Guide Extended essay Extended essay Guide Published February 2016 Updated October 2020 Published by International Baccalaureate Organization 15 Route des Morillons 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex Geneva, Switzerland Represented by IB Publishing Ltd, Churchillplein 6, The Hague, 2517JW The Netherlands © International Baccalaureate Organization 2016 The International Baccalaureate Organization (known as the IB) offers four high-quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world. This publication is one of a range of materials produced to support these programmes. The IB may use a variety of sources in its work and checks information to verify accuracy and authenticity, particularly when using community-based knowledge sources such as Wikipedia. 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IB mission statement The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. Table of Contents 1. Introduction....................................................................................................... 13 1.1. Introduction to the Diploma Programme................................................................... 13 1.1.1. The Diploma Programme model.......................................................................................................... 13 1.1.2. Choosing the right combination........................................................................................................... 14 1.2. The core of the Diploma Programme.......................................................................... 15 1.3. Coherence in the core........................................................................................................ 17 1.3.1. Supporting, and being supported by, the academic disciplines............................................... 17 1.3.2. Fostering international-mindedness.................................................................................................... 17 1.3.3. Developing self-awareness and a sense of identity....................................................................... 18 1.4. Approaches to teaching and learning......................................................................... 19 1.5. Approaches to teaching and learning and the extended essay......................... 20 1.6. Approaches to teaching.................................................................................................... 21 1.7. Approaches to learning..................................................................................................... 26 1.8. The IB mission statement and the IB learner profile............................................... 31 1.9. Academic honesty............................................................................................................... 32 1.9.1. Acknowledging the ideas or work of another person—minimum requirements............... 32 1.10. Learning diversity and learning support requirements....................................... 33 2. Overview of the extended essay...................................................................... 34 2.1. The extended essay at a glance..................................................................................... 34 2.2. Prior learning......................................................................................................................... 35 2.3. The nature of the extended essay................................................................................. 36 2.4. Engaging with sensitive topics....................................................................................... 37 2.5. Policies relevant to the extended essay...................................................................... 37 2.6. Aims.......................................................................................................................................... 37 2.7. Assessment objectives....................................................................................................... 38 2.8. Reflection in the core......................................................................................................... 39 2.9. Reflection in the extended essay................................................................................... 41 3. Supporting the extended essay....................................................................... 42 3.1. Administrative requirements of the extended essay.............................................. 42 3.2. Pedagogical support for the extended essay............................................................ 44 5 3.2.1. The school...................................................................................................................................................... 44 3.2.2. Diploma Programme/extended essay coordinator........................................................................ 45 3.2.3. The supervisor.............................................................................................................................................. 46 3.2.4. The student................................................................................................................................................... 48 3.3. The role of the librarian..................................................................................................... 50 3.3.1. Overview of the librarian’s role............................................................................................................. 50 3.3.2. Support for the extended essay............................................................................................................ 50 3.4. Important note on the role of external mentors...................................................... 53 3.5. Researcher's reflection space.......................................................................................... 54 3.5.1. The nature of the RRS............................................................................................................................... 54 3.5.2. The role of the RRS..................................................................................................................................... 54 3.5.3. The student–supervisor relationship................................................................................................... 55 4. Introducing students to the extended essay.................................................. 57 4.1. Introducing students to the extended essay............................................................. 57 4.2. The supervision process.................................................................................................... 57 4.3. Distinguishing between a supervision session and a reflection session.......... 58 4.3.1. Check-in sessions ....................................................................................................................................... 58 4.3.2. Formal reflection sessions....................................................................................................................... 58 4.4. Supporting the mandatory reflection sessions......................................................... 59 4.4.1. Reflection sessions...................................................................................................................................... 59 4.5. Preparation for the first reflection session................................................................. 60 4.6. First formal reflection session......................................................................................... 61 4.7. Preparation for the interim reflection session........................................................... 61 4.8. The interim reflection session......................................................................................... 62 4.9. Accommodating a change of direction....................................................................... 62 4.10. Commenting on a draft version of the extended essay...................................... 63 4.11. Submission requirements..............................................................................................