IB Extended Essay General Guide. Archive copy.: EE Blog

Looking ahead to the EE Writing Days

You have probably spotted that next Monday and Tuesday (18th and 19th May) are the EE Writing Days and may be wondering what this means for you. Although we won't be gathering for a seminar in the Wilson Auditorium, or asking you to spend those days in the Library this year, they remain a vital part of your EE process.

What will happen?

• We will post the seminar material on this LibGuide in the form of several short videos dealing with different aspects of the process including: how to move from your investigation phase to your writing phase; guidance on the formal presentation requirements; advice about formal academic writing; and support with the technical aspects of citing and referencing. There will also be a short Forms quiz to help you to assess whether you have understood the material and are ready to start writing.
• You will have two days off-timetable with no other lessons so that you can concentrate on writing your essay. The expectation is that you should emerge from these two days with your first draft largely written. You should expect to upload that first draft to ManageBac immediately after half term Exeat (31st May) so that you can arrange to virtually meet your supervisor for feedback on the draft and for your second reflection session before the end of term. There may be some of you who have had difficulties with your investigation stage because, for example, you needed access to laboratory equipment that was not possible due to the COVID-19 situation, or your supervisor has not been available for some or all of that period. Clearly in these cases deadlines are flexible and you should contact your supervisor to discuss what is expected of you. You are still expected to engage with the Writing Day seminars however, as you will need this material at some point even if you are not quite ready yet.
• There will be four optional 'drop-in' Teams support sessions with Mrs Toerien (Mon p.3 and Tue p.3 or 6) or Mr Foster (Mon p.6) for technical help with citing and referencing, setting up your document or using sources in your work. If you need subject-specific support, please contact your supervisor. Teams invitations to the 'drop-in' sessions will be sent out later this week. Please note that these sessions are entirely optional and you only need to attend if you have an issue that you want support with.

What is expected of me?

• You need to be prepared to spend two focused days writing your essay - your timetable has been cleared for a reason. Your supervisor is only allowed to give you feedback on one full draft, so it is important that the draft essay you will submit after half term is as good as you can make it, or your one opportunity for feedback will have been wasted.
• You need to engage with all of the seminar resources provided.
• If you need help you must ask - attend a Teams drop-in session if you need to, email Mrs Toerien or Mr Foster, or email your supervisor with questions - but make sure you look at the resources we have provided first. It is not our job to read them to you.
• Links to all the seminar resources and full instructions for Monday morning will be sent out in a blog post over the weekend. Please make sure you read it and follow the instructions. Contact Mrs Toerien (JAT) if you have any difficulties with this.

After 5 months of hard work, you are entering the final stages of your EE process where you get to pull all your work together into an essay you can be really proud of - we sincerely hope you enjoy the writing experience!