Extended Essay

The extended essay is an in-depth investigation into a topic of choice for each student enrolled in the IB Diploma Program. Completion of the essay is a requirement to receive the IB Diploma.

The extended essay gives each student an opportunity to learn and practice both research skills and writing skills based on a focused question.  Such research and writing provide the foundation for post-secondary research activities.

Students are not limited to choosing a topic from the six courses in which they are enrolled, but may choose a topic from any area of interest.  Students are encouraged to choose a topic both that interests them and from an area in which they are familiar in order to succeed in this endeavor.

The extended essay is to be a maximum of 4000 words.  This does not include the bibliography or any footnotes/endnotes that are made in the essay.

The extended essay is intended to take approximately 40 hours from start to finish.  The process begins in November of the junior year and ends in November of the senior year.

Each student will select an extended essay supervisor from the school staff.  This supervisor should be someone who either has a background in the research area or an avid interest in this area.  The student will meet with this supervisor both informally and for three formal meetings throughout the research and draft writing process.  The Extended Essay Coordinator will also be meeting with you once a month (either during late starts, in the TOK class, or by appointment) to make sure that your deadlines are being met and to support the research and writing process.

You will begin your research in our school library using databases from the Newport Beach Public Library. If more in-depth research is required, IB Students will be allowed access to the Libraries at UCI.

Students and their supervisors will meet on a regular basis and there are set deadlines for different phases of the extended essay that must be submitted.  The deadlines are outlined in the Extended Essay timeline issued to both students and supervisors.

The final copy of the Extended Essay is due the end of October in the second year of the IB Diploma Program (grade 12 year).