extended essay english b literature

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete ib extended essay guide: examples, topics, and ideas.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

What's Next?

Trying to figure out what extracurriculars you should do? Learn more about participating in the Science Olympiad , starting a club , doing volunteer work , and joining Student Government .

Studying for the SAT? Check out our expert study guide to the SAT . Taking the SAT in a month or so? Learn how to cram effectively for this important test .

Not sure where you want to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school . Also, determine your target SAT score or target ACT score .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

English B Extended Essay Topic Ideas

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Struggling to pick a topic for your English B Extended Essay? Fear not, because we’ve got a treasure trove of ideas that’ll spark your creativity and curiosity. Yes, my team at Writing Metier have been in this industry for quite a while now, and I’ll share this awesome list of more than 50 various topic options with you.

From the influence of culture in literature to the evolving dynamics of language in our digital age, we’re covering a spectrum of topics that are not just about writing an extended essay , but about exploring the fascinating world of language and its impact on our lives. 

Get ready to find a topic that not only intrigues you but also challenges you to think and write outside the box!

Extended Essay Topics for English B

Ready to explore how literature isn’t just words on a page, but a reflection of our world? 

Cultural Influence in Literature

In Cultural Influence in Literature, we’re connecting historical events, cultural identities, and the effects of globalization with the stories and poems we love. It’s like watching history and culture come alive through words.

Influence of Historical Events on Literature

• Topic:  The Influence of World War II on British Post-War Literature
• Research Question:  How did World War II shape the themes and characterizations in British post-war literature?
• Topic:  The Reflection of the Civil Rights Movement in American Literature
• Research Question:  How did the Civil Rights Movement influence the portrayal of racial themes in American literature of the 1960s?

Representation of Cultural Identity in Modern Novels

• Topic:  Cultural Identity in the Novels of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Research Question:  How does Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie portray Nigerian cultural identity in her novels?
• Topic:  Exploring Indigenous Cultural Identity in Tommy Orange’s “There There”
• Research Question:  How does Tommy Orange represent the complexities of Indigenous cultural identity in “There There”?

Impact of Globalization on Contemporary Poetry

• Topic:  The Influence of Globalization on the Themes of Contemporary African Poetry
• Research Question:  How has globalization influenced the thematic development of contemporary African poetry?
• Topic:  Cross-Cultural Influences in the Contemporary Poetry of the Asian Diaspora
• Research Question:  How do poets of the Asian diaspora incorporate cross-cultural influences in their work in the context of globalization?

Switching gears, let’s talk about Language and Communication. Here, we’re unraveling the magic of how we express ourselves.

Language and Communication

From the evolution of texting to the nuances of cross-cultural chats and the persuasive power of a well-crafted speech , language is our bridge to understanding each other in this hyper-connected world.

The Evolution of Language in Digital Communication

• Topic:  The Impact of Social Media on the Evolution of English Slang
• Research Question:  How has social media contributed to the evolution and spread of English slang?
• Topic:  Emoji as a Language: The Changing Face of Digital Communication
• Research Question:  How have emojis influenced the way language is used and interpreted in digital communication?

The Role of Language in Cross-Cultural Understanding

• Topic:  The Role of English as a Lingua Franca in International Business
• Research Question:  How does the use of English as a lingua franca facilitate or hinder cross-cultural understanding in international business?
• Topic:  Language Barriers in Healthcare: A Study of Patient-Provider Communication
• Research Question:  How do language barriers affect communication and understanding between healthcare providers and patients from different cultural backgrounds?

Language as a Tool for Persuasion in Political Speeches

• Topic:  Rhetorical Strategies in Barack Obama’s Presidential Speeches
• Research Question:  What rhetorical strategies does Barack Obama employ in his presidential speeches to persuade and connect with his audience?
• Topic:  The Use of Language for Persuasion in Environmental Activism Speeches
• Research Question:  How is language used as a tool for persuasion in speeches by prominent environmental activists?

Each of these topics offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, language, and literature, providing a rich basis for an Extended Essay in English B.

Now, let’s step into the intriguing world of Comparative Literary Analysis .

Comparative Literary Analysis

Imagine having a conversation between a 19th-century novelist and a contemporary writer, or seeing how poets from different eras play with the same theme. It’s like being a literary matchmaker, finding connections across time and style.

Thematic Comparisons between Classic and Modern Novels

• Topic:  Exploring the Theme of Love in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
• Research Question:  How is the theme of love portrayed differently in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” compared to John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”?
• Topic:  The Evolution of the Hero’s Journey in Classical Greek Literature and Modern Superhero Novels
• Research Question:  How does the concept of the hero’s journey in classical Greek literature compare to its portrayal in modern superhero novels?

Comparative Analysis of Literary Techniques in Poetry

• Topic:  A Comparative Analysis of Imagery in the Poetry of William Wordsworth and Sylvia Plath
• Research Question:  How do William Wordsworth and Sylvia Plath uniquely employ imagery in their poetry, and what effects do these techniques have?
• Topic:  The Use of Metaphor in the Works of Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou
• Research Question:  How do Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou use metaphor in their poetry, and what are the implications for understanding their respective themes?

Character Development in Dystopian vs. Utopian Literature

• Topic:  Character Evolution in George Orwell’s “1984” and Thomas More’s “Utopia”
• Research Question:  How is character development employed differently in the dystopian world of George Orwell’s “1984” compared to the utopian society in Thomas More’s “Utopia”?
• Topic:  The Role of Protagonists in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Lois Lowry’s “The Giver”
• Research Question:  How do the protagonists in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” reflect and challenge the norms of their respective societies?

Next, we’re diving into Media and Society. This is where stories jump off the page and onto our screens.

Media and Society

We’re looking at how social media is reshaping our language, how movies and TV shows mirror our diverse societies, and the powerful role journalism plays in our perception of the world. It’s storytelling with a pulse on society’s heartbeat.

The Influence of Social Media on Language and Communication

• Topic:  The Impact of Twitter on the Brevity and Informality of Language
• Research Question:  How has Twitter influenced changes in language use towards greater brevity and informality?
• Topic:  The Role of Memes in Shaping Modern Internet Slang
• Research Question:  How have internet memes contributed to the development and spread of modern internet slang?

Representation of Gender and Diversity in Film and Television

• Topic:  Gender Stereotypes in Contemporary Romantic Comedies
• Research Question:  How do contemporary romantic comedies perpetuate or challenge traditional gender stereotypes?
• Topic:  The Portrayal of Racial Diversity in Recent Superhero Movies
• Research Question:  How has the portrayal of racial diversity in recent superhero movies evolved, and what impact does it have on audience perception?

The Role of Journalism in Shaping Public Opinion

• Topic:  The Influence of Investigative Journalism on Public Awareness of Environmental Issues
• Research Question:  How has investigative journalism influenced public awareness and opinion on major environmental issues?
• Topic:  The Impact of 24-Hour News Cycles on Political Discourse
• Research Question:  How have 24-hour news cycles affected the nature of political discourse and public opinion?

Let’s take a turn into Literature and Psychology . Before I proceed further, I would like to share with you our psychology essay writing service , which has proved its quality through the lats several years. If you ever need assistance with your psychology-related assignments, they are one of the best on the market.

Literature and Psychology

Here, we’re peeking into the minds of characters and exploring the emotional depths of narratives. How do novels explore mental health? What makes a character in a drama so relatable? It’s like being a literary psychologist, decoding the human experience through stories.

Psychological Analysis of Characters in Literature

• Topic:  The Psychological Complexity of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Play
• Research Question:  How does Shakespeare’s portrayal of Hamlet reflect psychological theories of human behavior and motivation?
• Topic:  The Representation of Narcissism in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
• Research Question:  How does “The Picture of Dorian Gray” depict the psychological aspects and consequences of narcissism?

Exploration of Mental Health Themes in Contemporary Novels

• Topic:  Mental Health Representation in Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”
• Research Question:  How does “The Bell Jar” portray the realities of mental health issues, particularly in the context of the 1950s?
• Topic:  The Depiction of Depression in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Research Question:  How does “The Catcher in the Rye” explore the theme of depression and its impact on adolescent identity?

The Use of Psychological Realism in Modern Drama

• Topic:  Psychological Realism in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
• Research Question:  How does “Death of a Salesman” employ psychological realism to explore the human condition?
• Topic:  The Portrayal of Family Dynamics and Psychological Conflict in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”
• Research Question:  How does “A Streetcar Named Desire” use psychological realism to depict family dynamics and conflict?

And now, let’s explore the Adaptation of Literature. 

Adaptation of Literature

Ever wonder what happens when a beloved book gets a movie makeover or how ancient myths are reborn in today’s novels? We’re about to see how stories evolve when they travel across mediums and cultures, transforming with each retelling.

Analysis of Film Adaptations of Classic Novels

• Topic:  The Adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in Modern Cinema
• Research Question:  How do modern film adaptations of “Pride and Prejudice” interpret and portray the novel’s themes and characters?
• Topic:  Cinematic Interpretations of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
• Research Question:  How have different film adaptations of “Frankenstein” varied in their portrayal of the novel’s core themes?

The Transformation of Myths and Legends in Modern Literature

• Topic:  The Modern Reinterpretation of Greek Myths in Contemporary Literature
• Research Question:  How does contemporary literature reinterpret Greek myths, and what new perspectives do these adaptations offer?
• Topic:  The Influence of Norse Mythology in Modern Fantasy Novels
• Research Question:  How have modern fantasy novels incorporated and transformed Norse mythology?

The Impact of Cultural Context on Literary Adaptations

• Topic:  Cultural Adaptation of Shakespeare’s Plays in Non-Western Contexts
• Research Question:  How are Shakespeare’s plays adapted and interpreted in non-Western cultures, and what cultural elements are emphasized?
• Topic:  The Adaptation of “One Thousand and One Nights” in Western Literature
• Research Question:  How have Western adaptations of “One Thousand and One Nights” been influenced by their cultural context?

Finally, we arrive at Language in Education. Also, make sure to check our other related articles; if you are interested in Film extended essay topics , you will get more than 30 options related to film studies.

Language in Education

This is where the building blocks of language learning come together. We’re talking about the power of bilingual education, the strategies that make learning English B engaging, and the role literature plays in shaping language skills . It’s where language learning meets real-world application.

The Effectiveness of Bilingual Education Systems

• Topic:  The Impact of Bilingual Education on Academic Achievement
• Research Question:  How does participation in bilingual education programs affect students’ academic achievement and language proficiency?
• Topic:  Bilingual Education and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
• Research Question:  What is the impact of bilingual education on cognitive development in early childhood?

Language Acquisition and Learning Strategies in English B

• Topic:  The Role of Immersion in Second Language Acquisition
• Research Question:  How effective is immersion as a strategy for language acquisition in English B learners?
• Topic:  The Use of Technology in Enhancing English Language Learning
• Research Question:  How does the integration of technology in the classroom enhance the language learning experience for English B students?

The Role of Literature in Language Learning and Development

• Topic:  The Impact of Literary Texts on Vocabulary Development in English B Learners
• Research Question:  How do literary texts contribute to vocabulary development in students learning English B?
• Topic:  Incorporating Multicultural Literature in English B Curriculum
• Research Question:  What are the benefits of incorporating multicultural literature in the English B curriculum for fostering cultural awareness and language skills?

There you have it – a sneak peek into the diverse and dynamic world of English B. At Writing Metier, we’re excited to help you explore these avenues in your Extended Essay, bringing fresh insights and perspectives to your writing. 

For those of you who were searching for some modern, fresh topics and research questions – here is the next block. 

10 Modern Topics for 2024

Here are 10 unique and modern research questions for an English B Extended Essay, each designed to explore contemporary and relevant topics:

• How does the portrayal of artificial intelligence in contemporary science fiction literature reflect societal attitudes towards technology and ethics?
• In what ways do modern graphic novels challenge traditional narrative structures and themes found in conventional literature?
• How does the use of code-switching in bilingual literature influence readers’ understanding of cultural identity and language dynamics?
• What role does dystopian young adult literature play in shaping adolescents’ perspectives on political and social issues?
• How do contemporary travel blogs and vlogs influence linguistic and cultural perceptions among English B learners?
• In what ways do modern podcast narratives utilize language to create immersive storytelling experiences?
• How do contemporary song lyrics reflect the linguistic evolution of English in the context of global cultural exchange?
• What impact does the increasing use of internet slang and abbreviations in digital communication have on formal language skills among English B students?
• How do modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays in film and theater incorporate contemporary language and themes, and what effect does this have on audience engagement?
• In what ways do autobiographies of refugees and immigrants contribute to the understanding of cross-cultural experiences and language adaptation among English B learners?

Let’s turn those ideas into an essay that speaks volumes! 

Select your IB EE topic wisely!

There you have it – a collection of English B Extended Essay topics to get your gears turning! Picking your topic is just the first step on this exciting path. 

If you’re feeling a bit stuck or just want a helping hand along the way, remember Writing Metier is right here to back you up. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, organizing your thoughts, or polishing your final extended essay draft , we’re here to guide you through. 

We’re committed to helping you create an essay that’s not only impressive in meeting IB standards but also brilliantly reflects your own voice and insights. 

Need a partner in your essay-writing adventure? Give us a shout, and let’s make your Extended Essay shine! 

Free topic suggestions

Vasy kafidoff.

Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

Similar posts

100+ ib extended essay topic ideas for your ease.

One of the very important requirements of an IB diploma is the extended essay. This really helps bring up the total score. And one problem students face here is gathering ideas for their IB extended essay. Here is some guiding information that can help with extended essay topics.

Business Management Extended Essay Topic Ideas and RQs

Looking for the perfect topic for your IB Business Management Extended Essay? Dive into our comprehensive guide, covering everything from organizational leadership to the latest trends in 2023. And if you need a bit of extra help, Writing Metier is just a click away to assist with topic suggestions, writing, and editing.

Economics Extended Essay Topic Ideas for IB Students

This article serves as a launchpad for students crafting their Economics Extended Essays, offering a diverse array of topics that span from the intricacies of microeconomic market structures to the broad strokes of macroeconomic policy. It provides a rich tapestry of ideas, inviting exploration into the complex interplay between economic theory and real-world application across various branches such as labor, environmental, and health economics.

Global Politics Extended Essay Topics and Research Questions

Dive into the dynamic world of Global Politics with our curated list of Extended Essay topics for 2023. From the digital revolution in democracy to the environmental challenges reshaping our planet, these topics offer a gateway to understanding and analyzing the pressing issues of our time.

Acing IB English Language & Literature Paper 1 | A Comprehensive Guide

Learn how to ace your IB English Language and Literature Paper 1 with this comprehensive guide. Discover effective tips and strategies for analyzing texts, developing a thesis, structuring your essay, and writing a compelling introduction and conclusion. Improve your writing skills and boost your chances of success with this essential resource for IB English students.

How long is the IB Extended Essay? 🤔

The IB extended essay is designed to ensure that students learn critical learning skills and can organize their thoughts correctly. The idea is to help students build their skills and empower them to solve more complex real-life problems. However, most students tend to wonder how long the extended essay should be.

We rely on cookies to give you the best experince on our website. By browsing, you agree to it. Read more

• Customer Reviews
• Extended Essays
• IB Internal Assessment
• Theory of Knowledge
• Literature Review
• Dissertations
• Essay Writing
• Research Writing
• Assignment Help
• Capstone Projects
• College Application
• Online Class

English Extended Essay: The Complete Guide for IB Students

by  Antony W

March 13, 2023

Group 1 Extended Essay subjects give IB students the opportunity to conduct independent research into a topic of interest in English, Language, and Literature.

Apart from promoting creativity and intellectual discovery, the subject group helps you to appreciate the value of advanced research and improve your writing skills.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about English Extended Essay.

In particular, we will look at the definition of English EE, English EE categories, and some English Extended Essay topics to get you started.

English Extended Essay Categories

Category 1: language.

This category focuses on the analysis of some aspects of English.

Topics such as national language policies of English speaking countries, the influence of technology on English vocabulary, and use of dialects and ascents would fit into this category.

The primary sources of information for this category would be newspapers, interviews, and websites. You secondary sources would be articles and journals.

Category 2: Culture and Society

We divide Culture and Society further into two sub-categories.

In the first sub-category, the focus is on the effect of cultural change on a language in a particular issue on the use or form of the language itself.

In this case, your essay can focus on topic to do with gender, communities, or social groups.

For example:

• Does language reflect a shift in gender roles in the workplace?
• To what extend has the rise and use of slang among teenagers affected the English language?

Such are important and interesting questions that your Extended Essay can focus on if you choose to work on this sub-category.

The second sub-category focuses on artefacts. While this sub-category is general in its cultural nature, it must be specific to a country or community that speaks the language.

To research topics in this sub-category, you will have to use cultural artefacts, which can be visual documents (such as architectures and films), written documents (such as newspapers, articles, adverts, and magazines), spoken documents (such as interviews and screenplays), and fashion icons (such as food dishes or brands).

Category 3: Literature

This category of English Extended Essay is based on a specific work of literature wit text written in the English language.

How to Write English Extended Essay

Writing a 4,000-word essay takes time. You have to identify a topic of interest, develop a research question, determine what to base your research on, and find the right information to include in the essay.

In the following section, you’ll learn how to write a comprehensive English Extended Essay using an easy to follow, systematic approach – even if you think your topic of interest in the subject looks complicated.

Step 1: Pick a Topic of Meaningful Interest to You

Explore the topics and themes taught in you English class and pick one that’s not only of interest to you but also one you’d like to know more about.

Generally, the English EE topic you choose should:

• Be something you’re keen to investigate
• Allow you to formulate a relevant research question
• A subject that you can answer in 4,000 words

After identifying your area of interest and the topic that you would like to explore, it should be easy for you to develop a relevant research question to explore.

Step 2: Develop a Research Question

Many IB students fail Extended Essay because they get the research question part completely wrong. Quite too often, they choose narrow or broad topics that they can’t answer in 4,000 words.

You shouldn’t make the same mistake with your English Extended Essay. What you need is a workable research question with a clear focus that you can answer within the word limits of an Extended Essay.

To arrive at more concise topic to explore in your English Extended Essay, it’s best to employ relevant limiting factors to the broad topic.

For example, the theme “how technology and social media impact our lives” is obviously too broad because it doesn’t tell us what part or component of our lives social media affects exactly.

By applying limiting factor to this theme, we can come up with a more focused research question that will be easily to evaluate within the limits of the expected word count.

A question such as “ to what extent social media corrupted or contributed or corrupted the English language” would be an interesting and more specific topic to explore in your EE.

Step 3: Choose What to Base Your Research On

The third step to writing an English Extended Essay is to find relevant sources to support your research into the topic you selected in step 1.

Start by determine which English category you wish to base your Extended Essay on. That’s because there are minimum expectations when it comes to primary as well as secondary sourcing.

Step 4: Find More Information for Your Extended Essay

If you’ve ticked all the boxes in step one to three, schedule an appointment with your supervisor for more guidance on how to proceed further with your research project.

English Extended Essay Topics

You shouldn’t worry too much if you feel stuck on choosing the best topic for your English Extended Essay . We’ve put together a list of some topic ideas that cover different areas in literary themes, literature, and the English language.

English Extended Essay Topics for College and University

• Is the English a language of customs and traditions with no hard and fast rules unlike other languages in the world?
• How is the American English different from British English, and which one is superior to the other?
• Has globalization played a role in the development of the English language?

English Extended Essay Topics on English Poetry

• Was poetry a text of upper classes in English literature in the classical age and in the era of renaissance?
• Why are there fragmentation and lack of interconnectivity between the stanzas of poems in modern poetry?

English EE Topics on American Literature

• Do various American novels and other literary texts show how the American dream proves to be a complete failure?
• Why were slaves against the anti-slavery movement in the United States of America?

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Extended Essay

Interested in doing your EE in English B? Read the detailed explanation of what it takes.

Extended Essay: Language and Literature

• Step 1 - Choosing a Subject
• Step 2 - Choosing a Topic
• Step 3 - Draft a Research Question
• Step 4 - Finding Sources
• Step 5 - Evaluating Information
• Step 6 - Bibliography & Citation
• Step 7 - Organizing Information
• The Arts: Visual Arts
• Individuals & Societies: Business Management
• Individuals & Societies: History
• Individuals & Societies: Psychology
• Language Acquisition

Language and Literature

• Sciences: Biology
• Sciences: Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences
• Interdisciplinary Papers: World Studies
• Assessment Criteria
• Research Questions
• Investigation

Extended Essays in Language and Literature

Choosing a topic.

• Categories 1 & 2

Categories 1 & 2

***Category 2 essays are the same as category 1, but they analyze works not written in English***

Language and Literature papers in categories 1 and 2 are focused on one or more literary works and can focus on original literary analysis, a particular literary topic, and/or established literary criticism.  

NB: When investigating a film in category 2, the film must be analyzed for its literary value, not filmic. Filmic analysis is allowed in category 3.

Category 3 papers also analyze works, however they are not restricted to literary works! Topics in Category 3 emphasize the production and reception of texts in social, historical and/or cultural contexts. Essays that simply offer a general overview of a topic are not appropriate.

Approaches to Research

Categories 1 and 2

**Category 2 essays are the same as category 1, but analyze works not written in English**

Primary research in Language and Literature may require close reading of one or more texts. Secondary research may also be necessary for information like historical context, biographical information,  and established literary criticism. Students should consider things like the effect of the work, the devices it uses, or the way it is written.

Students should give a focused analysis of the texts being considered. The approach should be balanced, coherently argued, use relevant examples to illustrated the point.

Examples of language in a cultural context

Examples of language and mass communication

Language and Literature Sources

Even students doing primary research will still need to reference secondary sources. These may include established literary interpretations or criticisms, biographical and/or historical information.

Essay Types

An extended essay in language and literature gives students an opportunity to do independent research into a topic of special interest to them within the subject. It is intended to promote advanced research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity.

The essay is open to students who are writing in a language that they would be capable of offering as a language A

Studies in language and literature EEs are divided into three categories:

Assessed Student Work

• An exploration of an aspect of the narrative voice in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita
• How did the World State government in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World impact the individuality of the citizens residing in it?
• << Previous: Language Acquisition
• Next: Sciences: Biology >>
• Last Updated: Apr 18, 2024 6:27 AM
• URL: https://k497.libguides.com/extendedessay

Example essays

The International Baccalaureate® (IB)  programme resource centre,  a key resource for educators at IB World Schools, includes several examples of  extended essay titles .

These highlight the diverse range of topics covered by International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students during their extended essays.

Some examples are:

• “An analysis of costume as a source for understanding the inner life of the character”
• “A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery after a period of supervised improved nutrition.”
• “Doing  versus  being: language and reality in the Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy.” 
• “The effects of sugar-free chewing gum on the pH of saliva in the mouth after a meal.”
• “To what extent has the fall in the exchange rate of the US dollar affected the tourist industry in Carmel, California?”
•  “What level of data compression in music files is acceptable to the human ear?”

Also available in the programma resource centre , the Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures has guidance on choosing a subject for the extended essay.

The PRC is only available to existing IB World Schools.

You can also purchase examples of essays in the IB Store . These essays fulfil the requirements for an ‘A’ grade in the extended essay.

If your school is not one already, learn how to become an IB World School  in order to implement the DP.

IBDP English B

Website by David Ripley & Joseph O'Callaghan

Updated 21 April 2024

InThinking Subject Sites

Subscription websites for IB teachers & their classes

Find out more

• thinkib.net
• IBDP Biology
• IBDP Business Management
• IBDP Chemistry
• IBDP Economics
• IBDP English A Literature
• IBDP English A: Language & Literature
• IBDP Environmental Systems & Societies
• IBDP French B
• IBDP Geography
• IBDP German A: Language & Literature
• IBDP History
• IBDP Maths: Analysis & Approaches
• IBDP Maths: Applications & Interpretation
• IBDP Physics
• IBDP Psychology
• IBDP Spanish A
• IBDP Spanish Ab Initio
• IBDP Spanish B
• IBDP Visual Arts
• IBMYP English Language & Literature
• IBMYP Resources
• IBMYP Spanish Language Acquisition
• IB Career-related Programme
• IB School Leadership

Disclaimer : InThinking subject sites are neither endorsed by nor connected with the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

InThinking Subject Sites for IB Teachers and their Classes

Supporting ib educators.

• Comprehensive help & advice on teaching the IB diploma.
• Written by experts with vast subject knowledge.
• Innovative ideas on ATL & pedagogy.
• Detailed guidance on all aspects of assessment.

Developing great materials

• More than 14 million words across 24 sites.
• Masses of ready-to-go resources for the classroom.
• Dynamic links to current affairs & real world issues.
• Updates every week 52 weeks a year.

Integrating student access

• Give your students direct access to relevant site pages.
• Single student login for all of your school’s subscriptions.
• Create reading, writing, discussion, and quiz tasks.
• Monitor student progress & collate in online gradebook.

Meeting schools' needs

• Global reach with more than 200,000 users worldwide.
• Use our materials to create compelling unit plans.
• Save time & effort which you can reinvest elsewhere.
• Consistently good feedback from subscribers.

For information about pricing, click here

Download brochure

See what users are saying about our Subject Sites:

Find out more about our Student Access feature:

• EE tips & comments
• Extended Essay 2018

This page was originally written to explain the "old" EE system, i.e. in effect up to November 2017. It has now been edited and partially re-written, but it remains relevant to the "new" EE system (from 2018 onwards) ... as are many of the Comments and questions at the bottom of the page.There aren"t that many Extended Essays produced in English B. To illustrate, in the May 2009 session, only 5.72% of candidates were...

To access the entire contents of this site, you need to log in or subscribe to it.

Alternatively, you can request a one month free trial .

• TTS Libguides
• Tanglin LibGuides
• Senior Library

IB Extended Essay (EE)

• Extended Essay Main Page
• Business & Management
• Computer Science
• Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)
• Human Rights
• Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
• Mathematics
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Visual Arts
• World Religions
• World Studies

Find a password

Excellent extended essay - english, find example excellent essays, click on the subjects to browse the list of excellent extended essays..

• << Previous: Economics
• Next: Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) >>
• Last Updated: Oct 18, 2022 9:00 AM
• URL: https://libguides.tts.edu.sg/EE

IB Extended Essay: Research Questions

• Research Questions
• Past Essays
• Notes & Outlines
• Works Cited Page
• In-Text Citations
• Assessment Criteria
• Reflections
• Supervisor Info
• Net Valley Library This link opens in a new window

IB Command Terms

Command terms are the key terms and phrases used in examination questions. 

See the lists below for the terms and definitions for each IB subject

• Visual Arts command terms
• Biology command terms
• Chemistry command terms
• Math command terms
• Language and Literature command terms
• Economics command terms
• Physics command terms

Sample research questions

Source: IBO.org

Question Starters

Source: Oxford Course Companion, p.17

Research Questions: Class of 2020

Visual Arts: To what extent are the developments in American military aircraft nose designs from World War 2, Vietnam War and Gulf War more connected to individual crew preference than to the visual culture of America, 1940 - 1990?

English A: To what extent does William Shakespeare employ Elizabethan elements in Romeo and Juliet to build towards the eventual tragedy?

English A: To what extent did news media outlets, specifically CNN and Fox News, use different reporting methods to portray the candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election?

English A: How do aspects of real-life societies inform and shape A Clockwork Orange and The Handmaid’s Tale?

English A: How were African Americans portrayed in American sitcoms from 1980 to 2000?

English B: To what extent does 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green reflect 'The Hero's Journey'?

English B: To what extent does social media influence or have an effect on the english language usage?

English B: To what extent does the usage of AAVE affect an individual’s social status and mobility?

English B: To what extent does the development of the Super Bowl mirror specific aspects of American cultural, social, and economic trends?

Psychology: To what extent is the phenomenon of Karoshi, the overworking of office workers in Southeast Asia, interconnected with symptoms of depression?

Psychology: To What Extent is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as an addition to traditional pharmacotherapy necessary for the successful treatment of Schizophrenia?

Psychology: To what extent is Δ9-THC an effective antidepressant that can be used to treat patients with depression?

Chinese B: 论新时代网络语言对现代汉语有何种影响？

Chinese B: 中国嘻哈歌手如何运用歌词传播中华文化？How do Chinese Hip-hop Artists Promote Chinese Culture through Lyrics?

Economics: To what extent have increases in rental prices (2017-2018) shrunken the market for Korean restaurants in Chegongmiao, Shenzhen?

Economics: How does President Moon's minimum wage policy affect convenience store market in Seocho 1-dong, South Korea?

Business: To What Extent Does the WeChat Application in Tencent's Business Model Play a Role in its Success?

Business: To what extent has Samsung's acquisition of Harman Kardon helped in increasing revenue and access to new markets?

Research Questions: Class of 2019

World Studies (Biology & Economics): How does mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) ecotourism support and strengthen local economies while ensuring the mountain gorillas’ health and survival?

English A, Category 3: How are skincare companies like: Neutrogena, Nivea, and Dove promoting white supremacy?

English B, Category 2B: To what extent do the changes in Cersei’s and Daenerys’s character development in the HBO series Game of Thrones show they are ultimately both motivated for and by power?

Visual Arts: To what extent did visual qualities in Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress 1913, influence black dresses created by Chinese fashion designer Vivienne Tam and haute couture designer Yiqing Yin in regards to development in visual elements and societal acceptances in the 21st century?

Business Management: “To what extent was Apple Inc.’s acquisition of Beats Electronics, LLC an effective growth strategy?”

Math, Group 5: Investigating the Korean MERS outbreak using the SEIR model: How would hypothetical diseases be simulated if variables of the SEIR model were to be altered?

Business Management : To what extent has the benefits offered by Shekou International School helped them retain staff?

Economics: To what extent has the subsidy that was introduced in 2016 for hybrid electric vehicles led to a rise in demand for domestic car producers in Baden Württemberg?

Chemistry: How does the addition of salt (NaCl) which modifies the salinity affects the interfacial tension and stability of oil-in-water emulsion?

World Studies (History & Literature): What aspects of the anti-vaccination movement, and “The Crucible” relate to mass hysteria during the Salem Witch Trials?

Psychology: To What Extent Do Behavioural Addictions Fit The Criteria for ‘The Disease Model of Addiction’?

World Studies (Economics & Politics): To what extent has the political decision to host the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro affected Brazils’ economy and the financial welfare of its citizens?

Physics: To what extent does the volume of water affect the altitude gained by adding a constant pressure?

Psychology: To what extent are sociocultural and biological factors major causes of elderly people’s depressive behavior?

World Studies (History & Economics): To what extent did the LGBTQ community contribute to making attractive neighborhoods in the US and why are they pushed to leave them now?

Economics: To what extent is the cafe market in Shekou, Shenzhen, monopolistically competitive?

Economics: “Which is the most important factor that changes the real estate price rate in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul Korea?”

Business Management: To what extent has McDonald’s marketing strategies played a major role in becoming a prominent fast-food company in Korea?

World Studies (Physics & Geography): To What Extent is the Design of the Standard Houses that Gawak Kalinga Builds Able to Withstand the Seismic Hazards Present in Manila?

World Studies (Economics & Music): To what extent is electronic music’s economy expanding?

Visual Arts: To what extent did artistic influences and material sources impact the chair designs of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig-Zag (1934), Verner Panton Panton S (1956), and Tom Dixon, Capellini, S Chair (1991)?

Business Management: To what extent has Apple Inc.’s prioritization of product innovation and advertising led to sales of iPhone X?

World Studies (Psychology & Geography): How do the combined effects of Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes increase prevalences of Alzheimer’s Disease in different regions within China (PRC)?

• << Previous: Lessons
• Next: Past Essays >>
• Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 9:39 AM
• URL: https://sis-cn.libguides.com/ExtendedEssay

Extended Essay: Group 2: Language Acquisition

• General Timeline
• Group 1: English Language and Literature

Group 2: Language Acquisition

• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts
• Interdisciplinary essays
• Six sub-categories for WSEE
• IB Interdisciplinary EE Assessment Guide
• Brainstorming
• Pre-Writing
• Research Techniques
• The Research Question
• Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quotations
• Writing an EE Introduction
• Writing the main body of your EE
• Writing your EE Conclusion
• Sources: Finding, Organising and Evaluating Them
• Conducting Interviews and Surveys
• Citing and Referencing
• Check-in Sessions
• First Formal Reflection
• Second Formal Reflection
• Final Reflection (Viva Voce)
• Researcher's Reflection Space (RRS) Examples
• Information for Supervisors
• How is the EE Graded?
• EE Online Resources
• Stavanger Public Library
• Exemplar Essays
• Extended Essay Presentations
• ISS High School Academic Honesty Policy

From IB Subject Specific Guide   

  Overview 

  A group 2 Extended Essay is intended for students who are studying a second modern language. Students may not write a group 2 Extended Essay in a language that they are  offering as a language A for their diploma.

There are 3 categories of group 2 Extended Essays:

• Category 1—Language • Category 2—Culture and society (a or b) • Category 3—Literature.

Students should put the category in which they have presented their essay alongside the subject in which it is registered on the cover sheet of the extended essay, for example,

English B Cat: 2 (b); German B Cat :3; Spanish B Cat : 1.

A group 2 Extended Essay provides students with the opportunity to develop their awareness and knowledge of the language studied, and their understanding of the culture concerned. This is achieved by enabling students to pursue their interest in the language through research based on texts (taken to be any meaningful piece of spoken or written language, for example, an article, a book, a play, a poem) or on specific cultural artifacts (such as works of fine art or architecture, films, radio or television programmes, or popular music).

The Extended Essay must be written in the language for which it is registered (the target language). It must be focused on matters related to the target culture. The Extended Essay is a research essay and the assessment criteria emphasize the importance of research skills rather than linguistic proficiency. Although a certain level of ability in the language is obviously desirable in order to undertake a group 2 extended essay, fluency is neither a prerequisite nor a guarantee of success. In fact, students who are fluent in the language but who do not demonstrate the required research skills will definitely achieve a lower mark than students who are less fluent but who fulfill the other assessment criteria.

Choice of Topic

As indicated in the ”Overview” section, a group 2 extended essay aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the target language and culture. Any proposed topic that will not further that aim should be rejected. The essay should consist of the study of an issue in one of three categories: language, culture and society, or literature. Combinations of these are also permissible. Each category has specific requirements that are described in this section. In addition, students should ensure that their topic:

• is worthy of investigation. For example, “Does tourism have a future in Switzerland?” or “Is the wine industry an important source of income for France?” would be too trivial for an essay of 4,000 words.

• is not too broad and allows for an effective treatment within the word limit. Topics such as “Racism in France”, “The theatre of the absurd”, or “A history of the French language” would need to be given a sharper focus.

• provides them with an opportunity to develop an argument and to demonstrate critical analysis and personal judgment rather than just knowledge. Topics that are merely descriptive or narrative, or that only summarize secondary sources (such as “French cheeses”, “The Provence region”, “The events of May 1968 in Paris”), should be avoided.

In each category the examples given are for guidance only .

Category 1 - Language

The essay should be a specific analysis of the language (its use, structure and so on) normally related to its cultural context or a specific text

Category 2 - Culture and Society

A: essays of a sociocultural nature with an impact on the language 

The essay should be an analysis of a cultural nature that describes the impact of a particular issue on the form or use of the language.

B: essays of a general cultural nature based on specific cultural artifacts 

The essay should be an analysis of a more general cultural nature but specific to a country or community where the language is spoken. Topics that are too broad and could apply to many cultures (like globalization, the death penalty or eating disorders) are inappropriate. Essays of a general cultural nature must be based on specific cultural artifacts. Cultural artifacts in this context are understood to include a wide variety of phenomena, ranging from works of fine art to newspapers, magazines and cartoons, to films, television programmes and popular music.

Category 3 - Literature

The essay should be an analysis of a literary type, based on a specific work or works of literature exclusively from the target language. In the case of a comparison of texts, all texts must originally have been written in the target language.

Helpful Websites

IB Language Acquisition Subject Specific Guide  - Use tabs on the left under Language Acquisition: Subject Specific Guide for more information. 

Gale Communications and Mass Media 

Gale Literature Resource Center

• << Previous: Group 1: English Language and Literature
• Next: Group 3: Individuals and Societies >>
• Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024 2:36 PM
• URL: https://isstavanger.libguides.com/c.php?g=695888

IB English A (Lit) EE examples

Filter exemplars, in jane austen’s emma, how are the heroine’s evolving speech patterns reflective of her character development, how do barry unsworth’s ‘the songs of the kings’ and euripides’ ‘iphigeneia at aulis’ depict the loss or gain in agency of women in ancient greek societies, want to get full marks for your ee allow us to review it for you 🎯, accurate representation of teenagers in young adult literature and their effects: in what ways does alice oseman accurately represent teenagers in young adult in her novel radio silence (2016) and how does this affect readers, in what ways do euripides’ medea and gillian flynn’s gone girl represent the development and persistence of the vengeful woman archetype, how and why does christopher isherwood use the body as a means of exploring the human experience, fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, how does friel explore the theme of escape in 'translations' and 'philadelphia, here i come', how does naomi alderman explore social power structures in her novel the power through the use of multiple perspectives, how do euripides, in his play medea, and arthur miller, in his play death of a salesman, use tragic heroes to critique social norms, how do ian mc ewan an d emma don o ghue express uninhibited realities through the use of child narration in nutshell and room , to what extent do nas’ euphemisms and allusions create and strengthen detrimental stereotypes about the african american community on illmatic, how have agatha christie and robert bloch created suspense through the use of literary devices in their books “the abc murders” and “psycho”, how does vladimir nabokov use visual imagery to portray women and girls in ‘lolita’, how does shakespeare use victuals in the tragedy of macbeth to depict the protagonist’s ambitions and the subsequent undermining of scottish society, how does kleinbaum’s use of allusion, setting and elements of greek tragedy challenge opposing ideals of education, how does ernest hemingway portray the great war’s transformation of society’s traditional notions, particularly masculinity, sex, and leisure, inherent in his novel the sun also rises, how do authors gillian flynn and daphne du maurier use voice and perspective to present the female protagonist in gone girl and rebecca, to what extent do chuck palahniuk's novel fight club and its film adaptation by david fincher jointly reject modern society’s value systems, how does martel evaluate the strengths and limitations of faith and reason in life of pi, how do central character flaws in george orwell’s animal farm and margaret atwood’s the handmaid’s tale shape the path for the novels to proceed with their journeys, how are rose and her familial relations characterized using magical realism and other literary devices in the particular sadness of lemon cake by aimee bender.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Helen Vendler, ‘Colossus’ of Poetry Criticism, Dies at 90

In the poetry marketplace, her praise had reputation-making power, while her disapproval could be withering.

By William Grimes

Helen Vendler, one of the leading poetry critics in the United States, with a reputation-making power that derived from her fine-grained, impassioned readings, expressed in crystalline prose in The New Yorker and other publications, died on Tuesday at her home in Laguna Niguel, Calif. She was 90.

The cause was cancer, said her son, David Vendler.

In an era dominated by poststructuralist and politically influenced literary criticism, Ms. Vendler, who taught at Harvard for more than 30 years, adhered to the old-fashioned method of close reading, going methodically line by line, word by word, to expose a poem’s inner workings and emotional roots.

“Vendler has done perhaps more than any other living critic to shape — I might almost say ‘create’ — our understanding of poetry in English,” the poet and critic Joel Brouwer wrote in 2015 in The New York Times Book Review, adding, “Were it not for Harold Bloom , the ‘perhaps’ would be unnecessary.”

Mr. Bloom, the literary scholar, himself said of Ms. Vendler : “She is a remarkably agile and gifted close reader. I think there isn’t anyone in the country who can read syntax in poems as well as she can.”

The writer and critic Bruce Bawer called her simply “the colossus of contemporary American poetry criticism.”

In important scholarly studies of classic authors, Ms. Vendler offered fresh interpretations of the 17th-century metaphysical poet George Herbert, Wallace Stevens, Seamus Heaney , the Keats of the odes and the Shakespeare of the sonnets — all 154 of them, analyzed in a thick volume, “The Art of Shakespeare’s Sonnets” (1997), which the poet Richard Howard called “the most intricately inquiring and ingeniously responding study of these poems yet to be undertaken.”

Her voracious appetite for contemporary poetry, and a clear, forceful prose style that allowed her to address nonacademic audiences in her reviews, made Ms. Vendler a powerful figure in the poetry marketplace, with enormous influence on artistic reputations, publishers’ decisions and the awarding of teaching positions and grants. She was the poetry critic for The New Yorker from 1978 to 1996, a frequent judge for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and a nominator for the MacArthur Foundation’s “genius” awards.

Her praise was golden. Favorites like Jorie Graham, Mr. Heaney or Rita Dove, buoyed by her exuberance, floated upward in the pantheon. Her disapproval, more rarely expressed, could be withering. “Levine’s notion of a poem is an anecdote with a flush of reflexive emotion gushing up at the end,” she once wrote of Philip Levine , a poet laureate of the United States and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1995.

Her scathing reviews of Ms. Dove’s “Penguin Anthology of 20th-Century American Poetry” and an edition of unpublished poems by Elizabeth Bishop, “Edgar Allan Poe & the Jukebox,” edited by The New Yorker’s poetry editor, Alice Quinn, touched off the kind of skirmishes rarely seen in the genteel world of poetry.

As a rule, however, Ms. Vendler devoted her attention to the poets she loved, in a lifelong engagement with the branch of literature she called, in the introduction to her 1980 essay collection “Part of Nature, Part of Us,” “the one form of writing that is to me the most immediate, natural and accessible.”

Helen Hennessy was born on April 30, 1933, in Boston, into what she described as “an exaggeratedly observant Catholic household.” Her father, George, who before his marriage had been a paymaster for United Fruit in Cuba and a teacher of English in Puerto Rico, taught Romance languages in high schools and also to his three children. Her mother, Helen (Conway) Hennessy, left her career as an elementary schoolteacher when she married, as required by Massachusetts law at the time.

Her parents insisted on a Catholic education, overruling her desire to attend Boston Latin School for Girls and, later, Radcliffe College. Instead, she enrolled in Emmanuel College, an all-women’s Catholic school in Boston, where she majored in chemistry. Although she had been an avid reader and writer of poetry from an early age, English literature, she found to her dismay, was taught as a collection of moral texts. And French literature classes omitted the philosophes of the Enlightenment, Émile Zola, Marcel Proust and other writers on the Catholic Church’s list of proscribed authors.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1954 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study mathematics at the University of Louvain in Belgium but changed her concentration to French and Italian literature. On returning to the United States, she took English courses at Boston University to qualify for the doctoral program at Harvard.

At Harvard she met Zeno Vendler, a philosopher of language and Jesuit priest completing work for his doctorate, whom she married in 1960 after he left the priesthood. The marriage ended in divorce after four years, and Mr. Vendler died in 2004. In addition to their son, David, she is survived by two grandchildren.

Ms. Vendler’s first week at Harvard was daunting. She was informed by the chairman of the English department, as he signed her program card, “You know we don’t want you here, Miss Hennessy: we don’t want any women here.” In 1959, she became the first woman to be offered an instructorship in Harvard’s English department, a year before she received her doctorate, having submitted a dissertation on William Butler Yeats that was published in 1963 as “Yeats’s ‘Vision’ and the Later Plays.”

After leaving Harvard she taught at Cornell, Haverford, Swarthmore and Smith. She began teaching at Boston University in 1966 and joined the English department at Harvard as a full professor in 1985, after dividing her time between Boston and Harvard for the previous four years.

As a critical reader of poetry, Ms. Vendler found her bearings early, while still a graduate student. “The base of poetry in the emotions was tacitly ignored in scholarship and criticism: and yet I felt one couldn’t understand the way a poem evolves without acknowledging that base,” she wrote in her introduction to the essay collection “The Ocean, the Bird and the Scholar” (2015). “If there was any conscious drive in me to alter the field of criticism as I encountered it, it was to insert into the analysis of lyric an analysis of its motivating emotions and convictions, and to demonstrate their stylistic results.”

The term “close reading,” almost automatically applied to her method, she could not abide. It sounds, she told The Paris Review in 1996, “as if you’re looking at the text with a microscope from outside, but I would rather think of a close reader as someone who goes inside a room and describes the architecture.” She proposed an alternative: “reading from the point of view of a writer.”

Two early books established Ms. Vendler as an important critical voice. In “On Extended Wings: Wallace Stevens’ Longer Poems” (1969), she made the case for a set of difficult works that many critics, notably Randall Jarrell, had dismissed as overlong and ponderous. J. Hillis Miller , writing in The Yale Review, predicted that anyone reading Ms. Vendler’s account “will find it impossible ever to see Stevens in the same way again.”

“The Poetry of George Herbert” (1975) turned the spotlight on a quiet, meditative poet overshadowed by his contemporary John Donne. With typical aplomb, Ms. Vendler declared Donne to be his inferior.

Her parallel career as a reviewer began when, divorced with a young child, she scrambled for any chance to earn extra money. In 1966, The Massachusetts Review asked her to take on its annual survey of the year’s work in poetry. She went on to review regularly for The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Book Review (where, in the early 1970s, she advised the editor, John Leonard , on what poetry books to review), and, after she left her critic’s post at The New Yorker in 1996, The New Republic.

More recently she was a regular contributor to Liberties , a journal of culture and politics edited by Leon Wieseltier.

Her essays and reviews were gathered in “Part of Nature, Part of Us: Modern American Poets” (1980), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism; “The Music of What Happens: Poems, Poets, Critics” (1988); “Soul Says: On Recent Poetry” (1996); and other collections.

Her many studies include “The Breaking of Style: Hopkins, Heaney, Graham” (1995), “The Given and the Made: Strategies of Poetic Redefinition” (1995) and “Last Looks, Last Books: Stevens, Plath, Lowell, Bishop, Merrill” (2010).

In 2004, the National Endowment for the Humanities named her a Jefferson Lecturer, the highest honor the federal government bestows on a scholar of the humanities. According to her wishes, she was to be buried on “Harvard Hill” in Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Mass.

In her interview with The Paris Review, Ms. Vendler compressed her critical method into seven words: “I write to explain things to myself.”