FutureLearn

The IB Extended Essay: Managing your Research Project (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Leeds, International Baccalaureate Organization,

Get expert guidance on writing your IB Diploma Programme extended essay with this course designed for IB students and teachers. Develop the research skills needed for a successful IB extended essay. This course has been created to support International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme students who are writing an extended essay.

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You will get advice on choosing a topic and framing a research question, and learn how to identify suitable sources and analyse them to create strong arguments.

You will also learn how to structure your essay, write in an academic style and manage your time effectively so your project runs smoothly. Ultimately, the course will help you understand the importance of critical thinking and academic rigour as you plan and write a successful extended essay.

What topics will you cover?

Choosing a topic and a research question
Finding sources
Time and project management
Critical thinking
Writing effectively
Preparing to write

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Develop transferable study skills that can be directly applied to the IB extended essay (and later to UG study)
Explore techniques by which to narrow an area of interest into research questions
Describe how to evaluate the suitability of a range of sources and research material
Demonstrate how to accurately reference sources
Apply simple project management techniques to manage your time effectively
Explain how to plan, structure and write an extended research project
Produce a reflective log throughout the process of planning, writing and managing a research project.

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