CAJCS Extended Essay Guide: WORLD STUDIES

The WSEE is organized across six global themes. You choose one of these under which to register your essay.  The themes are:

Conflict, peace, and security
Culture, language, and identity
Environment and/or economic sustainability
Equality and inequality
Health and development
Science, technology and society.

Note: these are not World Studies subjects but themes. In other words, the WSEE reverses the normal principle of EE choice since with a subject EE you should choose the subject first and then the topic but with a WSEE it is the other way round. 

You must be aware that the WSEE should be concerned with an issue of global importance. This should not be too difficult to identify but it should also be explained and demonstrated by a local example. This can simply be localized. In other words, it does not have to be concerned with the area where you live, although local studies often provide the best opportunity for collection of unique and ingenious data, such as in-depth interviews and quality surveys. 
'Local' is quite flexible because it could refer to a small village or a country. The point is that you are able to make the connection between what is happening at a local level and the global theme under which you are submitting your essay. The ideas for many essays originate from students' involvement in activities in their local communities, often as part of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) opportunities, or equally from an issue that may have been raised in one of your lessons. 
Local does not have to be interpreted as 'local' when writing the essay either. You may live in one country but be concerned by something that is happening in another country. In other words, your issue is one that is local to the population that it is being examined. 
So, for example, a study of the world refugee crisis would be a suitable global study for the WSEE and an examination of the particular problems created by the Syrian Civil War would provide a good localized study. However, if the researcher lived in Germany and looked at the impact at home of a large influx of refugees and migrants, this would provide opportunity for a local study. 

It is important to think not only about what would make a strong question in World Studies, but what would make a weak one. This will help make sure that the question you write is a good one. A weak WSEE question is one that: 

•  Does not give a strong sense of why the inquiry is important.
• Fails to link with a global issue.
• Does not illustrate why the research question is important.
• Is too broad and cannot be answered properly in 4,000 words.
• Is based too much on common sense or obvious information and, especially, relies too much on information from the internet.
•  Does not make it clear how the IB subjects are related to the inquiry or how they are linked together.
• Has a focus on a global issue but the essay only draws on one subject discipline.
•  Is descriptive and narrative, that is, does not analyze or critically examine the global issue that is being studied.
• Has a focus that is interdisciplinary but where the research question does not address a global issue.
   

A student discussing a world studies essay - old criteria but same idea.

■    Adopt an interdisciplinary approach using two IB Diploma Programme subjects.
■    Start from an issue of contemporary global significance rather than subject choice. This means your research question will be based on an issue rather than a subject.
■    Explore the issue of global significance through a local study.
■    Reflect on global consciousness.

•   global sensitivity - sensitivity to local issues and experiences as part of broader ideas
• global understanding - the ability to think and act in open-minded and intelligent ways about issues of global and local importance
• global self - a clear idea of yourself as a global citizen but also a member of a local community, a city or a nation, who is able to make a worthwhile contribution to the world.

Most WSEE students will make clear mention of the two subjects being considered in the introduction to the essay. The introduction of a WSEE is another area where this style of essay differs markedly from a subject-specific EE. Traditional EE introductions are short and structured -they should have: 

■    A clear statement of the research question
■    A section dealing with the significance of the topic, and
■    The methods used in the research and writing of the essay.

The introduction in a WSEE should have much more to deal with, so will be longer in length than traditional EEs. The introduction of the WSEE should address questions, such as: 

■    What is the contemporary global issue being considered?
■    Why is this global issue of importance?
■    How is this manifested in a local context?
■    What subjects form the basis of the WSEE and how do they relate to the research question?
■    What methods have been used?
■    What is the significance of your research question?

An explanation of how your research question requires an interdisciplinary approach will be very clear if you have written a good introduction. You should also state which 1B Diploma Programme subjects will be used and why, and provide some definitions of key concepts selected from these subjects. Don't include irrelevant background material in the introduction, though it is a good idea to write a broad outline of your essay. 

• The WSEE is becoming increasingly popular.
•  It is an interdisciplinary essay, with direct links to two IB Diploma Programme subjects.
• The WSEE provides you with the opportunity to write an EE on a contemporary issue of global significance within a local context.
• When formulating your WSEE research question, think carefully about: your local
• connection, your global connection, and your two chosen Diploma Programme
• subjects.
• The WSEE is likely to have a much longer introduction than a traditional EE.
• Your choice of sources is important. Use academic sources and don't rely too much on current news media or the internet.
• There are six themes for the WSEE and your essay must fall into one of these.
•  A good WSEE research question will consider: a global issue within a localized
• context, two IB Diploma Programme subject disciplines and a narrow focus to enable the essay to be successfully completed within 4,000 words.