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IB Extended Essay: Primary Text Research - Class of 2020: Overview

Overview

IB Extended Essay: Primary Text Research

Class of 2020

Resources for Extended Essays in the following Categories: Dance, Film, Language and Literature, Literature and Performance, Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Philosophy, and World Religions. Essays within these subject areas involve student analysis and interpretation of a work of art or language (the "text") in combination with either a critic's perspective or contextual research to support the student analysis. 

Opening Activity

Primary Text Research & Analysis 

  • Read the poem "A Far Cry from Africa" (you will be prompted to make a copy), asking questions as you read. What appears to be taking place in the poem? What do you need to know? Write questions on post-it notes (one question per note). 
  • Share questions with your table and create categories for all the questions. 
  • Share as a walk about - what do you notice? 

Connection to Research Legs - Secondary Sources

  • Open the Google Doc (you will be forced to make a copy) and, as we discuss each category, consider how these potential legs of research relate to the areas of inquiry in Walcott's poem. 
  • Following our large group discussion, reflect on your own topic and brainstorm potential connections to your own topic. 

Subject Specific Source Lists

Subject Specific Primary & Secondary Sources:

  1. Open the PDF (linked at the bottom of this column) and take notes on your subject guidance.
  2. Find the subject(s) you are considering for the EE. 
  3. Read the "subject-specific source lists" and the "types of sources". Guidance for each subject will appear two times in this document; be sure to read both sections. 
  4. What are the primary sources for your subject? And the secondary? What is the treatment of primary and secondary source material in your subject?
  5. Create some notes for yourself: What did you learn by reading this document? Where might you begin your research? 
  6. Open the Blackboard course and read the EE Scoring Document, listed under Subject Guidance Document for your topic.