SOURCE: PHILPOT EDUCATION
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:
Your variables may be presented in a table, as follows:
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Dependent Variable |
What is measured in your experiment(s) |
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Controlled Variables |
Independent Variable(s) |
What is manipulated, or controlled over a range of values. |
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Fixed Variables |
What is kept constant |
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Uncontrolled Variables |
Factors which likely have an influence on your experiment(s), but you are unable to control or minimize. |
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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.