What Makes a Successful EE? (DP IB Extended Essay): Revision Note

A successful extended essay maintains a sharp focus on the Research Question (RQ) throughout the entire document

It demonstrates a command of the specific subject by using correct terminology and concepts

• Terminology refers to the specific vocabulary and technical words used by experts in that subject area

The essay must go beyond simply describing facts or telling a story

• Descriptive writing focuses on answering "what", "where" and "when" to give background information

• Analytical writing focuses on answering "how", "why" and "so what" to explore relationships and significance

Strong essays explore patterns, causes and effects rather than just listing information

The essay must present a clear line of argument

• A line of argument is a logical "thread" that connects your research question, your evidence and your conclusion

Every point made in the essay should contribute directly to answering the research question

Arguments must be supported by sufficient and relevant evidence

• Evidence includes data, quotations, citations or examples drawn from your research

The conclusion should be a logical synthesis of the findings rather than just a summary of what was written

Evaluation involves critically appraising the value, reliability and validity of your research materials and methods

It demonstrates critical thinking—the ability to assess the value of information—by weighing up the strengths and limitations of the evidence you have found

Evaluation helps you to identify potential bias in your sources

• Bias is an inclination or prejudice for or against something that might affect the neutrality of a source

It allows you to explain why certain results occurred or why some sources might contradict others

Evaluation should not be saved for a separate section at the end of the essay

It must be integrated into the main body of the text alongside your analysis

You should evaluate your sources and methods at the specific moment you use them to support an argument

• This approach shows the examiner that you are acting as a discerning researcher throughout the whole process

Consistent evaluation is the primary focus of Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation, which is worth 8 marks—the highest individual mark for any of the five criteria

This criterion assesses your ability to provide a balanced discussion of your findings

• A balanced discussion is a review that considers a range of different factors or perspectives rather than just one side of an argument

Because examiners look for evidence of assessment criteria throughout the entire essay, rather than in just one section, you must demonstrate these evaluative skills consistently to reach the higher markbands