CAJCS Extended Essay Guide: ESSAY STRUCTURE

SOURCE: PHILPOT EDUCATION

The main body of the EE can differ structurally depending on which subject (or topic even) has been chosen. When structuring an EE the first consideration for the main body is to choose between a free-flow writing style or a more compartmentalized one where the essay is subdivided into sections or chapters.

FREE FLOW or SECTIONS

Although there is no hard and fast rule for this, the table below lists the most commonly seen approaches when it comes to structuring an essay in a particular subject (or topic area):

Irrespective of the chosen approach, all essays benefit from some clear pre-planning with regards to the core points they wish to develop so as to answer their research question.

Identifying the essay’s core points is of immense help when it comes to structuring the student’s writing as it can form the basis of the sub-headings used (or in the case of a free-flow essay. The layout of the paragraphs) so that a developing argument is formed.

Irrespective of the approach selected, all essays should feature paragraphs. The important point to keep in mind when it comes to paragraphs is that they should indicate a shift from one line of argument to another, or from one developmental point to another.

If you are doing a literature-based essay, you will be required to present and discuss data and put it into a new context or interpretation. It is not sufficient to do a summary essay based on what you have read – there must be analysis and interpretation that is yours and yours alone. Regarding choice of topic, please ensure that your topic fits specifically within Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Many students start out with topics that are in-between subject areas (such as Biochemistry or Medicine) and are often inappropriate for an EE in Science. Check the current EE guide for subject-specific guidance. The following headings should be used to organize your essay:

1.Introduction – this should be the last section of your essay that gets written. It must include thefollowing sub-headings:

➢Research Question should very early in the introduction. Your extended essay mentor can help youdesign a good research question.

➢Hypothesis and Explanation of Hypothesis which detail both your prediction about the outcome of your experiment and an explanation, based on theory (citations are a must here), which supports your hypothesis.

➢Variables, which should be identified as follows:

• Dependent
• Controlled (both Independent and Fixed)
• Uncontrolled

Your variables may be presented in a table, as follows:

In addition, your introduction must include relevant background information. Keep in mind that the examiners are IB teachers from your chosen subject area, so it is not necessary to be overly simplistic here.

2. Materials and Methods – this should be written in paragraph form. If you feel the need to include the minute details of your experiment (i.e. if you refer to specific steps in your error analysis, for example) it may be included as an appendix. This section is written in past tense, since you have already completed your experiment when you are writing your essay.

3.Data Collection – includes your observations in words, tables and graphs.

➢Relevant qualitative observations

➢Summary data tables (again, raw data could be included in an appendix if necessary) which include some descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations.

➢Graphs are often a good way to show trends in your data, and are most useful included within the body of your essay.

4.Analysis of Data – includes calculations such as rate of reaction, and analytical statistics.

5.Discussion – this is where you discuss whether or not your experiment has answered your research question. Error analysis, extensions to the investigation and unanswered questions are also included in this section.

6.Conclusion – in one to two paragraphs, conclude your essay with what was learned during the investigation. It should refer back directly to the research question, and whether or not the hypothesis was correct. Sources of error may be reiterated here (briefly).

7.Works Cited – this is not a “Bibliography” of all the books, journals and websites you consulted while writing your EE. Only list those works you specifically cited in your essay. All entries should have a corresponding intext in the body of the Essay.

8.Appendices – if necessary, this is where you include the details of your experimental protocol and raw data. This is only necessary if you specifically refer to them in your essay (i.e. in the discussion). Keep in mind that examiners are not required to look at your appendices, so if you really need them to see something (like a graph) it is probably best to include it within the body of your essay.

SOURCE: PHILPOT EDUCATION

A detailed Essay plan also allows for much smoother drafting and editing stages.

A 4000 word essay is quite substantial and to ensure that you meet all the requirements a word count/allocation is a good way to begin. 

All subject area essays will naturally differ in their requirements.  However, the following suggested structure is a very good guide.  The structure below is based on 200 word paragraphs.

Introduction – 800 words

• Must include the RQ in bold – preferably in the first paragraph
• Context: What key aspects can you discuss to ensure you’ve provided some academic context underpinning your research question?
• For locally based investigations ensure you clearly identify and locate the local context
• Outline of argument: What features, aspects, factors, theories and so forth will your essay utilize in order to arrive at a conclusion?
• Give an overview of methodology and scope – how do you plan to answer the question? What authors, scientists, case studies, theories and so on have been consulted to answer your research question?
• What is the significance of your research? Why is this topic worthy of consideration?

FOR DETAILS CLICK ON INTRODUCTION PAGE

Body – 2400 words

The EE is focused on presenting an argument and the body of the essay needs to clearly build this argument arc.

• Divide the essay body into four sections of approximately 600 words
• Each section focuses on one main point with supporting information
• Each section includes approximately three paragraphs
• In the essay plan clearly identify your intended supporting information/ideas/evidence in point form
• Ensure that you use the strongest points in the argument first and last with the weaker points in the middle
• Ensure that your argument is not descriptive – it must be analytical

Conclusion – 600 words

• Paragraph one: Answer the Research Question! Clearly tie all the main points of your argument together to address the exact wording of your RQ
• Paragraph two: Include an implicit link to TOK.  Once you have become very familiar with your investigation you will find it easy to identify the knowledge questions that arise
• Paragraph three: Any construction of new knowledge – which is what your investigation has achieved! – leads to further questions to be answered in future investigations.  Suggest future lines of inquiry

Those mathematicians amongst you will notice that the above structure is 3800 words.  This gives you an extra 200 words to include wherever you feel may be necessary.

To address all the criteria, you must stick to the word limit as closely as possible!  Do not exceed the word limit at all – this is a very easy way to lose marks.

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE FOR THE CONCLUSION PAGE 

When conducting an analysis, the student is effectively relating the material gathered to the primary focus and objectives of the EE’s research question. The key questions that the student should be asking of the sources are:

When conducting an analysis:

• Student must demonstrate a scholarly interpretation of the findings – this means that the student must draw links to academic theories or approaches relevant to the subject, not simply tell a narrative or provide a description of the data.
• Student must provide evidence to support various points and highlight the relationship between them. This often means referring to the primary and secondary research findings (including any statistics, tables and diagrams) to support the argument.

The exemplar model below provides a structures approach to paragraph writing based on five parts that can be visually represented thus: