THE RESEARCH QUESTION

The purpose of this assignment is to lead you to the research question that will be at the heart of your
extended essay. The research question is the central theme of your paper: it is the thing you are
arguing. Therefore, for most subject areas, it is vitally important to craft a research question that is
arguable, and, more importantly, arguable within the word limit and subject guidelines of your EE
subject area. It is challenging to create a knowledge question that is broad enough to allow for a wide
spectrum of research, and yet narrow enough to enable you to focus your essay and limit it to 3500-
4000 words. In order to do this, you will spend time researching, experimenting with different ideas,
and evaluating possible questions. The end result will be one research question that then will be the
focus of your paper.

Please note: it is possible (and in some cases, good) that your research question will change at some
point in the future. So you shouldn’t feel boxed into the research question you come up with at the end
of this week; however, you should work hard to hone in on a quality research question during this time.

DUE DATES AND OTHER PROCEDURES:

 The Research Question Assignment

- Submit in the Managebac and Google Classroom drop box.
- Do not submit the Research Question Proposal Form together with this.
- Duration: December 5, 2022 – January 9, 2023

Submit the research question assignment, works cited list of the sources you found that pertain to that
question, and one paragraph that explains why you think the question lends itself to an effective
investigation within the word limit, concept mapping page within the span of time allocated to it.

 Research Question Proposal to Supervisors

- Present your Research Question assignment to your supervisor and his/her co-supervisor.
- Due: January 16 – 20, 2023

 The Research Question Proposal approved by Supervisor

- Submit in the Managebac and Google Classroom drop box
- Due: February 1 – 3 , 2023

NOTE: Some of you might be switching supervisors/teachers for 1st semester next Academic year
(2023-2024), so you will have to visit your 2nd semester teacher during this Academic year (2022-2023)
in order to get your papers back. Make sure to retrieve them (the assignments) because they may have
comments on them; also, you will have done great groundwork for the next steps in the EE process.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE

Plagiarism ranges from taking text in bulk from other sources and not citing and/or quoting it to making
a typo in the bibliography. You must be very careful to cite every single idea that you get from another
source, regardless of whether or not you’ve taken any direct quotes. If you are approaching a due date
and haven’t made much progress, the absolute worst thing you can do is plagiarize. It is very, very easy
for your teachers and supervisors to detect plagiarism; plus, it’s wrong. So just don’t do it. If you have
questions about what constitutes plagiarism, you definitely should ask, because sometimes it isn’t
clear. But the basic idea is that if you have gotten any idea or piece of information from any source
other than your own mind, you have to accurately state where you got that idea, with the exception of
commonly-held prior knowledge (ex: 1 + 1 = 2; Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, etc.).

HELPFUL HINTS

1. Do not wait until the last minute on any step of this process. Utilize the new Researcher’s Reflection
Space to plan, write notes, reminders, thoughts, ideas, and anything else.

2. Though only three meetings with your supervisor are required, see them regularly to discuss your
progress or any questions you may have.

3. Save your notes and work from every stage of this process. Use ManageBac to communicate with
your supervisor, so that all your meetings and conversations are captured.

4. If you are confused about anything, talk to your teacher or supervisor as soon as humanly possible.

5. Do not panic if you mess up. Until you submit your final draft, everything is fixable.

6. Do not limit yourself to electronic sources; books are extremely valuable.

7. The EE requires patience. Research doesn’t always go smoothly; sources can be hard to find;
conclusions might be not what you were expecting; it can be very hard to synthesize the information
you’ve found. Be patient and devote time just to thinking things through.

8. You do not need to come up with an earth-shattering thesis or conclusion. The point of this project is
to learn how to research properly and make an effective argument by presenting information in an
organized way. Do not feel pressure to come up with an “original” thesis.
Name:__________________________________________________Class:____________

THE RESEARCH QUESTION ASSIGNMENT

Developing a narrow, focused research question is an integral part of your extended essay process. A
research question will provide a path to guide you through your research and writing.
Step 1. Choose Which subject area is of most personal interest to you? Is there something you are
your subject area especially curious about in one of your IB courses? Did one of your ERP's from an
earlier grade spark an idea that can be researched?

Step 2. Choose a Describe your work in one sentence.

topic that interests
you a turnaround company, as a result change of operational strategy.
I want to learn about __________________________.
Example: I want to learn about public funding for the arts.

Step 3. Suggest a Try to describe your research by developing a question that specifies something about
question your topic.
I am studying ______________________ because I want to find out (who, what, when,
where, whether, why or how) ___________________________.
Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to find out how
accessible the arts are to those people who are on low incomes.
Direct question: To what extent are the arts accessible to people who belong to the
class of the working poor?
Include a command term from your subject area to help form the research question.
Will you be able to argue a specific position? What are some possible issues or
arguments?

Step 4. Evaluate Answer the questions:

your question
Is there a range of perspectives on this topic?
Does the research question allow for analysis, evaluation and the development of a
reasoned argument?
I am studying __________________ because I want to find out
____________________________ in order to understand (how, why or whether)
________________________________________________.
Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to find out how
accessible the arts are to the working poor so I can determine whether tax dollars
support cultural enrichment for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic status.

Step 5. Restate Asking the question in a different way might help you view your topic in a different way.
your question
using a different How does analyzing …
command term To what extent …
(specifically your
choice of subject
group’s command
terms)

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Step 6. Review Is your supervisor able to understand the nature of your research?
with your
supervisor

Is it clear to your supervisor how and why your topic is relevant in your subject area?

Step 7. Reflection If you can adequately respond to the “so what’s next?” question, you may be on your
way to a clear and focused research question using your initial topic idea.
(Write one
paragraph.)

You must now start some preliminary reading around the issue or topic. Remember that you will most likely
need to revise your research question once you start to undertake your research. In this sense your
research question should always be considered provisional until you have enough research data to
make a reasoned argument.

SOURCES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED RESEARCH QUESTION

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 CONCEPT MAPPING
Focusing on a Topic

EXAMPLE :
Topic Cyberbullying
Subtopics Types of cyberbullying , how common is it, psychological
damage caused by cyberbullies, Teen cyberbulling, adult
cyberbullying, difference between cyberbullying and other
types of bullying, consequences of cyberbullying, laws to
protect against cyberbullying, technology and cyberbullying.
What subtopic is most interesting to you? Psychological damage caused by cyberbullying
What questions do you have about your How does cyberbullying affect teens? Can the psychological
topic? damage caused by cyberbullyingbe just as harmful as the
damage caused by physical bullying?
Write a topic statement. The psychological damage done to teens who are victims of
cyberbullying can be just as harmful as physical bullying.

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Name:__________________________________________________Class:____________

FOCUSING ON A TOPIC
Use the chart below to think about your topic ideas:
Topic

Subtopics

What subtopic is most interesting

to you?

What questions do you have

about your topic?

Proposed Research Question

Write a topic statement

An important note:
A question that is unclear or too broad will result in a narrative overview of the issue or event being
discussed and provide little scope for analysis and reasoned argument. The result of this is that IB
examiners will not be able to apply the range of marks available in the assessment criteria, particular
rly in relation to criterion C (critical thinking).

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 EXTENDED ESSAY/ RESEARCH PAPER
RESEARCH QUESTION PROPOSAL FORM
Candidate Name: _________________________________________________________________________
Class/ PC Teacher: 11IB________/____________________________________________________________
Subject Area: ____________________________________________________________________________
Group (for Languages ONLY): ______________________Category (for Languages ONLY):_______________

Complete the following form in detail:

Proposed Topic:

Topic Narrowed down:

Topic narrowed down further:

Title:

Proposed research question:

NOTE: Title should be in STATEMENT FORM and the Research Question in QUESTION FORM
Supervisor’s Comment:

Approved by: _______________________________________________ Date:__________________

Supervisor's Name and Signature

Noted by: __________________________________________________ Date: __________________

EE Coordinator's Signature