CAJCS Extended Essay Guide: FIRST REFLECTION

INTERVIEW SESSION (20–30 minutes) 

Below are the EE First Formal Reflection questions for the interview:

Choosing and Justifying the Topic:

1. What sparked your interest in this particular topic or area of research?
2. Why do you think this topic is significant enough for an Extended Essay?
3. Have you identified a clear research question yet, or what are your initial ideas?
4. How does your chosen topic align with your IB subjects, personal interests, or future academic goals?
5. How does your research question connect to real-world applications or current issues in science or society?

Preliminary Research and Planning:

1. What initial research or reading have you completed so far?
2. What challenges or problems have you encountered at this early stage of research?
3. How have these early challenges helped you refine or narrow your research focus?
4. Which specific resources or research methods do you plan to use going forward?
5. Have you created a timeline or outline for the next steps of your research? If yes, what does it include?

For Science Students

1. Have you identified a suitable methodology or experimental approach to address your research question? Please explain.
2. What specific variables (independent, dependent, control) have you identified at this stage?

Goals and Expectations:

• How do you plan to stay organized, motivated, and manage your time effectively?
•  Are there any specific areas (research skills, structuring arguments, citing sources, etc.) where you anticipate needing additional guidance or support?

First session

• I have decided to research the topic of... because I am interested in/care about...

• Because of my experiences with X, I want to find out why...

• X made me wonder why Y happens.

• Now that I have done X... (present perfect tense), I will do Y... (future tense)

• In order to learn more about ...I will have to ...

SOURCE: PHILPOT EDUCATION 

Construct a sentence by selecting words from each column within each section. For example:

For me, the most meaningful element was . .

source: 

LIBRARY AND LEARNING SERVICES STUDY GUIDE | REFLECTIVE WRITING

www.2.eit.ac.nz/library/OnlineGuides/Reflective Writing.pdf

Questions about my choice of research topic

1. What am I interested in researching and why?

2. What are my motivations for undertaking research in this area?

3. Is my chosen topic appropriate for the subject I have chosen to complete it in?

4. How might I go about undertaking this research?

5. Are my chosen research methods appropriate for the subject I have chosen to complete it in?

6. Are there any ethical issues I need to consider before pursuing this area of research?

Questions about my research so far

7. What have I learned about my subject area so far?

8. What questions are emerging from my research so far?

9. What possible question(s) might I research?

10. What is the next step in my research?

Questions to think about during the IB Investigation Days

11. Will my research question allow me to think critically about the topic I am researching? If it suggests a descriptive response, how might I need to change it to allow for more critical thinking?

12. Given the initial reading I have undertaken on the subject, is my research question appropriate for the subject I am submitting my EE in?

• Preparation for the first reflection session
• First formal reflection session
• Examples of marked reflections with grades

• First Reflection Examples from EUR 2021 (PLEASE LOGIN WITH YOUR CATHEDRAL EMAIL ID)