Families
New Families
Alumni
For the past six months, they have worked through a constant process of editing and revision in order to make sure that they were submitting their best work to the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) for assessment.
By the end of May, students had chosen their questions as well as the topic areas that they would explore. Students were encouraged to explore a question that they are passionate about as they can expect to spend around 40 hours working on the EE, but being GNS students, we mostly spent more. Determining the question is the first step and can often be the most difficult, as there are so many options to choose from. The second article in this series, The Extended Essay Part 2: Finding Your Question, explores the different topic areas and provides some tips from this year’s students on choosing the right question.
The next deadline was in June when students turned in their first draft to receive supervisor feedback. Supervisors are an integral part of the EE process. Not only are they experts in their topic areas, they understand the EE process inside out and will ensure that students receive the support they need. Along with topic-specific supervisors, Mme. Angie Girard and Ms. Jamie Elbert are in charge of managing the Extended Essay process and we’re very lucky to have such a caring, wonderful and organized team to support us through this journey.
Students then had the summer to work on their essays. This process consisted of additional feedback, reorganization and integration of feedback. Working on the EE over the summer is a true test of commitment, dedication and time management. However hard completing the IB Diploma Programme (DP) is and however much that students complain, each component of the DP serves to prepare students for post-secondary and onwards. Skills that we learn in the DP and writing the EE, such as time management and critical thinking can be applied not only for school, but in everything that we do.
Along with practical skills, the EE, specifically the World Studies EE, aims to help students develop the concept of global consciousness. This encompasses three strands: Global sensitivity: sensitivity to local events as the effect of worldwide development. Global understanding: the ability to keep an open and informed perspective on issues of global significance. The idea of the global self: developing a perception of our individuals being a member of humanity and capable of making a positive contribution to the worldwide community.
In September, students turned in their second draft to receive the last round of supervisor feedback. After this second round of feedback, students had until October to complete their last revision and integration of feedback.
This week, as students turned in their last reflections (which is a mandatory component of the EE), their EEs can be considered completed and will then be uploaded to the IBO in February 2024. On December 6, there will be an EE Extravaganza for the students and their supervisors to celebrate this major accomplishment.
This entire process couldn’t have been possible without the support received from teachers, families and fellow classmates. At GNS, we’re lucky to have such a strong support system as all our teachers go above and beyond to ensure we feel comfortable and prepared to take on anything the DP throws at us. The Extended Essay is a true cornerstone of the IB Diploma Programme: it incorporates all the content learned in all IB courses and it forces students to develop skills that they’ll carry from school and apply to their future careers.
