The Extended Essay Writing the Research Question AIMS

The Extended Essay Writing the Research Question

AIMS of the Extended Essay § To provide students the opportunity to: • • pursue independent research on a focused topic develop research and communication skills develop the skills of creative and critical thinking engage in a systematic process of research appropriate to the subject • experience the excitement of intellectual discovery. © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

What College Writing Is… § Academic writing done by scholars for scholars. • “…being a scholar requires that you read, think, argue, and write in certain ways. ” § Academic writing devoted to topics and questions that are of interest to the academic community. • “When you write an academic paper, you must…find a topic or question that is relevant and appropriate. ” © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

What College Writing Is… § Academic writing [presents] the reader with an informed argument. • “To construct an informed argument, you must first try to sort out what you know about a subject from what you think about a subject. ” --quoted from The Dartmouth Writing Project http: //www. dartmouth. edu/~writing/materials/stude nt/ac_paper/what. html © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

REMEMBER Create a Working Bibliography © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

It’s Just One Question! How Difficult Can That Be? Developing Research Questions © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

If you still need to think about this: § Take out the Brainstorming worksheet (from Session 1) § Compose three urgent questions related to each topic: • FOR EXAMPLE: Now that I think about it, I really want to know, ”What drove Sanford to betray King Leopold at the Anti-Slavery Conference? ” Page 7 © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

• OR, “By examining the early Belgian Congolese trade, what can we learn about contemporary American trade agreements with nations that institutionalize inhumanity against their citizens? ” • Doing this will help you come up with a unified question that incorporates the topic---but it takes some thinking and discussion! Page 8 © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Let’s take time to peruse § Some examples with EXAMINER comments from IB Connected: Extended Essay Page 9 © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Practice! (Purposeful Questions Worksheet) § § § Step 1: Name your topic Step 2: Suggest a question Step 3: Add a rationale Repeat the process as needed NOTE: You cannot write a full statement of purpose/rationale until you have gathered and read some solid information on your topic. Once you have done so, you’ll almost be ready to write your research question. © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Command Terms Can Become Question Stems § Account for — Asks candidates to explain a particular event or outcome. Candidates are expected to present a reasoned case for the existence of something. © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Command Terms Can Become Question Stems § How — On its own this is a straightforward invitation to present an account of a given situation or development. Often a second part will be added to such an essay question to encourage analysis. • Adding a second word such as "successfully", "effective", "accurate", or "far" turns a "how" question into one that requires a judgment. The candidate is now expected to provide his/her detailed reasons for that judgment. © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Command Terms Can Become Question Stems § To what extent — Asks candidates to evaluate the success or otherwise of one argument or concept over another. Candidates should present a conclusion supported by arguments. © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Command Terms Can Become Question Stems § Why — This short key word invites candidates to present reasons for the existence of something. Thus, the brevity of this command rather disguises a powerful requirement to present a detailed, reasoned argument. In effect it is similar to the invitation "account for". © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009

Acknowledgements § International Baccalaureate Organization § Dartmouth Writing Project § Barbara Dirscherl Teacher Librarian Palm Harbor University HS Palm Harbor, FL § Sharon Vansickle English, TOK Marietta High School Marietta, Georgia © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009