Writing your EE Introduction
Writing Your EE Introduction
The most important thing you need to know about writing your introduction is that it should be written LAST.
Although that sounds counterintuitive, that it is the best way to do it. Simply put, there is just no way to know everything that should go into your introduction until you have completed your research.
Once you have written the bulk of your paper including your reasoned argument and conclusion, you will then have all the info you need to complete your introduction.
Here are the basic components of what needs to be included in your EE introduction:
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Academic Context: You need to show how your question fits into existing knowledge about your topic.
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Outline of your argument: Go through your reasoned argument chronologically – in the order it appears in your paper.
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Scope: How have you approached your RQ? What types of sources were used – did you use any unconventional methods?
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Worthiness: why is your RQ worthy of investigation?
I strongly urge you to read Chapter 5 of the Oxford EE Guide as it gives much more detail about writing your introduction along with examples.
***Remember to state your Research Question clearly in the introduction and remember to do your introduction LAST!
Extended Essay Resources
Official IB Extended Essay Website with all EE publications.
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Oxford Extended Essay Guide by Kosta Lekanides
Call Number: IB 808 LEN
ISBN: 9780198377764
Publication Date: 2016
Best resource currently available for helping you manage your EE process!
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Extended essay: Skills for Success by Paul Hoang and Chris Taylor
Call Number: IS 808.4 HOA
ISBN: 9781510415126
Publication Date: 2017
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IB Extended Essay Guide by IBO
ISBN: 1786681439
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Writing the Main Body of your EE
Writing the Main Body of your EE
Reading Chapter 5 of the Oxford EE Guide to gain valuable insight cannot be understated if you are trying to learn about writing an excellent Extended Essay.
The Oxford Guide gives a clear path for writing effective paragraphs - follow the formula:
Thesis → Development → Evidence → Balance → Analysis
Writing your EE Conclusion
Writing your EE Conclusion
The most important thing to know about your conclusion is that it MUST ANSWER YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION.
So often we see students get caught up in an aspect of their research that leads them so far away from their original research question that they have not properly answered it in their conclusion.
For more information about writing your conclusion along with excellent examples, please see page 71 of the Oxford EE Guide.
