Smallbone Library: Extended Essay (IB): Supervisor resources

The box below is mirrored from the Choosing a Subject and Topic tab:

Subject Specific Guidance

Use the links below to explore the Subject-Specific Guidance for your chosen subject. Note that it is very important to use the side navigation menu to make sure you have read ALL the relevant guidance (see example for Biology, below).

You MUST read the subject-specific guidance before completing your Supervisor Application Form, and reread it before completing your Research Proposal Log. You might find it helpful to take notes using the Using the Subject-Specific Guidelines table.

Electronic versions of these can be found at the top right hand side of this page (follow links). If you wish to submit your handwritten version to ManageBac, you may upload a (legible!) photograph.

Graphic organisers we recommend to students

None of these resources are compulsory, assessed IB resources. They are merely intended to support students through the process. The only assessed items from an IB perspective are the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (which can be found on ManageBac) and the essay itself.

As a school, we make the Supervisor Application Form and Research Proposal Form compulsory in order to get the process off to a strong start. All other resources are optional (but highly recommended).

Resources students (could) use during the initial stages of their Extended Essay

Using the Subject Specific Guidelines
To help students to use the Subject Specific Guidelines to narrow down on a topic. Paper copy appears in the EE Handbook.
[Student link on "Choosing a Subject and Topic" tab]
Research Proposal Log
A way for students to document the process of narrowing down their topic and to show that they have been doing some background reading. No need for a Research Question at this stage.
[Student link on "Choosing a Subject and Topic" tab]

Resources that are particularly useful for the Investigation Days and beyond

Annotated Bibliography (IB EE)
A good way for students to keep track of the sources they have found. Encourage students to use this when they are in the 'wider reading' stage, and then narrow down to the Investigative Journal when they want to focus on individual sources in more detail.
[Student link on "Choosing a Subject and Topic" and "Finding and Selecting Sources" tabs]
Keyword Record
Please encourage students to use this (or something similar) to record the keywords they use in their searching. This will both help you (and Library staff) to understand and advise if they struggle to find appropriate sources, and will allow students to explain their search methodology - which is a requirement in many subjects.
[Student link on "Developing a Line of Inquiry" and "Finding and Selecting Sources" tabs]
Investigative Journal (IB)
Encourage students to use this (or a similar resource) to help them to engage critically with and evaluate their sources. An example of how it might be used is given below.
[Student link on "Finding and Selecting Sources" and "Working with ideas" tabs]
Sample investigative Journal
This sample IJ shows how each box is intended to be used, and gives three examples of how to cite and reference sources, with a bibliography at the end.
[Student link on IT Workshop 1 tab]
CRAAP Testing rubric
A rubric to help students to determine whether a source is suitable to use for academic work. Particularly relevant for websites.
[Student link on "Finding and Selecting Sources" tab]
Reflection Task (for first reflection)
Students were given this document in EE Seminar 2 and it was suggested that they fill it in and bring it to their first formal supervision. It is designed to help you to support the First Refecttion on the RPPF.
[Student link on "Reflecting" tab]

Resources that are particularly useful for the Writing Days

Research Organiser (all Groups except Group 4)
To help students gather their ideas as they move from working with their sources, to forming their own understanding and towards expressing their ideas. This particular resource is most suited to an argumentative essay and I hope to produce more resources for other essay styles before the EE Writing Days this year.
[Student link on "Working with ideas" and "Expressing your ideas" tabs]
Research Organiser (Group 4)
To help students gather their ideas as they move from working with their sources, to forming their own understanding and towards expressing their ideas. This particular resource is aimed at Group 4 EE students.
[Student link on "Working with ideas" and "Expressing your ideas" tabs]
Word Template (Oakham APAv3)
Word template students can use for their essays. This template only has suitable styles set up for headings etc. Students still need to structure their essays themselves.
[Student link on "Expressing your ideas" tab]
Example EE Layout (Oakham APA)
A sample EE, explaining key IB layout requirements.
[Student link on "Expressing your ideas" tab]

Guides to support you and your students

Recommended Resources - Upper School Guide
This guide gives both general and subject specific advice for using our Subscription Databases, books and general websites. If you have subject specific resources that you direct students to that are not listed on this guide, please let me know and I will add them.
[Student link on "Finding and Selecting Sources" tab]
IT workshop 1
The IT workshop 1 tab on this (EE) guide has VIDEO GUIDES (as well as printable PDFs) to citing and referencing using Word for Mac and Windows, and using Zotero (for iPad users and those who cannot access Word).
Citing and referencing guide (APA)
This is a detailed guide to working with sources, and citing many different types of resource (e.g. YouTube video) using Word. This guide is constantly evolving, so if there is a source type you or your students need that is not currently listed, please let me know.
[Student link on and "Finding and Selecting Sources" and "Expressing your ideas" tabs]

IB EE Guides for supervisors

EE Guide: The role of the supervisor
A basic intro to the role of the supervisor from the official EE website.
Teacher support material (pedagogical support for the EE)
More detailed support for supervisors, particularly in relation to supporting reflection. Make sure you use the sidebar menu to access all the pages.

EE Subject Reports

New reports are published every 3 years, with 2021 ones being the most recent.

The box below is mirrored from the student "Expressing your ideas" tab on this guide:

Examples of EEs with mark schemes

Sample EEs
These are sample essays, with mark sheets, on the IB Extended Essay website. Do not spend too long reading the essays - the most important use of these is to look at the mark schemes for essays in your subject to see what examiners are looking for, and what mistakes to avoid.

Sample EEs in German Language and Literature A (not provided on site above)

NOTE: These were all written before the 2018 rule changes so contain structural features such as abstracts, which should no longer be used. The mark scheme has also changed substantially, so be careful how you use these.

Notice for Mac users

Important notice for Mac users using Safari:
If you are having any problems accessing the embedded videos, this is probably because you have "Prevent cross-site tracking" switched on, which is the default option in Safari. You have two choices. You can either turn this setting off and refresh your browser screen (at which point the videos should allow you to sign in and should work) or you can use a different browser.
There are instructions below for turning off "Prevent cross-site tracking" in Safari. If you want to use a different browser, I use Firefox (available free here), but there are many other choices available.

Changing privacy settings in Safari

Extended Essay (IB): Supervisor resources

Introduction