision time.

A sizeable proportion of essays contained very brief, uninformative comments or none at all while others wrote lengthy reports that contained irrelevant information.

Reviewing Goals…

Understand the requirements and process that will prepare students to write the Extended Essay (EE)

Gain a better understanding of the scoring rubric and the scoring process

Understand the roles and responsibilities of an EE supervisor

Be prepared to create a informational department presentation to guide diploma candidates toward an area of EE study

Questions?

The Big Picture: Semester Projects

(How) can we better prepare our students for the Extended Essay with the current semester project?

Where, if at all, do we feel students need more help in the research process?