EXTENDED ESSAY

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

 | Assignment 1 | Assignment 2 | Assignment 3 | Assignment 4 | Assignment 5 | Assignment 6 | Assignment 7 |

The Extended Essay is an independent research project that culminates in a large paper.  It is required for all diploma candidates in the IB Program.  Your Extended Essay Advisor is Mr. McGinn (that’s me!).  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

                                Free Periods:         3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and after school (most of the time).

                                Office:                    (773) 535-2138

                                Cell:                        (312) 320-1559

                                Email:                      dmcginn@stanfordalumni.org

 

1. Topic Approval and Mentor Selection                  DUE: Friday, September 19

♣ You must select a research topic of your own choosing.  This topic must be appropriate for a 4,000 word essay.  That means there must be enough research available (so that your essay isn’t too short) and the topic is narrow enough (so that your essay isn’t too long).

♣ You must select a mentor to assist you with researching and writing your essay.  This mentor must be knowledgeable in your topic.  Furthermore, make sure that your mentor is going to be available to assist you along the way.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 5% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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2. Thesis Approval                                                     DUE: Friday, September 26

♣ Generate a rough, working thesis.  This doesn’t have to be the absolute final thesis that will appear in your paper.  However, it should not change drastically after this date.  You should work closely with your mentor and/or the extended essay advisor for this assignment.

♣ Please turn in a copy of your rough thesis by the end of the day to me.  This copy needs to be typed, double-spaced, and it must include your mentor’s signature that they have approved your thesis.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 10% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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3. Research                                                                DUE: Friday, October 10

♣ Conduct research on your topic.  We will have a special morning workshop on Monday, September 29 to inform you about what source information you need to collect and how you can go about doing that.  It is also strongly recommended that you meet with your mentor to help you in finding the data you need.

♣ After you have completed your research, see your mentor and go over what you have found.  You must get approval from your mentor that you have done enough and the right kind of research.  You need to turn in a note to me by the above date to confirm this.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 10% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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4. Rough Bibliography                                               DUE: Friday, October 17

♣ Organize your research for your essay.  It is recommended that you work closely with the Extended Essay Advisor (me again!) on this and organize the information on note cards broken up into different categories or in an outline form with specific listings of research material.

♣ Create a rough bibliography of all the research material you intend to use in your extended essay.  Make sure that you have all the bibliographic information that you need at this point, but don’t worry yet about it being properly formatted.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 5% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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5. Rough Draft                                                           DUE: Friday, October 31

♣ Before you turn in your rough draft, you must meet with your mentor and have them read it over and make comments.  When you turn in the rough draft to me, please include a note from your mentor stating that they have read over the draft.

♣ Turn in your rough draft to the Extended Essay Advisor.  The essay should follow all the formatting conventions of your English papers for Ms. Spachman.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 25% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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6. Final Bibliography and Final Title             DUE: Friday, November 14

♣ Convert your rough bibliography into the final version that will appear in the polished draft that we will send out to IB.  This must be properly formatted.  We will have a meeting on what that formatting should be on the morning of Monday, November 3.

♣ Finalize the title of your essay according to IB standards.  We will have another workshop on the morning of Monday, November 10 to help you with your essay’s title.  Bring your working title with you as well as a copy of your thesis statement.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 5% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

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7. Final Draft                                                              DUE: Friday, December 5

♣ You must meet with your mentor and me before the due date for final conferences on your essay.  You must get your mentor’s signature indicating that this has taken place.

♣ Turn in your extended essay in its absolutely final form to Mr. McGinn by the end of the day.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 40% OF YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY GRADE FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS