What is the Extended Essay?

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The extended essay is a piece of personal research into a topic of your choice which has to be presented like a formal research paper with around 4,000 words. The extended essay in history gives students the opportunity to undertake in-depth research in an area of history of genuine interest to them.

Along with your grade for the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course, the EE can contribute up to three points to your total score for the IB Diploma. The extended essay should be around 4,000 words in length and as such, it is recommended that students spend 40 hours on the EE. During the EE process, students are required to attend three reflection sessions, in which a formal written reflection has to be written. The last reflection session is concluded with a short interview, or viva voce, with your supervising teacher.

The essay is then externally marked out of 34 and given a grade from A-D. This is combined with your ToK grade to give an overall points score out of 3. Your extended essay in history should include the following elements:

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1. Title Page

Your Extended Essay needs a professional looking title page that includes key information about your essay such as word count, school code, and name.

3. Introduction

An introduction explains to the reader your thesis and gives historical context to your question as well as discussing the significance and relevance of the essay.

5. Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to answer your essay question by making a judgement based on the weight of arguments and evidence.

2. Abstract and Contents Page

An abstract is a brief summary of your essay that outlines your thesis, the scope of your essay and method used. A clear contents page is also needed.

4. Body of the Essay

The main body is the essay. Here you develop your thesis, make and substantiate arguments and analyse and evaluate sources.

6. References, Bibliography and Appendices

Your essay should finish with a properly referenced bibliography with consistent footnoting throughout, as well as an appendix of documents used.

Student Examples Graded as A or B

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To what extent was Karl Marx responsible for the effects Maoism had on China's society?

To what extent was World War Two the catalyst or cause of British Decolonisation?

How did Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas influence the Nazi regime in the Third Reich?