How to get TOP MARKS for CRITERION E with your IBDP Extended Essay
The key theme to be addressed in your reflections is: Engagement with the process is conceptual and personal, key decision- making during the research process is documented, and personal reflections are evidenced, including those that are forward-thinking.
Formal Reflection Sessions
Your three mandatory 20–30 minutes reflection sessions with your supervisor should be recorded on the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF). The first two sessions should focus on the progress you have made so far and set clear objectives for moving forward in your research process. The third session is the viva voce, the concluding reflection session. Following the completion of all three reflection sessions, your RPPF will be submitted to the IB along with your completed extended essay (EE). A mark of 0 is awarded for CRITERION E when a RPPF is not submitted.
Topics to Cover In Your Reflections... To Get TOP MARKS for EE Criterion E
Your reflection should include:
a critical evaluation of your decision-making process
the evolution and discovery of conceptual understandings as they relate to your research question and sources
your rationale for decisions made
research and essay writing skills you developed which may include:
critical thinking
decision-making
planning
referencing and citations
specific research methodology
time management
how your research process was authentic
example(s) of you applying intellectual initiative and creativity
highlight your research journey and how you engaged in this intellectual and personal process
how this research process has changed you as a learner
evidence of intellectual growth
an appreciation that learning and research is complex
responses to challenges and actions taken to overcome any challenges you may have experienced during the research process
approaches to learning ATL skills that you developed and bonus points if you can also link to one or more IB Learner Profile attributes you developed through the research process
reflect on successes and difficulties encountered in the research process
key learnings in terms of your research topic
how you made decisions about how you should best proceed with your learning and how you progressed from the concrete towards the abstract
an emphasis on process - reflect on conceptual understandings, decision-making, engagement with data, the research process, time management, methodology, successes and challenges, and the appropriateness of sources.
Three EE Reflection Sessions
Initial topic exploration, possible sources and methods, preliminary research questions and their personal reactions to the issues. Students should demonstrate the progress students have made in the research process.
Students can demonstrate the progress of their thinking, the development of their argument and raise any questions they may have with their supervisor. Discuss reactions to readings, progress in the timeline for completion of the extended essay, a possible outline of arguments, challenges encountered and the strategies used to overcome them.
The last session is the viva voce which takes place at the completion of the extended essay process. Students show what they have learned about the topic, the research process followed, their own learning, as well as outlining new questions they have uncovered. Most importantly, during the viva voce the RRS may help to highlight the personal significance of the work to the student and ultimately contribute to the supervisor's report.
Viva Voce
The viva voce is a short interview between the student and the supervisor and is the mandatory conclusion to the Extended Essay process. The viva voce is a celebration of the completion of the essay and a reflection on what the student has learned from the process.
Viva Voce Suggested Reflection Questions
To what extent were your initial ideas realized?
Were your original plans/ideas realistic and appropriate?
What do you think were your successes in this process?
What was the most rewarding aspect of the entire process?
How will this experience prepare you for future work of this nature (in college or employment?)
What is the personal significance of the work you have done?
Was there anything in your research that surprised you?
Can you give examples from your reflections to show how you have grown as a learner through the process?
What research skills and conceptual understandings have you acquired through the completion of the EE?
What other skills such as time management, decision-making or thinking skills have you learned?
What have you learned about the topic, the research process, and yourself as a learner?
What new questions do you have about your topic, or what questions remain unanswered?
If you were to undertake this research again, would you do it differently—if so, why or why not?
In preparation for the Viva Voce, pick 4-6 questions from the list above and these can be the questions your supervisor asks.
EE Supervisor's Comments
When you conduct the viva voce with your supervisor, be aware that your supervisors will be required to write comments for criterion E and this will impact your grade. For TOP MARKS, your supervisors should discuss and write about:
holistic evidence of the student’s learning experience
confirm the authenticity of the student’s ideas and sources
reflect on successes and difficulties encountered in the research process
overall impression of the student’s engagement with the research process
identify unusual intellectual inventiveness and how the student was able to demonstrate what had been learned as a result of this process
declare that the student understands any material that they have included in their essays
verify the authenticity of the work and that the student has demonstrated academic integrity - If there appear to be major shortcomings in citations or referencing, the supervisor will need to investigate, and the student's EE will not be authenticated if the supervisor believes the student may be guilty of plagiarism or some other form of academic misconduct
mention things, largely process-related, that may not be obvious in the essay itself, however, be aware that the supervisor should not attempt to do the examiner’s job
the viva voce should begin and end positively because completing this major piece of work is a great achievement and should be celebrated
Criterion E: Engagement
This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process and is based solely on the candidate’s reflections as detailed on the RPPF, with the supervisory comments and extended essay itself as context. The word limit for Criterion E is 500 words.
0:
The work does not reach a standard outlined by the descriptors, an RPPF has not been submitted, or the RPPF has been submitted in a language other than that of the essay.
1–2:
Engagement is limited.
Reflections on decision-making and planning are mostly descriptive.
These reflections communicate a limited degree of personal engagement with the research focus and/or research process.
3–4:
Engagement is good.
Reflections on decision-making and planning are analytical and include reference to conceptual understanding and skill development.
These reflections communicate a moderate degree of personal engagement with the research focus and process of research, demonstrating some intellectual initiative.
5–6
Engagement is excellent.
Reflections on decision-making and planning are evaluative and include reference to the student’s capacity to consider actions and ideas in response to challenges experienced in the research process.
These reflections communicate a high degree of intellectual and personal engagement with the research focus and process of research, demonstrating authenticity, intellectual initiative and/or creative approach in the student voice.
For the complete EE GUIDE: https://www.ibdigitalsociety.com/ee
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