Required Structure of the EE (DP IB Extended Essay): Revision Note

What structural components must every EE include?

• The structural conventions for the EE—the required rules for presenting an academic paper—are specifically assessed under Criterion A: Framework for the essay

• Every essay submitted for assessment must include the following six elements to meet formal requirements

  • Title page — must clearly state the research question (RQ), student code, the subject or subjects being investigated, and the final word count

  • Contents page — provides "signposts" for the reader to help them predict the direction of the essay

  • Introduction — sets the initial focus and provides the necessary context for the inquiry

  • Body of the essay — the main section where the reasoned argument is developed through evidence

  • Conclusion — the final summative section that addresses the results of the investigation

  • Reference list or bibliography — a mandatory list of either the sources specifically cited in the text or all materials consulted during research