Subject Specific Information Task

Subject Specific Information Task 

I created this task for students to complete before their first meeting with their supervisor. The aim of the task is for students to get a clear understanding of the requirements of the Extended Essay in their chosen subject before they meet with their supervisor for the first time.

The information that the students need to complete the tasks can be found in the ‘subject specific guidance’ section of the International Baccalaureate’s Extended Essay website.

I show this document to the Extended Essay supervisors before they meet their students for the first time to show them what the student should know by the time the meeting happens. If a supervisor is new to the Extended Essay it is also good for them to look through the document to give them an overview of the subject specific rules that they will have to be aware of in order to make sure their student is on the right track.

Contents

1. The first part of the document asks the students to look at each subject’s introduction overview, which I put from the website (in each subject’s subject specific guidance part of the website) onto Managebac. If you don’t use Managebac you can either adapt this resource with the links straight to the website or you could save the introduction documents onto your own school’s drive. The reason I put each subject specific introduction document onto Managebac is so that teachers can find it easily too. From the introduction document the students must summarise:

• The introduction
• Topic selection
• The research question
• Research methods

2. Students are then directed to the framework of the essay and must summarise

• Introduction
• Methods most relevant to subjects in this group
• Suggestions for possible sources
• Particular things to be aware of
• Summary
• The EE and internal assessments

3. Students are then guided to the website’s subject specific guidance section (using history as an example) and must make notes on the following:

• Overview
• Categories (if applicable)
• Subject specific information / rules
• Examples of good topics

4. Student must look at how they must treat their topic, focusing on (where applicable):

• Primary research
• Secondary research
• Writing the essay
• Disciplinary focus
• Use and analysis of texts
• General

5. Students must make notes on how the assessment criteria is applied in their subject, focusing on:

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (Strands: Topic, Research question, Methodology)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (Strands: Context, Subject-specific terminology and concepts)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (Strands: Research, Analysis and Discussion and evaluation)
• Criterion D: Presentation (Strands: Structure, Layout)
• Criterion E: Engagement (Strands: Process, Research focus)